Rocky Mountaineer: Rockies & Vancouver Island

After included VIP airport lounge access, you’ll board your flight to Calgary. On arrival, enjoy a private transfer straight to the lake-side town of Lake Lousie and check in to the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. One of the only hotels in the region directly on the lake, this is truly one of the most spectacular settings in the Rockies.

Tonight, perhaps indulge in an authentic Swiss fondue in the hotel's alpine-cosy Walliser Stube or sample fine dining and signature cocktails in The Fairview restaurant.

After breakfast, you'll head on an included excursion to Jasper's iconic Icefields Parkway, winding amid impenetrable forests, shimmering lakes and goliath waterfalls before being greeted by the otherworldly white expanse that is the Columbia Icefield. A six-wheel drive takes you in to the centre of its icy stretch before you head to your accommodation for this evening, the alpine delights of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

With a cosy lounge, stone-clad walls, heated indoor pool, sauna and Jacuzzi, it’s the perfect place to relax after a day of adventuring. Culminate your evening with a drink by the open fire in the Fireside Lounge before sampling some local Alberta beef at the lodge's Great Hall with stunning views of Lac Beauvert and Whistlers Mountain.

This morning, enjoy a private transfer and board the Rocky Mountaineer. As you indulge in a sumptuous breakfast on board, take in the dramatics through glass-domed carriages and panoramic windows, winding through the Rocky Mountain Trench to marvel at Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Rockies. Later, during a Michelin-starred lunch and, throughout, complimentary drinks and snacks, take in the orange and green hues of the Yellowhead Pass, dotted along the way with aqua-blue lakes and snow-draped peaks – your guide on hand throughout for any questions you may have.

Today ends in the pretty city of Kamloops where you'll check in to your hotel.

Stay: Kamloops hotel

Immerse yourself further in the Canadian landscape today as you enjoy an indulgent on-board breakfast while traversing dramatic river canyons, dense fir forests and the immense sprawl of the Cascade mountains. You'll enjoy the use of split-level carriages, a private dining car and outdoor viewing platforms – an ideal option for the budding photographer. Another Michelin-starred lunch is served as the British Columbia Interior’s semi-arid landscapes and gargantuan forested slopes come into view – perhaps even dotted with moose, elk or bears – before you finally arrive in to Vancouver.

After disembarking, check in to the The Loden, where stylish rooms, a sauna and Jacuzzi lie just moments from the city's myriad delights.

After breakfast, experience the unique history and unfolding splendour as you tour through the modern streets of Vancouver. Drive through historic neighbourhoods such as Gastown, Chinatown scenic English Bay and the picturesque Vancouver harbour.

After breakfast on day six, transfer to Victoria. Its appeals are evident: in stunning flower-filled parklands, farm-to-table restaurants and colonial Victorian architecture, it's truly charm unabashed. The 55 acres of Butchart Gardens are naturally the highlight, where vibrant floral displays bloom alongside intricate water features and impressive statues. You'll also enjoy an included ferry trip amid the picturesque forests of the Gulf Islands, an ocean-hugging drive and a visit to the waterfront charm of Victoria’s Inner Harbour. In the evening, check in to your hotel, the Chateau Victoria, a stylish offering with contemporary suites – some even featuring wet bars – in-room spa treatments, a Jacuzzi and a rooftop grill for tapas and martinis alongside nightly live music. 

Stay: The Fairmont Empress, Victoria

A coastal excursion in search of Orcas, minke whales, grey whales, porpoises, harbour seals and other marine wildlife, accompanied by certified Marine biologists and naturists. Balance of the day is free to explore Victoria before departing mid afternoon on a scenic floatplane flight to return to Coal Harbour, before checking back in to the Loden Hotel.

After breakfast, spend the day at leisure exploring the city before a transfer to Vancouver airport for your overnight flight back to the UK, arriving on day 9.