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First Class Holidays · Rail & Coach Tour

Rockies Circle by Rail

Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail through Canadian Rockies, Vancouver to Jasper

Illustration of Rockies Circle by Rail

First Class Holidays operates this six-day rail and coach journey that combines two of Canada's most celebrated train experiences. You depart Vancouver on the all-daylight Rocky Mountaineer, riding in Silverleaf class through the Fraser Canyon and across the Kicking Horse Pass to Banff. There you personalise your day by choosing from five guided sightseeing options, from a Banff wildlife tour and gondola ride to a small-group hike with picnic lunch or a cowboy cookout. On Day 4, you travel by coach to Jasper, where the itinerary includes an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier and a visit to the Glacier Skywalk. That evening, you board VIA Rail's Canadian, a historic overnight train with original 1950s steel cars and a dome car for viewing. Your private cabin becomes a bedroom for the night as the Canadian travels the Yellowhead route past Mount Robson, arriving in Vancouver on the morning of Day 6. A tour director and driver accompany you throughout, making this a guided-comfort journey that suits rail enthusiasts, couples, and photographers seeking extended viewing of the Canadian Rockies.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights to and from Canada are not included in the package price.
  • Most meals and some sightseeing experiences are not included; Day 3 offers a choice of five excursions, but only the selected option is covered.
  • Day 3 activities range from moderate (Discover Banff tour and gondola) to more strenuous (Signature Guided Hike); confirm your choice matches your fitness level before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer

    Early this morning board Rocky Mountaineer for the scenic rail journey to Kamloops in the interior of British Columbia. Pass through the rich fields of the Fraser River Valley and the towering peaks of the Coastal Mountains before entering the Fraser Canyon. Follow the Thompson River through spectacular landscapes to historic Kamloops.

  2. Day 2overnight: Banff

    Rocky Mountaineer

    Departing Kamloops, follow the South Thompson River to Shuswap Lake with its thousand miles of shoreline. The Kicking Horse River leads you to Kicking Horse Pass, the Spiral Tunnels, then over the Continental Divide to Banff and Banff National Park.

  3. Day 3overnight: Banff

    Banff

    Today you can personalise your day by choosing 1 of 5 excursions. Choose from Discover Banff & It's Wildlife Tour and Banff Gondola; Banff National Park Explorer; Moraine Lake & Lake Louise; Cowboy Horseback Cookout BBQ Lunch or Dinner or Signature Guided Hike, a Small Group Hike with Picnic Lunch.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Jasper

    Depart on a full day sightseeing with picnic lunch. Included is a stop at the Athabasca Glacier for an Ice Explorer ride and the Glacier Skywalk.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Aboard VIA Rail (overnight train)

    VIA Rail

    This morning, board VIA Rail's Canadian train for the journey from Jasper to Vancouver. Using the original steel railcars from the 1950s, sit back and relax in the dome car to enjoy a dramatic change in scenery as you travel the 'Yellowhead' route past the sprawling grandeur of Mount Robson. Your private cabin will be transformed into a bedroom for the overnight journey.

  6. Day 6rail

    Arrive Vancouver

    Waking to the coastal city of Vancouver today, your tour ends upon arrival at VIA Rail station.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Rocky Mountaineer in Vancouver and travel through the Fraser Canyon and Coastal Mountains to Kamloops.
  • Day 2Follow the South Thompson River and Kicking Horse River to the Spiral Tunnels and Continental Divide, arriving in Banff.
  • Day 4Ride an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and visit the Glacier Skywalk in Jasper.
  • Day 5Board VIA Rail's Canadian in a private cabin for the overnight journey from Jasper to Vancouver, passing Mount Robson on the Yellowhead route.

Included

  • 4 nights hotel accommodation
  • Rocky Mountaineer Silverleaf rail journey
  • 3 sightseeing experiences
  • Modern coach travel with experienced driver and tour director

Not included

  • Flights to/from Canada
  • Meals and sightseeing not shown as included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes the Rocky Mountaineer Silverleaf service from Vancouver to Banff and a private cabin on VIA Rail's Canadian from Jasper to Vancouver.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. First Class Holidays provides a tour director and experienced coach driver throughout the journey.
What is included in the package?
Four nights of hotel accommodation, both train journeys, modern coach travel, and three sightseeing experiences: a choice of one on Day 3 in Banff, and the Jasper glacier and skywalk experience on Day 4.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary includes city walking in Banff and Jasper, plus optional activities ranging from moderate to strenuous. Day 4 includes an Ice Explorer ride (you board a vehicle on the glacier) and the Glacier Skywalk.
What hotels are included?
The pack lists four nights of hotel accommodation but does not name specific properties. Confirm the accommodation details with First Class Holidays.

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