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Cox & Kings · Tailor-Made Journey

Signature Vancouver to the Rockies by Rail and Road

Rocky Mountaineer rail and self-drive tailor-made journey from Vancouver to Banff

Illustration of Signature Vancouver to the Rockies by Rail and Road

Cox & Kings operates this 12-day, 11-night tailor-made journey from Vancouver to Banff in the Canadian Rockies, built around a two-day ride on the Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service. The trip opens with three days at leisure in Vancouver, including an included floatplane flight over Stanley Park and English Bay, before the train carries travellers from Vancouver to Kamloops and on to Jasper along the Fraser and Thompson Rivers. From Jasper, travellers collect a rental car and self-drive to Lake Louise and Banff, with included stops such as the Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island and the Ice Explorer ride onto the Columbia Icefield. Days are unstructured rather than guided, with free time built in throughout, and the operator rates the overall activity level as leisurely. This suits couples or independent travellers who want one signature train ride paired with the flexibility of driving themselves between mountain towns, rather than a fully escorted coach tour.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only 2 of the 12 days, the Rocky Mountaineer legs from Vancouver to Kamloops and Kamloops to Jasper, are actually spent on the train; from Day 5 onward travelers collect a rental car and self-drive between Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff.
  • The included car rental is described as a 'Premium car rental package with Q4 Toyota RAV4 (or similar)', so the exact vehicle may vary.
  • The evidence lists seasonal price tiers for May, June through August, and September, but no specific departure dates or availability; confirm current dates with Cox & Kings.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver (L'Hermitage Hotel)

    Arrive Vancouver

    Arrive in Vancouver and transfer to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to discover the city at your own pace.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vancouver (L'Hermitage Hotel)

    Vancouver

    On your first full day, you'll take to the skies on an included floatplane flight from Vancouver's Coal Harbour, lifting off beside the city's gleaming towers for sweeping views of Stanley Park, English Bay, the Lions Gate Bridge and the North Shore Mountains.

  3. Day 3overnight: Vancouver (L'Hermitage Hotel)

    Vancouver

    Enjoy Vancouver as you please today. Stroll the seawall in Stanley Park, explore the galleries and markets of Granville Island, or wander between Gastown's heritage charm and Yaletown's sleek boutiques.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Kamloops

    Arrive Kamloops

    Board the included Rocky Mountaineer train this morning – complete with Gold Leaf Service upgrade – and glide out of Vancouver into the fertile farmlands of the Fraser River Valley, continuing beside the Thompson River before arriving in the rail town of Kamloops.

  5. Day 5overnight: Jasper (Forest Park Hotel)

    Arrive Jasper

    Rejoin the Rocky Mountaineer and follow the Thompson River through sunlit plateaus towards the snow-clad Monashee Mountains. By late afternoon, arrive in Jasper, collect your hire car, and settle into your hotel.

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper (Forest Park Hotel)

    Jasper

    Today, set out on a 90-minute included voyage along Maligne Lake, drifting past forested slopes and through the narrowing channel of Samson Narrows. Step ashore for a short walk to its celebrated viewpoint at Spirit Island.

  7. Day 7overnight: Jasper (Forest Park Hotel)

    Jasper

    A full day to explore the wilderness of Jasper National Park as you wish. You might hike a forested trail, drift down the Athabasca River on a gentle float, or visit Pyramid Lake.

  8. Day 8overnight: Lake Louise (Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise)

    Arrive Lake Louise

    Wind along the spine of the Rockies. Your included activities today see you step onto ancient glaciers aboard the Ice Explorer, then dare the vertiginous heights of the Glacier Skywalk, suspended almost a thousand feet above the Sunwapta Valley.

  9. Day 9overnight: Banff (Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa)

    Arrive Banff

    Morning light dances across Lake Louise's turquoise waters. Later, our local experts suggest taking the scenic Bow Valley Parkway route between Lake Louise and Banff, stopping at Johnston Canyon.

  10. Day 10overnight: Banff (Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa)

    Banff

    Enjoy a serene morning on the Bow River with an included Big Canoe tour. Paddle upstream while a certified guide shares stories of the region's history and local insights.

  11. Day 11overnight: Banff (Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa)

    Banff

    A flexible final day in Banff. You might choose to join an experience you missed the previous day, visit the historic Cave and Basin National Historic Site, or simply relax at your lodge.

  12. Day 12

    Fly home

    Today marks the conclusion of your Rocky Mountain adventure. Take in the final vistas as you drive toward Calgary Airport, where you'll return your rental car and prepare for your overnight flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2An included floatplane flight lifts off from Coal Harbour for views of Stanley Park, English Bay, the Lions Gate Bridge and the North Shore Mountains.
  • Day 4The Rocky Mountaineer, upgraded to GoldLeaf Service, departs Vancouver through the Fraser River Valley and along the Thompson River to Kamloops.
  • Day 6A 90-minute cruise on Maligne Lake passes through the narrowing Samson Narrows to the Spirit Island viewpoint.
  • Day 8An Ice Explorer ride onto the Columbia Icefield is followed by the Glacier Skywalk, suspended almost a thousand feet above the Sunwapta Valley.
  • Day 10An included Big Canoe tour paddles upstream on the Bow River with a certified guide.

Included

  • Scheduled international flights
  • Superior accommodation
  • Premium car rental package with Q4 Toyota RAV4 (or similar)
  • Scenic floatplane flight over Vancouver
  • Rocky Mountaineer train journey in GoldLeaf Service
  • Return transfers between rail depot and hotel in Kamloops
  • Transfer between rail depot and hotel in Jasper
  • Maligne Lake Cruise in Jasper
  • Ice Explorer Ride and visit to the Glacier Skywalk from Jasper
  • River Explorer Canoe Tour in Banff

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Cox & Kings includes a Rocky Mountaineer journey in GoldLeaf Service from Vancouver to Jasper via Kamloops.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is a tailor-made journey. Vancouver sightseeing and the rail leg are set, and from Jasper travelers pick up a rental car and self-drive to Lake Louise and Banff.
Which train is used?
The Rocky Mountaineer, in GoldLeaf Service, running from Vancouver to Jasper via Kamloops.
What hotels are used?
L'Hermitage Hotel in Vancouver (3 nights), a Kamloops hotel (1 night), Forest Park Hotel in Jasper (3 nights), the 5-star Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (1 night), and the 4-star Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa (3 nights).
When does it run?
The evidence lists priced departures for May, June through August, and September.
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates the overall activity level as Leisurely, with short walks such as the approach to Spirit Island, and optional activities like a forest hike on the free day in Jasper.

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