Rainforest to Gold Rush Self-Drive Vacation

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.

Depart Calgary this morning with your rental car for a two- hour drive to Banff. Highlights close to Banff 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.

Enjoy the short drive to Lake Louise and continue your journey west to 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.

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, and Crowfoot Glacier. At the Columbia Icefield you will have the opportunity to ride on an Ice Explorer to the middle of Athabasca Glacier. We recommend you book a time slot for this attraction in advance. With sightseeing stops, we suggest allowing at least eight hours for today’s drive.
Overnight in Jasper.

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 Whistlers Mountain. This afternoon return your rental vehicle in Jasper.
Overnight in Jasper.

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.

Your journey continues Southwestward today to the four-season resort of Whistler, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games alpine events. Enjoy breathtaking and varied scenery, from the desert- like conditions of the Fraser Canyon, through 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.
Overnight in Whistler. B, L.

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 the Sea to Sky Corridor. Highlights of the trip include the Cheakamus Canyon, the dome peak of Mount Garibaldi, Brandywine Falls, and breathtaking views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. An afternoon meal is served canapé style. Your rail journey ends today on arrival in Vancouver. At the North Vancouver train platform, you will be transferred to your accommodation in downtown Vancouver.
Overnight in Vancouver.

Your journey ends upon checkout from your Vancouver hotel.