Arrive in Calgary, collect your hire car at the airport, and make your way to your city hotel for the night.

After settling in, you might choose to take a gentle walk through Prince’s Island Park, explore the nearby Stephen Avenue Walk, or enjoy dinner at one of Calgary’s lively restaurants to kick off your Canadian adventure.

Arts Hotel or similar

After breakfast, set off on a scenic drive west into the Canadian Rockies.

The welcoming town of Canmore, in the foothills of the Rockies, has a great choice of cafés and eateries, for a late breakfast or brunch.

You’ll then pass through Banff, where you could stop to ride the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain or enjoy a cruise on Lake Minnewanka, just outside of town.

Your destination is the beautiful and secluded Emerald Lake Lodge, in Yoho National Park, where you’ll spend the next three nights by the lake’s turquoise waters, surrounded by mountain peaks.

Calgary > Emerald Lake Lodge | 220 kms

Emerald Lake Lodge, Yoho National Park

Spend the next two days enjoying the peaceful charm of Emerald Lake Lodge and the incredible landscapes that surround it. Wake up to mist rising off the lake, enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the rustic dining room, and then choose your pace for the day.

You can explore nearby trails like the Emerald Lake Loop or the more adventurous Yoho Pass, paddle a canoe across the lake, or simply relax by the fire with a book and take in the views. The lodge offers a truly serene escape.

Emerald Lake Lodge, Yoho National Park

Continue your mountain adventure today, driving the incredible Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic highways in the world.

We recommend leaving early, to enjoy the natural wonders en route, including the unbelievably blue, wolf-shaped Peyto Lake, the Athabasca Glacier, and the tumbling Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls.

By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Pyramid Lake Lodge, just outside Jasper, where you’ll check in for a three-night stay.

Emerald Lake Lodge > Pyramid Lake Lodge | 270 kms

Pyramid Lake Lodge, near Jasper

Your time at Pyramid Lake Lodge offers a beautiful blend of outdoor activity and cosy lodge living. Spend your days hiking nearby trails with views of Pyramid Mountain, renting a kayak or paddleboard on the lake, or exploring the charming town of Jasper. Wildlife viewing is common here—keep your eyes open for elk, deer, and even the occasional bear.

When you’re ready to unwind, relax on the lakeside patio or enjoy dinner with mountain views at the lodge’s on-site restaurant.

Pyramid Lake Lodge, near Jasper

After breakfast, return your hire car and transfer to Jasper train station to begin the next stage of your journey aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer.

Today, you’ll travel in luxury through the changing landscapes of Alberta and British Columbia, with large glass-dome windows offering incredible views throughout the day.

Highlights include Mount Robson, at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet) the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Pyramid Falls, and the climb over the Yellowhead Pass.

In the evening, you’ll arrive in Kamloops, where you’ll spend the night.

SilverLeaf & GoldLeaf: Selected Kamloops hotel (comfortable, moderate standard)

Breakfast, lunch on board

Rejoin the Rocky Mountaineer this morning for the second leg of your rail journey. Watch the scenery shift from desert-like canyons to lush coastal forests as you approach Vancouver.

Highlights include the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River.

Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your downtown hotel for your final night. You may want to take a walk along Vancouver’s waterfront, enjoy dinner in Gastown, or simply rest after a day of scenic indulgence.

Rosedale on Robson or similar

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Vancouver before transferring to the airport for your evening flight home. Take with you memories of alpine lakes, mountain adventures, and the unforgettable experience of traveling through the heart of the Canadian Rockies.