Canadian Rockies at Christmas

We arrive into Vancouver, checking into our hotel for a three-night stay. Overnight Vancouver. 

We set out on a sightseeing tour of Vancouver today, making our way firstly to Gastown. Named after 'Gassy' Jack Deighton, a Yorkshire seaman who settled here in 1867, today Gastown is a popular downtown area, full of cafés, contemporary fashion shops, galleries and more. Continuing to Chinatown, one of the largest of its kind in North America, we soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the Asian inspired streets and food stalls. Finally, we visit Stanley Park, 400 hectares of wild open space that's home to the city's famous and colourful totem poles which celebrate Canada's Native American heritage. Overnight Vancouver.

You're free today to explore further. You could escape the city and take the bus to Grouse Mountain for a ride on the Skyride cable car, which boasts jaw-dropping views across Vancouver's skyline, Pacific Ocean and nearby Gulf Islands. At the top, you can enjoy a range of seasonal activities, including sleigh rides or a snow limo. Perhaps stay closer to the bustle of the city and sample the flavours of Granville Island, which boasts a mouth-watering food market and an array of craft studios. Overnight Vancouver.

We transfer to Union Station and board The Canadian for our overnight journey through the majestic Rocky Mountains to Jasper. The Canadian is truly iconic, transporting us in restored stainless steel carriages through incredible landscapes in comfort. During the night, we climb into the foothills of the Rockies, awakening to the sight of glaciers, lakes, plunging canyons, frozen waterfalls and soaring snow-covered peaks illuminated by the sun's first rays of the day. Overnight train.

We arrive in Jasper, a quaint mountain town at the edge of the wilderness and located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The town is surrounded by tree-covered mountains, and at this time of year, is often blanketed in snow. With free time to look around after checking into our hotel for two nights, you could take a walk through the wintry streets, admiring quaint houses and small shops. It isn't unusual to even see a family of elk crossing the road. Overnight Jasper.

The Rockies are transformed by snow and ice in winter taking on magical beauty. We experience this with a visit to Maligne Canyon, a 164-foot deep gorge of sheer limestone walls that's home to wildlife such as grey wolves, hoary marmots, caribou and moose. During our time here, we take part in an ice walk with a local guide, heading to the canyon floor to explore frozen waterfalls, ice caves and incredible ice formations. We also learn about the mysterious Medicini Lake, enjoying a picnic lunch as we go. Afterwards, we warm up with a traditional treat of hot chocolate and smores. Overnight Jasper.

We enjoy a relaxed day of festivities to celebrate Christmas, including a fantastic lunch of traditional treats and all the trimmings. And there's no better environment to enjoy your annual Christmas walk. Overnight Jasper.

Leaving Jasper and its national park behind, we begin the drive to Banff, traveling along the world-famous Icefields Parkway - a 144-mile road that links Banff and Jasper. Traveling along a lake-lined valley, past many of the highest and most rugged peaks in the Rockies, we pass by the Columbia Icefields and the Athabasca Glacier. Along the way, we stop at Lake Louise, which at this time of year is completely froxen over, to admire the views of soaring peaks covered in verdant pine forests which slope away from the lakeshore. Overnight Banff.

Today's excursion takes us on a tour around the natural wonders of Banff. Exploring with a local guide, we visit Two Jack Lake where we're greeted by a stunning backdrop of emerald-green waters and a sweeping panorama of Mount Rundle and the Banff Hoodoos, a cluster of needle-like sedimentary rocks. We also admire Surprise Corner which, as the name suggests, delivers spectacular and surprising views of Bow Falls. A highlight of the day is a ride on the Banff Gondola. This cable car transports us to the summit of Sulphur Mountain to marvel at the wintry scenes laid out beneath us. Overnight Banff.

Your tour concludes with a group transfer to Calgary airport for flights departing after 5pm.