Iconic Rail Journeys
The Rocky Mountaineer offers two levels of service. With GoldLeaf, you are in an exclusive bi-level glass dome carriage with full length dome windows and have access to a covered, outdoor viewing platform. Your meals, which are gourmet style from an a la carte menu, are served in the exclusive lower level dining room. With SilverLeaf, you are in a single dome carriage with panoramic views, through oversized windows and your gourmet style meals are served at your seat. Both service levels include complimentary drinks and entertainment via the Rocky Mountaineer hosts captivating stories and historic trivia. There are three main routes through the Rockies, from Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise to Vancouver or vice versa. They all have wonderfully romantic names, “First Passage to the West”, “Journey Through the Clouds” and the three day option “Rainforest to Gold Rush”. Your journey takes you through the spectacular snow-capped mountain scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Highlights include;- the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon (love that name). As you move closer to the coast, the terrain changes from glacial mountains to an almost desert like environment, as you wind through river canyons and pristine forests. You’ll travel through the Fraser Valley and Hell’s Gate, the narrowest point in the Fraser Canyon. Whichever route you take, you’ll overnight in a hotel in either Kamloops or Quesnel.
You’ll often see the Rocky Mountaineer advertised as part of a coach and Alaskan cruise 21 day package or a 14 day coach tour of Western Canada. It can just as easily form part of a fly/drive or an independent itinerary without the need of hiring a car. A suggested 10 day independent itinerary would be to fly into Calgary, have three nights in Banff, one night in Lake Louise, two nights in Jasper, one night in Kamloops and three nights in Vancouver, transfers included. Using Banff as a base there are a variety of day tours available to include visits to the stunning “Jewel of the Rockies” Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, a wildlife tour or a ride on the Sulphur Mountain Gondola with a cruise on Lake Minnewanka. From Jasper a must visit is the Icefields Parkway Columbia Icefield where you can ride onboard an Ice Explorer on the Athabasca Glacier and step out onto the Glacier Skywalk. When you end your Rocky Mountaineer epic adventure in Vancouver you’ll be wowed by the glorious waterfront setting of this vibrant city, consistently voted the best place to live in Canada!
Of course, if you have more time Vancouver Island is right on your doorstep, a picturesque ferry ride away. There is the beautiful city of Victoria, the award winning Butchart Gardens, wildlife experiences galore with whale watching and bear watching plus some beautiful, beach areas for some chill out time! There is so much to see and do in Western Canada.
