Experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies during winter on a memorable journey by rail and road from Vancouver to Calgary. Stay in the resort towns of Jasper and Banff and enjoy guided excursions each day combined with time at leisure for independent exploration. This carefully designed itinerary showcases the Canadian winter.
Your adventure begins with an overnight rail journey from Vancouver arriving in Jasper, in the heart of the Rockies, in the afternoon of your second day having travelled through some stunning scenery passing Pyramid Falls, the Albreda Icefields and Mount Robson. A full day in Jasper includes a visit to Maligne Canyon – an impressive 165 foot gorge that has withstood 10,000 years of erosion. In the evenings, enjoy a spot of stargazing should conditions allow, with the possibility of seeing the northern lights.
Travel by scheduled coach along the spectacular Icefields Parkway to the laid-back town of Banff for three nights. Included during your stay is a guided tour of Banff and its wildlife, a sleigh ride through picturesque snow-covered scenery and visit to Lake Louise where you can try snowshoeing or ice skating on the frozen lake.
How you travel
Whilst you will not be travelling as part of a group, you will meet other travellers during your rail and coach journeys, and during the included fully-guided excursions.
Itinerary
This afternoon check-in at the Pacific Central Station and board VIA Rail’s “Canadian” for the iconic train journey to the majestic Canadian Rockies. The original stainless steel ‘streamliner’ railcars are fully refurbished with air conditioning, a café car, lounge car, and access to the viewing dome car. By day, sit back in comfortable armchairs; at night attendants will transform your quarters into cosy bunks or bedroom.
By the time you awake in the morning the train will have just departed Kamloops heading towards the Canadian Rockies and Jasper. Enjoy breakfast surrounded by dramatic scenery as you follow the banks of the North Thompson River through the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Around lunch time the train begins its passage into the Rockies with views of snow-capped peaks. Arrive in Jasper in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore this unique mountain community.
Today you can enjoy your choice of one included excursion from the following options:
Maligne Canyon Ice Walk – certified guides lead you along the frozen canyon floor and ice-clad limestone walls of this 165 foot gorge.
Discover Jasper and its Wildlife Tour – travel through the Athabasca Valley seeking out the park’s most iconic creatures.
Jasper Dark Sky Planetarium and Telescope Experience – enjoy an evening of cosmic exploration both inside the domed theatre and outside with the largest telescope in the Rockies.
Dog Sledding Tour (upgrade additional cost) – travel by dog sled along 22 km (13 mi) of pristine winter scenery and enjoy lunch cooked over an open campfire.
Travel southward by scheduled coach along the Icefield Parkway to Banff. This spectacular drive through glacier country is characterised by vast snow-covered mountains, frozen waterfalls and broad reaching valleys. Arrive in Banff, situated in Banff National Park and check-in to your hotel. This charming town has much to offer including winter walks, ice skating, world-class shopping and unique dining.
Join a morning tour of the area taking you to many of Banff’s landmarks and historical places. This will also be one of your best chances to see wildlife while in the park. Photo opportunities and short walks to viewpoints with your guide are abundant on this tour. In the afternoon make your own way to the stables, a short walk away from downtown and head off on a horse drawn sleigh ride in the magical winter landscape.
This is a full day of exploring and activity. You will be led on a guided sightseeing tour to Lake Louise where you will also have free time to explore the lake on foot or on snowshoes, relax in the chateau or rent ice skates on your own. Return to your hotel late afternoon.
Today you can enjoy your choice of one included excursion from the following options:
Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour – keep your eyes peeled for deer, elk, and bighorn sheep on this morning tour of Banff. Scenic highlights include Fairmont Banff Springs, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, the Hoodoos Viewpoint & Lake Minnewanka.
Snowshoeing at Paint Pots – an afternoon snowshoe tour on an easy trail winding through a forest of pine trees to the Paint Pots with its ochre colours mineral pools.
Johnston Canyon Icewalk – an unforgettable experience that will introduce you to stunning frozen waterfalls and amazing views within the canyon.
Today transfer to Calgary where your tour ends.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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1 night aboard Via Rail - upper / lower semi-private sleeper berth
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Breakfast & dinner onboard Via Rail
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Scheduled express coach between Jasper & Lake Louise
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Scheduled express coach between Lake Louise & Banff
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Scheduled express coach between Banff & Calgary
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Choice of excursion in Jasper: Maligne Canyon Ice Walk / Discover Jasper & it's Wildlife Tour / Jasper Dark Sky Experience / Dog Sledding Tour upgrade
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Sleigh Ride in Lake Louise
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Choice of excursion in Banff: Discover Banff & it's Wildlife Tour / Snowshoeing at Paint Pots Tour/ Johnson Canyon Icewalk
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National park fees
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Transfer from railway station to hotel in Jasper
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £1524 Excluding Flights
7 Nights
Jan-Apr & Dec
Prices
This itinerary starts from £1,524 per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels. Prices may vary depending on departure date. Please contact us for a detailed quote based on your preferred travel dates, vehicle category and style of accommodation, or to tailor this itinerary.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Doug
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Continents set foot in
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Kilometres ran in Longyearbyen
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Ben
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
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Eric
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Phoebe
Travel Specialist
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Darren
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
