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Canada Holidays - Journey through the Canadian Rockies by train

Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive

Reference WW53646
8 nights from
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April - October 2024
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What's Included

Return flights from the UK
3 days on board Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf service. Includes 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches.
8-nights hotel accommodation
5-days full-size car rental
FREE Vancouver Lookout Admission
FREE Calgary Tower Admission
Rail station transfers and luggage handling

Overview

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This trip allows you to experience some of the most breath-taking and varied scenery around the world. Enjoy the natural beauty of the Coast Mountain Range as you travel alongside glacier-blue lakes and through desert-like ranch lands onboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer.  From the Pacific coastal city of Vancouver to the Gold Pan city of Quesnel, the towering peaks of the Rockies to the Stampede city of Calgary, this self-drive then allows you to discover the best of Western Canada at your own pace.

Itinerary

Arrive in Vancouver and spend time exploring this scenic coastal city on your own. Included is admission to the Vancouver Lookout. Overnight in Vancouver.

Depart from cosmopolitan Vancouver and step onboard the award-winning Rocky Mountaineer to begin your 3-day rail journey. Today will have you travelling along the Sea to Sky Corridor to the charming village of Whistler. You will enjoy dramatic scenery as you slowly make the climb from the sparkling scenery of the Pacific Ocean to old-growth forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. Overnight in Whistler.

Depart from the resort town of Whistler to the historic shorelines of Anderson and Seton Lakes, which allowed steamboats to open the interior of British Columbia for colonization. Just beyond lies the semi-desert scrub of the Fraser Canyon and the Cariboo Plateau ranch lands. The day concludes as the train follows the Fraser River into the quaint town of Quesnel. Overnight in Quesnel.

The next morning, your journey continues east through the ethereal boarders of Northern British Columbia, where the influence of the First Nations people is felt the most strongly. The Rocky Mountain Trench gives way to the mountains that rise steeply to the north and south. You will have the chance to photograph Mount Robson – the largest in the Canadian Rockies soaring at 3,954 meters - before arriving at the heritage town of Jasper. Overnight in Jasper.

Enjoy a day at your leisure exploring Jasper National Park with your rental car. Among the highlights are Pyramid and Patricia Lakes, Maligne Canyon, Miette Hot Springs and the much photographed Maligne Lake. Overnight in Jasper.

Travel south to Lake Louise via the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Allow time to visit highlights along the way including Athabasca Falls, Bow Summit, Peyto Lake, and Crowfoot Glacier. To allow yourself to experience these breathtaking sightseeing stops, we recommend allowing at least eight hours for today’s drive. Overnight at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Today, drive the scenic one-hour journey from Lake Louise to Banff. Along the way, watch for deer and elk crossing the specially constructed wildlife bridges over the highway! Alternatively, take a more leisurely drive along the Bow Valley Parkway for views of Castle Mountain and Johnston Canyon (requires a short walk). Overnight in Banff.

Travel through Kananaskis Country and the ranching regions of Alberta before arriving in Calgary. Enjoy your included admission to the Calgary Tower. Overnight in Calgary.

Drop off your rental car in downtown Calgary or at the Calgary International Airport, where your unforgettable Rainforest to Goldrush Discovery Drive journey ends.

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