6 Day Winter Semi-Guided Tour VIA Rail from Vancouver to Calgary

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Vancouver - VIA Rail Canada (No Westar tour guide service on this day, it is a self-guided tour)
1 stop
1
Guests will check in independently at the Pacific Central Station. Your train departs at 3:00 PM. Pacific Central Station Address:1150 Station St, Vancouver, BC V6A 4C7. You will spend the night on the VIA train with the default seat ticket (sleeper or cabins can be upgraded with an additional charge; there is no guide service on the train). Itinerary Overview: •14:00: Arrive at Vancouver Pacific Central Station •15:00: VIA Rail departs from Vancouver •19-hour journey •Next day at 11:00 arrives in Jasper Important Notes: • No guide service: This is a self-guided trip. For assistance, contact the customer service number on your confirmation voucher. • Train Departure: Please arrive 90 minutes before departure at the station for check-in and luggage handling (valid ID and VIA Rail e-ticket required). • Luggage Allowance: • Economy: 1 checked bag (23kg), 1 carry-on (7kg), and 1 personal item (e.g., laptop bag). • Economy: No meals included; snacks and light meals available for purchase.
9 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 2
VIA Rail Canada - Jasper (No Westar tour guide service on this day, it is a self-guided tour)
1 stop
2
Jasper National Park
Your journey continues eastwards to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Once again you will see a spectacular array of scenery as you travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes, and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies. At approximately 11:00 AM, you’ll arrive at Jasper Station. Please proceed to your hotel for check-in (we’ll confirm the hotel name and directions before departure). Standard check-in is at 4:00 PM. If early check-in isn’t available, you may store your luggage at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Enjoy and spend a wonderful night in Jasper.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Jasper - Icefields Parkway - Banff (No Westar tour guide service on this day, it is a self-guided tour)
1 stop
3
Banff Avenue
Itinerary Overview: • 8:30 AM: Meet at your hotel lobby for the Jasper to Banff intercity bus • Icefield Parkway (approx. 4-hour drive) • 12:45 PM: Arrive in Banff Important Notes: • No guide service: This is a self-guided trip. For assistance, contact the service phone number listed in your confirmation voucher. • Bus Departure: The intercity bus will arrive between 8:30 - 8:45 AM at your hotel. Please be ready at least 15 minutes before departure in the hotel lobby. The driver will verify your name before boarding. • Free Luggage Allowance: 1 standard checked bag (23 kg), 1 carry-on bag (7 kg), and 1 personal item (e.g., laptop bag or clothing bag). • Additional Luggage Charges: Any excess luggage will incur an additional fee, payable in cash to the driver: • Guide Contact: Your guide will contact you between 17:00 PM - 20:00 PM the following day.
Admission ticket free
Day 4
Banff – Johnston Canyon Upper Falls – Banff Town (lunch stop) – Bow Falls – Surprise Corner – Banff Gondola – Banff
6 stops
4
As Banff National Park’s most popular hiking destination, you won’t want to miss Johnston Canyon. Johnston Canyon is carved into the limestone bedrock from thousands of years of water erosion. On this hike, you will be immersed into a beautiful scene of overhanging canyon walls, waterfalls, and lush forest. Every moment at Johnston Canyon is a memory as you explore depths and different perspectives of the beautiful gorge.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
5
Banff
The town of Banff is a cozy place, alive with wonder and welcoming people. The small town is nestled among majestic mountains and trees. Surrounding the town is Mount Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, and Cascade Mountain. On your evening stroll or your morning jog you might be able to spot a family of deer wandering down the street. Note : Lunch stop
1 hour • Admission ticket free
6
Bow Falls
The roaring and rushing landscape of the summer, at this moment, feels as if it has been enchanted by time, and the space-time has frozen in this instant. But you can still hear the sound of the river rushing beneath the solidified ice, as if it wants to break free from the confinement of the time magic
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
7
The Surprise corner is named after its spectacular views of the majestic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel that is cozily nestled at the heart of a dense forest with the beautiful Sulphur Mountain as a backdrop. This beautiful scene is elevated with Bow River cascading down into the Bow Falls as a foreground. The magnificent scene at Surprise Corner will make you feel as if you have travelled into a fairytale story.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
8
Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola offers outstanding panoramic views of the town of Banff and the Canadian Rockies from 7486ft (2281m). Enjoy the 8 minute ride to the top of the world where there are dining options, hiking trails, and observation decks at the summit of Sulphur Mountain for your maximum viewing pleasure. Note: Optional Add-on Activity
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
9
Banff Avenue
Drop off : Accomodation in Banff
10 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Banff - Bow Lake - Peyto Lake - Icefield Parkway - Vermillion Lake - Lake Minnewanka - Two Jack Lake - Banff
7 stops
10
Bow Lake
Bow Lake is a stop you will not regret taking while you are travelling across Icefield Parkway. When the lake thaws in the summer, it becomes a vivid blue colour from the glacier melt of the Crowfoot Glacier. Speaking of the Crowfoot Glacier, the Bow Lake is also the perfect place to view the Crowfoot Glacier, Wapta Icefield, bow glacier, crowfoot mountain and Mount Thompson. It really seems like the ultimate all in one package!
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
11
Peyto Lake
Located along the Icefields Parkway, approximately 40km north of Lake Louise is the vibrant glacier-fed lake, Peyto Lake. The lake is nestled in majestic mountain ranges which lie on each of its sides. This jaw dropping view is the best reward for an intense scrambling hike. The scenery on the viewpoint looks as if it is a carefully painted piece of art. Peyto Lake’s beauty is comparable with the famous Moraine Lake without as many crowds.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
12
Crowfoot Glacier
Attached to the Northeast side of the Crowfoot Mountain and overlooking the Bow Lake lies the Crowfoot Glacier. This huge mass of ice was named a century ago because its appearance resembled that of a three-toed crowfoot. Be sure to take lots of photos because the next time you visit Crowfoot Glacier, it might not look the same anymore!
Admission ticket free
13
Note : Lunch Stop
45 minutes • Admission ticket not included
14
In the winter, you might get lucky and see the magical Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) lighting up the night sky. When the waters of the Vermillion Lakes freeze over, there is a period of time where you have the opportunity to see the beauty of bubble layers in the ice. The shapes are frozen methane bubbles, which form when microbes consume dead organic matter on the bottom of the lake.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
15
Lake Minnewanka
Located 15 minutes east of Banff is Lake Minnewanka, the largest and deepest glacial lake in Banff National Park, reaching a depth of 142 meters. Its name comes from the Indian Stoneni family, which means "water spirit.” This stunning aqua blue lake is surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks and unique rocks by the shoreline.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
16
Two Jack Lake
The beautiful and tranquil Two Jack Lake is accessible by a 3.2 km loop trail that is perfect for hikers of all skill levels. In the summer, the two red lounge chairs on the lakeshore contrast with the emerald green lake. The vivid blue lake is backdropped with a stunning mountain and lush forest. It is a very photogenic destination, and it is a trendy place for many photographers and hikers who want to see a vibrant sunset.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Banff - Emerald Lake - Natural Bridge - Lake Louise - Marble Canyon - Drop off Banff/Calgary
6 stops
17
Take a quick stop at Spiral Tunnels, where you can catch a glimpse of Canada’s history. This spiraling tunnel lies on the Canadian Pacific Railway. This is one of the steepest, and most scenic railway lines in all of North America, crossing the Kicking Horse River, also running under Mount Ogden and Cathedral Mountain towards the town of Field in British Columbia.
Admission ticket free
18
Emerald Lake
One of the most admired destinations in Yoho National Park is Emerald Lake. This gorgeous emerald coloured lake is a result of the light refracting the deposit of rock flour in the lake. Emerald Lake is surrounded by the President Range that forms a natural amphitheater with towering forested banks. If you look carefully, you might be able to spot some really cool wildlife such as marmots, bald eagle, bears, loons, and the occasional moose!
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
19
Stop at the Natural Bridge along the way and admire the Kicking Horse River as it carves a path through ancient rock. You can view the incredible natural formation from different perspectives at vantage points with interpretive displays that tell you about interesting facts about Natural Bridge. This beautiful scenery is enhanced with the scenic mountains and lush forests in the background.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
20
If there is only one place you can go while you are in the Canadian Rockies, you must visit Lake Louise. Also named “Jewel of the Rockies,” this world famous turquoise lake draws millions of visitors every year. This gorgeous alpine lake is embellished with Victoria Glacier as the backdrop. The rugged peaks and glaciers behind the lake makes the scenery of the lake seem as if it were a carefully designed painting. Note : Optional Add on-Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel Afternoon Tea ( Additional fee )
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
21
There are 7 bridges in Marble Canyon that you can hike on it, walking in a zigzag pattern on the deep limestone canyon and the winding creek below. The canyon is the junction of Tocum Creek and Suzaku River. Fossils of Cambrian soft-bodied creatures millions of years ago were found here, which is quite magnificent.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
22
Calgary
Drop off : Banff/Calgary If you plan to connect to a flight departing from Calgary on the same evening: For domestic flights within Canada, please book a departure after 9:00 PM. For international flights, please book a departure after 10:00 PM.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Show 8 more

Tags