Canadian Rockies Featuring Banff & Lake Louise

Your week-long vacation to the Canadian Rockies begins today as you arrive on Canada's West Coast in the cultural city of Vancouver. With a stunning location between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, Vancouver makes an excellent starting point for incredible adventures.

As you arrive, make your own way to your hotel with the remainder of the day at your leisure. You can begin getting to know the city at your own pace, or opt to add a 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off bus tour to begin exploring the city known as the Gateway to the Rockies. See all the sights as you make a loop of the city, stopping at 30 of Vancouver's attractions, including Gastown, Granville Island, Stanley Park, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, English Bay, and the shops and restaurants along Robson Street. Learn about the city and its popular sights and landmarks, hopping off to better explore the ones that pique your interest. Overnight Vancouver.

With a full free day in Vancouver, you can get to know the city and its surroundings your way. You might like to head to one of the museums, wander through Stanley Park to see its totem poles and scenic seawall, or continue utilizing your 48-hour Hop-on/Hop-Off pass to travel to top attractions, if you have chosen to include one in your package.  

Alternatively, you could choose to add an optional excursion to your day to dive deeper into everything this area has to offer. Overnight Vancouver. 

Optional Excursions

Granville Island Market Food Tour  - Find yourself immersed in the unique culinary offerings of Granville Island on a guided walking tour. The culture and flavors of Western Canada are brought to life as you venture through numerous food stalls selling fresh produce and seafood, sweets, and prepared food options. As you explore, enjoy tastes of everything from local cheeses and smoked salmon to sourdough bread, coffee and chocolate truffles. 

Victoria Day Trip - Departures after May 1 can ferry from mainland Vancouver to the southern tip of Vancouver Island for a day filled with charm in Victoria. Get to know this destination, whose British colonial influences are still visible in its beautiful architecture and quaint atmosphere. Enjoy some time to see the Inner Harbour and wander the colorful displays of Butchart Gardens before returning to Vancouver. 

Half-day Whale Watching Tour  - For departures after May 1, a fantastic mixture of adventure and wildlife lies ahead on this nature tour. A float plane takes you away from the city and out to your boat for a day spent on the water searching for the Pacific's marine life, including orcas and whales, including humpback, minke, fin and grey. You may also see seals, otters and sea birds before returning to Vancouver by float plane. 

City Sightseeing Tour  - This sightseeing excursion, available to departures after May 1, offers an in-depth look at Vancouver and its rich array of offerings on a half-day guided tour. Get a look at the city's diverse neighborhoods, including Chinatown and Gastown, and points of interest like Canada Place and English Bay. You will also venture into Stanley Park to see its totem poles before the tour concludes. 

With an early start, enjoy an included transfer to Vancouver's station, where you board Canada's acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer. Settle into the comfortable, reclining seat of your SilverLeaf car, surrounded by windows, and relax as your journey begins. For an even better perspective, upgrade to GoldLeaf Service, which includes domed-glass seating on the upper level and meals in the lower-level Dining Car.

Breakfast is served as Rocky Mountaineer starts toward the Rockies. The train follows the Fraser Valley through the Coast Mountains, where you can see the serpentine Fraser River and a narrow point called Hell's Gate. Onboard hosts narrate the route, tell stories and point out scenic attractions, meaning you never miss a moment of the passing scenery. Enjoy lunch and ever-changing views as the terrain becomes arid and you near the town of Kamloops, the second-largest city in the British Columbia interior. While surrounded by nature, this city is a hub for art, indigenous culture and Canadian cuisine - all of which you are free to discover after an included transfer to your hotel for the night. Overnight Kamloops. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

 Back on board Rocky Mountaineer this morning, travel deeper into the stunning scenery of Western Canada. Today's route turns distinctly alpine once more after proceeding through the Shuswap region, enamored by lake views.

Savor a chef-prepared breakfast and coffee as the views unfold, looking forward to highlights like Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railroad was driven, and Rogers Pass. Weave through forests and enjoy increasingly impressive mountain views and lunch before arriving at your final destination, Lake Louise.

Pulling into the station, your time on Rocky Mountaineer comes to a close with an included transfer to your five-star hotel for the night, the remarkable Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. This famous hotel sits on the shores of this turquoise lake and offers picturesque views and elegant amenities. You might like to have dinner in one of the restaurants or relax with room service after a long day of travel. Overnight Lake Louise.

• Breakfast, Lunch

With a leisurely start to the day, enjoy time to linger over breakfast or wander around the lake, soaking up spectacular views of the imposing Victoria Glacier overlooking Lake Louise. Later in the day, an included scenic transfer takes you through Banff National Park to downtown Banff. Check into your hotel for a two-night stay, and then you are free to get to know this resort town at your own pace.  

The main shopping street, Banff Avenue, is lined with restaurant options and interesting shops to peruse. You could learn more about the Banff region at the Whyte Museum or set out on one of the local hiking trails to delve into the natural grandeur of the Rockies on an optional excursion. Overnight Banff. 

Optional Excursion

Evening Wildlife Safari - On departures after May 1, spend two hours searching for Banff National Park's most impressive inhabitants on an evening expedition. This tour ventures to some of the park's most prolific wildlife-spotting destinations, with animals seen on approximately 95% of tours. Admire the stunning scenery while looking for bears, elk, bighorn sheep and more while learning about the ecology of the Canadian Rockies. 

Some of the most awe-inspiring sights in the Rockies lie ahead today as you set out on a guided tour* of Banff National Park this morning. Uncover truly inspiring views while visiting Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and Two Jack Viewpoint. Your excursion also includes admission to the Banff Gondola, which takes you to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, and departures after May 16 include a cruise on Lake Minnewanka.

Alternatively, you can switch to another tour for your daytime touring (additional charges may apply) and then afterward, continue your day at leisure or book the optional evening tour suggested on Day 5. Overnight Banff. 

Alternative Tours

Discover Banff & Its Wildlife with Gondola: A shorter version of the standard touring option, this 5 ½-hour excursion showcases the town of Banff and the wonders that lie in the surrounding national park. See highlights like Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, Two Jack Lake and Tunnel Mountain Drive, as well as stunning examples of Banff National Park's unique hoodoos. This tour also includes admission to the Banff Gondola to see the glories from above.

Full-day Discover Grizzly Bears Tour: Departures between June 1 and September 27 can embark on a journey of scenic highlights and majestic wildlife just outside Banff. First travel to a grizzly bear refuge and then enjoy a sightseeing tour that takes you to the Spiral Tunnels, Takakkaw Falls and Kicking Horse Mountain. At the mountain, a gondola ride takes you to Canada's highest restaurant for an included lunch. This tour does not allow for evening excursions.

*Please note: Departures prior to May 1 will have the Discover Banff & Its Wildlife tour as the standard inclusion, while departures after May 1 feature the full-length tour.

Few experiences compare to riding into the Canadian Rockies aboard Rocky Mountaineer; however, after a day to explore the fascinating city of Vancouver, you had the opportunity to do just that. Panoramic views enveloped the journey, and the train's commitment to high-class service added a touch of elegance to a trip filled with rugged ambiance. Arriving in the Rockies, an overnight stay at the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise preceded a two-night stay in Banff, during which you had the opportunity to explore the surrounding national park on included and optional tours.

Your journey through the Canadian Rockies ends today with an included transfer to the Calgary airport for your return flight home. The transfer accommodates flights departing after 11:00 a.m.

Or, if you are not ready for your time in the Rockies to end, speak to a Rail Specialist about adding additional nights in Banff or Calgary.