Canada Rail (canadarail.ca) · Independent Tour

Rockies Adventurer: Eastbound

Rocky Mountaineer and guided Rockies sightseeing tour, Vancouver to Calgary

Rockies Adventurer: Eastbound, a rail journey with Canada Rail (canadarail.ca)

Canada Rail runs this 8-day, 7-night independent rail and coach trip through the Canadian Rockies, from Vancouver to Calgary. After a night in Vancouver, two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer follow the Fraser River through Hell's Gate and past desert-like landscape near Kamloops, then along the Valley of a Thousand Peaks to Jasper, where Mount Robson comes into view. In Jasper, a guided walk covers Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in the Rockies, plus Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake, with the rest of the day free. A tour along the Icefields Parkway to Banff stops at Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier, with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier. From Banff, a day tour crosses the Continental Divide into Yoho National Park, and a Banff sightseeing day adds a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain. With guided touring on most days and free afternoons in Jasper and Banff, this trip suits travelers who want both organized sightseeing and time to explore on their own.

What to know before you look closer

  • The trip highlights mention an overnight stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, but the day-by-day itinerary shows day 6 as a Banff-based day tour to Lake Louise and back, with no overnight stay there; confirm with Canada Rail which is correct.
  • The complimentary Vancouver city tour is only included if you add a second night in Vancouver to the package; the base itinerary has just one Vancouver night.
  • The from-price excludes transportation to the Vancouver airport, meals other than onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, gratuities for hotel and transfer staff, and Canada's 5% sales tax.
  • The evidence does not name the hotels used on this trip, only that 7 nights of accommodation are included.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Vancouver

    Vancouver Arrival

    Arrive in Vancouver, known for its cultural and linguistic diversity. This city is very lively and home to a bustling arts scene so you will find that there is no shortage of things to do and places to explore. When you add a second night in Vancouver to your vacation package you will receive a complimentary Vancouver city tour through Canada Rail Vacations! Popular sites in Vancouver include the urban jungle of Stanley Park, Canada’s largest Chinatown, and the Robson Street Shopping District. Spend tonight in your downtown Vancouver hotel room.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver to Kamloops

    Board the Rocky Mountaineer and feel the ocean air turning into mountain air as you wind through the lush forests of British Columbia. Following along the Fraser River, you will snake along mountain ranges and come to Hell’s Gate– a dramatically narrow chute of charging water. Eventually the forests will give way to a desert-like landscape as the train bends along the Thompson River and arrives in Kamloops, where you will spend the night in your hotel room.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Jasper

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Kamloops to Jasper

    Depart from Kamloops in the morning and travel along the shore of the North Thompson River, passing through charming farming communities and eventually reaching the Valley of a Thousand Peaks. There will be plenty of chances to spot wildlife and you’ll get an exclusive view of Pyramid Falls. As you approach Jasper, Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, will be there to greet you. Spend the next two nights in your Jasper hotel room.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Jasper Sightseeing Tour

    Spend the first half of the day getting to know Jasper! First stop, Maligne Canyon, where 10,000 years of erosion have created the deepest canyon in the Rockies. Start off with a short and easy walk, admiring the Maligne River and its many waterfalls. After that, it’s over to the disappearing Medicine Lake, followed by the fairy tale-like Maligne Lake. The afternoon and evening in Jasper will be free time to enjoy the town at your leisure.

  5. Day 5overnight: Banff

    Sightseeing Tour from Jasper to Banff including Columbia Icefield Excursion

    Today will ride along the most beautiful highway in Canada, the Icefields Parkway. Highlights include stops at the powerful Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. Pose for your new profile picture at one of these breathtaking locations. Arrive at the Athabasca Glacier and climb aboard the Ice Explorer, a specialized bus that travels directly on to the glacier. Relax and listen as your guide explains all about its natural wonders. You’ll spend the next three nights in Banff.

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Banff to Lake Louise tour with and return: Mountains, Lakes, and Waterfalls Tour

    Your motorcoach leaves in the morning and offers you a guided tour of the area between Lake Louise and Banff. Cross the Continental Divide, and pass through Yoho National Park, with sights such as Takakkaw Falls, Kicking Horse Pass, Emerald Lake and the Natural Rock Bridge that spans across the Kicking Horse River.

  7. Day 7overnight: Banff

    Banff Sightseeing Tour and Gondola

    Today you’ll be on a 4.5-hour guided tour through the towering Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade and Norquay Mountains. Learn about the wind-shaped hoodoos and experience Surprise Corner along Tunnel Mountain Drive. Take a gentle gondola ride up to the top of Sulphur Mountain for fantastic views, interpretive boardwalks and photo opportunities. The rest of the afternoon in Banff is yours to spend walking some local trails, playing golf or relaxing as you choose.

  8. Day 8

    Banff to Calgary Scenic Transfer

    Enjoy a brief, scenic transfer to Calgary, Alberta’s liveliest city. Famous for its yearly stampede, this is a city that prides itself on its western charm. Your vacation concludes upon being dropped off either downtown or at the airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Rocky Mountaineer follows the Fraser River through Hell's Gate, a narrow chute of fast-moving water, before the forest gives way to desert-like landscape near Kamloops.
  • Day 3The Rocky Mountaineer passes through the Valley of a Thousand Peaks, with Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, coming into view near Jasper.
  • Day 4A guided walk at Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in the Rockies, is followed by stops at Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.
  • Day 5The Icefields Parkway tour stops at Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier, with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier.
  • Day 7A gondola ride climbs Sulphur Mountain above Banff after a guided tour past the Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade and Norquay Mountains.

Included

  • 2-day Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches onboard the train
  • 7 nights hotel accommodation
  • Complimentary Vancouver tour provided when an additional night in Vancouver is added to your vacation package
  • Jasper Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake tour with a gentle guided walk
  • Icefields Parkway Tour, including Ice Explorer (Scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Lake Louise and Yoho Park Tour from Banff (Scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Banff Tour including Banff Gondola
  • Scenic transfer from Banff to the Calgary airport or downtown
  • Rail station transfers in Vancouver, Kamloops, and Jasper
  • Gratuities/tip for onboard train staff

Not included

  • Transportation to Vancouver airport (available, please ask for details)
  • Meals, other than onboard the Rocky Mountaineer
  • Gratuities/tip for hotel and transfer staff
  • Canadian 5% sales tax

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price of this trip?
Yes. Canada Rail includes two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, from Vancouver to Kamloops to Jasper, with 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches served onboard.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is sold as an independent tour, but most days include a guided sightseeing tour: Jasper's Maligne Canyon, the Icefields Parkway, Yoho National Park, and Banff, with free time in the Jasper and Banff afternoons.
Which train is used on this trip?
The Rocky Mountaineer, traveling from Vancouver to Kamloops to Jasper in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service.
What is included in the price?
2 days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches onboard, 7 nights of hotel accommodation, guided tours of Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake, the Icefields Parkway with Ice Explorer, Lake Louise and Yoho Park, and Banff with its gondola, plus a scenic transfer from Banff to Calgary.
How much walking is involved?
The Jasper tour includes a 'short and easy walk' at Maligne Canyon, and the Banff tour includes a 'gentle gondola ride' up Sulphur Mountain; free afternoons in Banff leave time for optional local trail walking.
When does this trip run?
Canada Rail lists 94 departures, running from April through October in both 2026 and 2027.

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