Cross the Canadian Rockies

Welcome to Calgary, Alberta’s largest city and a cultural crossroads where ranching heritage meets modern energy. Upon arrival, a private transfer will deliver you to the Fairmont Palliser, a landmark hotel in the city’s vibrant downtown.

With time to spare and a leisurely summer evening ahead, stroll Stephen Avenue, lined with heritage buildings and buzzing patios, or visit the Glenbow Museum to learn about Indigenous cultures and early western pioneers.

As dusk settles over the foothills, choose from one of Calgary’s many exceptional restaurants for dinner, perhaps sampling local Alberta beef. Round off your day with a visit to the acclaimed Sky 360 for skyline views from the Calgary Tower.

After breakfast at your hotel, begin the drive westward into the Rocky Mountains – the scenery growing ever more spectacular as you approach Banff National Park. A fairytale landscape of rugged peaks, glacial rivers and abundant wildlife, Banff National Park is one of the world’s oldest – established in 1885 – and is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your day will include an exhilarating ride aboard the Banff Gondola, ascending 2,292 metres to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. From here, sweeping views stretch across six mountain ranges and the Bow Valley below.

Afterwards, explore the alpine town of Banff, filled with art galleries, cafes and outfitter stores, before checking into the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs, often referred to as Canada’s ‘Castle in the Rockies’.

This morning’s guided exploration reveals some of the most fabled landscapes in the Canadian Rockies. Travel along the Bow Valley Parkway, watching for elk and black bears on your way to Lake Louise. Framed by glaciers, this beautiful lake is renowned for its striking turquoise hue.

Continue to Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, where aquamarine water reflects the surrounding summits. After a lakeside lunch, stop at Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s tallest waterfalls plunging over 300 metres from a glacier-fed stream.

Return to Banff in the late afternoon where you canopt for a gentle riverside walk, browse local shops or unwind with a spa treatment before a delicious dinner at the hotel.

This morning, board the Rocky Mountaineer, Canada’s most celebrated luxury train, for the first leg of your rail journey. Settle into your seat beneath its glass dome and prepare for a day of spectacular rail travel following the historic Canadian Pacific Railway’s original route.

Over the course of this 10-to-11-hour journey, you will climb through the Spiral Tunnels and over the Continental Divide via Kicking Horse Pass, an engineering marvel with steep gradients and stunning scenery. As you descend into British Columbia’s interior, watch the landscape shift from alpine to rugged ranch land.

Onboard, you will enjoy a multi-course breakfast and lunch made with regional ingredients, complemented by storytelling and attentive service. After arriving in Kamloops, you will be transferred to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Today you will rejoin the Rocky Mountaineer for another day of immersive scenery and culinary indulgence.

This second stage of your rail journey traces the Thompson River through steep canyons and rolling hills before entering the dramatic Fraser Canyon. Keep an eye open for bald eagles circling over the water and marvel at Hell’s Gate, where the river funnels through a narrow gorge with roaring rapids.

The landscape softens as you approach the fertile Fraser Valley, entering coastal rainforest as you near Vancouver. On arrival, a private transfer will take you to the Fairmont Waterfront, an elegant hotel overlooking Canada Place and the harbour beyond. Make yourself at home and spend the evening exploring or relaxing.

After a hearty hotel breakfast, enjoy a half-day guided tour of Vancouver, one of the world’s most beautiful coastal cities. Options include driving the seawall of Stanley Park, exploring the First Nations totem poles and wandering the vibrant stalls of Granville Island Public Market.

Then head to the Vancouver Lookout, ascending over 160 metres to take in panoramic views of the city, ocean and North Shore Mountains.

After the tour, a private transfer will deliver you to the cruise terminal, where your ocean adventure will begin.