Welcome to Canada! Vast plains sweep from the surrounding mountains to the charming city of Calgary, where your journey begins upon arrival at Calgary International Airport (YYC). Take your included transfer to your hotel and check in for an orientation meeting and the rest of your day at leisure.
Today, travel the Trans-Canada Highway west to Banff, a popular mountain resort town. Established in 1885, the national park of the same name is Canada’s oldest and home to some of the country’s most spectacular natural features, including towering Cascade Mountain and the idyllic Vermilion Lakes.
This afternoon, check in at your hotel, set high in the hills overlooking town, and spend your afternoon at leisure. In the evening, sit down to a three-course dinner and take in the sprawling views at elevated Primrose Restaurant with your fellow travellers.
This morning, set off on a half-day tour of Banff and its surrounds. Gaze up at Tunnel Mountain, whose crest rises up through the centre of town, roll down the the main drag – Banff Avenue – and pass by the tumbling white water rapids of Bow Falls. Later, take the Banff Gondola as you ascend Sulphur Mountain to the south for panoramic views of the astounding Canadian Rockies.
In the afternoon, choose to join an optional tour of spectacular Lake Louise and postcard-perfect Moraine Lake (additional costs apply).
Optional activities:
- Lake Louise tour (available 1–31 May, from A$149 per person).
- Lake Louise & Moraine Lake tour (available 1 June – 14 October, from A$149 per person).
Board the renowned Rocky Mountaineer for a hearty breakfast as you take your scenic rail journey across Western Canada. Recline before the panoramic picture windows of your coach and savour your gourmet lunch while expansive views of evergreen forests and jagged, snow-capped peaks whip by. Over the next two days, the winding tracks of this historic railway will carry you through Canada’s untamed wilderness, traversing the Continental Divide on the way to Vancouver. Travel between the glaciated Canadian Rockies and ranchlands of the Interior, passing the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon and expansive Rogers Pass, as well as Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was set.
This evening, check in at your Kamloops accommodation and spend your evening freely admiring this riverside hub, known for outdoor adventure.
Board the Rocky Mountaineer once more for another day of humbling natural wonder. Depart the ranch land of British Columbia’s interior and follow the Thompson and Fraser Rivers on your enchanting journey to Vancouver.
From the desert-like environs of the Interior, to the winding river canyons and pristine forests, and on to the Cascade Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, today's scenery is a dramatic display of Canada's great diversity. Watch for the steep slopes along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon.
Once you reach the coast, you’ll meet a local guide who will help transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
The ‘Pearl of the Pacific’, Vancouver is known for vibrant city life and a picturesque backdrop, together offering a uniquely welcoming combination of arts, culture and conveniently accessible adventure.
The day is yours explore freely, perhaps choosing to visit forested Stanley Park and its series of totem poles, illustrating the stylistic differences between First Nations from around the coastal region, such as the Haida, Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth. Alternatively, you may wish to admire the emerald-footed Lions Gate Suspension Bridge, wander through historic Chinatown in anticipation of the photogenic Gastown Steam Clock and its charming whistle.
This morning, your Canadian adventure comes to an end. Make your own way to the airport, or choose to spend some more time discovering the city’s hidden wonders.