Western Canada Circle By Road & Rail

From £4,369 pp

15 nights
Rocky Mountaineer
Fly Drive
Economy Flights
Available April - October

Experience soaring mountain peaks and cool turquoise lakes together with desert-like grasslands and fertile pastures as you explore the varied landscapes of British Columbia and Alberta. Begin on the road, driving from Vancouver to Banff through iconic destinations such as Whistler and Lake Louise. Then journey on board the iconic Rocky Mountaineer, finishing your holiday in style enjoying the scenery and first-class cuisine from their signature glass domed carriages.

What's Included

International flights from the UK based on economy class
15 nights hotel accommodation
11 days intermediate car hire with fully inclusive insurance
2 days on board Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver in GoldLeaf Service
2 breakfasts & 2 lunches on board Rocky Mountaineer

Holiday Map

Explore our interactive map to discover your holiday route and key points of interest.

Leaflet © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

Start

Finish

Stops

Point of interest

Your day-to-day plan

Day 1-2

Vancouver

Arrive at Vancouver International Airport and transfer independently to your downtown hotel. The two day is yours to explore this enchanting coastal city. Take a stroll round Stanley Park, head over to Granville Island to discover a world of food, art and culture or take a shuttle bus over to the North Shore and the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, hanging 70 metres over the Capilano River.

iStock-811523746_Sea_to_Sky_Highway_British_Columbia.jpg

Day 3

Sea-to-Sky Highway

Pick up your hire car as today you will drive the famous Sea-to-Sky Highway, a stunning drive with the soaring Coastal Mountains on one side and blue waters of Howe Sound on the other. Although it’s only 2 hours from Whistler to Vancouver, be prepared for this drive to take all day as there are plenty of attractions off the highway such as Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and the Britannia Mine Museum.

Day 4

Whistler

Today you are free to explore Whistler, a vibrant year-round resort nestled amongst the Pacific Coastal Mountains. Stroll the pedestrian downtown, which is home to fabulous restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops, take the gondola up Whistler Mountain and enjoy breath-taking views or join a bear-watching tour to go in search of local Black Bears.

Day 5-6

Clearwater

Leave Whistler behind and follow Highway 99 north as it winds its way through the Coast Mountain range. Be amazed by the spectacular scenery as you travel alongside fast-flowing rivers and past vibrant blue lakes and gushing waterfalls. As you pass Lillooet, you leave the mountains behind, and the scenery suddenly changes as you enter the semi-arid rolling hills of the BC interior. After lunch in Kamloops, follow Highway 5 north to Clearwater, gateway to the Wells Gray Provincial Park. You have a full day to explore this stunning Provincial Park, famous for wildlife, waterfalls, and wilderness. Be sure to visit the spectacular Helmcken Falls, which plunges down into mist-filled gorges.

Day 7-8

Jasper

Continue on Highway 5, making a stop in Blue River to join a River Safari in search of resident Black Bears. As you head towards Jasper, you will pass by Mount Robson which, at 3,954 metres high, is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. You have a free day to explore Jasper and the surrounding national park. We recommend you drive to the famous Maligne Lake and cruise to Spirit Island, an iconic vista of the Canadian Rockies with distant jagged mountains providing the perfect backdrop. Along the way stop at the dramatic Maligne Canyon and viewpoint over Medicine Lake and be on the lookout for wildlife, Jasper is known for the herd of Elk that graze on the outskirts of town.

Day 9

Icefields Parkway

Travel south from Jasper on one of the most scenic highways in the world, the Icefields Parkway. After a photo stop at Athabasca Falls, stop at the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle and one of the most accessible icefields in North America. Here you can ride on an Ice Explorer to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier and learn about its geological features before stepping out on to the Glacier Skywalk for unobstructed views of the Sunwapta Valley. Be sure to stop at Peyto Lake before completing the Icefields Parkway and arriving at the village of Lake Louise.

Day 10

Yoho National Park

Spend the morning at Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in the world, before heading to Yoho National Park to explore this lesser visited gem. See Takakkaw Falls which is the 2nd highest in Canada, then stop at the scenic Natural Bridge. You will spend the night at the waterside Emerald Lake Lodge and will have plenty of time to either hike around the cool blue lake or simply relax on the patio and admire your surroundings.

Day 11-13

Banff

As you journey down to Banff, make a stop at Maligne Lake where you can rent a canoe and take a short hike up the Rockpile Trail to enjoy a spectacular view over the lake and down the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Continuing to Banff we recommend leaving the highway and driving on the Bow Valley Parkway, stopping at viewpoints over Morant’s Curve and Castle Mountain and talking a walk at Johnstone Canyon to see spectacular waterfalls. You have two full days to explore the charming mountain town of Banff and the surrounding National Park. Relax in the historic Hot Springs, head up Sulphur Mountain on a scenic gondola ride to enjoy incredible views of the 6 mountain ranges that surround the town, cruise on Lake Minnewanka or take the riverside path to the beautiful Bow Falls.

Day 14

Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops

Travel on board the Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia's interior. From inside Rocky Mountaineer's signature glass dome carriages you will see dramatic changes in scenery as you travel from the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranchlands of the interior.

Day 15

Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver

Step back on-board Rocky Mountaineer as you continue west towards the Pacific Ocean. On today's journey you will see more changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the B.C. interior through winding river canyons and past the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Your circle of western Canada is complete as you arrive back in the city of Vancouver.

Special Offers

Take advantage of the following offers on this holiday

Special Offer up to $250 in resort credit Whistler offer

Whistler In-Resort Vouchers

Receive up to $250 CAD in vouchers

Receive up to $250 CAD in dining vouchers to spend in Whistler resort. This is a limited time offer.

Terms & Conditions

View all special offers

Featured hotels for this holiday ...

Hotel 1 of 1

Emerald Lake Lodge

4 star

Featured Hotel

With a stunning location on the edge of one of Canada's most spectacular lakes, Emerald Lake Lodge, is sure to be a highlight of any holiday in the Rockies.

Services

GoldLeaf Service

SilverLeaf Service

Coach Style

Bi-level dome

Single-level dome

Window Style

Fully domed windows with panoramic views upstairs, private dining room on the lower level with large picture windows

Oversized domed windows

Included meals served onboard

Gourmet à la carte

Hot or cold breakfast options, delicious hot lunch options

Gourmet Snacks

Included

Meal service style

Served in the dining room

Individual service at your seat

Number of Rocky Mountaineer Hosts

Three to four, plus full culinary team

Three

Alcoholic beverages

Complimentary throughout journey

Non-alcoholic beverages

Included

Outdoor viewing area

Large open-air vestibule

Outdoor viewing between coaches

Luggage in Kamloops/ Quesnel

Delivered to your hotel

Full storytelling

Included

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See more holidays

This holiday requires an ESTA for entry to the United States, for full details and to apply please see below:

ESTA information

Please note Parks Canada charge fees at most national parks and historic sites across the country. Parks Canada passes can be purchased as part of your holiday, speak to your sales advisor for more details. Early booking is recommended.

For further information about national parks and historic sites in Canada or to reserve campsites and activities, please visit:

Parks Canada

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Rocky Mountaineer Holidays

Explore all Canada holidays

Western Canada Circle By Road & Rail

What's Included

Holiday Map

Your day-to-day plan

Vancouver

Sea-to-Sky Highway

Whistler

Clearwater

Jasper

Icefields Parkway

Yoho National Park

Banff

Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops

Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver

Fly Home

Special Offers

Whistler In-Resort Vouchers

Receive up to $250 CAD in vouchers

Emerald Lake Lodge

Services

Related Itineraries

Journey Through The Clouds Discovery Banff

Sunshine To Alpine Western Road Trip

Manitoba The Heart Of Canada

Prairies To The Pacific

Driving The Pacific Coast & Cruising Alaska

Great Parks Of The West

Pacific To The Rockies

Discover Saskatchewan’s Wilderness

Western Delights

In The Footsteps Of The Yukon Pioneers

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