Experience the Canadian Rockies and Calgary with Rocky Mountaineer

Itinerary best for

Couples
Luxury Travellers
Slow Travel Fans

Explore the wonders of the Canadian West on a luxurious train journey into the Rocky Mountains. You'll roll out from Vancouver and into Banff.

Let the glass-domed coaches of the Rocky Mountaineer set the pace as you roll east from Vancouver to Calgary. Gourmet meals and panoramic views fill the rail days, while stops in Banff and Lake Louise open the door to via ferrata climbing, horseback rides, an evening wildlife safari and a food crawl through the Fairmont Banff Springs.

At a glance

9-day itinerary
1,670 km (1,038 mi) total distance
35 hrs 28 mins drive time
Your starting point is in Vancouver

7 destinations

Starts in

Vancouver

Day 1 drive time: 11 hr 30 min, 355 km (221 mi)

Day 1

Vancouver to Kamloops

Enjoy stunning scenery and sumptuous service on today's route from Vancouver to Kamloops.

Train ride to Kamloops

Glass-domed coaches provide panoramic views as you journey from the lush fields of the Fraser Valley, through forests and winding river canyons, and beneath the Coast and Cascade Mountains. While on board, savour West Coast cuisine, from Fraser River salmon to Okanagan wines. Stay overnight in Kamloops.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

No sleeper cars here — you'll stay in gorgeous hotels at each stop on this trip.

Day 2 drive time: 12 hr 30 min, 495 km (308 mi)

Day 2

Kamloops to Banff

Get your first glimpse of the staggering Rockies as you travel into Banff, Canada’s first national park.

The Rocky Mountaineer train pulls into the station in Banff

Day 3 drive time: 1 hr 16 min, 35 km (22 mi)

Day 3

Banff

Head out on a multi-site wilderness adventure, then return to town for fine dining and luxe accommodations.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site

The thermal springs at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site have been a sacred place for Indigenous peoples for over ten thousand years. The 1883 re-discovery of the springs led to the creation of Canada's first national park. Today, you can enjoy conservation exhibits and seasonal activities. 

Two climbers smiling as they walk across a narrow plank while holding rope along the side of a mountain with a valley view in the background.

Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay

Craving an adrenaline rush? Climb a steep rock face along fixed ladders, bridges and cables, led by certified guides. Try the Explorer route to learn about the sport's history, tackle a few pitches and traverse the suspension bridge. All equipment included, and no previous climbing experience required.

Two girls watching a cowboy holding a horse in a corral at Warner Stables in Banff National Park.

Banff Trail Riders

Get a fresh perspective on the natural wonders of Banff — on horseback. With 300 horses and 15 routes to choose from, Banff Trail Riders has the perfect ride for you. Try the Spray River Ride for a close encounter with a waterfall, or the Bow Valley Loop to get up close and personal with local wildlife.

Couple dining at the Banff Springs Hotel

Alberta Food Tours – Eat the Castle

Greet your guide at STOCK Food and Drink inside the lobby of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Discover the timeless Rundle Bar, then progress into the heart of the hotel for French brasserie fare at the Vermillion Room. Nestle into the 1888 Chop House for a sample of local produce and a light dessert.

Evening Wildlife Safari (Discover Banff Tours)

Dusk is the ideal time for spotting wildlife in the Canadian Rockies. Join the Evening Wildlife Safari for a chance to see some of Banff national park's most elusive residents—like elk, bears, deer and bighorn sheep. You’ll also learn about the area's ecology and history on this two-hour guided tour.

A Local Favourite

Banff Upper Hot Springs

For over a century, visitors have been journeying to the Banff Upper Hot Springs to "take the waters", which are purported to have therapeutic and healing properties. Locals love them, too. Complete your evening with a relaxing soak in the mineral pools before spending the night in Banff.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

The hot springs are open between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. You can enter the water anytime before 9:30 p.m.

Day 4 drive time: 1 hr 25 min, 99 km (62 mi)

Day 4

Yoho National Park & Lake Louise

Make your way to Lake Louise via Yoho National Park. Enjoy a tour of the park, then explore Lake Louise.

Day 5 drive time: 3 hr 43 min, 349 km (217 mi)

Day 5

Canadian Rockies

On your last day in the mountains, experience their glory from new vantage points — on foot, and in the sky.

Person sitting on rocks overlooking the mountain view at Moraine Lake

Day 6 drive time: 3 hr 30 min, 280 km (174 mi)

Day 6

Lake Louise to Calgary

Enjoy a full-day tour starting in Lake Louise, continuing through Banff National Park and ending in Calgary.

Day 7 drive time: 45 min, 30 km (19 mi)

Day 7

Calgary

Your tour with Rocky Mountaineer has come to a close, but we recommend taking an extra couple days to explore Calgary.

People riding the Skyline Luge at WinSport

Day 8 drive time: 49 min, 27 km (17 mi)

Day 8

Calgary

Today, see history come to life, indulge in culinary delights and stand atop the city.

Day 9 drive time: 0 min, 0 km (0 mi)

Day 9

Choose Your Own Day Trip Adventure

If you have an extra day or two, experience Indigenous cultures in Alberta, hike straight into Alberta’s prehistoric past, discover Alberta’s impressive fossil record, or spend a day with wolfdogs.

A man and a woman are riding horses in a sunny green field.

Scenic meadow at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Option 1: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site that preserves and interprets over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture. Open your senses and allow its vast landscapes, exhibits and diverse programming teach you about the significance of this cliff and surrounding valley. 

Group on an interpretive tour at Dinosaur Provincial Park.

Option 2: Dinosaur Provincial Park

Here, you'll find yourself in an otherworldly landscape of high stone cliffs, deep windswept grooves, towering hoodoos — and some of the most important fossil discoveries ever made. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site on a guided fossil hunt or bus tour, or by hiking one of the rocky trails.

Siksika Blackfoot dancers standing in front of a tipi in Tipi Village

Option 3: Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park

The site of the signing of Treaty 7, Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is a designated National Historic Site dedicated to the preservation of the Siksika Nation's language and traditions. Learn how Siksika culture developed through interactive exhibits and savour Indigenous dishes at the restaurant.

Interactive fossil dig at the Royal Tyrrell Museum

Option 4: Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

Drive just under two hours northeast to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, one of the world's finest dinosaur museums, featuring skeletons and other fossils from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Bring your hiking boots and explore the museum’s interpretive trail through Midlands Provincial Park.

Couple watching wolfdogs at Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary

Option 5: Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary

Head northwest to the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary for an experiential tour. You’ll observe wolfdog behaviour firsthand and learn about what it takes to care for these mysterious animals—not quite domesticated, not quite wild. Kids aged six and older are welcome (some tours have a higher age restriction).

Option 6: Painted Warriors Ranch

Just over an hour north of Calgary lies the Painted Warriors Ranch. Experience the traditional and contemporary lifestyle of the Cree and Saulteaux people — including skills such as animal tracking and snowshoeing, horse riding and archery — on 82 acres (33 hectares) of pristine forest land.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Not ready for your trip to be over? Book a night in one of the Painted Warriors Ranch's authentic Métis trapper tents.

Experience the Canadian Rockies and Calgary with Rocky Mountaineer

Explore the wonders of the Canadian West on a luxurious train journey into the Rocky Mountains. You'll roll out from Vancouver and into Banff.

At a glance

Vancouver

Vancouver to Kamloops

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Kamloops to Banff

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Banff

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Yoho National Park & Lake Louise

Canadian Rockies

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Lake Louise to Calgary

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Calgary

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Calgary

Choose Your Own Day Trip Adventure

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