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Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Banff

Rocky Mountaineer crosses Canadian Rockies from Vancouver to Calgary in ten days.

Illustration of Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Banff

Rocky Mountaineer's Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery route is a 10-day rail journey through Western Canada that departs from and returns to either Vancouver or Calgary. The itinerary begins with two unguided days in Vancouver, where you can explore Stanley Park, take a ferry to Granville Island, visit historic Gastown, or dine in Yaletown at your own pace. From day three onward, you travel aboard Rocky Mountaineer's GoldLeaf service, a premium rail car, crossing some of North America's most varied terrain. You pass through the Sea to Sky Corridor with views of Howe Sound, travel along the Fraser River through river canyons and farmland, traverse desert-like sections of the Pemberton Valley, and enter the Northern Rockies with sightings of Mount Robson, moose, caribou, and bear habitat. You stay in Fairmont hotels in Vancouver and in the mountain towns of Jasper and Banff. This trip suits luxury seekers, repeat rail travellers, photographers drawn to mountain and forest scenery, and couples who value both guided experiences and free time.

What to know before you look closer

  • Days 1 and 2 in Vancouver are unguided; you explore the city on your own and arrange your own activities.
  • The itinerary ends on day 5 in Jasper; the pack does not provide details for days 6 through 10, which should include Banff and Calgary. Confirm the full route and accommodation with Rocky Mountaineer before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver at leisure

    Arrive in Vancouver and spend time exploring this scenic coastal city on your own. That could be discovering Stanley Park, taking a small ferry to Granville Island, or much more.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver at leisure

    Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. Vancouver has activities for all interests, including visiting historic Gastown, dining in lively Yaletown, or enjoying a walk on the Stanley Park Seawall. No matter what you choose to do, the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean surround you.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Whistler

    Rail: Vancouver to Whistler

    Departing early in the morning, you'll be taken on a breathtaking rail journey through the stunning scenery of the Sea to Sky Corridor. Travel onboard Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to the resort town of Whistler, renowned for outstanding skiing and mountain biking, an array of culinary delights and year-round outdoor activities. Highlights include spectacular views of Howe Sound, the Coast Mountains, Brandywine Falls, Mount Garibaldi and the impressive Cheakamus Canyon. You'll arrive in the early afternoon and the remainder of the day is at your own leisure. Activities: Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (admission included).

  4. Day 4railovernight: Quesnel

    Rail: Whistler to Quesnel

    A pre-arranged motorcoach will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and take you to the Pemberton train station (approximately a 35-minute drive), where you will board the Rocky Mountaineer train and travel to the charming rural town of Quesnel, the gateway to the North Cariboo. Enjoy breathtaking and varied scenery, from the river canyons and lush farmland of the Pemberton Valley, through the desert-like conditions of the Fraser Canyon, to rolling hills and vast ranchlands of the Cariboo Plateau. Highlights include the shorelines of Anderson Lake and glacier-fed Seton Lake, sweeping views of the Fraser Canyon, and the crossing of Deep Creek Bridge, one of the highest railway bridges in the world. Your day concludes as the train follows the banks of the Fraser River into Quesnel.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Jasper

    Rail: Quesnel to Jasper

    Early in the morning, your journey continues eastward to the majestic Canadian Rockies and Jasper National Park. From Quesnel, you will follow the Fraser River north to the town of Prince George, then travel east through the forests of northern British Columbia, home to plentiful wildlife, including a large population of moose, caribou and bears. Upon entering the Rocky Mountain Trench, you are surrounded by the steeply rising Rocky Mountains to the north and the Cariboo Mountains to the south. You'll continue climbing past Mount Robson, at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, through Yellowhead Pass into the province of Alberta. Your rail journey ends on arrival in Jasper in the evening.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Rocky Mountaineer departs Vancouver in the morning and travels through the Sea to Sky Corridor, passing Howe Sound en route to Whistler.
  • Day 4A motorcoach transfers you from Whistler to Pemberton station; the train then follows the Pemberton Valley through river canyons and farmland toward Quesnel.
  • Day 5The journey continues from Quesnel following the Fraser River north to Prince George, then eastward into the Northern Rockies and Jasper National Park, with views of wildlife habitat and Mount Robson.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes travel on Rocky Mountaineer's GoldLeaf service from Vancouver to Calgary. One motorcoach transfer is included on Day 4 from Whistler to Pemberton station.
Is the trip escorted or independent?
It is primarily independent. Days 1 and 2 in Vancouver are entirely self-guided. The train journeys are on Rocky Mountaineer with day-long rail travel; accommodation nights follow in hotels.
What hotels are included?
The pack lists Fairmont Pacific Rim and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (2 nights each in Vancouver), plus one night each in Whistler and Quesnel. Days 6 through 10 include Jasper and Banff; hotel details are not provided in the full itinerary.
How long is the trip?
10 days and 9 nights, with departures available from either Vancouver or Calgary.
What is the starting price?
CAD 7,739 per person (approximately USD 5,449), based on double occupancy in a single room.
What landscapes will I see?
The route passes temperate rainforests, the Sea to Sky Corridor, Howe Sound, river canyons, farmland, desert-like terrain, northern forests, the Fraser River, and the Canadian Rockies including views of Mount Robson, Jasper National Park, and Banff.

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