Canada Rail (canadarail.ca) · Independent Tour

Rockies Relaxer: Eastbound

10-day Rocky Mountaineer and Rockies touring circle, Vancouver to Calgary

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

Canada Rail Vacations operates this 10-day, 9-night independent rail vacation from Vancouver to Calgary through the Canadian Rockies. Two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, carry travelers from Vancouver through the Fraser Valley and Hell's Gate to Kamloops, then on to Jasper with a view of Mount Robson on arrival. From Jasper, a guided walk at Maligne Canyon, the deepest accessible canyon in the Rockies, is followed by a scenic drive along the Icefields Parkway, including an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, before two nights at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. A free day in Lake Louise leaves canoeing, hiking, or simply relaxing up to you, before a tour through Yoho National Park to Banff and a final guided tour with a Sulphur Mountain gondola ride. This suits travelers who want a longer, unhurried circuit through the Rockies with both structured sightseeing and free time built in.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only 4 meals are included across the 10-day trip, 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches, both served onboard the Rocky Mountaineer; other meals are on your own.
  • For departures from late-October to early-May, the Icefields Parkway and Yoho Park stops are run as plain scenic transfers rather than the Ice Explorer glacier excursion and stop-and-look tour described here.
  • Only the Lake Louise hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, is named in the evidence; hotels used in Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper, Banff, and Calgary are not specified.

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. Popular sites in Vancouver include the urban jungle of Stanley Park, Canada’s largest Chinatown, and the Robson Street Shopping District. 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 tonight in your downtown Vancouver hotel room.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver to Kamloops

    Board the Rocky Mountaineer train in the morning and say goodbye to the coast! Your journey begins through the lush mountainsides of Fraser Valley where you will travel alongside the salmon-filled waters of the Fraser River. Enjoy fresh, gourmet meals served aboard the train as you travel through river canyons carved into some of Canada’s most glorious mountain ranges. Passing by geographic attractions like Hell’s Gate and through distinct ecological environments, you’ll eventually reach the drier habitat of the interior plateau. You’re spending tonight in your Kamloops 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: Lake Louise

    Sightseeing Tour from Jasper to Lake Louise including Columbia Icefields 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. You’ll be sleeping in style in your room at the picturesque Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for the next two nights

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lake Louise

    Free Day in Lake Louise

    Choose how you want to spend the day! Options include canoeing, hiking a scenic mountain trail or hanging back, relaxing, and taking some pictures. Your Canada Rail Vacations vacation planner can give recommendations and help you arrange whatever kind of activity you choose.

  7. Day 7overnight: Banff

    Lake Louise to Banff: Mountains, Lakes and Waterfalls Tour

    Our 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.

  8. Day 8overnight: 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.

  9. Day 9overnight: Calgary

    Scenic Transfer from Banff to Calgary

    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. Spend the rest of the day strolling through Prince’s Island Park and along the Bow River, get a great view of the city from the Calgary Tower or check out one of the many trendy neighborhoods such as Kensington or Inglewood. Spend the night in your Calgary hotel room.

  10. Day 10

    Calgary Departure

    Your tour is completed once you check out from your Calgary hotel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The first day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Kamloops, passing through the Fraser Valley and Hell's Gate.
  • Day 3The second day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Kamloops to Jasper, with a view of Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, on arrival.
  • Day 4A guided walk at Maligne Canyon, the deepest accessible canyon in the Rockies, followed by Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.
  • Day 5An Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, on the Icefields Parkway drive from Jasper to Lake Louise.
  • Day 8A guided tour through the Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade, and Norquay Mountains, including a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain.

Included

  • 2-day Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches onboard the train
  • 9 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 guided walk
  • Icefields Parkway Tour, including Ice Explorer (Scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Yoho Park Tour from Lake Louise to Banff (Scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Banff Tour including Banff Gondola
  • Scenic transfer from Calgary airport or downtown to Banff
  • Rail station transfers in Vancouver, Kamloops and Jasper
  • Gratuities/tip for onboard train staff

Not included

  • Transportation from 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 the train travel included?
Yes, two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, from Vancouver to Jasper via Kamloops, in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent tour. Vancouver arrival and the day 6 free day in Lake Louise are on your own, while Jasper, Icefields Parkway, Yoho, and Banff sightseeing are pre-arranged tours.
Which train and class are used?
The Rocky Mountaineer, in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, from Vancouver to Kamloops to Jasper.
What hotels are used?
Only the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is named, for 2 nights in Lake Louise; other hotels in the itinerary are not specified in the available details.
What meals are included?
2 breakfasts and 2 lunches, both served onboard the Rocky Mountaineer; other meals are on your own.
When does it run?
93 departures, running April to October in both 2026 and 2027.

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