Canada Rail (canadarail.ca) · Independent Tour

Rockies Circle Train Adventurer

12-day Rocky Mountaineer circle tour from Vancouver through Jasper and Banff

Rockies Circle Train Adventurer, a rail journey with Canada Rail (canadarail.ca)

Canada Rail Vacations runs this 12-day independent circle tour that starts and ends in Vancouver, tracing a loop through Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and Kamloops. Five of the twelve days are spent aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf service, with the remaining days built around guided sightseeing and free time. Day five walks the short, easy path through Maligne Canyon and past Maligne Lake in Jasper, and day six rides the Ice Explorer directly onto the Athabasca Glacier along the Icefields Parkway. Two nights are spent at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, with a free day built in for travelers who want to hike or canoe on their own schedule. The pace mixes one-night rail stops with longer two-night stays in Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff, suiting travelers who want a full circuit of the Rockies with both scheduled touring and unstructured time, rather than a single point-to-point rail ride.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one hotel is named in the evidence, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for the two Lake Louise nights; the hotels used in Vancouver, Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper, Banff and Kamloops are not specified.
  • Gratuities for hotel and transfer staff and Canada's 5% sales tax are listed as not included, on top of the advertised from-price.
  • The CAD 12,781 (about USD 8,999) from-price is the lowest of 22 listed departures; other 2026 dates run up to CAD 15,341.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Vancouver

    Vancouver Arrival

    This diverse and metropolitan sea port is the perfect starting point for your journey through Western Canada. Stroll along the downtown beaches that overlook the coastal mountain ranges or go shopping on Granville Island. When you add a second night in Vancouver to your vacation package, you will receive a complimentary Vancouver city tour through Canada Rail Vacations! Overnight in your hotel room in downtown Vancouver.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Whistler

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver to Whistler

    Today you’ll begin your journey to Jasper. Travel along the Sea to Sky corridor, with the Coast Mountains on your right and the sparkling waters of an ocean inlet to your left. Enjoy a locally-sourced, gourmet breakfast aboard the train as you relax and take in your surroundings. Later you’ll arrive in Whistler and be transferred to your hotel room. This bustling resort town is known for its fine dining, nightlife, and outdoor activities.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Quesnel

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Whistler to Quesnel

    Today is another day spent aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Mount Currie looms over the rich Pemberton Valley and you’ll be tempted to touch the crystal-clear waters of the passing lakes. Ginseng orchards grace the hilltops above tiny farming communities and you’ll pass over one of the highest railway bridges in the world. Your choice of beverages flow as this region of untouched natural beauty unfolds before you. Overnight in your hotel room in the rural town of Quesnel.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Jasper

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Quesnel to Jasper

    The rolling hills leading up to the city of Prince George are accented by the salmon-rich waters of the Fraser River. Keep an eye out for wildlife through the Valley of a Thousand Peaks and view the dramatic Mount Terry Fox. Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, will greet you as you approach the town of Jasper. You will spend the next two nights in your Jasper hotel room.

  5. Day 5overnight: 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.

  6. Day 6overnight: Lake Louise

    Sightseeing Tour from Jasper to Lake Louise including Columbia Icefield Excursion

    Today you’re riding 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. For the next two nights, you’ll be sleeping in style in your room at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

  7. Day 7overnight: Lake Louise

    Free Day in Lake Louise

    Choose how you want to spend the day! Spend the day canoeing or hiking a scenic mountain trail or hang back, relax and take some pictures. Your vacation planner can give recommendations and help you arrange whatever kind of activity you choose.

  8. Day 8overnight: Banff

    Lake Louise to Banff: 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. You will spend the next two nights in your hotel in the famously friendly Town of Banff.

  9. Day 9overnight: Banff

    Banff Sightseeing Tour including 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.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Banff to Kamloops

    You’re back on the Rocky Mountaineer! Toast to another breathtaking trip through the Rockies with your hosts and enjoy an uncompromised view of the untouched landscapes our country is famous for. Learning about landmarks like the Spiral Tunnels and Glacier National Park as you view them from your dome car will add a sense of awe to your ride. Spend the night in your Kamloops hotel room.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Vancouver

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Kamloops to Vancouver

    The mountains return and combine with thick fir forests and the Fraser River to create a spectacular setting for your last day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Today, one of the highlights will be passing by Hell’s Gate, a narrow canyon that transforms the Fraser River into a powerful surge of water rapids. Arrive in Vancouver in the late afternoon. When you add a second night in Vancouver to your vacation package, you will receive a complimentary Vancouver city tour through Canada Rail Vacations! Spend the night in your downtown Vancouver hotel room.

  12. Day 12

    Vancouver Departure

    Your tour ends once you’ve checked out of your hotel. Thank you for traveling with us!

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Rocky Mountaineer runs the Sea to Sky corridor out of Vancouver, with the Coast Mountains on one side and an ocean inlet on the other.
  • Day 5A guided walk through Maligne Canyon in Jasper, described as 10,000 years of erosion forming the deepest canyon in the Rockies.
  • Day 6The Ice Explorer, a specialized bus, drives directly onto the Athabasca Glacier on the Icefields Parkway tour.
  • Day 9A gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff, with interpretive boardwalks and photo opportunities.
  • Day 11The train passes Hell's Gate, a narrow canyon where the Fraser River becomes a powerful surge of rapids.

Included

  • 5-day Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf Service (Banff to Vancouver route only) or GoldLeaf Service (both routes)
  • 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 light meal
  • 11 nights hotel accommodation
  • Icefields Parkway Tour including Ice Explorer (Scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Jasper Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake walk
  • Complimentary Vancouver tour provided when an additional night in Vancouver is added to your vacation package (pre or post-tour)
  • Yoho National Park Tour from Lake Louise to Banff (Scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Banff Tour including Banff Gondola
  • Rail station transfers in Vancouver, Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper, Banff, and Kamloops
  • Gratuities/tip for onboard train staff

Not included

  • Transportation from Vancouver airport
  • Meals, other than onboard trains
  • Gratuities/tip for hotel and transfer staff
  • Canadian 5% sales tax

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes 5 days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, covering Vancouver to Whistler, Whistler to Quesnel, Quesnel to Jasper, Banff to Kamloops and Kamloops to Vancouver.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is listed as an Independent Tour, with guided sightseeing days in Jasper and Banff alongside free time such as the Lake Louise free day.
Which trains are used?
The Rocky Mountaineer, in SilverLeaf Service on the Banff to Vancouver leg or GoldLeaf Service across all legs.
What hotels are included?
The evidence names one hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, for the two nights in Lake Louise; other city hotels are not specified.
When does it run?
22 departures are listed from April through October 2026, priced from CAD 12,781 to CAD 15,341.
What is not included?
Transportation from the Vancouver airport, meals other than onboard the train, gratuities for hotel and transfer staff, and Canada's 5% sales tax.

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