Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

A Train Journey through Western Canada
From Vancouver to the Rockies

Canada - West - Vancouver - Rockies

INTENSE WEST

Starting from between £5,065 to £6,785 per person for 12 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • Taming wild Western Canada, from the Pacific Coast to national parks, nature as far as the eye can see


  • Travel through the Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer train; take the glacier route to Banff for a real adventure.


  • Private stay in Vancouver, Maligne Lake cruise, Banff Park hike: it's all included


  • Smartphone app, Concierge services, Dossier of recommended places and all our usual additional services. all reasons to travel with us


From the Pacific Ocean to the Rockies, this trip summons the spirit of the great outdoors in one of the last remaining areas of untamed nature. Vancouver is the starting point, a super civilised city set between the mountain and the sea, where skyscrapers and nature come together. Head for the Rockies by train. This is not a time for speed; this is a time to contemplate magnificent panoramas through huge windows. Far from roads and civilisation, there are more bears than humans in these landscapes. Huge lakes, magnificent mountains and green as far as the eye can see. In Jasper National Park, mule deer, elk and mouflon sheep have been frolicking in the wild for thousands of years. On foot or on horseback, the Maligne Lake area offers great memorable walks. Take the panoramic highway 93, known as the 'Icefields Parkway', where glaciers move apart while you pass through elegant little mountain villages. Just like Banff, which marks the last stop on this great journey. From one side to the other, visitors will have had a great experience of Western Canada. Visit Vancouver with a private guide, sail on Maligne Lake, walk in Banff National Park - these highlights are already in your itinerary and you are free to add more stopovers to the trip. You have the contact details of our Concierge and his on-site team, as well as our app with a selection of recommended places.



ALL ABOARD THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

An all-out travel experience, the two days aboard the scenic train are the highlight of this trip. We've selected the best service category: GoldLeaf. Attentive staff, personalised service, first-class carriage with panoramic dome, comfortable reclining seats, delicious cuisine served at your table. On board, there is a friendly atmosphere; you chat, read a few pages of your book and let yourself be lulled by the panorama that unfolds right before your eyes.
Alberta - Canada © Yuguesh Fagoonee/Fotolia
Alberta - Canada © Yuguesh Fagoonee/Fotolia
Tofino - Colombie-Britannique - Canada © marcuspaladino/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Tofino - Colombie-Britannique - Canada © marcuspaladino/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Pacific Rim - Colombie-Britannique - Canada © Droits reservés
Pacific Rim - Colombie-Britannique - Canada © Droits reservés
 © Droits reservés
© Droits reservés
Parc national de la Mauricie - Québec - Canada © Olivier Romano
Parc national de la Mauricie - Québec - Canada © Olivier Romano
 © Droits reservés
© Droits reservés
Jasper National Park - Canada © Droits reservés
Jasper National Park - Canada © Droits reservés

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Reception on arrival, private transfer and three nights' accommodation in the fashionable Yaletown district in an old warehouse converted into a charming hotel. The interiors are bright and colourful with a relaxed designer feel. The hotel includes a fitness room and spa to take time for yourself and a bar and restaurant that attract trendy local clientele. And right next door is a plethora of upscale restaurants, old houses transformed into shops or tearooms and pleasant terraces.

Close to your hotel, the Hotel Vancouver is built in chateau-esque style. At its foot rises the enormous Anglican Christ Church Cathedral in a neo-gothic style. The library is more contemporary (Moshe Safdie, 1995). You are just a stone's throw away from Gastown, where the sawmill that gave rise to the city was located. The old, renovated warehouse district along the harbour is a must-see. To the northwest lies Stanley Park's 1,000 acres of cedar and fir trees. The people of Vancouver have an exceptional natural refuge here. To the south, Granville Island. The ex-industrial island has recently developed into a pleasant neighbourhood. Come here from downtown by water taxi to take a walk, do some shopping, see a show or an art exhibition and, above all, fill your tote bag with food and handicrafts at the Public Market. People come to live an urban life in a place with a village feel.
Already included in the itinerary - Vancouver with a private guide. An opportunity to soak up the scenery and explore several parts of the city and Stanley Park, as well as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, 229ft above the river and the entrance to Grouse Mountain, north of the city, from which you can see Vancouver and its surroundings.

Included in the itinerary - Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer for two days across Canada, between forests, lakes, rivers and other snowy glaciers. The train itself is a journey, an exploration of uninhabited and inaccessible lands. On the first day: pass the tumultuous waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon, steep slopes and boulders along the Thompson River. Arrival in Kamloops at the end of the day and stay overnight at a small hotel in the city centre.

Included in the itinerary - A second day on board the train. The journey continues northeast to the majestic Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 12,792ft, Pyramid Falls and Yellowhead Pass in Jasper National Park can be seen on the way.
Arrival in Jasper at the end of the day, picking up the rental car and three-night stay in a quiet area made up of small wooden cabins nestled in a large pine forest at the edge of the Athabasca River.

A small, family-friendly mountain resort, Jasper is renowned for its stunning setting, bordered by vertiginous rocky ridges. It's ideal for outdoor activities such as kayaking, rafting or hiking. The city also has its own Dark Sky Preserve, a privileged site for observing stars and constellations. Jasper National Park is home to deer, moose and mouflon sheep.
Must-sees - Miette hot springs - the lakes of Patricia, Pyramid, Annette or Edith - Jasper SkyTram, a dizzying cable car with spectacular views of the valley.
Included in the itinerary - A cruise on the turquoise waters of Lake Maligne, one of the finest lakes in the Rockies. In its waters, the gigantic pine trees of the wild Spirit Island point skywards. And, all around, the snow-capped peaks seem to preserve the tranquillity of the place.

Picturesque route to Banff by first taking the 'Icefields Parkway', as Highway 93 is known, to Lake Louise. Considered one of the best roads in the world, it winds between glaciers, revealing a stunning scenery of sparkling peaks, forests, emerald lakes and waterfalls at every turn. The last stretch of highway on the Trans-Canada Highway connects to Banff, a chic resort and capital of Canada's first national park. Three-night stay in a welcoming, wooden and stone lodge-like hotel.

The pretty village stretches through the valley which was carved out by the Bow River. You can admire its hoodoos (fairy chimneys sculpted by erosion) and hot springs. The park has dazzling snow-covered peaks, deep valleys and lakes, including Lake Moraine, with its turquoise blue colour. The landscape is dominated by snow-capped peaks, a glacier, a mountain of flat black stones that falls into the water, flowing torrents and a coniferous forest where deer live.
Included in the itinerary - A hike in Banff National Park. A guide is available to accompany you, according to your wishes and the desired level of difficulty, in the countryside, at the summit or at the edge of waterfalls.
Also experience - A cruise through the clear waters of Lake Minnewanka, where the peaks are reflected wonderfully in the water - take the cable car and reach the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where hiking trails along the rides begin - a horseback ride in Banff National Park - a rafting trip down the Kananaskis River - at the end of the day, have a drink at the bar at the Banff Spring Hotel, an architectural gem of the late 19th century.

Next, a short trip down to the great plains through a farming region full of ranches surrounded by beautiful cliffs. Return your car to Calgary airport and catch your international flight home. Overnight flight, arriving the next day.

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

THE ROCKIES AS SEEN FROM THE SKY

The vastness of the landscape makes you want to climb higher in order to get a better grasp of the immensity of this magnificent panorama. The helicopter climbs along the 11,847 foot high walls of Assiniboine Glacier, with spectacular views of the snow-capped glacier, waterfalls and lakes.

Optional



IF YOU HAVE A FEW EXTRA DAYS...

LAKE LOUISE

This lake marks the end of the scenic highway 93: Lake Louise, with bright, light green waters, is nestled among snow-covered mountains, the highest of which, Mount Temple, peaks at 11,482ft. You can stay overnight in a lovely historic hotel to break up the journey and take your time. An opportunity to indulge in a yoga session out in the open in front of Lake Louise, or hike around the lake, on the Plain of Six Glaciers and in nearby Yoho National Park.

Optional



VANCOUVER ISLAND

Accessible by ferry in less than two hours from Vancouver, this pristine, wild conservation area is home to a rich fauna: bears, of course, but also whales, killer whales or seals that can be seen on offshore trips. On the southern tip of the island, Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is renowned for its gardens, museums, English lifestyle and gastronomy. A little higher up, the beautiful Pacific Rim park and the fishing villages Tofino and Ucluelet are among the most coveted places to live in the country with their huge beaches, steep cliffs and surf spots.

Optional

Why visit Canada with Original Travel

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

ENQUIRE NOW

A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Canada

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

You might also like

A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £5,065 to £6,785 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £6,070 per person.
Included in this suggestion

  • Direct international flight on a scheduled airline


  • Airline taxes and fuel surcharge


  • Access to the Air France business lounge at Roissy 2E (for departures from Paris)


  • Private transfers


  • The Rocky Mountaineer train ride from Vancouver to Jasper, two days/one night, GoldLeaf category (breakfast and lunch included, night in Kamloops)


  • Car hire for six days


  • Three-night stay in Vancouver in a double room (room only)


  • Three-night stay in Jasper in a double chalet (room only)


  • Three-night stay in Banff in a double suite with breakfast included


  • Half-day tour of Vancouver with a private guide


  • A cruise on Maligne Lake from Jasper


  • Half-day hiking in the Banff area with a private guide


  • Our local Concierge service


  • A host of additional services are included when travelling with us, including Our local Concierge service

100% tailor-made holidays

Understanding Your Needs

Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday

Personalisation

We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities

Our Services

All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges