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Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

Rainforest to Gold Rush Grand Adventure

Rail journey from Vancouver to Calgary through Canadian Rockies and rainforests

Illustration of Rainforest to Gold Rush Grand Adventure

Rocky Mountaineer's 12-day Rainforest to Gold Rush Grand Adventure departs Vancouver and arrives in Calgary, traveling eastbound through Western Canada's most dramatic landscapes. The journey spans 11 nights and combines guided rail travel on the GoldLeaf service with leisure time in each destination. Your first two days unfold in Vancouver at your own pace, exploring the coastal city and its parks and neighborhoods. On day 3, the train departs at dawn for Whistler, crossing the Sea to Sky Corridor with views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. From there the route winds through the Pemberton Valley's river canyons and desert-like terrain to Quesnel, then follows the Fraser River north through moose and caribou country before entering the Rocky Mountain Trench and climbing toward Jasper National Park. The package includes stays in Fairmont properties in Vancouver and accommodation in the mountain towns of Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff, making it well-suited to luxury-seeking rail travelers and photographers drawn to the transition from temperate rainforest to alpine terrain.

What to know before you look closer

  • The itinerary provided covers only the first 5 of 12 days; the pack does not detail stays in Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise, or the final leg to Calgary
  • Days 1 and 2 in Vancouver are entirely unguided; you arrange your own activities
  • A 35-minute motorcoach transfer from Whistler to Pemberton train station is required on day 4

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 3Day 3: Rocky Mountaineer departs Vancouver at dawn, crossing the Sea to Sky Corridor to Whistler with views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains
  • Day 4Day 4: The train travels from Pemberton through the Pemberton Valley's river canyons and farmland into desert-like terrain on the way to Quesnel
  • Day 5Day 5: The route follows the Fraser River north through northern British Columbia forests, then enters the Rocky Mountain Trench toward Jasper National Park

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf service is included. You travel on the train from Vancouver to Calgary (or vice versa) with stops in Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise.
What hotels are included?
The package lists stays at Fairmont Pacific Rim and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (two nights each in Vancouver), plus accommodation in Whistler, Quesnel, and further stops. The complete hotel roster for all 12 days is not detailed in the operator's published information.
Is this a guided tour or independent travel?
It is a mix. Days 1 and 2 are entirely self-directed. Train travel is included with onboard service. The pack does not specify whether other stops include guides or remain independent.
When does the tour operate?
The pack lists no specific departure dates or seasons.
How much walking is involved?
Days in Vancouver and mountain towns allow free exploration on foot. A 35-minute motorcoach transfer occurs on day 4. No strenuous hikes are mentioned.
What is the price?
From CAD 10,664 per person (approximately USD 7,509), based on double occupancy. This is an estimated price; confirm current availability and rates with Rocky Mountaineer.

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