Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West & Self Drive to Calgary

Sample Itinerary of Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West & Self Drive to Calgary

Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West – Vancouver to Banff & self-drive to Calgary

Day 1

Arrive in Vancouver from London and head to your hotel for the night, the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, where you will be treated to epic harbour views for your night in Vancouver. Spend your 2 days in the city exploring all that Vancouver has to offer – cycle around Stanley Park and spend your morning at the beach, check out some ancient indigenous village sites before noon, smell your way through the rose garden, and see wonderful wildlife like dolphins and sea lions up close! Of course, you don't need to cycle either – a stroll around Stanley Park is also an excellent way to spend your day!

On your first evening in Canada why not check out Gastown in Vancouver – home to chic eateries, boutique bars and funky neon lights. Or perhaps, you'd rather visit the Richmond Night Market and sample the Chinese cuisine!

Day 2

On day 2 you're heading for Kamloops aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, but first why not go for a run, walk, cycle, hike (anything you fancy) and immerse yourself within 874 hectares of pristine forests the way true Vancouverites do each morning! On your way to Kamloops aboard the Rocky Mountaineer you will the landscape change from coastal views and towering distant mountains to a more desert-like landscape including chiselled hoodoos, cacti and impressive wildlife such as California bighorn sheep and deadly coyote! If you are travelling during July and August, why not enjoy the free music put on at Riverside Park in Kamloops (Music in the Park). In Kamloops you will stay for 1 night at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kamloops.

Day 3-5

On day 3 you will depart Kamloops for Jasper board the Rocky Mountaineer. This part of the journey will take your through the Canadian Rockies to the beautiful town of Jasper. Jasper is famed for its beautiful snow tipped mountains, stunning views, amazing Jasper National Park, Dark Sky Reserve, and more! An amazing experience in Jasper is the Jasper Skytram that will take you high up into the Canadian Rockies where you will be able to hike, walk, view and enjoy the peaks of the mountains of the Canadian Mountains in the Alpine Zones. If you're feeling particularly outdoorsy and adventurous, why not hike the Summit Trail to the peak of Whistlers Mountain (2,463m/8,081ft) for panoramic, 360° views of six mountain ranges - including Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies!

Stepping into Jasper feels like stepping into a movie – with quaint shops lining the street and a towering mountain overlooking the town, you'd not be amiss thinking you'd just stepped onto a film set! For a slice of luxury in Jasper, why not stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for breath-taking view of Beauvert Lake! Another great hotel in Jasper, with not such a hefty price point, is Lobstick Lodge – with its oversized rooms, kitchenettes, and an indoor heated pool – this hotel is perfect for families and couples travelling to Canada!

One of the best things to do in Jasper, and an absolute bucket list activity for many visitors to Canada, is the Glacier skywalk. From a glass bridge high above the Rocky Mountains, the Glacier skywalk is suspended 280 metres above the spectacular Sunwapta Valley. Walking along this platform will guarantee stunning views and scenery that will create life-long memories of Jasper, Canada!

Day 5 – 7

On your final day in Jasper, you will hop back aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train and travel through the Rocky Mountains to Banff where you will spend 2 nights. Banff has something for everyone – from a boat cruise on Lake Minnewanka, a sight-seeing tour to Bow Falls, Banff Gondola which takes you to the top of Banff Mountain, relaxing in the Banff Hot springs, strolling through the quaint town, enjoying the stunning wild, scenic landscape and much more!

For a luxury stay in Banff, why not stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs – with 7 restaurants, a golf course and spa this truly is luxury in Banff at its finest. For a great hotel that won't break the budget, why not stay at the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort and enjoy cosy mountain quarters!

Whilst in Banff you will pick up your hire car - why not take a drive to the nearby Lake Louise and experience beauty like no other in Canada! The lakes glacier blue water is picture perfect as it slices through the two mountains that sit either side of the lake. You could even stay your 2 nights at Lake Louise (or 1 night in Banff and 1 night lake Louise) in the absolutely iconic Fairmont Château Lake Louise that is situated right on the lake and is, in our opinion, one of the world's most amazingly located and beautiful hotels!

Days 7-9 Banff – Calgary

On day 7 you will depart on your final leg of your journey to Calgary, however for this you will be driving on the wonderfully scenic Canadian roads. You will drive past forests, mountains, and beautifully blue glacier lakes. Whilst in Calgary, be sure to get a birds-eye view of the city at the Calgary Tower – on the observation deck you will get a 360-degree view of the city - you can also enjoy some nibbles and a cocktail with the best view in town! If you haven't seen enough wildlife on your journey through the Rocky Mountains, then why not visit the Calgary Zoo – home to Penguins, hippo's, gorillas, giraffes and more!

If you're lucky enough to be visiting in July, then a must-do is The Calgary Stampede! This is an iconic event in Calgary and is commonly known as 'Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth'. Enjoy Wild West Heritage, fairground rides, a rodeo, cowboys and more! Whilst in Calgary you will stay for 2 nights at The Westley Calgary Downtown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. This hotel is ideally located in Calgary's downtown area and is close to Calgary's major attractions including Calgary Zoo.

From Calgary you will fly home to the UK with one of our airline partners.

This is just a sample Rocky Mountaineer Canada holiday itinerary and hotels/ timings can be changed to suit you and your requirements. To book your Rocky Mountaineer Canada holiday, call us on 01635 551011, email us at holidays@chartertravel.co.uk or enquire here via our website. A member of our dedicated Canada sales team will then get back to you!

All our holidays are tailor-made and can be adapted by changing hotels durations and destinations to suit the individuals tastes and requirements – please do get in touch so we can start planning.