Grand Circle Tour on Rocky Mountaineer

After a chauffeured drive to the airport and complimentary VIP airport lounge access, board your day flight to Vancouver, where, on arrival, you'll be privately transferred to your hotel, the Four Seasons. Perhaps take a stroll in Gastown’s Victorian charm before enjoying a pre-dinner drink at the central Four Seasons' Yew Bar, before enjoying fresh fish at Yew Seafood, offering the likes of salmon carpaccio, freshly-shucked oysters, Qualicum Bay scallops and Sidney Island venison.

Stay: Four Seasons Vancouver 

After breakfast, enjoy a private transfer and board the glass-domed train cars of the Rocky Mountaineer. Traverse through winding river canyons and dense fir forests in the Fraser Valley before you're greeted with the dramatic Cascade mountains' sheer granite faces, enjoying a Michelin-starred lunch and complimentary drinks and snacks. Be sure to head to the outdoor viewing platforms at the end of each carriage to take in spectacular views of historic tunnels, the Thompson River's rocky slopes and the roaring Hell's Gate, ending in pretty Kamloops.

Stay: Kamloops accommodation

Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast on board as you wind into the emblematic scenery of Alberta, traversing through the iconic Spiral Tunnels as you ascend between rocky hamlets, ranchlands and enormous drops alongside the spectacular Kicking Horse Canyon and Rogers Pass. Relax in your glass-domed car as you enjoy lunch before heading out to marvel at enormous glaciers and snowy peaks, even spotting a roaming elk or two. The gorgeous alpine charm of Banff awaits, perfectly showcased with a stay in the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs, surrounded by a championship golf course and endless mountain scenery. Perhaps enjoy a relaxing hour in the Willow Stream Spa before sampling one of the resort’s restaurants, from 1888 Chop House’s Alberta beef to the French elegance of The Vermillion Room, the likes of garlic mussels and crispy duck leg on the menu.

Banff has long been known for its stunning alpine scenery, from dense forests clinging to winding rivers to pristine lakes dwarfed by the dramatic Rockies. Today you’ll take in its highlights, from the glimmering Lake Minnewanka and cragged hoodoo rock formations to Bow Falls’ roaring cascade. We’ve included a Banff Gondola ride where you'll witness stunning valley vistas and ranging, steely zeniths before a spectacular ridgetop boardwalk. You’ve got the next day to explore; perhaps head to the mineral hot springs, head on a guided tour to spot wildlife on shaded forest trails, cycle among impossibly scenic mountains or kayak on pristine rivers. Tonight, perhaps sample the the delights of the Waldhaus restaurant. Nestled deep in the woods, this alpine-style lodge offers traditional mountain dishes by cosy open fires, from Swiss fondue and Wild Boar Goulash to fresh Rocky Mountain trout.

Expect more emblematic scenes over the next two days, with an included tour of Yoho National Park and its natural delights. Hike around the iconic Emerald Lake, stroll along the rocky bridge and marvel at the rushing rivers and waterfalls. Then, embark on a private transfer along boreal forests and the Spiral Tunnels before reaching the glimmer of Lake Louise, best explored with horse riding, canoeing or fishing. You'll stay in the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; relax in your lakeview room before perhaps indulging in a spa session and sampling The Walliser Stube’s alpine dishes or the Lake View Lounge's tapas-style menu. 

After breakfast, highlights for the next two days include a spectacular drive along the iconic Icefields Parkway. Wind amid dense forests and colossal glaciers, stopping to take in 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 the iconic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. The cedar-clad chalets cling around the Jasper National Park, all pristine lakes and forest inlets, and you’ve got the next day to explore it. We’ve included a tour where you'll spot moose, elk and even bears, between strolling along craggy zeniths and peering over rushing canyons. Culminate evenings with a drink by the open fire or on the patio of the The Emerald Lounge, taking in the surrounding views, before fresh Italian dishes with a Canadian twist await in the stunning Orso Trattoria. 

After a private transfer you’ll head back on board the Rocky Mountaineer to wind through the Rocky Mountain Trench along elevated ridges, before being greeted by Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Rockies. The delights don’t end there as you take in the orange and green hues of the Yellowhead Pass, dotted with blue lakes and dwarfed by jagged peaks, sweeping along the shores of the pristine Moose Lake and snaking Fraser River. Be sure to take it all in alongside your complimentary drinks and viewing platforms, finally rolling into the gold rush heritage of charming Quesnel.

Stay: Quesnel hotel

Today you’ll be treated to another of Canada’s emblems, the imposing granite faces and sweeping peaks of Whistler. After re-boarding the Rocky Mountaineer, you'll speed past the deep Fraser Canyon and over purling creeks and glacial lakes, before reaching one of the highest railway bridges in the world, animated by your on-board hosts’ descriptions. Finally, you'll arrive into Whistler’s alpine charm and chocolate box village, dwarfed by the Blackcomb Mountains’ impossible heights. It’s all showcased in your cosy lodge alongside hot tubs and saunas to take in the extraordinary mountain vistas.

Stay: Whistler hotel

After a morning discovering Whistler, from forest hikes to pretty village strolls, you’ll transfer to the train to enjoy your last day onboard. The stunning Sea-to-Sky corridor awaits as you descend towards the coast, traversing under Mount Garibali’s volcanic heights, the pretty falls of Cheakumus Canyon and the epic Brandywine Falls. Howe Sound’s serene fjords and the snow-canopied Coast mountains are your final alpine scene before you're again greeted with Vancouver’s charms and the elegant Four Seasons. Perhaps stroll along the West End’s fascinating sculptures before sampling historic Yaletown’s buzzy bars that line the picturesque oceanfront walkway.

Stay: Four Seasons Vancouver 

This morning, stroll along Vancouver’s forest trails and gardens, head to the Capilano Suspension Bridge among the surrounding woodland and waterfalls, or relax among the craggy rocks of Lighthouse Park before a private transfer takes you to the airport for your overnight flight home.