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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Rocky Mountaineer: Jasper & Banff Loop

Rocky Mountaineer circle through Canadian Rockies, Vancouver to Banff and back

Illustration of Rocky Mountaineer: Jasper & Banff Loop

Great Rail Journeys operates this 13-day escorted tour through western Canada's mountain landscape, departing from and returning to Vancouver. You will travel on the Rocky Mountaineer train on three separate daylight journeys, each featuring glass-domed cars and panoramic views from an outdoor viewing platform. The itinerary moves from Vancouver west through British Columbia's canyons and forests to the Canadian Rockies and the towns of Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. You will spend days exploring Jasper National Park by coach, traveling the Icefields Parkway and standing on the Athabasca Glacier via Ice Explorer. Days in Lake Louise and Banff are left free to pursue activities such as canoeing, wildlife spotting or browsing local shops and restaurants. Hotel options range from simple to Fairmont luxury properties. This trip suits repeat rail travellers drawn to scenic daylight routes, couples seeking a balance of guided experiences and independent time, and photographers eager to capture the Rocky Mountain landscape.

What to know before you look closer

  • The itinerary spans 10 days shown, but the package is priced as 13 days and 12 nights, with 8 nights accounted for in hotels; confirm the structure and what comprises the additional nights before booking.
  • The Ice Explorer excursion on the Athabasca Glacier is included only on departures from mid-May onwards; earlier departures may not include this activity.
  • Hotel options are listed with 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation depends on availability and the tier selected.
  • Day 9 involves a coach transfer to the airport and a transatlantic flight home; Day 10 is arrival in London with no accommodations included.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Arrival in Vancouver

    Your Canadian journey begins in the scenic coastal city of Vancouver. After settling in to your hotel, you can get acquainted with the city independently. Visit Gastown, Stanley Park with its colourful totem poles, or the largest Chinatown in Canada. Vancouver has a varied food scene with top-class seafood including salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab.

    Meals: Breakfast

  2. Day 2overnight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops

    Board the iconic Rocky Mountaineer in Vancouver and travel through lush green forests and dramatic valleys of British Columbia, enjoying panoramic views from glass-domed cars. Relax in your spacious seat and enjoy award-winning service. Look out for Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes along the Thompson River. Arrive in Kamloops in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Jasper

    Rocky Mountaineer to Jasper

    Board Rocky Mountaineer early for your second scenic daylight journey, heading north and east to the Canadian Rockies and Alberta. Follow the North Thompson River through the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Step out onto the outdoor viewing platform for closer views. Highlights include Mount Robson (12,972 ft), Pyramid Falls and the Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park. Arrive in Jasper this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Exploring Jasper National Park

    Explore Jasper independently in the morning – visit the Two Brothers Totem Pole and look out for statues of Jasper the Bear. In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park (UNESCO World Heritage site), taking in Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake and possible wildlife sightings including grey wolves, hoary marmot, caribou and moose.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5overnight: Lake Louise

    Along the incredible Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise

    Depart Jasper by coach along the famous Icefields Parkway (144 miles). On departures from mid-May onwards, enjoy an included Ice Explorer excursion across the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, then take a shuttle to the glass-floored Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Make a brief stop at Bow Lake before arriving in Lake Louise.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Exploring Lake Louise and Banff

    Free morning in Lake Louise to relax or book activities – paddle in an iconic red canoe, learn about local wildlife or soak up views of the turquoise glacial waters. In the afternoon, coach to the mountain resort town of Banff for the rest of the day to explore independently. Visit Main Street's half-timbered shops, restaurants, and optionally Banff's hot springs in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Kamloops

    The amazing journey to Kamloops

    Depart early from Banff on Rocky Mountaineer heading to Kamloops. Travel through ever-changing scenery over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across ranch lands. Highlights include the Continental Divide, Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie (where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven). Arrive in Kamloops in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Vancouver

    Returning to Vancouver

    Continue west towards Vancouver on Rocky Mountaineer. Scenery changes from desert-like interior through winding river canyons and pristine forests to the Cascade and Coast mountains and the lush Fraser Valley. Highlights include the Thompson River slopes and Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Arrive in Vancouver this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9

    Homeward bound

    Enjoy your final morning in Vancouver. Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight back to London Heathrow.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10

    Landing in London

    Land in London today. Your holiday comes to a close and you are free to continue your onward travel home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the Rocky Mountaineer in Vancouver and travel through British Columbia's lush forests and dramatic valleys, passing Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and steep slopes along the Thompson River.
  • Day 3Journey north and east on Rocky Mountaineer toward the Canadian Rockies, with views of Mount Robson at 12,972 feet, Pyramid Falls, and the Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park.
  • Day 4Take a half-day sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, visiting Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake with possible wildlife sightings including wolves, marmots, caribou and moose.
  • Day 5Travel the Icefields Parkway by coach from Jasper to Lake Louise; from mid-May departures, ride the Ice Explorer across the Athabasca Glacier and walk on the glass-floored Columbia Icefield Skywalk.
  • Day 7Depart Banff on Rocky Mountaineer heading to Kamloops, crossing the Continental Divide, passing through the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon, and viewing Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven.

Included

  • 8 nights in hotels on a Bed & Breakfast basis
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver and Vancouver to London Heathrow
  • Rocky Mountaineer rail journeys (Vancouver–Kamloops–Jasper and Banff–Kamloops–Vancouver)
  • Half-day sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park
  • Coach transfer along the Icefields Parkway
  • Ice Explorer excursion on the Athabasca Glacier (from mid-May departures onwards)
  • Columbia Icefield Skywalk shuttle
  • Stop at Bow Lake
  • Coach transfer from Lake Louise to Banff
  • Airport transfer on departure day

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Which trains are included?
Great Rail Journeys includes three Rocky Mountaineer rail journeys: Vancouver to Kamloops to Jasper (Days 2-3), and the return journey Banff to Kamloops to Vancouver (Days 7-8).
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
This is an escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys includes flights, hotels, a half-day sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park, the Icefields Parkway coach journey, and the Ice Explorer and Columbia Icefield Skywalk experiences. However, Days 1, 4, and 6 offer independent exploration time in Vancouver, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff.
What meals are included?
The package includes bed and breakfast basis accommodation for 8 nights. Breakfast is provided each morning of the 10-day itinerary. Lunch and dinner are not included.
What are the hotels?
Hotel options include the Sutton Place Hotel or Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver, The Crimson Jasper or Forest Park Hotel in Jasper, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and The Rimrock Resort or Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff.
When does the tour run?
Great Rail Journeys does not publish a departure calendar in the available information. Contact the operator to confirm available dates and any seasonal variations, such as the Ice Explorer excursion availability from mid-May onwards.
How much walking is involved?
Walking is moderate. The tour includes a half-day sightseeing tour in Jasper National Park, the Ice Explorer and Columbia Icefield Skywalk excursion, and independent exploration of towns and lakeside areas. There are no long hikes listed as part of the itinerary.

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