Rocky Mountaineer Grand Rail Circle

Begin your trip in style with complimentary airport lounge access before boarding your day flight to Vancouver. Once arrived, a private transfer will see you to your hotel; both of our flawlessly contemporary options are centrally located, meaning that you’ll have all of the city’s delights on your doorstep. Perhaps take in the Victorian charm of the historic Gastown district or go for a stroll along the city’s waterfront to combine views of skyscrapers and mountains. Come the evening, indulge with Canada’s leading craft beer and restaurant scenes, tucking into just-caught seafood and the finest Asian dining in North America.

Stay: Sutton Place, Vancouver or similar (Deluxe /  GoldLeaf)

Following an included station transfer, you’ll board the Rocky Mountaineer, settling in to domed views and a full array of gourmet delights. Regional meals are paired with complimentary snacks and drinks served throughout – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Those in GoldLeaf service are also spoilt by an outdoor viewing area, wine-and-cheese afternoons and sit-down meals in split-level carriages. Then, leaving Vancouver, you’ll pass through Fraser Valley, weaving through river canyons and thick forests to the towering backdrop of the Cascade Mountains. Dipping through tunnel gasps, you’ll also follow the Thompson River for a jaw-dropping bridge hop over Hells Gate before ending in Kamloops, a welcoming town sited at a pretty river confluence.

Stay: Kamloops accommodation (Deluxe / GoldLeaf)

Today, you'll head east into the state of Alberta with the Rocky Mountaineer winding through the Spiral Tunnels. As an important part of Canada’s railway heritage, they’re an innovative solution to your steep ascent. It’s a climb that will see you between lake shores, traditional ranches and gaping passes to take in the giant mountain views of Rogers Pass and Kicking Horse Canyon. Of course, it’s all set to a backdrop of the Rockies’ glaciers and snow-capped peaks. You’ll then end the day in alpine-town Banff, enjoying national-park views from either a quaint mountain lodge or the great Fairmont Banff Springs – the century-old ‘Castle in the Rockies’.

Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs (Deluxe)

Enjoy two days free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. Banff has activities for all, from taking the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, relaxing in the Banff hot springs, exploring the bustling town, to outdoor wildlife adventures. 

Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs or Similar (Deluxe / GoldLeaf)

Setting off today by road, you’ll be brought into Yoho National Park for a half-day tour of its natural treasures. Here, natural rock bridges jump over rushing rivers and the Emerald Lake shines in its iconic green. You’ll also wind back along the Spiral Tunnels through old-growth forests to arrive at Lake Louise, staying right on its glittering shores. As such, you’ll be perfectly positioned to explore, with tomorrow given over to a day at leisure. In between hikes, horseback rides and canoe trips, be sure to find some time to relax by the lake, fishing rod in hand.

Stay:  Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Deluxe / GoldLeaf)

Today you’ll enjoy a real trip highlight – the drive along Icefields Parkway. Weaving between glaciers and dense forests, you’ll pause at pretty lakes and giant waterfalls alike before arriving at the colossal Columbia Icefield. You’ll head out right onto its great white expanse in an all-terrain six wheeler. You’ll then spend the night in one of Jasper’s mountain lodges – the luxurious cedar chalets of our Deluxe offering are particularly enticing – before heading out into its homonymous national park the next day. As the Rockies’ largest, it’s delightfully uncrowded and home to region’s biggest wildlife population; your tour will bring you between rugged peaks and deep river canyons animated by bears, elk and moose.

Stay: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (Deluxe / GoldLeaf)

Following an included station transfer, you’ll rejoin the train today. Travelling north, you’ll pass through the Rocky Mountain Trench surrounded on either side by soaring crests before taking in the famed Mt. Robson – the Canadian Rockies’ highest mountain. There are also the dizzying heights of Yellowhead Pass along with a spectacular sweep right alongside Fraser River and the shores of Moose Lake. As always, it’s all showcased by scenic slowdowns at particularly impressive viewpoints before you roll into Gold-Rush Quesnel.

Stay: Quesnel accommodation (Deluxe / GoldLeaf) 

Reboarding the Rocky Mountaineer, following a further station transfer, you’ll head south for sweeping views of Fraser Canyon. Then, hopping over creeks and skirting glacier-fed lakes, you’ll be treated to views from one of the highest railway bridges in the world. Along the way, the region’s rich pioneering history is brought to life by stories from your on-board hosts, each brimming with that famous Canadian hospitality. You’ll then arrive into Whistler, an alpine village whose gabled beauty is showcased in your delightful accommodation, both fully equipped with saunas and hot tubs.

Stay: Whistler accommodation (Deluxe / GoldLeaf)

You’ll have the morning to explore Whistler, with pretty hikes bringing you out into its rural idyll. Then, after a station transfer, you’ll reboard the train for the last leg of your journey. Travelling along the aptly named Sea-to-Sky corridor, you’ll descend from the mountains and back towards the coast, darting through Cheakumus Canyon, under the iconic dome of Mt. Garibaldi and alongside thundering Brandywine Falls. Views of the Coast Mountains and the network of fjords that make up Howe Sound will then see you into Vancouver, an included transfer bringing you to your accommodation for a last evening to explore the city.

Stay: Sutton Place, Vancouver or Similar (Deluxe / GoldLeaf)

A private transfer this morning will see you to the airport for your overnight flight home. Alternatively, speak to our specialists about extending your stay with an Alaskan cruise.