Westbound - 7 day itinerary
DAY 1, CALGARY
Your Rockies Rail Experience begins in Calgary. Here you will check into the centrally
located Fairmont Pallister Hotel for a one-night stay. Tonight we enjoy a Welcome
Dinner, giving you the opportunity to meet your travelling companions who will share
this thrilling 7-day journey.
DAY 2, CALGARY - BANFF - LAKE LOUISE (THE PRAIRIES AND ROCKIES)
This morning we board our train and depart from the Canadian Pacific Railway Pavilion.
Heading through the suburbs of Calgary, we travel towards Banff, where we stop at
lunchtime. A wealth of outstanding natural beauty assaults our senses as we travel
through quiet meadows towards thundering waterfalls and towering peaks of the Rocky
Mountains. We spend two nights in this fabulous area at the Relais & Chateau Post
Hotel & Spa (or similar) in the town of Lake Louise.
DAY 3, LAKE LOUISE (ICEFIELDS PARKWAY)
Today we experience the inspirational views of the Icefields Parkway. Waterfalls,
emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks are just some of the natural
wonders we will see. At the boundary of the Banff and Jasper National Parks lies the
Columbia Icefield, covering an awesome 325 sq kilometres, and contains one of the
largest accumulations of snow and ice outside the Arctic Circle. From here we get an
excellent view of its eight glaciers including Athabasca, Dome and Stutfield. Brewster's
Ice Age Adventure lets us experience the exhilaration of stepping out onto the icy slopes
of the Athabasca Glacier before we return to Lake Louise in the late afternoon and the
stunning emerald waters of Lake Louise overlooked by the 11,250 foot Mount Victoria.
From here the splintering of glaciers can often be heard as huge ice chunks crash into
the lake below (Dinner at your own arrangements this evening)
DAY 4, LAKE LOUISE - REVELSTOKE (THE MOUNTAINS)
As we leave Lake Louise behind us, we begin the steepest section of our climb through
the indomitable Rockies. On reaching the Continental Divide, we pass from Alberta
into British Columbia. Our stunning descent takes us past Lake Wapata into two spiral
tunnels down to the magnificent Kicking Horse Pass. We then continue over Rogers Pass
in the Glacier National Park before arriving in the delightful town of Revelstoke, where
we visit the excellent Railway Museum, and stay overnight.
DAY 5, REVELSTOKE - KAMLOOPS (THE LAKES)
Our early morning run takes us down to Kamloops. On the way we pass Craigellachie,
where the last spike was driven to complete the Trans-Continental rail link in 1885. We
then join the Spirit of Kamloops heritage train for a short scenic journey before returning
to Kamloops for dinner and an overnight stay.
DAY 6, KAMLOOPS - VANCOUVER (THE CANYONS)
Our early morning start sees us departing for Vancouver, some 250 miles away and enroute
a kaleidoscope of landscapes competes for our attention. Our journey follows the
turbulent waters of Thompson and Lower Fraser River Canyons for most of the day
before finally skirting the Burrard Inlet, formed during the last Ice Age. After arriving at
Vancouver's Waterfront Station, we transfer to the five-star Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
(or similar) for a one-night stay and our Farewell Dinner. (Note: operational constraints
may dictate that the train terminates in Coquitlam in Vancouver's suburbs)
DAY 7, VANCOUVER
Our tour ends after taking breakfast in the hotel. If there is time before your flight, you
can explore this vibrant cosmopolitan city. Soak up the atmosphere by taking a stroll
along the Stanley Park Seawall, visit Vancouver Art Gallery or simply enjoy the relaxed
atmosphere of Vancouver.
Eastbound - 7 day itinerary
DAY 1, VANCOUVER
Your Rockies Rail Experience begins in the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. Here you will
check into the luxurious Fairmont Waterfront Hotel (or similar). Tonight we enjoy a
Welcome Dinner, giving you the opportunity to meet your fellow travelling companions.
DAY 2, VANCOUVER - KAMLOOPS (THE CANYONS)
Our early morning start sees us departing from Granville Street Station for Kamloops,
some 250 miles away. Our train follows the Burrard Inlet, formed during the last Ice Age,
then enter the awesome Lower Fraser River Canyon. Later, we follow the wild and
turbulent waters of Thompson River Canyon. If our train arrives in Kamloops on time we
join the Spirit of Kamloops heritage train for a short scenic journey. This evening we stay
at the Executive Inn in Kamloops. (note: operational constraints may dictate that we
depart from Coquitlam in Vancouver's suburbs)
DAY 3, KAMLOOPS - GOLDEN (THE LAKES)
After breakfast, we rejoin our private train and continue on through the awe-inspiring
beauty of the Lake District passing Craigellachie, where the last spike was driven to
complete the Trans-Continental rail link in 1885. We then visit the excellent Railway
Museum in Revelstoke before ending our day at the important junction of Golden, which
nestles in the stunning Columbia Valley and is circled by three mountain ranges and five
National Parks. We dine here and stay overnight at the Prestige Mountainside Resort.
DAY 4, GOLDEN - CRANBROOK (COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY)
From Golden our train diverges from the Canadian Pacific main line and takes the historic
Kootenay Railway, travelling south along the magnificent Columbia River Valley towards
the US border. Here we enjoy an overnight stop in Cranbrook at the Prestige Rocky
Mountain Resort. This evening we are treated to period entertainment and a fabulous
dinner in the faithfully reconstructed Alexandra Hall, the original dining room from the
Canadian Pacific Railway Hotel in Winnipeg.
DAY 5, CRANBROOK - CROWSNEST PASS - LETHBRIDGE (THE ROCKIES)
This morning a private tour of the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel offers us an absorbing
insight into Canada's long relationship with train travel. The next leg of our journey is simply
outstanding as we experience the spectacular and awe-inspiring views as we climb to
Crowsnest Pass, where we cross the Continental Divide. There is an optional visit (at
additional cost) to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This
5,500 year old site celebrates Native American culture and customs, offering us an intriguing
insight into prehistoric life. We spend this evening in Lethbridge at the Holiday Inn.
DAY 6, LETHBRIDGE - CALGARY (THE PRAIRIES)
This morning we have the opportunity to photograph our train on the spectacular 1 mile
long and 314 foot high, Lethbridge Trestle. The largest in North America, this amazing
steel structure was completed in 1909 to replace the original wooden bridge. Our journey
then takes us across the open prairies to Calgary, to arrive after lunch at the Canadian
Pacific Railway Pavilion. The Pavilion is attached to the excellent Fairmont Palliser Hotel,
where we will stay overnight. (Dinner at your own arrangements this evening)
DAY 7, CALGARY
Our tour concludes with breakfast at the hotel. Before flying home you may have time to
explore Calgary taking in the Calgary Towers and glass observation deck, the Devonian Gardens - one of the world's largest indoor gardens and even enjoy a drink in a traditional
saloon bar.
Round Trip - 14 day itinerary
This sensational 14-day round trip through the magnificent grandeur of the world
famous Rocky Mountains takes adventurous travellers on the ultimate journey of a
lifetime. The Rockies Rail Round Trip Experience has been created to encompass the
most awe-inspiring and spectacular locations that this region has to offer. As you travel
westbound from Calgary, you will encounter a stunning range of landscapes. Quiet
meadows, thundering waterfalls, towering peaks and turbulent canyons unfold before
you as we head towards Banff. The exhilarating beauty of the Icefields form part of this
extraordinary odyssey of discovery as we take to the glaciers for a truly unforgettable
experience. Lake Louise, a hidden gem of unsurpassed natural beauty beckons us next as
the mighty Mount Victoria towers on the horizon. You will also discover this region's
important relationship with rail travel and learn how it shaped the history of this
mountainous region, where early pioneers struggled against almost impossible odds. Our
next leg of this captivating and ever-changing journey unfolds. Following the Burrard
Inlet we snake our way along the awesome reaches of the Lower Fraser River and enjoy
exceptional birds-eye views of the Thompson River Canyons.
After spending a night in Vancouver our journey returns eastwards towards Golden and
on to the stunning Columbia Valley, circled by three towering mountain ranges and five
National Parks. As we travel, we have plenty of time to absorb the unique character of
the communities that grew up along the rail tracks and revel in the compelling natural
beauty that surrounds us. Taking the magnificently scenic line through Crowsnest Pass,
we cross the Continental Divide. At Lethbridge our train crosses the spectacular 1 mile
high and 314 foot high Lethbridge Trestle, the largest in North America and a feat of
engineering excellence. This stunning journey concludes at Calgary.
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