CALGARY ARRIVAL & CITY EXPERIENCES – GATEWAY TO THE ROCKIES

Journey Highlights:

• Complimentary Airport Transfer: Professional pickup service from Calgary International Airport with assistance for hotel check-in (scheduled service from 9am-9pm). Review our Complete Calgary Airport Pickup Guide for detailed information
• Premium Calgary Accommodation: Comfortable lodging in preparation for your mountain adventure (evening)
• Calgary City Tour (optional$$): Guided exploration of Calgary's highlights from historic districts to modern architecture, including the iconic Calgary Tower (3 hours)
  
• Heritage Park Visit (optional$$): Step back in time at Canada's second-largest living history museum, where the past comes alive through authentic buildings and costumed interpreters (3 hours)
• CrossIron Mills Shopping Experience (optional$$): Discover Alberta's largest single-level shopping center featuring over 200 specialty stores and premium outlets (4 hours)
• Calgary Zoo Adventure (optional$$): Observe nearly 900 animals from around the world, including gorillas, hippos, grizzly bears, penguins, and endangered species like red pandas and Amur tigers (afternoon)

Today, we will visit the Waterton National Park, the only park in the world that has three designations - UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Peace Park and a Biosphere Reserve!

【Prince Wales Hotel】
A true historic Canadian icon. Named after Prince of Wales, it is the park’s most recognized landmark. (stop for about 30 minutes)

【Waterton Town】
Explore this tiny, vibrant town site. (stop for about 60 minutes)

【Cameron Falls】
A highlight of a Waterton visit. Crystal clear cascading mountain water rushes steadily over 1.5 billion-year-old Cambrian rock, throwing off a delicate mist that dusts the skin of those who stand-around admiring it. (stop for about 15 minutes)

【Red Rock Canyon】
The layers of red and green coloured minerals offer a brilliant contrast to each other and the lush surroundings. (stop for about 30 minutes)

【Buffalo Paddock】
In the specially designated protected area you will have the opportunity to observe the largest mammals of the American prairie from a distance. (Duration approx. 15 min.)

**IF Buffalo Paddock Not Open, will go Okotoks Big Rock Instead

【Okotoks Big Rock】
Big Rock lies about 8 km west of the town of Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, formed by dislodged rocks that travelled on top of a glacier thousands of years ago. (stop for about 15 minutes)

LAKE LOUISE & YOHO NATIONAL PARK – TURQUOISE LAKES & ENGINEERING MARVELS

The exploration continues with visits to the legendary Lake Louise and the awe-inspiring Yoho National Park. This spectacular day features some of the most photographed landscapes in Canada, from the turquoise waters of Lake Louise set against Victoria Glacier to the emerald-hued Moraine Lake nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. In Yoho National Park, marvel at remarkable natural formations and engineering wonders while learning about the geological forces that shaped this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Journey Highlights

• Lake Louise: Admire the breathtaking turquoise waters of this iconic alpine lake named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, with time to explore the shoreline and capture perfect photographs (stop for about 2 hours)
• Moraine Lake (seasonal: early June to early October): Discover one of the most photographed landscapes in Canada, where intensely turquoise waters reflect the dramatic surrounding peaks, creating a scene that once appeared on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill (*If not accessible, it will be replaced with Vermilion Lake) (stop for about 60 minutes)
• Yoho National Park: Experience this spectacular park whose name means "awe" in the Cree language, featuring dramatic waterfalls, towering rock walls, and alpine meadows (multiple stops within the park)
• Spiral Tunnels: Witness an engineering marvel where the railroad crosses over itself in a figure-eight configuration, an ingenious solution to the steep mountain grade (drive through with commentary)
• Emerald Lake: Visit the largest of Yoho's 61 lakes and explore its shoreline surrounded by towering mountain peaks, with striking green waters that give the lake its name (stop for about 20 minutes)
• Natural Bridge: Observe this fascinating rock formation carved by the powerful Kicking Horse River, demonstrating the incredible erosive force of water on the landscape (stop for about 15 minutes)

From Banff to Jasper Along the Icefield Parkway

Journey Highlights

• Icefield Parkway: Travel along this 232km stretch of highway connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks, renowned as one of the world's most scenic mountain routes. (Pass through)
  
• Bow Lake: Admire the striking blue waters of this glacier-fed lake, which forms the headwaters of the Bow River that flows through Calgary. (Approx. 20min. stop)
  
• Columbia Icefield: Marvel at one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle, with the option to experience the glacier firsthand on the (Optional $$) Ice Explorer and Glacier Skywalk. (Approx. 3.5hrs stop)
  
• Athabasca Falls: Witness the raw power of nature as glacier-fed waters carve through ancient rock in this thundering waterfall. (Approx. 30min. stop)
  
• Jasper Town: Discover the charming mountain community that serves as the heart of Jasper National Park.

Exploring Jasper’s Natural Wonders

The exploration of Jasper National Park continues with visits to some of the park's most celebrated natural wonders. This day features the magnificent Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon, alongside other remarkable attractions in this pristine wilderness area. Journey through diverse mountain landscapes while discovering unique geological features, crystal-clear lakes, and abundant wildlife habitats. The optional Maligne Lake cruise offers the chance to see the world-famous Spirit Island, one of the most photographed locations in the Canadian Rockies.

Journey Highlights

• Maligne Lake: Experience Canada's second-largest glacier-fed lake, renowned for its stunning azure waters and surrounding mountain peaks (Approx. 100min. stop; optional lake cruise available $$)
  
• Maligne Canyon: Explore this impressive limestone gorge with depths reaching 50 meters, carved over millennia by glacial waters (Approx. 30min. stop)
  
• Medicine Lake: Witness the fascinating "Disappearing Lake" phenomenon, where the water level dramatically changes due to an underground karst system. (Pass through with commentary)
  
• Peyto Lake: Marvel at the vivid turquoise waters of this glacier-fed lake, shaped like a fox and offering one of the most iconic views in the Rockies (Approx. 20min. stop)
  *If closed, it will be replaced by Waterfowl Lake.
  
• The Crossing: Visit this service hub that offers essential amenities for travelers exploring the Columbia Icefield area(Approx. 10min. stop)
  
• Crowfoot Glacier: Observe this ancient ice formation named for its distinctive shape, a poignant reminder of climate change as its "third toe" has largely receded(Approx. 15min. stop)

BANFF NATIONAL PARK EXPLORATION – WATERFALLS, CANYONS & MOUNTAIN VIEWS

The journey continues with an exploration of Banff National Park, Canada's first and most iconic national park established in 1885. From dramatic canyons and waterfalls to unique rock formations and stunning mountain vistas, this protected wilderness has drawn visitors for over a century. The itinerary includes both natural landscapes and cultural highlights, with ample time to experience the charming mountain town of Banff

Journey Highlights

• Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola (optional$$): Soar to an elevation of 2,281 meters on a state-of-the-art gondola for breathtaking 360° views of six mountain ranges and the Bow Valley below (stop for about 90 minutes)
• Johnston Canyon: Explore this dramatic limestone canyon with its series of waterfalls, catwalks, and forest paths that showcase the power of erosion over millennia (stop for about 60 minutes)
  
• Bow Falls: Visit this wide, cascading waterfall near the Banff Springs Hotel, which gained fame as a filming location for "The River of No Return" in the 1950s (stop for about 15 minutes)
• Surprise Corner: Discover one of the most iconic viewpoints in Banff, offering the perfect vantage point to photograph the majestic "Castle in the Rockies" - the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (stop for about 15 minutes)
• Hoodoos Viewpoint: Marvel at these unique geological formations - tall spires of sedimentary rock created by differential erosion that stand like sentinels overlooking the Bow Valley (stop for about 15 minutes)
• Banff Town: Enjoy free time in this charming alpine town with its array of shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants nestled among stunning mountain scenery (stop for about 90 minutes)

Boarding the train to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia’s interior. Start the journey with a welcome-aboard breakfast on the train. The journey takes you through a spectacular array of scenery as you travel between the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranchlands of the interior.Today's highlights include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, the Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie - where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven.

Journey Highlights

• Craigellachie: The historic site where the "Last Spike" was driven on November 7, 1885, completing the Canadian Pacific Railway. It symbolizes the birth of Canada's unified nation.
• Spiral Tunnel: An extraordinary engineering marvel that allows the train to safely ascend and descend steep grades by traveling in two large, 360-degree spiral loops inside the mountain.
• Kicking Horse Canyon: A steep-walled, rugged canyon following the Kicking Horse River. The train crosses the river multiple times, showcasing dramatic gorges and whitewater rapids.
• Rogers Pass: The historically treacherous mountain pass through Glacier National Park. Famous for its heavy snow and avalanche danger, which led the railway to build the Spiral Tunnels.
• Kamloops: This major city in British Columbia's arid interior is situated at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers. The region's unique dry, sunny, semi-desert climate and fertile soil created optimal growing conditions for cultivating North American Ginseng.

• Luxurious double-decker cabin with a Full glass-dome windows with panoramic views, the dreamy glass dome on the upper level and a scenic dining area on the lower level.
• Gourmet à la carte meals in the lower-level dining room
• Attended by four Hosts, plus a full culinary team
• Signature cocktails, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Large exclusive outdoor viewing platform
• Luxurious hotel accommodations with premium room categories.
• Unlimited beverages and complimentary snacks

• Custom-designed single-level dome. Oversized glass-dome windows for taking in the spectacular views
• Regionally-inspired meals served in the comfort of your seat
• Attended by up to three Hosts
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Outdoor viewing area
• Comfortable accommodations with restaurants on the property or within walking distance
• Unlimited beverages and complimentary snacks

• Thompson River Canyon: The journey begins by following the Thompson River through the B.C. Interior. The landscape here is often desert-like and arid, a stark contrast to the mountains, featuring steep, scrub-covered slopes and rock formations. This is a region famous for its ranchlands.
• Hell's Gate: This is the highlight of the day. The train passes through the Fraser Canyon, reaching Hell's Gate, the narrowest and deepest point of the Fraser River. You will see the immense power of the whitewater rapids that are forced through this gorge.
• Fraser Valley: After passing through the canyons, the landscape becomes much softer. The train descends into the lush, fertile green fields of the Fraser Valley, known for its agricultural land. This marks the transition back to the coastal environment as you near Vancouver.