Itinerary for: Canadian Rockies by Train (CWWCRT)
| Canada | Vancouver |
| Alberta | Jasper |
| Icefields Parkway | Lake Louise |
| Banff | Calgary |
Departs
from your home address in the UK - 'tour only' option available without flights
on request.
Experience the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies with an overnight rail journey aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper. Relax in the Dome car and experience panoramic views of the Albreda Icefields and, on a clear day, Mt. Robson—the highest peak in the Rockies! Arrive in Jasper where you’ll see the dramatic Maligne Canyon and its picture-perfect lake. Feel like royalty with an overnight stay at the fabulous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. In Banff, discover the powerful Bow Falls and impressive Hoodoos before ending your journey in cosmopolitan Calgary.
Via Rail's The Canadian
Listen to the peaceful sounds of a bygone era while natural beauty dances to life before your eyes in a scenic wonderland; it’s a veritable journey back in time as you travel from Vancouver to Jasper. Relax and discover the delight of overnight training aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian. Heralded in 1955 as “the first and only all-stainless steel ‘dome’ streamliner in Canada,” The Canadian has been exceeding passenger expectations ever since. Enjoy first-class meals and aweinspiring Canadian Rockies vistas during the day. Spend the night in the comfort of your own bed inside a private sleeping room that includes a private bath. From the moment you board VIA Rail’s The Canadian, you’ll embrace the nostalgia of a golden era; rail lines trace history while whisking travellers through scenery far removed from the highway.
Itinerary
Day 1: Vancouver, British Columbia - Tour Begins
Join Collette Worldwide Holidays for a remarkable journey through Alpine vistas, stunning landscapes, charming towns and beautiful lakes. Explore the beautiful Canadian Rockies by train. Your adventure begins in Vancouver.
Day 2: Vancouver - Victoria - Vancouver
Early this morning you depart for the ferry ride to Victoria Island where you visit lovely Butchart Gardens, created on the site of an old quarry. The gardens are among the world’s most beautiful and are a veritable explosion of colour and frangrances. Next, take a short sightseeing tour of the “City of Gardens,” Victoria, and have some leisure time to explore this lovely seaside city. This evening you journey back to the mainland via a short ferry ride.
Day 3: Vancouver - VIA Rail
Enjoy a memorable breakfast at the Capilano Suspension Bridge, taking in the fascinating sight of people “walking on treetops,” making their way across the swaying planks. A sightseeing tour of Vancouver begins at beautiful Stanley Park, Canada’s renowned urban rainforest, and continues to Chinatown, the city’s waterfront, and Gastown, a turn-of-the-century centre comprised of pubs, art galleries, boutiques and the world-famous steam-powered clock, perhaps the most photographed subject in all of Vancouver. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before boarding VIA Rail’s The Canadian to begin your journey to the majestic Canadian Rockies. Relive train travel in the days of old as you are rocked to sleep tonight in your private accommodations. (B, D)
Day 4: VIA Rail - Jasper, Alberta
Enjoy a lovely hot breakfast in the dining car as your eastbound train whisks you past the peaks of the Monashee Mountains and the stunning sight of Pyramid Falls cascading down Mt. Cheadle.Relax in the Dome car as you experience 360-degree views of the glistening glaciers of the Albreda Icefields and on a clear day, view Mt. Robson – the highest peak of the Rockies! Moose, mountain goats, bear and caribou call this wonderland home. This afternoon, arrive in Jasper, nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies at the gateway to the incredible Icefields Parkway. Settle into Fairmont’s Jasper Park Lodge for a relaxing two night stay. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Jasper
Begin your day with a trip to the dramatic Maligne Canyon, one of Jasper's most spectacular landmarks. Later, behold the picture-perfect sparkling waters of Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, where you can embark on an optional cruise highlighting the beauty of Spirit Island. Return to Jasper with leisure time to explore this lovely town. (B)
Day 6: Jasper - Icefields Parkway - Lake Louise
Set off for a wonderful day of sightseeing en route to Lake Louise. Journey along the unforgettable Icefields Parkway! Waterfalls, rushing rivers, glacial peaks, imposing cliffs and snowcapped peaks paint the breathtaking canvas – so have your camera handy! Enjoy a stop at the Athabasca Falls and marvel at its sheer beauty and power. At the Columbia Icefields, enjoy a fun ride* across a mass of glacial ice over 1,000 feet thick – the largest accumulation of ice south of the Arctic Circle. Continuing down the parkway, be on the lookout for bears, furry marmots and stately elk. Enjoy a stop at Peyto Lake – a turquoise glacier-fed lake that evokes pure serenity – before arriving in Lake Louise. Enjoy a stay at the world-famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. (B, D)
Day 7: Lake Louise - Banff
En route to Banff, view the spectacular Moraine Lake and the awe-inspiring Valley of the Ten Peaks. The jagged Ten Peaks are distinctively saw-toothed, standing out amidst stunning Alpine scenery. Arrive in charming Banff and visit a local ammonite specialist to learn about this rare gemstone found only in Alberta. Arrive at the grand Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, known as the “Castle in the Mountains,” for a luxurious two night stay. (B, D)
Day 8: Banff
Set off for a scenic drive through Banff featuring the powerful Bow Falls and impressive Hoodoos – known as the “Land of the Sleeping Giants.” During an afternoon at leisure, perhaps you will take a stroll through Banff’s delightful downtown. (B)
Day 9: Banff - Calgary
Head to the cosmopolitan city of Calgary for the final stop on your scenic adventure. Tonight, join your new friends during a special farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant. (B, D)
Day 10: Calgary
Depart for Home
Day 11: Arrive Home.
Day 12: Arrive U.K.
Meal Basis: B=Breakfast L=Lunch and D=Dinner