A Week in the Canadian Rockies Featuring the Rocky Mountaineer

Your Rocky Mountain immersion begins as your plane touches down in Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Upon arrival, meet your motorcoach for an included transfer into the Canadian Rockies to the resort town of Banff. In under two hours, the scenery changes from an urban tapestry rife with skyscrapers to suburban scenes and, eventually, sprawling forests and towering mountains come into view. Your destination is Banff, a stunning resort town nestled within Banff National Park.

Check into your hotel for the first of two nights and then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to get acquainted with your new surroundings. You might like to head to Banff Avenue, Banff's main shopping street, where you can find an array of stores and restaurants. You could also learn about Banff's history at Banff Park Museum. Overnight Banff.

Today brings a chance to get to know Banff National Park on a guided sightseeing tour. Gaze upon incredible sights like Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and Tunnel Mountain Drive overlooking Bow River Valley, Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake. You will also have a chance to look at the hoodoos shaped by centuries of erosion and to spot the wildlife that calls this park home.

Alternatively, you can upgrade to a full-day Explore Banff tour, which highlights the park by land, sky and water. Begin by seeing Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, the hoodoos and the Two Jack Lake viewpoint. Afterward, the tour continues with a ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola and a historic cruise across Lake Minnewanka. Lunch is included as you explore.

Following your chosen tour, the remainder of the day and evening are at your own pace. You might like to take to one of Banff's hiking trails or relax beside one of the stunning glacier-fed lakes before finding dinner locally. You could instead wrap up your day with an optional excursion, such as an evening wildlife tour or a visit to Banff Hot Springs. Overnight Banff.

Operating for a limited time this year, the Rocky Mountaineer is offering a rare opportunity to travel from Banff to Jasper on a route called Passages to Peaks. This morning, you are among the first to enjoy its beauty as you are transferred from the hotel to the station to board the Rocky Mountaineer.

Take your seat in the domed-glass carriage, and settle in for a daylight-only journey to Kamloops. Enjoy panoramic views as the train passes Castle Mountain and Morant's Curve and then crosses the Continental Divide. The Rocky Mountaineer twists through the Spiral Tunnels and climbs the dramatic Kicking Horse Pass before arriving in Craigellachie, where the last spike of the trans-Canadian railway was driven in 1885.

The final miles of the route bring views of Shuswap Lake and distinctly arid scenery as the train pulls into the station in Kamloops, your home for the night. An included transfer takes you to the hotel, and upon checking in, you can relax or find dinner independently this evening. Overnight Kamloops.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After a coach transfer back to the station and stepping back aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, your journey continues to Jasper National Park. Today brings another chance to soak up the jaw-dropping scenery that only this part of the world has to offer while enjoying the train's high-class service and exceptional cuisine. And because this route is gone once it sells out for the season, you may be amidst the only travelers to experience its wonders.

The train follows the banks of the North Thompson River and eventually comes to a viewpoint for Pyramid Falls, a picturesque waterfall that is best seen by train. A memorable view of Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, comes into sight, and the Rocky Mountaineer climbs Yellowhead Pass before approaching your destination, Jasper.

Departing the Rocky Mountaineer for the final time in Jasper, a coach transfer takes you to your hotel, where you stay for two nights. Wrap up your day by finding dinner locally or beginning to admire the wild beauty of Jasper National Park. Overnight Jasper.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Awake with the untamed beauty of Jasper National Park at your fingertips. With an entire day at leisure, you can explore Jasper and its natural surroundings. There are more than 660 miles of hiking trails within the park - some of which are easily accessible from downtown Jasper. While downtown, you could also visit the Two Brothers Totem Pole or the Old Fire House, or pop in the local shops.

For a more structured day, you could pre-book an optional excursion. Choices include admission to Jasper's SkyTram with plenty of time to explore at the summit, a Wildlife Discovery Tour that presents park scenery and animal viewing opportunities, an Explore Jasper sightseeing tour that includes a cruise on Maligne Lake, or a three-hour foodie tour in downtown Jasper that takes you to four local eateries. Overnight Jasper.

Leaving Jasper behind, your day begins with a coach journey along the world-famous Icefields Parkway. This byway is renowned as one of the world's most scenic, with stunning vistas of mountains, lakes and glaciers framing both sides as it connects Jasper and Banff National Parks.

Your destination today is one of Banff National Park's most famous destinations, Lake Louise. During the drive, marvel at the changing scenery, which includes Athabasca Falls, Petyo Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. You also enjoy a stop at Columbia Icefields.

One of the largest expanses of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle, Columbia Icefields is a feast for the eyes. During your time here, an Ice Explorer takes you out onto the Athabasca Glacier, and you have an opportunity to look out over the Sunwapta Valley from the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. A buffet lunch is also included at the Glacier Discovery Center before the journey toward Lake Louise continues.

Arriving later this afternoon, check into the five-star Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for two nights, and enjoy a free evening amidst this elegant environment. Overnight Lake Louise.

• Lunch

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has a privileged location on the shores of Lake Louise, putting fantastic views and endless outdoor adventures within reach. With a full free day today, you can delve deeper into the surrounding nature at your own pace.

Several walking and hiking trails are easily accessible from the hotel, including the Lake Louise Lakefront Trail and the Lakeview Lookout Trail. Additional trails can be accessed locally, as well. There are also stables on the grounds, and booking a horseback riding tour provides a unique way to soak up the scenery. If you hope to get out on the water, kayaks and canoes are available for rental.

Relaxing at the hotel instead, you could take a dip in the pool or book a spa treatment. A refined Afternoon Tea is available daily in the Fairview Restaurant, as well. Overnight Lake Louise.

Spending a week in the Rockies has been truly magical and filled with pictureperfect scenery and unforgettable experiences. From touring Banff National Park to see its diverse scenery to exploring Jasper National Park independently and driving along the jaw-dropping Icefields Parkway to Columbia Icefields and Lake Louise, each day here has brought a deeper understanding of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed region's beauty. All this was topped off with a two-day journey on an exclusive Rocky Mountaineer route and a two-night stay at the exceptional Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

This morning, your vacation comes to a close with an included transfer back to Calgary airport, from which you are free to return home.