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Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

Rainforest to Gold Rush Excursion

Eight-day rail journey from Vancouver to Edmonton aboard Rocky Mountaineer

Illustration of Rainforest to Gold Rush Excursion

Rocky Mountaineer's Rainforest to Gold Rush Excursion is an 8-day, 7-night journey across Canada from Vancouver to Edmonton, combining three days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train in GoldLeaf class with stays in four cities. The trip opens with two days of independent exploration in Vancouver, where the Coast Mountains and Pacific Ocean frame the city. You then board Rocky Mountaineer for a rail journey that departs early and travels through the Sea to Sky Corridor to Whistler, a mountain resort town. The following day, a motorcoach collects you from your hotel and takes you to Pemberton station; from there, Rocky Mountaineer continues to Quesnel, a rural gateway town in the Cariboo. Day 5 carries you eastward through northern British Columbia forests along the Fraser River toward Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies. A half-day sightseeing tour of Jasper is included, followed by a final day in Edmonton. This itinerary suits travellers seeking premium rail travel paired with time to explore independently and those who want to see the Canadian landscape from coast to mountains without constant guided structure.

What to know before you look closer

  • Days 1 and 2 in Vancouver and Day 6 in Jasper are unguided; the operator specifies 'free time to relax or book your own activities'.
  • The itinerary provided in the evidence pack is incomplete; Day 6 in Jasper and Day 7 in Edmonton have no description beyond the half-day tour and overnight locations.
  • No departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm availability 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 early and travels through the Sea to Sky Corridor to Whistler, with views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains.
  • Day 4A motorcoach collects you from Whistler and takes you to Pemberton station; from there, Rocky Mountaineer travels to Quesnel through the Pemberton Valley's river canyons and farmland.
  • Day 5Rocky Mountaineer continues eastward from Quesnel along the Fraser River and through northern British Columbia forests toward Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies, with views of Mount Robson.

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Three days aboard Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf class are included: Vancouver to Whistler, Whistler to Quesnel, and Quesnel to Jasper. A motorcoach transfer is required from Whistler to Pemberton station.
Is the trip escorted or independent?
A mix of both. Days 1, 2, and 6 are independent with free time in Vancouver and Jasper. Rail days are fully arranged, and a half-day sightseeing tour is included in Jasper National Park.
Which hotels are included?
Rocky Mountaineer includes stays at Fairmont Pacific Rim or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (both 5-star, 2 nights), plus accommodation in Whistler, Quesnel, and Jasper. The pack does not name the Whistler, Quesnel, or Jasper hotels beyond listing their locations.
When does this trip run?
No departure dates are published in the operator's evidence.
Can I start in Edmonton instead of Vancouver?
Yes. Rocky Mountaineer states the journey can begin or end in either Vancouver or Edmonton.
How much walking or physical activity is involved?
Days 1 and 2 in Vancouver are self-guided and walking-dependent based on activities you choose. A half-day sightseeing tour in Jasper is included; the operator does not specify the walking distance or difficulty. A motorcoach transfer to Pemberton station is required on Day 4.

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