Day 1 Vancouver
Arrival
You will be met on arrival at Vancouve r
International Airport and transferred to
your downtown
Vancouver accommodation. Overnight at The
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
Day 2 Vancouver
to Whistler
Travel onboard the Whistler Mountaineer
Glacier Dome Experience from the coastal
city of Vancouver to the resort town of
Whistler,
renowned for outstanding skiing and year-round outdoor activities.
Following your motorcoach transfer from downtown Vancouver, the
Whistler Mountaineer takes you on a breathtaking rail journey through
the stunning scenery of this "Sea to Sky" region. Highlights of
the trip include spectacular views across Howe Sound and the Coast
Mountains, Shannon Falls, Mount Garibaldi and the impressive Cheakamus
Canyon. Overnight at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
Day 3 Whistler
to Quesnel
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service style
from the four-season mountain resort of Whistler to the charming
rural town of Quesnel, the gateway to the North Cariboo. Enjoy
breathtaking and varied scenery, from the river canyons and lush
farmland of the Pemberton Valley, to the desert-like conditions
of the Fraser Canyon, and the Cariboo Plateau with its rolling
hills and vast ranchlands. Highlights include the shorelines of
Anderson Lake and glacial fed Seton Lake, sweeping views of the
Fraser Canyon and Deep Creek Bridge, one of the highest railway
bridges in the world. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer
follows the banks of the Fraser River into Quesnel. Overnight in
Quesnel.
Day 4 Quesnel
to Jasper
Your journey continues eastward today to the majestic Canadian
Rockies and Jasper National Park. From Quesnel the Rocky Mountaineer
follows the Fraser River north to the town of Prince George and
then travels east through the forests of Northern British Columbia,
home to plentiful wildlife including a large population of moose.
Entering the Rocky Mountain Trench you are surrounded to the north
by the steeply rising Rocky Mountains and to the south by the Cariboo
Mountains. Continue climbing past Mount Robson, the highest peak
in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet), and through
the Yellowhead Pass into the province of Alberta. Your rail journey
ends today on arrival in your overnight destination of Jasper.
Overnight at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
Day 5 Jasper Sightseeing
Meet your Rocky Mountaineer concierge and
fellow travellers for a morning tour of
Jasper National Park. Visit Pyramid and
Patricia Lakes, Maligne Canyon and Athabasca
viewpoint before returning to your accommodation
at the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
All your tours in the Canadian Rockies
will be onboard a specially designed motorcoach
that provides extra legroom and additional
comfort. The remainder of the day is at
your leisure. Overnight at The Fairmont
Jasper Park Lodge.
Day 6 Jasper to
Lake Louise
Continue your trip through the Canadian Rockies travelling along
one of the most scenic highways in the world, the Icefields Parkway.
Among the highlights are Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake, the Columbia
Icefield, Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls. The Columbia Icefield
is one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic
Circle and it is here that you will ride an Ice Explorer to the
middle of Athabasca Glacier to learn more about its geological
features. Time will be available for lunch (not included). Arrive
in Lake Louise late this afternoon. Overnight at The Fairmont Chateau
Lake Louise.
Day 7 Lake Louise
to Banff
Enjoy a full-day tour of Yoho and Banff National Parks. Begin your
morning in Yoho Park visiting the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake
and a natural Rock Bridge that spans the Kicking Horse River. After
free time for lunch (not included) your tour continues to the main
attractions of Banff. Among the highlights are Bow Falls, the Cave
and Basin Centre, the Banff Gondola, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos*.
Overnight at The Fairmont Banff Springs. * Guests may elect to
spend time at leisure in Lake Louise this morning and join the
tour to Banff after lunch.
Day 8 Banff to
Kamloops
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from
the mountain town of Banff to Kamloops,
in the heart of British Columbia's interior.
Your journey offers you a spectacular range of scenery as you travel
between the high peaks of the Canadian Rockies, over mountain passes
and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across
the ranchlands of the interior. Today's highlights include the
Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, the Kicking Horse Canyon,
Rogers Pass, Craigellachie where the last spike of the Canadian
Pacific Railway was driven, and of course the glaciers and snow-capped
peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Dinner is included this evening
at your Kamloops accommodation. Overnight in Kamloops.
Day 9 Kamloops
to Vancouver
Your journey continues west towards the
Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver.
On today's journey you will again see dramatic
changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the interior,
through winding river canyons and forests surrounded by the peaks
of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the lush green fields of
the Fraser River 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. Overnight at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.