Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies by Rail: A Tailor-Made Journey

Arrive in Vancouver and make your way to your downtown hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or start exploring the city. Depending on your arrival time, you could visit the Museum of Anthropology to learn about the area's First Nations’ culture, or sample street food from one of the many food vendors.

Take advantage of a full day at leisure to discover wonderful Vancouver. You might rent a bike for a ride around Stanley Park where you can explore old-growth forest, spot sea lions and dolphins off the coast, see First Nations’ totem poles, and relax on the beach. Go window-shopping in historic Gastown, poke around the eclectic markets of Chinatown and grab dim sum for lunch, soak up the artsy ambiance of Granville Island, or take a stroll in the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. 

Set sail today on a shared whale watching cruise. You’ll head out onto the Strait of Georgia, home to three native orca pods and one of the best places to view them in the wild. As you track the whales with a naturalist, learn about orcas and other species you may encounter, including porpoises, sea lions, bald eagles, and more. Back on shore, enjoy more time to visit Vancouver’s many attractions. 

Make your way to the VIA Rail station today and board the Canadian for a fantastic overnight journey by rail. Settle into comfortable seats in a domed glass observation car where experienced guides are on hand to point out wildlife, geology, and historic sites as you make your way through gorgeous mountain scenery. Spend tonight on board the train in your private cabin. 

Travel deeper into the mountains this morning, passing spectacular Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Arrive in the town of Jasper, gateway to one of the jewels of Canada’s national park system, and disembark the train. You’ll have a rental car waiting for pick up and the afternoon free to walk around town, hit the trails, or relax at your hotel. 

Enjoy two full days to explore Jasper National Park and its environs as you wish. You could hike through the alpine meadows near Mount Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier, a great area for wildlife viewing. Or ride the cable car to the top of Whistlers Mountain for high alpine hiking amid an extraordinary panorama of peaks. Consider following the Old Fort Point loop trail, a moderate hike that begins in town and offers fantastic views. We also recommend taking a boat trip across Maligne Lake to Spirit Island in the afternoon for an iconic vista of the turquoise lake surrounded by a cathedral of peaks. 

Drive five hours south from Jasper, following the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Stop en route at Athabasca Glacier for a walk on the ice itself, led by knowledgeable guides who will explain the geology behind this ancient glacier and the larger Columbia Icefield. Continue towards Yoho National Park, passing remarkable lakes and glaciers along the way. Arrive in Field this afternoon and settle into your hotel on the banks of the Kicking Horse River.

During a free day in Yoho National Park, you’ll have the opportunity to go white-water rafting, fly-fishing, or mountain biking, or head off on a variety of trails. We recommend a visit to Takakkaw Falls, the highest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, tumbling more than 1,200 feet. Or hike to Natural Bridge, where the often-turquoise waters of Kicking Horse River have sculpted an unusual rock formation. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are also within easy reach and offer great walking and wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Continue to Banff this morning. The journey takes around an hour and a half, so you will be able to enjoy much of the day exploring Banff National Park. Consider taking the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, which boasts superb views stretching across the Rockies. Walk along the boardwalk to the summit to get even higher and look down upon Banff below.

Today is yours to further explore Banff National Park. You could visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, or set off on one of the many hiking trails in the area. One popular option is a hike through Johnston Canyon to the Ink Pots, seven brightly colored mineral springs that bubble up to the surface in a meadow. 

You may have some time to spend in Banff this morning, perhaps browsing the town's shops or enjoying coffee with a mountain view. Then drive two hours to Calgary Airport, where you’ll return your rental car and board your flight home.