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Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Lake Louise

10-day Rocky Mountaineer journey from Vancouver to Calgary through Canadian Rockies

Illustration of Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Lake Louise

Rocky Mountaineer operates this 10-day Western Canada rail package, departing Vancouver or Calgary and traveling the reverse route back, through the temperate rainforests, river canyons, and Alpine scenery of British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. The journey spans nine nights, mixing unguided exploration and rail travel: you spend the first two days in Vancouver at leisure, then board the GoldLeaf-service train to travel through the Sea to Sky Corridor to Whistler, onward through the North Cariboo, and into Jasper and Lake Louise, before reaching Calgary. Accommodation includes five-star Fairmont hotels in Vancouver and mountain lodges at each stop. The itinerary suits independent travellers who value luxury comfort and self-directed time as much as scenic rail days, as well as repeat rail travellers familiar with all-day onboard dining and observation decks. Photographers will find the route's diversity compelling: coastal Howe Sound, river canyons, desert-like terrain, northern forests, and Alpine peaks.

What to know before you look closer

  • The itinerary in the evidence pack ends on Day 5 (Jasper overnight); the operator publishes no day-by-day details for Days 6-10 (Lake Louise stay and the journey to Calgary). Confirm the complete route and final accommodations with Rocky Mountaineer before booking.
  • Day 4 includes a 35-minute motorcoach transfer from Whistler to Pemberton station before boarding the train.
  • Pricing shown is per person based on twin-share room occupancy; a single-occupancy supplement is not detailed in the available evidence.

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 1Arrive in Vancouver and spend two free days exploring the scenic coastal city; the Coast Mountains and Pacific Ocean frame the experience.
  • Day 3Rocky Mountaineer departs early from Vancouver and travels through the Sea to Sky Corridor to Whistler, with views of Howe Sound and the Coast Range.
  • Day 4Travel from Pemberton via Rocky Mountaineer through river canyons, farmland, and desert-like terrain to Quesnel, gateway to the North Cariboo.
  • Day 5Journey from Quesnel along the Fraser River through northern British Columbia forests to Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of GBP 6,433 (approx. USD 8,591) includes all Rocky Mountaineer rail travel in GoldLeaf service and accommodation at Fairmont and resort hotels.
Which trains and routes does this package use?
Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf service operates from Vancouver to Calgary (or Calgary to Vancouver). The route passes through Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper, and Lake Louise.
What are the hotels included?
The package includes stays at Fairmont Pacific Rim or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (2 nights each), plus one night each in Whistler and Quesnel. Jasper and Lake Louise accommodations are named in the highlights but not detailed in the published day-by-day itinerary.
Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?
It is a package combining train travel and hotel stays. Days 1 and 2 in Vancouver are free time to explore at your own pace. Train segments and motorcoach transfers are pre-arranged; hotel check-ins are self-directed.
How much walking or physical activity is required?
Most travel days are spent onboard the train in observation cars. Free days in Vancouver allow you to choose your own activity level, from a relaxing walk on the Stanley Park Seawall to more active exploration of the city.

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