A Train Journey through Western Canada: from Vancouver to the Rockies

Close to your hotel, the Hotel Vancouver is built in chateau-esque style. At its foot rises the enormous Anglican Christ Church Cathedral in a neo-gothic style. The library is more contemporary (Moshe Safdie, 1995). You are just a stone's throw away from Gastown, where the sawmill that gave rise to the city was located. The old, renovated warehouse district along the harbour is a must-see. To the northwest lies Stanley Park's 1,000 acres of cedar and fir trees. The people of Vancouver have an exceptional natural refuge here. To the south, Granville Island. The ex-industrial island has recently developed into a pleasant neighbourhood. Come here from downtown by water taxi to take a walk, do some shopping, see a show or an art exhibition and, above all, fill your tote bag with food and handicrafts at the Public Market. People come to live an urban life in a place with a village feel.
Already included in the itinerary - Vancouver with a private guide. An opportunity to soak up the scenery and explore several parts of the city and Stanley Park, as well as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, 229ft above the river and the entrance to Grouse Mountain, north of the city, from which you can see Vancouver and its surroundings.

Included in the itinerary - Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer for two days across Canada, between forests, lakes, rivers and other snowy glaciers. The train itself is a journey, an exploration of uninhabited and inaccessible lands. On the first day: pass the tumultuous waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon, steep slopes and boulders along the Thompson River. Arrival in Kamloops at the end of the day and stay overnight at a small hotel in the city centre.

Included in the itinerary - A second day on board the train. The journey continues northeast to the majestic Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 12,792ft, Pyramid Falls and Yellowhead Pass in Jasper National Park can be seen on the way.
Arrival in Jasper at the end of the day, picking up the rental car and three-night stay in a quiet area made up of small wooden cabins nestled in a large pine forest at the edge of the Athabasca River.

A small, family-friendly mountain resort, Jasper is renowned for its stunning setting, bordered by vertiginous rocky ridges. It's ideal for outdoor activities such as kayaking, rafting or hiking. The city also has its own Dark Sky Preserve, a privileged site for observing stars and constellations. Jasper National Park is home to deer, moose and mouflon sheep.
Must-sees - Miette hot springs - the lakes of Patricia, Pyramid, Annette or Edith - Jasper SkyTram, a dizzying cable car with spectacular views of the valley.
Included in the itinerary - A cruise on the turquoise waters of Lake Maligne, one of the finest lakes in the Rockies. In its waters, the gigantic pine trees of the wild Spirit Island point skywards. And, all around, the snow-capped peaks seem to preserve the tranquillity of the place.

Picturesque route to Banff by first taking the 'Icefields Parkway', as Highway 93 is known, to Lake Louise. Considered one of the best roads in the world, it winds between glaciers, revealing a stunning scenery of sparkling peaks, forests, emerald lakes and waterfalls at every turn. The last stretch of highway on the Trans-Canada Highway connects to Banff, a chic resort and capital of Canada's first national park. Three-night stay in a welcoming, wooden and stone lodge-like hotel.

The pretty village stretches through the valley which was carved out by the Bow River. You can admire its hoodoos (fairy chimneys sculpted by erosion) and hot springs. The park has dazzling snow-covered peaks, deep valleys and lakes, including Lake Moraine, with its turquoise blue colour. The landscape is dominated by snow-capped peaks, a glacier, a mountain of flat black stones that falls into the water, flowing torrents and a coniferous forest where deer live.
Included in the itinerary - A hike in Banff National Park. A guide is available to accompany you, according to your wishes and the desired level of difficulty, in the countryside, at the summit or at the edge of waterfalls.
Also experience - A cruise through the clear waters of Lake Minnewanka, where the peaks are reflected wonderfully in the water - take the cable car and reach the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where hiking trails along the rides begin - a horseback ride in Banff National Park - a rafting trip down the Kananaskis River - at the end of the day, have a drink at the bar at the Banff Spring Hotel, an architectural gem of the late 19th century.