Best of the Rockies

With culture, natural beauty and stunning mountain locations ahead, your vacation begins today in the coastal metropolis of Vancouver. Your hotel is located in the heart of the city, close to many popular attractions, shops and restaurants. On arrival in Vancouver, transfer to the hotel independently and check in for the night.

With the rest of your day and evening free here, you may wish to shop along Robson Street, visit Stanley Park - famous for its totem poles, or wander the exhibits at the Vancouver Aquarium. Get a taste of the city's vibrant culinary scene at any of the local restaurants, or ferry over to Granville Island, known for its incredible options.

For a more structured day, you might like to book a supplemental excursion to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, where suspended bridges swing among the treetops. Alternatively, book admission to FlyOver Canada, a multisensory adventure that uses the latest in flight ride technology. Overnight Vancouver.

Please note: If you wish to see more of Vancouver, speak to a Rail Specialist about adding extra nights in this coastal city.

The morning is yours to continue soaking up the ambiance of Vancouver at your own pace. You might like to stroll along the seawall that frames the Pacific and provides access to some of Vancouver's top attractions, including its beaches and Stanley Park. You could also spend a couple of hours at Van Dusen Botanical Garden before heading to the train station around midday to board the Canadian for its eastbound journey.

Stepping aboard the train, settle into your private cabin and get acquainted with the onboard amenities as the Canadian sets underway. All of your meals and non-alcoholic drinks are included during your time on the Canadian, and as a Sleeper Plus traveler, you also enjoy use of the Skyline Car, whose upper-level Sightseer Lounge is the perfect place to soak up the vistas. Overnight train.

• Dinner

Waking on the Canadian this morning, the scenery is vastly different than when you retired for the night. Look out your window to see lush forests and towering peaks peaking over the tree line. The train continues its journey into the Canadian Rockies, weaving past rivers and vividly hued lakes.

Breakfast is served onboard before arriving at the station in Jasper, a resort town located within Jasper National Park. Upon arrival, make your way to your hotel for check-in, and then you are free to get to know these UNESCO-protected lands.

You might like to venture into the town's center, where historic buildings line the street and there are plenty of shops, galleries and restaurants to explore. There is an old firehouse and train station, as well as a famous totem pole that you can admire. Several gentle walking paths are accessible from Jasper, including one with views of the Athabasca River. Overnight Jasper.

• Breakfast

Cascading waterfalls, broad-reaching valleys, tranquil mountain lakes, glaciers and snow-capped peaks guide the way as you leave Jasper on a motorcoach tour this morning, following the spectacular course of the Icefields Parkway. The route pauses at the Columbia Icefield, where a highlight of your vacation awaits: a ride aboard an Ice Explorer vehicle onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier.

Travel directly onto the glacier itself, and enjoy a chance to walk around on the ancient ice before returning to the Glacier Discovery Centre. A hot buffet lunch is included, as is time to walk along the impressive Glacier Skywalk (weather dependent), a curved glass walkway 918 feet in the air that provides unobstructed views of the Sunwapta Valley below.

Back on your motorcoach en route to Lake Louise, soak up even more views of the Rockies and their foothills before arriving in the afternoon. Check into your hotel with the rest of the day free to admire the astounding scenery of this renowned destination. Overnight Lake Louise.

With a leisurely start to the day, enjoy time to linger over breakfast or wander around the lake, soaking up spectacular views of the imposing Victoria Glacier overlooking Lake Louise. Later in the day, an included scenic transfer takes you through Banff National Park to downtown Banff. Check into your hotel for a two-night stay, and then you are free to get to know this resort town at your own pace.

The main shopping street, Banff Avenue, is lined with restaurant options and interesting shops to peruse. You could learn more about the Banff region at the Whyte Museum or set out on one of the local hiking trails to delve deeper into the natural grandeur of the Rockies. Another possibility is to add an optional visit to the Banff Hot Springs, which offers panoramic views of the scenic mountain ranges, or an evening wildlife safari tour, which seeks Banff's wildlife in prime viewing locations. Overnight Banff.

Some of the most awe-inspiring sights in the Rockies lie ahead today as you set out on a guided tour of Banff National Park this morning. With a guide, uncover truly inspiring views while visiting Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and Two Jack Viewpoint. In addition to reveling in all these views from the ground, you also have included admission to the Banff Gondola, which takes you to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for panoramic scenes of the Bow Valley. For departures after May 11, this tour also includes a cruise on Lake Minnewanka, surrounded by panoramic views.

After the tour, you can continue your day at leisure, either in town or while exploring the nature that surrounds you. Alternatively, book one of the optional evening tours suggested on Day 5. Overnight Banff.

• Lunch

While you have experienced several perspectives of the Canadian Rockies during your stays in Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff, today brings even more breathtaking views as you board the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer for an all-daylight journey toward Kamloops. Settle into your SilverLeaf* seat, surrounded by panoramic windows and 180-degree views.

Delight in commentary from your onboard attendants and enjoy a delicious breakfast as the hidden views begin to unfold. Look upon Castle Mountain, and pass the photogenic Morant's Curve before crossing the Continental Divide. Rocky Mountaineer twists through a marvel of engineering, the Spiral Tunnels, climbs Kicking Horse Pass and weaves along Shuswap Lake, which is said to house a legendary inhabitant, Shuswaggi. The South Thompson River area provides the final lush scenes before the more arid landscapes of Kamloops come into view.

We disembark upon arriving in Kamloops early this evening. Upon checking into your hotel, you are free to find dinner locally or relax. Overnight Kamloops.

*Please note: Upgrades are available to GoldLeaf Service, which includes upper-level seating and meals in the lower-level dining car.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Transferring back to the Kamloops train station early this morning, your journey onboard Rocky Mountaineer continues toward Vancouver. With another day of impeccable service by your onboard hosts and breakfast and lunch served at your seat, you can sit back and marvel at the beautiful sights.

The train continues following the Thompson River, and the scenery changes again, becoming lush once more. Keep your eyes open for native Canadian wildlife and the rugged features of Fraser Canyon. A highlight of today's route comes as Rocky Mountaineer passes the rushing waters of Hell's Gate. From here, continue along the Fraser River past fields and through deep forests, with the imposing peaks of the Coast Mountains closing in.

Your time on Canada's railways comes to an end this evening in Vancouver. A transfer is included to your hotel for the night, and you are then free to get reacquainted with this cultural city. Overnight Vancouver.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Complete with two iconic train rides on Canada's railways and four beloved locations, this rail vacation has presented the best of Western Canada seamlessly. After staying in coastal Vancouver, the mountains and forests of the Canadian Rockies set a tranquil backdrop as you explored. From Jasper National Park to the Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise and the legendary sights of Banff National Park, each turn revealed something astonishing before you returned to the coast aboard Rocky Mountaineer.

Your time in Canada comes to a close this morning as you check out of your hotel and begin your travels home independently. Should you wish to extend your stay here, speak to a Rail Specialist about adding additional nights.