Best of the Rockies & West Coast with Rocky Mountaineer - Rainforest to Gold Rush Calgary, AB

Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the gateway to Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies. After collecting your bags, proceed to the shuttle desk at the airport for your transfer to the mountain resort of Banff, AB. The ride to Banff takes approximately two hours. 

Banff, nestled in the heart of Banff National Park, is Canada's oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains, dominate its skyline. The resort town of Banff features chateau style hotels, plenty of shops and dining options and a range of sightseeing and soft adventure options. On arrival in Banff, check into your hotel. Rest of the day free to explore Banff Avenue with its many shops and restaurants on your own.

Overnight in Banff, AB.

This Banff tour will include some of the most scenic and historically significant highlights of Banff National Park, such as the Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, Hoodoos Viewpoint and Lake Minnewanka.  While on the tour, enjoy a gondola ride up Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for stunning bird's eye views of Banff town site, Discover Banff & Its Wildlife in person on a Banff Lake Cruise or learn about the local history and geology. This is a complete orientation to Banff and a great tour for seeing everything the park has to offer!

Tour stops include -   

• Bow Falls
• Surprise Corner Viewpoint
• Lookout Point
• Hoodoos
• Lake Minnewanka

Note - Operation dates for the Lake Cruise will be dependent on weather.

Overnight in Banff, AB. 

Situated in the Canadian Rockies to the west of Banff National Park, Yoho National Park is a place rich in history and natural beauty. Moraine Lake, one of the park's most popular attractions, was formed when a receding glacier deposited a large amount of rock and debris at its current location. The resulting dam created a beautiful blue-green lake that is popular with hikers and photographers alike. Other popular attractions in the park include Takakkaw Falls, Valley of the Ten Peaks, and the Spiral Tunnels. Named for the Cree word for "awe," Yoho National Park is sure to leave visitors impressed by its majestic scenery and rich history.

Tour Stops include (may change depending on road closures).

• Moraine Lake
• Spiral Tunnels 
• Emerald Lake
• Takakkaw Falls
• Lake Louise

Tour includes lunch at Emerald Lake.

Overnight in Banff, AB.

Columbia Icefields Parkway Tour from Banff National Park to Jasper National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Alberta, Canada. The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains. The Columbia Icefield Discovery Tour includes a visit to the Columbia Icefield Centre where you can learn about the formation of glaciers and take an Ice Explorer tour onto the Athabasca Glacier. You will also visit Lake Louise, Bow Lake, and Athabasca Falls. The Columbia Icefield Adventure includes a Glacier Skywalk experience where you can walk out onto a glass-floored walkway for amazing views of the glacier.

This 8 ½ hour coach tour will include stops at:

• Lake Louise
• Bow Lake
• Columbia Icefield Adventure
• Glacier Skywalk
• Athabasca Falls

Tour includes Buffet Lunch.

Overnight in Jasper, AB.

Jasper National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and the Explore Jasper Tour is the perfect way to see everything it has to offer. The tour includes a cruise on Lake Maligne, where you can enjoy the stunning scenery and maybe even spot some wildlife. You'll also visit Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake, and Maligne Lake. Each destination provides its own unique experience, and you're sure to come away with lifelong memories. Whether you're an experienced traveler or just getting started, the Explore Jasper Tour is sure to exceed your expectations.

Tour Stops include:

• Maligne Canyon
• Medicine Lake
• Maligne Lake

Tour includes a delicious hot lunch.

Overnight in Jasper, AB.

This morning, our limousine will transfer you from your hotel to the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station in Jasper.

Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the mountain resort of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to the charming rural town of Quesnel, gateway to the North Cariboo. Pass through the Rocky Mountain Trench, with the steep Rocky and Cariboo mountains either side, and on to the rolling hills and vast forests of British Columbia’s northern interior. Highlights include Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Yellowhead Pass and Moose Lake. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer passes through the town of Prince George and follows the Fraser River into Quesnel.

Your Train journey includes a hot breakfast and lunch cooked onboard using ingredients sourced locally, gourmet snacks, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. On arrival in Quesnel, Rocky Mountaineer will transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Quesnel, BC.

Your journey continues southwestwards today to the four-season resort of Whistler, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games alpine events. Enjoy breathtaking and varied scenery, from the desert-like conditions of the Fraser Canyon to the rolling hills and vast ranchlands of the Cariboo Plateau to the river canyons and lush farmland of the Pemberton Valley. Highlights include sweeping views of the Fraser Canyon, the crossing of Deep Creek Bridge, one of the highest railway bridges in the world, and the shorelines of glacial-fed Seton Lake and Anderson Lake.

Your Train journey includes a hot breakfast and lunch cooked onboard using ingredients sourced locally, gourmet snacks, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Overnight in Whistler, BC.

The morning is free to explore Whistler Village at your leisure. This afternoon return to Vancouver onboard the Rocky Mountaineer through the stunning scenery of the Sea to Sky Corridor. Highlights of the trip include the Cheakamus Canyon, the dome peak of Mount Garibaldi, Brandywine Falls, and breathtaking views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. An afternoon meal is served canapé style. At the North Vancouver train platform, you will be transferred to your accommodation in downtown Vancouver. Your rail journey ends today on arrival in Vancouver.

On arrival in North Vancouver, our limousine will transfer you from Rocky Mountaineer Train station to hotel in downtown Vancouver.

Overnight in Vancouver, BC.

The Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour is the perfect way to see all the highlights of Vancouver in one day. The tour includes admissions to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, where you can walk across 450-foot suspension bridge 110 feet above the ground. You'll also get to explore the Capilano River Rainforest, home to some of the world's tallest trees. The tour also takes you through downtown Vancouver, past iconic landmarks like the Vancouver Art Gallery and Robson Square. You'll even get to ride the SkyTrain, Vancouver's rapid transit system. With so much to see and do, the Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour is a great way to get to know Canada's west coast.

Overnight in Vancouver, BC.

Vancouver is the most cosmopolitan city on Canada's west coast. A beautiful city located between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountain Range. It offers a variety of world-class amenities, including world-class dining, a variety of cuisines from around the world, and a range of around and soft adventure activities. Vancouver is an excellent place to visit for its natural beauty, cosmopolitan atmosphere, and its wide range of attractions. Vancouver is definitely a city worth visiting!

Check with us on the various tours and activities offered.

Overnight in Vancouver, BC.

We'll be departing early this morning for our journey to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Our first leg will be a 90-minute ferry crossing from Tsawwassen on the mainland to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. 

Once we arrive at Swartz Bay, we'll head straight to the world-famous Butchart Gardens. Spanning 22 hectares (55 acres), the Butchart Gardens are a must-see destination for any visitor to Vancouver Island. With hundreds of different species of flowers and plants, the gardens are truly a sight to behold. After taking some time to explore the gardens, we'll head into downtown Victoria for dinner and a good night's sleep. 

Overnight in Victoria, BC.

Victoria is a city filled with colonial charm and an abundance of flowers. The museums are many and varied, and the English charm is evident throughout the city. The seafront parks are beautiful, and the ocean adventures are plentiful. From ziplining through treetops to crescent moon kayaking, diving, Seaplane Tours, Golfing, hiking, or cycling, a delight of tours and activities awaits you today. Victoria is a city that has something for everyone, and it is sure to delight and enchant you.

Check with us for optional tours and activities you can go on in Victoria.

Overnight in Victoria, BC.

Today is the final day of your tour, and you will be transferred from your hotel to Vancouver International Airport. The journey will take around 4 hours and will include a transfer by coach and ferry. The ferry crossing will take 90 minutes. 

On arrival at YVR International Airport, your tour ends. We hope you have enjoyed your time on tour, and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Thank you for choosing us as your tour operator.

End of Best of the Rockies & West Coast Tour + Rainforest to Gold Rush.