Canada Rail (canadarail.ca) · Independent tour

Rockies Relaxer: Westbound

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

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

Canada Rail Vacations operates this 10-day, 9-night independent rail vacation from Calgary to Vancouver through the Canadian Rockies. After arriving in Calgary, a guided tour in Banff covers the Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade, and Norquay Mountains with a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain, followed by a drive through Yoho National Park to two nights at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. A free day in Lake Louise leaves canoeing, hiking, or relaxing up to you, before the Icefields Parkway carries the group to Jasper with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier along the way. In Jasper, a guided walk at Maligne Canyon takes in Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake, and the trip's final two days are spent aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, traveling from Jasper to Kamloops and on to Vancouver past Hell's Gate. 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.
  • The base package uses Popular Hotels (3-star), with a Superior Hotel upgrade in Lake Louise included; Superior, Deluxe, and GoldLeaf Train Service upgrades cost more.
  • 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.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Calgary

    Arrival in Calgary

    After arriving at the Calgary International Airport and checking into your downtown hotel you will have the rest of the day to explore! Combining western charm with urban amenities, Calgary is home to many unique spots. Spend 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.

  2. Day 2overnight: Banff

    Scenic Transfer from Calgary to Banff

    Explore Calgary in the morning before boarding a bus on route to Banff. This will be a quick and scenic trip and the rest of the day is yours to explore Banff. This charming little mountain town is home to lots of different dining options, walking trails and the Banff Upper Hot Springs, an outdoor hot pool with a great view of Mount Rundle.

  3. Day 3overnight: 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.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lake Louise

    Banff to Lake Louise: Mountains, Lakes and Waterfalls Tour

    Your bus leaves in the morning and offers you a guided tour of the area between Banff and Lake Louise. Cross the Continental Divide, and pass through Yoho National Park offering scenic 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 at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

  5. Day 5overnight: 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 vacation planner can give recommendations and help you arrange whatever kind of activity you choose.

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper

    Sightseeing Tour from Lake Louise to Jasper including Columbia Icefields Excursion

    Today you're riding along the most beautiful highway in Canada, the Icefields Parkway. Highlights include stops at Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, The Columbia Icefield and the powerful Athabasca Falls. While at the Athabasca Glacier, climb aboard the Ice Explorer, a specialized bus that travels directly on to the glacier.

  7. Day 7overnight: 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.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Jasper to Kamloops

    Raise your glass to your first day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer! Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the region, will greet you as you begin your train journey. Dine on locally-sourced meals and enjoy complimentary drinks as you head west through the Canadian Rockies with snow-covered peaks and mountain streams keeping you company along the way. You'll eventually begin your descent out of the mountains to spend the night in your Kamloops hotel room.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Vancouver

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Kamloops to Vancouver

    The mountains return and combine with thick fir forests and the mighty 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 and check into your hotel.

  10. Day 10

    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 3A 4.5-hour guided tour through the Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade, and Norquay Mountains, including a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain.
  • Day 6An Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, on the Icefields Parkway drive from Lake Louise to Jasper.
  • Day 7A guided walk at Maligne Canyon, the deepest accessible canyon in the Rockies, followed by Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.
  • Day 8The first day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper to Kamloops, greeted by Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the region.
  • Day 9The second day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Kamloops to Vancouver, passing Hell's Gate on the Fraser River.

Included

  • 2-day Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches onboard the train
  • 9 nights hotel accommodation
  • Complimentary Vancouver tour when an additional night in Vancouver is added
  • 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)
  • 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 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 the train travel included?
Yes, two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, from Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops, in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent tour. Calgary arrival and the Lake Louise free day are on your own, while Banff, Yoho, Icefields Parkway, and Jasper sightseeing are pre-arranged.
Which train and class are used?
The Rocky Mountaineer, in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, from Jasper to Kamloops to Vancouver.
What hotels are used?
Popular Hotels (3-star) is the base tier, with a Superior Hotel upgrade at Lake Louise's Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise included; Superior, Deluxe, and GoldLeaf Train Service upgrades cost extra.
What meals are included?
2 breakfasts and 2 lunches, both served onboard the Rocky Mountaineer.
When does it run?
94 departures, running April to October in both 2026 and 2027.

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