Is the train travel included?

Yes, one VIA Rail journey is included: a scenic 9-hour trip from Jasper to Kamloops with access to the Skyline dome car.

Is this trip escorted or independent?

It's self-drive and independent; no tour manager is stated in the evidence.

VIA Rail, for a single daytime journey from Jasper to Kamloops.

What is not included?

Airfare unless specified, taxes, travel insurance, gratuities for guides and drivers, meals not specifically mentioned, and attractions or entrance fees not listed in the itinerary.

How much walking is involved?

The operator rates the tour as having a low level of physical demand, with a short nature trail to the Spirit Island viewing platform and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk's cliff-edge walkway.

Anderson Vacations · Self-drive tour with one rail segment

Snowy Peaks to Wine Vines and Sunny Beaches Rail Explorer

Self-drive Rockies to Okanagan Valley road trip with one VIA Rail leg

Anderson Vacations offers this 11-day self-drive tour from Calgary through the Canadian Rockies to British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, ending at Sun Peaks before returning to Kamloops. Travellers pick up a rental car in Calgary and drive to Banff for a Lake Minnewanka cruise and the Banff Gondola, then along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, where an Ice Explorer crosses the Athabasca Glacier and an aerial tramway climbs into the alpine tundra, followed by a cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. On day 5 the rental car is returned and a scenic VIA Rail journey carries travellers through the Rockies to Kamloops, where a new rental car continues the route into the Okanagan Valley. The remaining days move through Kelowna, Penticton, Osoyoos and Vernon, each with a free day for wineries, lake activities or desert sightseeing, before Sun Peaks Resort and a return to Kamloops. It suits travellers who want Rockies scenery, one train journey and self-directed time in the Okanagan's wine country.

What to know before you look closer

This is a self-drive itinerary with rental cars picked up and returned separately in Calgary, Jasper (returned before the train) and Kamloops (a new car picked up after the train); only the Jasper to Kamloops leg is by train.
Gratuities for local guides, tour managers and bus drivers, and travel insurance, are listed as not included in the price.
The evidence does not list current departure dates or availability; confirm directly with Anderson Vacations.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Banff
Drive to Banff
Collect your rental car at Calgary International Airport for a scenic drive to Banff, with peaks of the Canadian Rockies coming into view through Alberta. Check into your hotel in the heart of Banff, with the rest of the day free to explore the town's streets, shops and restaurants.
Day 2overnight: Banff
Lake Cruise & Gondola Ride
A panoramic cruise on Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park, with towering peaks, wildlife (bighorn sheep, bald eagles) and stories of native folklore and the submerged village of Minnewanka Landing. Then ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for views of six mountain ranges, an eight-minute gondola cabin journey, ridgetop boardwalk, restaurants, interactive exhibits, a multi-sensory theatre and a 360-degree rooftop observation deck.
Day 3overnight: Jasper
Drive to Jasper
Drive from Banff to Jasper along the historic Bow Valley Parkway, stopping at Lake Louise, then the scenic Icefields Parkway. Visit the Columbia Icefields Discovery Centre and take the Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier, the largest non-polar icefield in the world, followed by the Columbia Icefield Skywalk cliff-edge walkway.
Day 4overnight: Jasper
Jasper SkyTram and Maligne Cruise
Ride Canada's longest and highest aerial tramway into Jasper National Park's alpine tundra for views of six mountain ranges, gaining over 973 meters in elevation. Later, a 14-kilometre cruise along Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, with an onboard guide covering the lake's history, geology and wildlife, and a short nature trail to a viewing platform at Spirit Island.
Day 5railovernight: Kamloops
Train to Kamloops
Return your rental car and board a VIA Rail train for a scenic 9-hour journey from Jasper to Kamloops through the Canadian Rockies, with comfortable, spacious seating, access to the Skyline Car, and food and beverages available for purchase.
Day 6overnight: Kelowna
Okanagan Valley
Pick up the next rental car in Kamloops for a free day exploring the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia, one of the warmest regions in the country, with sandy beaches, golf courses, wineries, ski resorts and swimming on Okanagan Lake.
Day 7overnight: Penticton
Penticton
Drive to Penticton, in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, and check into your hotel with the day free to explore. Penticton is known for views of Okanagan Lake and surrounding vineyards, a scenic waterfront promenade, and water activities such as swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Day 8railovernight: Osoyoos
Osoyoos
A scenic drive to Osoyoos in the southern Okanagan Valley; check into your hotel with the entire day free to explore this desert oasis, known for its warm climate, including the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad and the Osoyoos Desert Centre.
Day 9
Vernon
Journey to Vernon in the North Okanagan region, with Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park's turquoise waters for swimming, kayaking or hiking, and the Greater Vernon Museum & Archives or local galleries and studios for history and culture.
Day 10
Sun Peaks
Head to Sun Peaks Resort in the Thompson-Okanagan region of British Columbia, a year-round destination known for its ski terrain and recreational activities in every season.
Day 11
Depart Kamloops
The journey concludes in Kamloops as the rental car is returned.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2A panoramic cruise on Lake Minnewanka is followed by the Banff Gondola's ascent of Sulphur Mountain for views of six mountain ranges.
Day 3The Icefields Parkway leads to the Columbia Icefields Discovery Centre, where an Ice Explorer vehicle crosses the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk extends over the cliff edge.
Day 4An aerial tramway climbs over 973 meters into Jasper National Park's alpine tundra, and a 14-kilometre cruise on Maligne Lake reaches Spirit Island.
Day 5A scenic 9-hour VIA Rail journey from Jasper to Kamloops crosses the Canadian Rockies with access to the Skyline dome car.
Day 8Osoyoos, a desert oasis in the southern Okanagan Valley, is home to the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad and the Osoyoos Desert Centre.

Included

Accommodation in the listed pre-selected hotels as agreed
All attractions as listed specifically within the itinerary
Sightseeing tours and entrance fees as listed within the tour itinerary
All travel between locations as detailed

Not included

Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
Taxes as applicable (separately mentioned)
Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended)
Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers and/or Bus Drivers
Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?: Yes, one VIA Rail journey is included: a scenic 9-hour trip from Jasper to Kamloops with access to the Skyline dome car.
Is this trip escorted or independent?: It's self-drive and independent; no tour manager is stated in the evidence.
Which train is used?: VIA Rail, for a single daytime journey from Jasper to Kamloops.
What is not included?: Airfare unless specified, taxes, travel insurance, gratuities for guides and drivers, meals not specifically mentioned, and attractions or entrance fees not listed in the itinerary.
How much walking is involved?: The operator rates the tour as having a low level of physical demand, with a short nature trail to the Spirit Island viewing platform and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk's cliff-edge walkway.