11 Day Western Canada Luxury Rail and Resorts Circle Tour

Join a fully narrated half-day sightseeing tour in a minibus for a tour to Vancouver’s North Shore, including Capilano Suspension Bridge, the Treetops Adventure forest canopy walkway, Capilano Salmon Hatchery topped off with a gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain for a grand birds-eye view of the city, its surrounding landscape of mountains, ocean and forests and to see grizzly bears in the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife.

This morning board the Rocky Mountaineer train in its luxurious Gold Leaf Service for the day journey to Kamloops through the Coast Mountains and then the wild interior of British Columbia. Enjoy fully glass-domed windows with panoramic views and delicious gourmet meals featuring regional cuisine made with local produce in the dining room with Rocky Mountaineer’s well-known service.

You will continue eastward heading into the scenic Canadian Rockies and the Province of Alberta. The scenery changes as you travel across ranch lands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels, all of which form the rich rail history of rail travel in Canada and almost impossible task of cutting a route through the Canadian Rockies. The next two nights are at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge with a lake front location on a world-class golf course. Wildlife will often stop by outside your windows and as are surrounded by mountains and forests.

This morning, join a local guide in a minibus for an interpretive tour up the Maligne Valley. The tour will include a stop at Maligne Canyon for a guided walk overlooking the gorge, the disappearing Medicine Lake and finally, Maligne Lake where you can either take the boat cruise to Spirit Island or enjoy a guided hike along the Mary Schaffer Loop Trail.Renowned for its breathtaking dark sky, Jasper is also the perfect place to embrace the night and whether you want to stare into the Milky Way or watch an awe-inspiring aurora. Jasper’s dark sky is exceptional during late summer and the fall; you can gather under the dome of the Jasper Planetarium inside at the Jasper Park Lodge. The Planetariums’ experienced astronomy guides will guide you on a tour of the cosmos. Specializing in the night sky above Jasper, visitors have the chance to see the stars above Jasper regardless of the weather. This is a great opportunity to take in a closer look at the heavens over the lakes, canyons, glaciers and mountain tops of the second largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world.

Travel the famous Icefields Parkway, which links Jasper and Banff National Parks along one of Canada’s highest mountain roadways. Climbing from the low valleys to nearly the tree line, experience three life zones, the montane, the subalpine and the alpine. Along the way stop at major viewpoints including Athabasca Falls and the Columbia Icefield for an Ice-Explorer sno-coach ride and Glacier sky walk. Overnight at the ‘Jewel of the Rockies’ the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, surrounded by snow capped mountains and overlooking the postcard perfect Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier.

This morning, you will transfer from Lake Louise to the resort town of Banff. The town of Banff is a spirited place surrounded by strikingly beautiful and rugged mountains that seem to burst straight out of the ground. The town site of Banff covers almost 4 sq. kms at an elevation of 1,383 m (4,537 ft), making it the highest town in Canada. Banff is flanked on all sides by towering mountains, including Mount Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, and Cascade Mountain. You may see a herd of elk wandering down the main street during your early morning walk. The lively streets of downtown are lined with top-class restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as a vibrant range of art galleries and museums.You start your Banff exploration with passes to the Banff gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain for an unparalleled view of the mountains and valley below and then have the rest of the day on your own. Later, you have evening tickets to the Banff Wildlife Safari. With easy access to pristine wilderness, outdoor adventures, jaw-dropping landscape, and a vibrant history, there are many places to visit in Banff.

Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the mountain town of Banff to Kamloops, in the heart of the BC Interior. Today’s highlights include crossing the Continental Divide, seeing the famous Spiral Tunnels, the Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass, and Craigellachie where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven into the ground.

Your journey continues towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. You will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon.

Join a full-day narrated tour that allows you to enjoy both the journey and the destination. Begin and end your day with a cruise between the mainland and Vancouver Island, past the scattering of picturesque Gulf Islands and on to Victoria, capital of the Province of British Columbia. Rich with art, history and architecture, there is plenty to see and do in Victoria. Its mild climate, where flowers bloom year round has helped to earn its name of Canada’s “Garden City”. You will visit the world-renowned Butchart Gardens and discover its numerous statues, fountains and themed garden displays. Conclude the day of exploration with a return ferry sailing to Vancouver.

You will be transferred to the Vancouver airport for your onward travels.