A sampling of world-class Canadian resorts combined with breathtaking scenery highlight this Canadian Rockies vacation. Start your trip in Calgary then travel to Lake Louise to spend an evening at the elegant Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, known for its beauty, comfort, and Old World charm. Travel north on Icefields Parkway and savor stunning views of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. Next: a highlight of your vacation—take a thrilling ride aboard an Ice Explorer on the Columbia IceField, the largest expanse of ice in the Canadian Rockies.Continue on to Jasper National Park, the largest national park in Canada, and stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, set deep in the Canadian Rockies and the embodiment of peace, tranquility, and natural beauty. See Maligne Lake and enjoy a narrated cruise to Spirit Island. Afterward, enjoy leisure time in Jasper, strolling through the pretty streets and relaxing at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge with its spectacular, outdoor adventure opportunities.Head to Banff and take in the natural beauty of Banff and Yoho National Parks. Spend two nights at the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a symbol of the Canadian Rockies with its championship golf course, world-class spa, and luxurious comfort in a pristine wilderness. Enjoy a sightseeing tour with a ride on the Banff gondola up Sulphur Mountain. You’ll also have time to explore Banff on your own.Finally, extend your Canadian vacation with a journey on the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver. Travel over the Continental Divide and along the Kicking Horse River to Kamloops before winding your way through the Fraser Canyon and fertile Thompson Valley to Vancouver. This train ride through breathtaking scenery takes you back to a time when getting to your destination was part of the fun. Along the way, see wild rivers, majestic mountain ranges, and beautiful lakes. Upon arrival in Vancouver, take a full day at leisure as the perfect end to your resorts-and-rails Canadian Rockies vacation.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Calgary. Welcome to Calgary! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming Canadian Rockies adventure.
Day #2 Calgary–Lake Louise. This morning, enjoy an orientation tour of Calgary before heading to Lake Louise, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Enjoy a canoe excursion, stroll along the lake, or just relax at this historic Canadian resort. (B,D)SPECIAL FEATURE: Your hotel tonight is the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Situated in one of the world’s most breathtaking settings, Chateau Lake Louise evokes a sense of timeless beauty, warmth, intimacy, comfort, and Old World charm. Resting next to majestic mountains and the vibrant blues and greens of glacier-fed Lake Louise, the resort affords incredible opportunities for sightseeing, recreation, photography, shopping, and dining.
Day #3 Lake Louise–Columbia Icefield–Jasper. Journey north on Icefields Parkway and savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. We’ll stop at Peyto Lake, which many consider to be the best view in Canada and perhaps one of the best in the world. Get ready for one of the trip’s highlights: a stop at the Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride on an ICE EXPLORER. Stand on 1,000 feet of ice and come face to face with the glaciers that feed into a Triple Continental Divide. We continue to JASPER NATIONAL PARK. (B,D)SPECIAL FEATURE: Your hotel for the next two nights is Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Set deep in the Canadian Rockies, the charming cabins and rugged elegance of Jasper Park Lodge make it the embodiment of peace, tranquility, and natural beauty. With one of the world’s finest golf courses, spectacular outdoor adventure opportunities, gracious hospitality, and fine cuisine, Jasper Park Lodge is the ideal vacation spot.
Day #4 Jasper. Excursion to Maligne Lake. This morning, enjoy an excursion to Maligne Lake for a fully narrated CRUISE on this glacial lake to Spirit Island. The balance of the day is at leisure. Your world-class resort offers all kinds of things to do. Hollywood greats like Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum, and Bing Crosby were known to play a round of golf on this scenic course—and you can, too. Treat yourself like royalty with a spa treatment, or stroll the streets of Jasper with its array of specialty stores. (B)
Day #5 Jasper–Yoho National Park–Banff. This morning we stop at thundering Athabasca Falls before continuing our sightseeing with visits to BANFF and YOHO NATIONAL PARK. See the Natural Bridge spanning Kicking Horse River and Emerald Lake. Arrive in Banff with the balance of the day at leisure. (B)SPECIAL FEATURE: Your hotel for the next two nights is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Few hotels in the world rival the majesty, hospitality, and scenery of the Banff Springs Hotel. With its unique blend of opulence and seclusion, it’s been a symbol of the Canadian Rockies for more than a century. Styled after a Scottish baronial castle, Banff Springs offers stunning vistas, championship golf courses, a world-class European-style spa, and luxurious comfort in a pristine wilderness.
Day #6 Banff. Enjoy sightseeing with a ride on the BANFF GONDOLA up Sulphur Mountain. Afterward, a scenic drive around Tunnel Mountain, where each corner brings a new surprise—from animals like elk and deer to the unique landscape features of the hoodoos and Bow River. This afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps take advantage of an optional helicopter flightseeing trip with dramatic aerial views of the Rocky Mountains and Banff. Or, you may wish to stroll the colorful streets of Banff or fish for trout on Lake Minnewanka. This evening, enjoy a [LF] HISTORIC TOUR of your hotel followed by a WINE TASTING. Then, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner, the perfect finale for your vacation! (B,D)
Day #7 Banff–Rocky Mountaineer–Kamloops. This morning, board the ROCKY MOUNTAINEER and travel over the Continental Divide and along the Kicking Horse River. We travel westward to Shushwap Lake with its thousand miles of shoreline and then overnight in Kamloops. Tonight, enjoy free time in Kamloops. (B,L)NOTE:Kamloops properties are considered moderate 2- or 3-star hotels or motor inns. The city does not offer any hotels in the superior category. Your chosen hotel is determined by Rocky Mountaineer Railtours; however, you can rest assured that it satisfies our high standards of cleanliness and comfort. For your convenience, baggage that will not be needed during the train journey will be checked through to Vancouver. Checked luggage will not be accessible during the journey. Plan to pack an overnight bag with necessities for the train portion of the tour, including medications, eyeglasses, and other important items (SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf passengers will have their luggage delivered to their Kamloops hotel).
Day #8 Kamloops–Rocky Mountaineer–Vancouver. Back aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, enjoy your amazing journey through the fertile fields of the Thompson Valley and the beautiful Fraser Canyon. Late this afternoon, arrive in Vancouver, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. (B,L)
Day #9 Vancouver. A full day at leisure to explore this vibrant city. Why not join an optional excursion to Vancouver Island and the charming seaside city of Victoria, or explore Gastown or Granville Island? Your Globus Host will have suggestions for the best places to shop and dine. (B)
Day #10 Vancouver. Your vacation ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided. (B)
Hotels:
CALGARY Westin Calgary (MD)
LAKE LOUISE Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (D)
JASPER Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (MD)
BANFF Fairmont Banff Springs (MD)
KAMLOOPS Determined by Rocky Mountaineer® (BA)
VANCOUVER Fairmont Waterfront (D)