First Passage to the West rail journey with Rocky Mountaineer

All aboard! Take your seat on the world-famous train

Bookend a two-day railway journey westward through the Rocky Mountains with stays in Calgary and Vancouver.

Touch down in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, spending a night in Calgary. You’ll transfer to Banff, a sensationally beautiful wonderland, where you have two days to explore the delightful town and the wilderness beyond. From Banff, you’ll board the famous Rocky Mountaineer on a journey to Vancouver that’ll take two days through remarkable landscapes, disembarking overnight to stay at a hotel in Kamloops. A city break in Vancouver finishes your trip in style.

Tour type Rail

Duration 7 nights

Visiting Calgary, Banff, Kamloops, Vancouver

Interest Rail Journey

Pairing a Rockies railway journey with a city break in Vancouver

Recommended itinerary

Calgary

A city stopover

Your holiday starts in Calgary in the Canadian province of Alberta, known as the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. After touching down, you’ll transfer to your hotel and spend a night here. The next day, you’ll leave the city behind when a transfer collects you and takes you on an 80-mile drive westbound to Banff.

Banff

A scenic wonderland

Banff National Park is one of the most exquisitely beautiful places on the planet, thanks to its endless mountains, glaciers, valleys, lakes, and forests. But the scenic views are just the beginning of what makes Banff so appealing. There are outdoor activities to try, including skiing, hiking, canoeing, rafting and mountain biking. But finding a quiet spot to soak it all in is just as wonderful.

What to do in Banff

How you can spend your days

Catch sight of the startlingly blue water of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake or take a full-day wildlife tour to learn more about the animals around Banff. You can also visit the natural hot springs at Cave & Basin, where steam rises from the geothermal waters, then glide up the mountainside on the eight-minute Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain.

Rocky Mountaineer

Banff to Kamloops

You’ll board the Rocky Mountaineer in the morning. Breakfast is served as the train pulls away, and the scenery outside the window will captivate you. The route retraces the historic Canadian Pacific Railway, passing waterfalls and glaciers before following the South Thompson River to Kamloops. It’s a leisurely, relaxing day, with lunch with wine served onboard. You’ll arrive in Kamloops in the early evening, disembarking and transferring to your hotel for a peaceful night.

Choose your service level

SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf?

There are two types of carriages to choose from aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Both are glass-domed and feature locally inspired menus, but in GoldLeaf carriages, there’s a separate dining room for your breakfasts and lunches and a larger exclusive outdoor viewing platform.

GolfLeaf service on board the Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer

Kamloops to Vancouver

You’ll be collected from your hotel and return to the station where the Rocky Mountaineer awaits. You’ll depart in the morning, enjoying breakfast on the train as you journey through desert-like landscapes before reaching the white water of Hell’s Gate and the mighty Fraser River. You’ll enjoy lunch onboard and pass through the Coast Mountains before reaching Fraser Valley, reaching Vancouver in the evening, where you’ll disembark, your Rocky Mountaineer journey complete.

Vancouver

A city on the water

Having reached the Pacific Coast, you’ve got three days to get to know beautiful Vancouver. There’s a little bit of everything here – beaches, rainforests, mountains, and lovely neighbourhoods for wandering and exploring. Don’t miss the historic charms of Victorian-era Gastown.

Granville Island

What to do in Vancouver

Explore the city and beyond

Visit the market on Granville Island, take a floatplane flight to Vancouver Island, or cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver’s rainforest. Or enjoy this fabulously cosmopolitan city's shopping, restaurants, and water views.

Inukshuk, Vancouver

Add a cruise

Set sail after your Canadian adventure

The majority of Alaska cruises set off from Vancouver so this itinerary can easily be added to an optional voyage northward. We work with a selection of handpicked cruise lines that operate round-trip and one-way trips along the majestic coastlines of British Columbia and the USA’s ‘last frontier’, including Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line. For more information, contact one of our Personal Travel Experts. The above itinerary may need to be altered to link rail and cruise departure dates.

Suggested hotels

Calgary

Fairmont Palliser, Calgary

Old-world charm and elegance ooze from this landmark Calgary hotel. Its timeless restaurant serves fabulous afternoon teas and brunches at the weekend, while its spa offers an indulgent pause from the bustle of downtown.

British Columbia's Rocky Mountains

Coast Kamloops Hote & Conference Centre

Home comforts and a tropical atrium of leisure facilities help Coast Kamloops Hotel jostle for top billing in a hub of hotels and restaurants in the centre of Kamloops. Remembering the easily accessible location will help forgive the forgettable styling.

Vancouver

Century Plaza Hotel & Spa

Family owned and run hotel in a central location.

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