The complete experience of Western Canada, with the best of the Rockies and the West Coast. 12 days includes 4 days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer®, plus the Whistler Sea to Sky Rail experience. 2 helicopter flightseeing tours and full sightseeing tours in Banff and Lake Louise round out this incredible journey! Book by May 31, 2012 and receive a 3% discount.
Grand Rail Circle Itinerary
Eastbound
Day 1. Vancouver Arrival
Arrive in Vancouver and explore this beautiful city on your own.
Meals: None
Accommodation: Vancouver at the Holiday Inn Downtown (Red Leaf), or at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel’s Fairmont Room (Gold Leaf)
Day 2. 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. Next, visit Grouse Mountain (gondola admission included), the Peak of Vancouver, and take in breathtaking views of the city, ocean, and surrounding mountains.
Meals: None
Accommodation: Vancouver at the Holiday Inn Downtown (RedLeaf), or at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel’s Fairmont Room (GoldLeaf) or Gallery Room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
Day 3. Kamloops
Your first day on the Rocky Mountaineer takes you from the Coastal Range of BC’s lower mainland to Kamloops (pop. 87,000), known or for its warm, arid climate and wild west history that includes the fur trade, the gold rush and cattle ranching.
After departing Vancouver you will head north into the Fraser Valley, passing though bedroom communities before the land opens up and broadens into lush vegetable and dairy farms. As the Coastal Mountains approach, you begin your ascent into the Fraser Canyon, winding along river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade mountains. Wildlife here includes black bear, deer, Big Horn Sheep and the elusive cougar. The mighty Fraser River snakes beneath you, a river that is the world’s largest supporter of spawning Sockeye salmon. Pass by the frothing waters of Hell’s Gate and its century old fish ladders before turning west to follow the Thompson River. Approaching the interior of the province, you see the landscape evolve into the ‘wide open spaces’ of ranchland and rolling hills. As the day winds down, you travel along the shores of Kamloops Lake into the Thompson River Valley, home to Kamloops.
Please note: As a RedLeaf Service guest, please pack a small overnight bag for your stay in Kamloops. Your main luggage will be checked through to your final destination and will not be available. Please be sure to carry any medication with you.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: RedLeaf + GoldLeaf guests stay in a moderate (2-3*) hotel in Kamloops. As RedLeaf guests luggage will be checked through to Banff, we recommend they pack an overnight bag for this night in Kamloops.
Optional Activities: Kamloops Evening Entertainment – ‘Rhythms on the Rails’
Day 4. Banff
You begin your day by following the Thompson River and then the pristine Shuswap lake before encountering Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven in 1895. The rolling ranchlands and lakeshores gradually yield to the Monashee and Columbia Mountain ranges – harbingers of things to come.
Highlights on this day include the climb over Rogers Pass, the Kicking Horse Canyon and the legendary Spiral Tunnels, built by the CPR in 1909 to prevent runaway trains. Natural wonders also include Glacier and Yoho National Parks and, as we cross into Alberta, the Continental Divide. Along the way, the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies are omnipresent, offering startling views and inspiration with every turn in the track. Wildlife viewing opportunities expand to elk, caribou, mountain goats and moose. Your rail journey concludes in the resort town of Banff (pop. 8,700) this evening. Banff is situated in Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The shopping and restaurants here are world class and the dress is “mountain casual.”
Meals. Breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation: Banff at the Ptarmigan Inn or Run of House (RedLeaf) or at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel’s Fairmont Room (GoldLeaf) or Deluxe Room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
Day 5. Banff Sightseeing with Summit Helicopter
Your sightseeing tour of the town of Banff includes Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. The included Banff Gondola, a fully enclosed gondola, which takes you up Sulphur Mountain to an elevation of 2281 metres. From here you can witness panoramic views of six mountain ranges as well as a great bird’s eye view of the town of Banff. At the top of the terminal, relax in the restaurant, view the mountain peaks from inside the terminus or step out onto a one kilometer boardwalk trail along the Banff Skywalk. The Skywalk follows the summit’s ridge to the Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of Canada and the historic Sanson’s Peak Meteorological Station.
Upon returning from the Gondola enjoy free time until you continue on to Kananaskis Country. In a 12 minute tour, explore a different region of the Rockies by helicopter: Cline River, Abraham Lake and a cirque of mountain peaks all over 3,000 meters await your ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs”..
Meals: None
Accommodation: Banff at the Ptarmigan Inn or Run of House (RedLeaf) or at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel’s Fairmont Room (Goldleaf) or Deluxe Room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
A price reduction of $119 will apply for the Summit Helicopter Tour in the event of inclement weather or if a guest chooses not to fly.
Day 6. Lake Louise
A half-day tour takes you into Yoho National Park to view some of its natural wonders. Among the places of interest are the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge that spans the mighty Kicking Horse River. Your tour ends on arrival in Lake Louise (pop. 1,200) where the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. With its blue-green water contrasting with the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier, you’ll realize right way why Lake Louise is also referred to as Canada’s ‘Diamond in the Wilderness.”
Meals: None
Accommodation: Lake Louise at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise’s Fairmont Room (RedLeaf), or at the Fairmont’s Lakeview Room (Goldleaf) or Deluxe Lakeview Room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
Day 7. Jasper
Today experience one of Canada’s national treasures: the Icefield Parkway, located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Along the parkway we’ll see spectacular examples of mountain wilderness including Hector, Peyto and Upper Waterfowl Lakes, the Crowfoot Glacier and Mt. Chephran. Highlights also include Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Falls. Upon arrival at the Columbia Icefield you will take a ride on an Ice Explorer to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier. Time will be available for lunch (not included). Arrive in Jasper late this afternoon.
Meals: None
Accomodation:Jasper at the Lobstick Lodge (RedLeaf),or the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont room (GoldLeaf) or Deluxe room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
Day 8. Quesnel
Travel on board the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper to the rural town of Quesnel. Highlights include the Rocky Mountain Trench, Mount Robson, which, at 3954 metres is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Yellowhead Pass, Moose Lake with its’ pristine crystal clear waters and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, and the Fraser River, once a main thoroughfare for fevered gold rush prospectors. Arrive in Quesnel, nestled in the beautiful Cariboo Chilcotin region.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Moderate hotel (2-3*)
Day 9. Whistler
Your journey continues south today through breathtaking and varied scenery to Whistler. Highlights include sweeping views of the arid Fraser Canyon, the crossing of Deep Creek Bridge, one of the highest railway bridges in the world, and the winding shorelines of glacial-fed Seton Lake and Anderson Lake. Pass through Lillooet, a town famous for its’ jade and gold rush. Arrive in the beautiful mountain resort of Whistler.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accomodation: Delta Whistler Village Suites (RedLeaf) or Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Fairmont Room (GoldLeaf) or Deluxe Slopeside Room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
Day 10. Whistler
Enjoy the day exploring this exciting four-season resort on your own. Take your picture with the Olympic Rings as you walk through the charming village, and enjoy one of the many restaurants and cafes that line the walking-only village streets. Take a ride on the the new world record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola which is a breathtaking, 4.4-kilometre journey, (not included) or soar from tree to tree on a zip-line adventure (not included). Overnight in Whistler.
Meals: None
Accommodation: Delta Whistler Village Suites (RedLeaf) or Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Fairmont Room (GoldLeaf) or Deluxe Slopeside Room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
Day 11. Vancouver
The morning is free to explore Whistler Village at your leisure. This afternoon return to Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer through the stunning scenery of the Sea to Sky Corridor which winds through five distinct biogeoclimatic zones, from the Resort Municipality of Whistler, through Garibaldi Provincial Park, Squamish, and the coast rain forest of Horseshoe Bay to the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region of BC. Highlights include the Cheakamus Canyon, the dome peak of Mount Garibaldi, Brandywine Falls and breathtaking views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. On arrival at the North Vancouver train platform, you will be transferred to your accommodation in downtown Vancouver.
Meals: None
Accommodation: Vancouver at the Holiday Inn Downtown (RedLeaf), or at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel’s Fairmont Room (GoldLeaf) or Gallery room (Fairmont Deluxe and GoldLeaf).
Day 12. Vancouver
Your Grand Rail Circle vacation ends with check-out from your Vancouver hotel.
