Search

No longer offered

Rocky Mountaineer has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

Passage to the Peaks Classic - 5-nights

Rocky Mountaineer's two-day rail journey through Canadian Rockies from Jasper to Banff

Illustration of Passage to the Peaks Classic - 5-nights

Passage to the Peaks Classic is a six-day rail and mountain resort package operated by Rocky Mountaineer, one of North America's leading scenic rail operators. The journey connects the mountain gateways of Jasper and Banff, with two full days of daytime train travel through the Canadian Rockies and a night in Kamloops. You begin with two nights in Jasper, where Day 2 offers a half-day sightseeing tour through Jasper National Park with the option of riding the SkyTram. On Day 3, you board Rocky Mountaineer's GoldLeaf service bound west, crossing the Continental Divide at Yellowhead Pass and passing dramatic river valleys before reaching Kamloops. Day 4 reverses direction, carrying you eastward through mountain passes, historic tunnels, and canyons into Banff, where you spend the final two nights. Accommodations include your choice of Fairmont hotels or similar properties. This package suits repeat rail travellers and photographers seeking a structured but unguided mountain experience in an accessible, all-daylight format.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package shows accommodation options (Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Forest Park Hotel in Jasper; Fairmont Banff Springs or other tier in Banff); your final hotel depends on the option selected and availability at booking.
  • Day 1 is arrival and self-directed exploration; the tour is largely unguided outside the half-day Jasper sightseeing tour on Day 2.
  • No departures calendar is published in the available information; confirm scheduling and availability directly with Rocky Mountaineer.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Jasper

    Jasper at leisure

    Arrive in Jasper and spend time exploring this picturesque mountain resort town at your leisure.

  2. Day 2overnight: Jasper

    Jasper National Park sightseeing

    This morning you are free to explore Jasper on your own. In the afternoon, experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Jasper National Park on a half-day sightseeing tour, where you'll explore stunning landscapes, look for wildlife, and visit iconic landmarks. Activities: Jasper SkyTram.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Kamloops

    Rail: Jasper to Kamloops

    Departing early in the morning, travel onboard Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to Kamloops, in the heart of the British Columbia Interior. As you journey west and south, you will be surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the Continental Divide and by the river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Today's highlights include the climb over the Yellowhead Pass, Pyramid Falls, Mount Robson, at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and the journey along the North Thompson River as you approach Kamloops in the evening.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Banff

    Rail: Kamloops to Banff

    Early in the morning, your journey continues eastward to the mighty Canadian Rockies and back to the province of Alberta. Once again, you will experience ever-changing scenery as you travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies. Today's highlights include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels and, of course, the iconic glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Your rail journey ends this evening in the resort town of Banff.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the Jasper SkyTram to gain elevated views of the mountain valley landscape in Jasper National Park.
  • Day 3Rocky Mountaineer climbs over Yellowhead Pass en route to Kamloops, crossing the Continental Divide.
  • Day 4Navigate the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon on the final rail leg eastward into Banff.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Two days of all-daylight Rocky Mountaineer train travel in GoldLeaf class are included from Jasper to Kamloops (Day 3) and Kamloops to Banff (Day 4).
Is this trip guided or independent?
Largely independent. You have leisure time in Jasper on Days 1 and 2 (with a half-day optional sightseeing tour available on Day 2); train days are independent rail travel; Days in Kamloops and Banff are unscheduled.
Which hotels are included?
The package offers a choice: in Jasper, either Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Forest Park Hotel; in Kamloops, Kamloops Accommodation; in Banff, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel or equivalent.
How much walking is involved?
Most days are leisure or train-based. Day 2 includes a half-day guided sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park. Walking beyond train boarding and station arrival is minimal.
What are the main scenic highlights?
Yellowhead Pass, Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, Spiral Tunnels, and river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains.

Similar journeys