Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive (Rail & Drive Tours) Calgary to Vancouver

Package Includes

• 2 day Rocky Mountaineer RedLeaf Service
• 3 hour Rocky Mountaineer Coast Classic Experience
• 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 light meal
• 8 nights hotel accommodation
• 5 days full-size car rental, including one-way drop charges and unlimited kilometres
• Gypsy Tour Guide - audio commentary
• Exclusive Attractions Pass
• Ice Explorer
• Rail station transfers in Jasper, Quesnel, Whistler and Vancouver
• Luggage handling
• GST

Not Included

• Transportation from Calgary airport
• Transportation to Vancouver airport
• Meals, other than specified
• Optional services for rental car
• Additional car rental taxes and fees
• Hotel parking fees
• National Park Pass
• Gratuities for rail, hotel and transfer staff
• Fuel surcharges

Day 1 Arrive in Calgary. Pick up rental car.
Arrive in Calgary and collect your rental car. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Calgary on your own. Overnight in Calgary.

Day 2 Calgary to Banff
Depart Calgary this morning with your rental car for your two-hour drive to Banff. Highlights include Lake Minnewanka, the Banff Gondola, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Banff on your own. Overnight in Banff.

Day 3 Banff to Lake Louise
Enjoy the short drive to Lake Louise into Yoho National Park to view some of its natural wonders. Among the attractions are the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge that spans the Kicking Horse River. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy this magnificent location. Overnight in Lake Louise.

Day 4 Lake Louise to Jasper with Ice Explorer
Travel north to Jasper via one of the most scenic highways in the world, spectacular Icefields Parkway. Allow time to visit highlights along the way, including Athabasca Falls, Bow Summit, Peyto Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. At the Columbia Icefield you will have the opportunity to ride on an Ice Explorer (admission included) to the middle of Athabasca Glacier. With sightseeing stops, we recommend allowing at least eight hours for today’s drive. Overnight in Jasper.

Day 5 Exploring Jasper National Park
Today is free to explore Jasper National Park with your rental car. Among the highlights are Pyramid and Patricia lakes, Maligne Canyon, Miette Hot Springs, Maligne Lake and Whistler’s Mountain. This afternoon return your rental vehicle in Jasper. Overnight in Jasper.

Day 6 Jasper to Quesnel
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the mountain resort of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to the charming rural town of Quesnel, gateway to the North Cariboo. Pass through the Rocky Mountain Trench, with the steep Rocky and Cariboo mountains either side, and on to the rolling hills and vast forests of British Columbia’s northern interior. Highlights include Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Yellowhead Pass and Moose Lake. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer passes through the town of Prince George and follows the Fraser River into Quesnel. Overnight in Quesnel. B, L.

Day 7 Quesnel to Whistler
Your journey continues south today to the four-season resort of Whistler. Enjoy breathtaking and varied scenery, from the desert-like conditions of the Fraser Canyon to the rolling hills and vast ranchlands of the Cariboo Plateau to the river canyons and lush farmland of the Pemberton Valley. Highlights include sweeping views of the Fraser Canyon, the crossing of Deep Creek Bridge, one of the highest railway bridges in the world, and the shorelines of glacial-fed Seton Lake and Anderson Lake. Your rail journey ends today on arrival in the resort town of Whistler, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games alpine events. Overnight in Whistler. B, L.

Day 8 Whistler to Vancouver
The morning is free to explore Whistler Village at your leisure. This afternoon return to Vancouver onboard the Rocky Mountaineer through the stunning scenery of this “Sea to Sky” region. Highlights of the trip include the Cheakamus Canyon, the dome peak of Mount Garibaldi, Shannon Falls and breathtaking views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. An afternoon meal is served onboard. On arrival at the North Vancouver train platform, you will be transferred to your accommodation in downtown Vancouver. Overnight in Vancouver.

Day 9 Vancouver Departure
Your vacation ends with check-out from your Vancouver hotel.