Canadian Rockies Train Combo Circle Tour with Alaska Denali Cruise Tour

The below itinerary reflects our recommendations for this specific trip. This itinerary is also available in the reverse direction.

Day 1 Vancouver to Kamloops | Rocky Mountaineer All aboard Rocky Mountaineer for the scenic rail journey to Kamloops in the interior of British Columbia. Pass through the rich fields of the Fraser River Valley and the towering peaks of the Coastal Mountains before entering the Fraser Canyon. Follow the Thompson River through spectacular landscapes to historic Kamloops. (Breakfast & lunch is included today)

Day 2 Kamloops to Banff | Rocky Mountaineer Departing Kamloops, follow the South Thompson River to Shuswap Lake with its thousand miles of shoreline. Pass Craigellachie where the ‘last spike’ was driven, completing the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. Enter Rogers Pass with its tunnels, snow-sheds and glistening Glaciers. The Kicking Horse River leads you to Kicking Horse Pass, the Spiral Tunnels, then over the Continental Divide to Banff and Banff National Park. (Breakfast & lunch is included today)

Day 3 Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursions Option 1. Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour + Banff Gondola Explore the natural wonders near the town of Banff on this half-day, small-group tour. Admire the unparalleled beauty of natural sights including Bow Falls, the surreal Hoodoos rock formation, and beautiful Lake Minnewanka, among others. Then Maximize your views of Banff National Park with minimal exertion during this round-trip gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Option 2. Discover Grizzly Bears, Lakes & Waterfalls Pursue the elusive Canadian Grizzly Bear on this 10 hour excursion through Banff and Yoho National Parks, perfect for animal and nature-lovers alike. Head out for a gondola ride up to 7,700 feet for a mountain-top lunch at Canada’s highest restaurant, and then take a chairlift ride up to the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat to see Boo the resident bear rescued as a cub. Option 3. Cowboy Horseback Cookout BBQ Lunch or Dinner Saddle up for a ride along the Bow River in Banff and a Western style cookout. Choose from riding on horseback or in a covered wagon through the beautiful Rocky Mountain terrain

Day 4 Banff to Jasper | Sightseeing with picnic lunch Your sightseeing tour today will encompass the ultimate glacier exploration as you travel along the spectacular Icefields Parkway. From walking on ancient ice with the Ice Explorer ride (included), to standing on a glass platform almost one thousand feet in the air at the Glacier Skywalk (included), today’s experiences will leave you with a special appreciation for this treasured region of the Rockies. (Picnic lunch included today)

Day 5 Jasper to Vancouver | VIA Rail This morning, board VIA Rail’s ‘Canadian’ train for the journey from Jasper to Vancouver. Using the original steel railcars from the 1950s, sit back and relax in the dome car to enjoy a dramatic change in scenery as you travel the ‘Yellowhead’ route past the sprawling grandeur of Mount Robson. Watch the landscape transition from mountains to desert as you follow the Thompson River into central British Columbia. Brunch and dinner is included onboard VIA Rail, and your private quarters will once again be transformed into a bedroom for the overnight journey. (Lunch & dinner included today)

Day 6 Arrive Vancouver | VIA Rail After breakfast your train arrives in Vancouver. The balance of day is at leisure. Canada’s third-largest metropolitan centre, Vancouver is a busy port city with a thriving multi-cultural ambiance. Restaurants, shopping, nightlife, a mild climate and a cosmopolitan atmosphere make Vancouver a favourite tourist destination. (Breakfast included today onboard VIA Rail)

Day 7 Vancouver | Embarkation This morning is yours to explore the sights of Vancouver before boarding your ship mid-afternoon. (Dinner included)

Day 8 - 13 Canada & Alaska Inside Passage | Alaska Cruise The fabled Inside Passage is one of the most scenic sea-lanes in the world, and one of the few where deep-draft vessels can sail close to steep mountain walls. The scenery is unbelievable, with forests in a hundred shades of green, tumbling turquoise glaciers, and evocative towns loaded with history, culture and adventure. This one-way cruise aboard a modern Holland America Line ship is a perfect base for exploring Alaska and Canada's coast. Ports of calls include the picturesque towns of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan plus a day of sailing into Glacier Bay National Park.(breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

Day 14 Whittler Cruiseship Terminal to Anchorage | Small Group Coach After breakfast, disembark the ship for a small group tour north towards Anchorage. Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to observe and photograph some of Alaska’s largest land mammals, then take an aerial tram up Alyeska Mountain for views of Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers and the endless peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range (lunch is included today)

Day 15 Anchorage | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursions Option 1. Anchorage Brew Tour Get the inside scoop on Anchorage’s beer culture and brewery history on this half-day tour. An in-the-know guide whisks you around the city to sample six tasty offerings at three venues, including three classic breweries that you are sure to enjoy. Option 2. Eco Nature Tour Anchorage is home to ecological treasures that mirror Alaska’s wild beauty, but they are often left off of city tour itineraries. This tour visits natural attractions all within city limits: take a walk through a boreal forest, peer into the statewide ecosystem at a fish hatchery, and observe wildlife at a coastal wildlife refuge. Option 3. Upgrade Option: Alaska Bear Viewing Tour (Additional Cost) Enjoy a half day guided day tour with the opportunity to view Alaska’s black and brown bears in their natural habitat. You’ll fly by floatplane, 70 miles southwest of Anchorage to the entrance of Lake Clark Wilderness Preserve, site of Redoubt Bay Lodge to view resident brown bears up close from one of the lodge’s covered pontoon boats. (Lunch is included)

Day 16 Anchorage to Denali National Park Entrance | Alaska Railroad Early this morning take the Denali Star, the Alaska Railroad’s flagship train, in the Goldstar Railcar with service to Denali National Park. Watch for views of Mount McKinley and keep an eye out for wildlife. Arrive mid-afternoon; the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy an optional activity. (Breakfast & lunch is included onboard the train today)

Day 17 Denali National Park Tour | Coach | Flightseeing This full-day narrated coach trip explores the entire 148 km/92 mi of the restricted Denali Park Road on your way to the Denali Backcountry Lodge. During your journey to the lodge, your experienced driver-guide will help in the search for grizzly bear, moose, caribou, dall sheep while pointing out the biology and geology of the area. There are numerous stops for wildlife viewing, photography, return to the park entrance via a flightseeing tour in a small bush plane. (lunch & snacks included today)

Day 18 Denali to Anchorage | Alaska Railroad This morning is open for optional activities such as: whitewater rafting down the Nenana River, helicopter flightseeing over the Park, landing on a glacier, or hiking. At midday, board the Alaska Railroad and travel by Goldstar Railcar for the day trip to Anchorage. As you travel along the Susitna River, you may catch a glimpse of the majestic Mount Denali or black bears along the banks of the river. Arrive Anchorage this evening where your incredible Alaska adventure comes to an end. (Lunch & dinner included onboard the train today)