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Railbookers · Self-guided rail vacation

Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies

Self-guided rail trip through the Canadian Rockies, Edmonton to Calgary

Illustration of Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies

Railbookers runs this 6-day, 5-night self-guided rail vacation across Western Canada, starting in Edmonton and ending in Calgary. After a night in Edmonton, travelers take a one-way VIA Rail journey on The Canadian to Jasper, an Alpine town in Jasper National Park, for two nights that include a city tour and a cruise across Maligne Lake. From Jasper, a road sightseeing tour along the Icefields Parkway leads to Banff, with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier along the way, followed by two nights in Banff that include a guided tour and the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for views of six mountain ranges. The trip ends with a transfer to Calgary airport. This suits travelers who want mountain and glacier scenery paired with guided sightseeing at each stop, rather than a fully independent itinerary, and who are comfortable with only one leg of the journey being by train.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only the Edmonton to Jasper leg of this trip is by train; the Icefields Parkway sightseeing between Jasper and Banff and the transfer to Calgary airport are road journeys.
  • The Maligne Lake and Lake Minnewanka cruises included in the itinerary run only from June to mid-September, so travel outside that window means missing them as described.
  • No current departure dates are listed in the evidence for this trip; confirm availability and exact pricing with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Edmonton

    Your Journey Begins in Edmonton

    Welcome to Canada! Start your journey in the beautiful capital of Alberta, Canada. Enjoy your free time in Edmonton to explore the many parks and museums the city has to offer.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Jasper

    Edmonton to Jasper

    This morning, travel on your own to the train station for the quick journey to Jasper. Upon arrival, drop off your bags at your hotel and take advantage of your free afternoon discovering the Alpine town of Jasper.

  3. Day 3overnight: Jasper

    Jasper, AB

    Today, explore Jasper National Park and indulge in its natural mountainous beauty, soak in the attractions of the Maligne Canyon, and solve the mystery of the disappearing lake during your tour of Jasper and on your cruise across the crystal-clear blue waters of Maligne Lake.

  4. Day 4overnight: Banff

    Jasper to Banff

    Today, enjoy a sightseeing adventure along the Icefields Parkway through the Canadian Rockies as you head to Banff. Voyage through the remnants of the last Ice Age and observe the monuments of rock and ice that still remain today. Enjoy once in a lifetime experience traveling onto the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier on a specially-designed, giant all-terrain Ice Explorer. Stand suspended on the Glacier Skywalk's glass-floored platform 918 feet over the spectacular glacier-formed valleys. An unforgettable experience awaits you today!

  5. Day 5overnight: Banff

    Banff, AB

    Enjoy some of the best sights of the Canadian Rockies on your Banff guided tour today. Learn about culture, geology and wildlife while exploring the spectacular sights of the renowned mountain town of Banff. Then soar up the Banff Gondola to the peak of Sulphur Mountain for a 360-degree view of six mountain ranges and the Bow Valley.

  6. Day 6

    Your Journey Ends in Calgary

    Transfer to Calgary airport for your return trip home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Arrival in the Alpine town of Jasper after a train journey from Edmonton.
  • Day 3A cruise across the crystal-clear waters of Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.
  • Day 4A ride onto the ancient Athabasca Glacier aboard a giant all-terrain Ice Explorer, on the Icefields Parkway route from Jasper to Banff.
  • Day 5The Banff Gondola to the peak of Sulphur Mountain for a 360-degree view of six mountain ranges and the Bow Valley.

Included

  • One-way VIA Rail® in Economy from Edmonton to Jasper on The Canadian® 5 nights' hotel accommodations

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, one leg is included: a one-way VIA Rail journey in Economy class from Edmonton to Jasper on The Canadian. The rest of the trip, including the Icefields Parkway sightseeing and the transfer to Calgary airport, is by road.
Is this trip guided or self-guided?
It is a self-guided rail vacation overall; travelers make their own way between the train station and hotels, but guided sightseeing tours are included in Jasper and Banff.
What is included?
The one-way VIA Rail journey from Edmonton to Jasper, five nights of hotel accommodations, a Jasper city tour and Maligne Lake cruise, the Icefields Parkway tour with an Ice Explorer glacier ride, and a Banff tour with the Gondola and Lake Minnewanka Cruise.
When do the lake cruises run?
The Maligne Lake and Lake Minnewanka cruises run from June to mid-September, per the operator's evidence.
How much does the trip cost?
Prices start from $2,299 per person (USD), about $383 per day.
How many nights does the trip include?
Five nights: one in Edmonton, two in Jasper, and two in Banff.

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