Day 1: Arrival in Vancouver: Your Journey Begins

On arrival in Vancouver, transfer from the airport to your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring this scenic coastal city at your own pace. Wander the towering evergreens and seawall of Stanley Park, hop a small ferry across False Creek to Granville Island's public market, or simply settle into the city's rhythm before the journey ahead. With mountains rising to the north and the Pacific at its doorstep, Vancouver offers an easy, scenic introduction to the trip.

Day 2: Vancouver: A Day at Your Leisure

Enjoy a full day of free time to relax or book activities of your own choosing. Vancouver rewards exploration in every direction: browse the boutiques and heritage architecture of historic Gastown, sample the restaurant scene in lively Yaletown, or walk a stretch of the Stanley Park Seawall with the harbor on one side and the forest on the other. However you choose to spend the day, the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean frame the city at every turn.

Day 3: Vancouver to Kamloops: Into the Fraser Canyon

Depart early aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, leaving the coast behind as you travel into the heart of British Columbia's Interior. The scenery shifts dramatically over the course of the day, from the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley through forested, winding river canyons framed by the Coast and Cascade mountains, to the desert-like landscapes of the Interior. Watch for the rushing whitewater of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds lining the Thompson River. As evening falls, the train follows the shores of Kamloops Lake into town.

Day 4: Kamloops to Jasper: Crossing the Continental Divide

Continue north and east this morning as the journey carries you toward the Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Follow the banks of the North Thompson River through the Monashee and Cariboo mountains, climbing steadily toward the high peaks of the Continental Divide. Watch for Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 meters (12,972 feet), followed by the cascading waters of Pyramid Falls and the climb over Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park. Your rail journey ends this evening on arrival in the resort town of Jasper.

Day 5: Jasper: Wildlife and Wilderness

Spend the morning exploring the town of Jasper at your own pace, then set out in the afternoon on a half-day sightseeing tour through Jasper National Park. Take in stunning landscapes, keep an eye out for wildlife, and visit some of the park's most iconic landmarks, all set against a backdrop of glacier-capped peaks. It's a fitting introduction to one of the most celebrated national parks in the Canadian Rockies, with plenty of time to explore further or simply take in the mountain air.

Day 6: Jasper to Lake Louise: The Icefields Parkway

Travel one of the most scenic highways in the world today, the Icefields Parkway, as you make your way from Jasper to Lake Louise. Highlights along the route include the turquoise waters of Bow Lake, the towering Columbia Icefield, the Glacier Skywalk, and the cascading Athabasca Falls. At the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle, ride an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and learn about its geological features, with lunch served at the Glacier Discovery Centre. A brief stop at Bow Lake precedes arrival in Lake Louise in the late afternoon.

Day 7: Lake Louise: A Day at Your Leisure

Enjoy a full day of free time to relax or book activities of your own choosing. Lake Louise pairs storied history with some of the most picturesque scenery in the Canadian Rockies: learn about the local wildlife, paddle the turquoise lake by canoe, or simply take in the surrounding peaks and glaciers at your own pace. However you choose to spend it, the day offers an unhurried chance to soak in one of the region's most photographed settings.

Day 8: Lake Louise to Calgary: Banff and the Rocky Mountain Foothills

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing as you transfer from Lake Louise to Calgary, beginning with a guided tour of Banff. Highlights include the cascading waters of Bow Falls, the sweeping views from Surprise Corner, and the striking rock formations of the Hoodoos. Before leaving town, ride the Banff Gondola (admission included) for panoramic views over the Bow Valley and surrounding peaks. The day ends with arrival in Calgary, where the mountains give way to the rolling foothills and prairie beyond.

Day 9: Departure from Calgary: Journey's End

Check out from your Calgary hotel and transfer to the airport for your onward flight home, bringing to a close a journey that carried you from the harbor city of Vancouver, across canyon country and glacier fields, over the Continental Divide, and along the Icefields Parkway to the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.