Day 1 - Arrive Vancouver / VIA Rail - Vancouver to Jasper
This afternoon, transfer (on own) to Vancouver's Pacific Central Train Station and board VIA Rail's Canadian for your journey to Jasper. This experience, with its award winning service, is luxury on rails. Your vacation begins with an evening departure from Vancouver on VIA Rail's Canadian Silver & Blue service, with Dome and classic dining car. Points of interest will include Hell's Gate (gorge), Suicide Rapids in the North Thompson Canyon, and the Cisco Tunnels above the Fraser River. (Dinner)
Moderate: Overnight onboard VIA Rail - Upper/Lower Berth
Superior: Overnight onboard VIA Rail - Private Bedroom
Deluxe: Overnight onboard VIA Rail - Private Bedroom
Day 2 - VIA Rail / Jasper
Today, travel between the Monashee and Caribou mountain ranges winding through the Yellowhead Pass. You will view Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, before ending your train journey in the resort town of Jasper. Upon your arrival at the Jasper train station, a Brewster motorcoach or taxi will transfer your to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure. (Breakfast)
Moderate: Overnight Lobstick Lodge
Superior: Overnight Sawridge Hotel
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Deluxe room
Day 3 - Discover Jasper & Maligne Lake Tour
Your introduction to Jasper will encompass some outstanding scenery including Medicine Lake and Maligne Canyon, with its narrow gorge and limestone walls reaching 50 metres below, the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park. Continue on your way via the incredible disappearing Medicine Lake and then cruise Maligne Lake, one of the most photographed lakes in the world. Once onboard the tour boat, you will begin your 90 minute cruise heading towards the south end of this postcard setting. You will marvel at the magnificent shoreline with dense forests and glacial peaks rising abruptly from the water's edge. Stopping at Spirit Island, you will have the opportunity to take your own version of the world famous photograph of the lake. Return to Jasper where the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Note: The Discover Jasper & Maligne Lake combination tour operates between June 1 - September 30. If traveling outside these dates, your tour will be substituted with the Discover Jasper Tour.
Moderate: Overnight Lobstick Lodge
Superior: Overnight Sawridge Hotel
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Deluxe room
Day 4 - Jasper to Banff Tour
Today's journey takes you south along the famous Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular highways in North America. Your tour along the Icefields Parkway to Banff also takes you through Jasper and Banff National Parks with a stop at the Columbia Icefield allowing time for an Ice Age Adventure, a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. You will travel in a specially designed Snocoach to the middle of the glacier while your driver/guide explains how the glaciers where formed and points out interesting geological features. At the icefall below the glacial headwall, you have the option of stepping out onto the ice formed from snow falling as many as 400 years ago. After your unique ice adventure, time is allowed at the Columbia Icefield Centre where you can relax over lunch (on own) and visit the new and expanded Parks Canada Interpretive Centre. In the afternoon the journey continues south into Banff National Park. After a brief stop in Lake Louise, you will continue on to beautiful Banff for an early evening arrival.
Moderate: Overnight Mount Royal Hotel
Superior: Overnight Rimrock Resort - Superior room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Fairmont room
Day 5 - Discover Banff Tour / Transfer to Lake Louise
This morning's tour takes you through the town of Banff and its environs. You'll ascend Tunnel Mountain Drive to view Bow Falls and visit the Cave & Basin National Historic Site where a natural hot springs led to the creation of Canada's first National Park in 1885. Take a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Enjoy a 360-degree panorama of a sea of mountain ranges, valleys and lakes, and a bird's eye view of the Banff townsite, 770 metres below. This afternoon, transfer to Lake Louise by schedule motorcoach service.
Moderate: Overnight Lake Louise Inn
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - Fairmont Mountainview
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - Fairmont Lakeview
Day 6 - Lake Louise to Lac Le Jeune
This morning starts your journey to British Columbia. You will travel westward though the Canadian Rockies travelling over the Kicking Horse Pass and the Continental Divide to reach Revelstoke by lunchtime. The Coast Hillcrest Resort Hotel will be your lunch stop for today. After lunch stop you will continue your journey through the Shuswap Lakes area to the city of Kamloops, the gateway to the interior of British Columbia. Overnight this evening is at the Lac Le Jeune Resort where an evening buffet awaits your arrival (Lunch & Dinner)
Moderate: Overnight Lac Le Jeune Resort
Superior: Overnight Lac Le Jeune Resort
Deluxe: Overnight Lac Le Jeune Resort
Day 7 - Lake Le Jeune to Vancouver
After breakfast, begin the day travelling along the Logan Lake route to the gold rush town of Cache Creek. Shortly after departing the town of Cache Creek, you will begin the journey south for a lunch stop in the historic village of Lillooet. After lunch, travel past rolling mountains carpeted with forests and enjoy breathtaking views of Joffre Glacier on snow-capped Mount Currie that rises the height of 8,518 feet. The historic farming village Pemberton precedes your arrival in Whistler. Here you will have a short stop before heading into Vancouver. Your driver will deliver you to your hotel when you arrive in Vancouver, in the late afternoon. (Breakfast & Lunch)
Moderate: Overnight Empire Landmark
Superior: Overnight Pacific Palisades - Deluxe room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont room
Day 8 - Vancouver
Check-out from your hotel this morning to end your Rockies by Train tour.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 6 nights accommodation, any mandatory service charges and room tax
- 1 night accommodation on VIA Rail in Silver and Blue Class
- Services of a Driver/Guide for the motorcoach portion of your tour
- Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
- Transfer from Jasper train station to hotel
- Sightseeing excursions of Jasper & Banff
- Maligne Lake Cruise
- Ice Explorer on the Athabasca Glacier
- Photograph on the Columbia Icefield
- Banff Gondola
- Admission to the Cave & Basin National Historic Site
- Transfer from Banff to Lake Louise
- Luggage handling at hotels
- Discount coupons for additional sightseeing tours
- National Park fees
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Meals not listed as included
- Transfers not listed as included
- Gratuities to sightseeing drivers, rail personnel and taxi drivers
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)