Canadian Rockies Highlights & Coastal Passage

Day 1 Seattle Arrival
Arrive in Seattle and spend time exploring Seattle’s waterfront, Chinatown, Pioneer Square, the sights of Pike Place Market, and/or the Space Needle on your own at leisure. Overnight in Seattle.

Day 2 Seattle to Vancouver
Take in the sights of Seattle you didn’t see yesterday before checking out from your hotel. A motorcoach will transfer you (and your luggage) to King Street Station to check in for the first leg of your Rocky Mountaineer journey to Vancouver.
After boarding, toast the rail voyage ahead and enjoy dinner onboard as you travel past the Chittenden Locks linking Puget Sound to Lakes Union and Washington as you wave goodbye to Seattle. Highlights include the fishing fleet (and Boeing jets) of Everett, the fields at the foot of the Cascade Mountains near Mount Vernon, sunset views of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands beyond, and, after crossing the Canadian border, the community of White Rock as the train hugs the Pacific Coast and travels into Vancouver. On arrival in Vancouver, a motorcoach will transfer you from Pacific Central Station to your nearby downtown hotel. Overnight in Vancouver. D.

Day 3 Vancouver Sightseeing
Enjoy a six-hour sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore. Travel across the Lions Gate Bridge and into the Coast Mountains. Experience the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Treetops Adventure, discovering the coastal temperate rainforest and British Columbia’s First Nations heritage. Next, visit Grouse Mountain (gondola admission included), the Peak of Vancouver, and take in breathtaking views of the city, ocean, and surrounding mountains. Overnight in Vancouver.

Day 4 Vancouver to Kamloops
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia’s interior. On today’s journey you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the desert-like environment of the BC Interior. Highlights include the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer travels along the shores of Kamloops Lake into Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops. B, L.

Day 5 Kamloops to Banff
Your journey continues eastwards to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Once again you will see a spectacular array of scenery as you travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies. Today’s highlights include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels and, of course, the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Your rail journey ends this evening in the resort town of Banff. Overnight in Banff. B, L.

Day 6 Banff to Lake Louise
A half-day tour takes you into Yoho National Park to view some of its natural wonders. Among the attractions are the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River. The tour ends in Lake Louise where the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy this magnificent location. Overnight in Lake Louise.

Day 7 Lake Louise to Calgary with Summit Helicopter
Today you will enjoy a full-day tour concluding in Calgary. Begin the morning with a sightseeing tour of Banff. Among the points of interest are Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. Banff Gondola included. Continue on to Kananaskis for the highlight of today’s adventure, a 12-minute Summit Helicopter Tour over the remarkable landscape of the Rockies. Your tour ends on arrival in Calgary late this afternoon. Overnight in Calgary.

Day 8 Calgary Departure
Transfer to the airport for your flight to London.

Day 9 Arrive London
Morning arrival in London.

Tour includes:

3 days onboard the Rocky Mountaineer
1 dinner, 2 lunches, 2 breakfasts
7 nights hotel accommodation
North Vancouver & Banff tours
Yoho Park tour
Helicopter Flightseeing
Station and hotel transfers

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”