Journey through the Clouds Outdoor Adventures

Just because the train has stopped rolling through the Journey through the Clouds, there’s no need for the adventure to stop!

Rocky Mountaineer works with local tour companies throughout Western Canada to curate custom vacation packages. One of my favorite is the Journey Through the Clouds. This makes it easy to continue exploring using Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, or Vancouver as your base. Arrange sightseeing tickets for the Banff Gondola or the Vancouver Lookout, or opt for half or full-day tours.

Here are four great ways to keep your journey going.

Explore more in the national parks

A tour will help you make the most of your time in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Professional guides share their expertise and love for this unique landscape and the wildlife who live there. Spend the day exploring the highlights of Banff or Jasper national parks, explore the wild beauty of Maligne Lake, or ride on an Ice Explorer through the Columbia Icefields before walking on the Athabasca glacier. You can even combine a half-day of sightseeing in Banff with a transfer to Calgary.

Moraine Lake, turquoise water below the snow-dusted Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park — Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. A guided tour is the easiest way in, since private cars are no longer allowed on the road.

See the Rockies from the sky

Take in the view from up above with a panoramic helicopter tour. From 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) above sea level, you’ll gain a dramatic appreciation for the Canadian Rockies’ rugged landscapes, including lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, and mountain ranges.

Head north from Vancouver

Vancouver Canada North Shore Capilano Suspension Bridge Tree Top Adventure after crossing the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

On Vancouver’s North Shore, across the Capilano Suspension Bridge and walk among the treetops, head up to Grouse Mountain to see the resident grizzly bears and enjoy the stunning views back to downtown. Travel further north from the city, spend the day exploring the mountain resort of Whistler or take a sea safari boat tour around Howe Sound, a southerly fjord.

Grab some island time

Take a trip over to Vancouver Island to visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site known for its outstanding floral displays. Visit Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, and spend time strolling the Inner Harbour and discovering the charming downtown district.

Planning your free days in the mountains? I wrote about five things worth doing in Banff and Lake Louise and how to improve your odds of seeing wildlife in the Canadian Rockies.

Itinerary: Journey Through the Clouds

Day 1 - Vancouver

Arrive in Vancouver today. Spend some time exploring the city. Hop on the Hop on Hop Off Bus or try one of these other tours. For free options, Granville Island and Stanley Park are our top picks.

Tonight, stay at the included Vancouver Accommodation. Vancouver Canada skyline

Day 2 - Vancouver

Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. Vancouver has activities for all interests, including visiting historic Gastown, dining in lively Yaletown, or enjoying a walk on the Stanely Park Seawall. No matter what you choose to do, the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean surround you. If you need help choosing, book one of these tours that you didn’t do yesterday.

Tonight is the last night in Vancouver.

Day 3

Departing early in the morning, embark on an unforgettable journey aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer, traveling from the coastal beauty of Vancouver to the heart of British Columbia’s captivating interior - the town of Kamloops.

As the train winds through the landscape, witness dramatic transformations in scenery, from the lush, verdant fields of the Fraser Valley to the untamed wilderness of towering forests and winding river canyons, surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains.

Highlights along the way include the rushing, thundering waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock formations that line the Thompson River. The journey reaches its climax as the train hugs the shores of the serene Kamloops Lake, delivering you to your overnight destination as the sun dips below the horizon.

Breakfast and Lunch is included on the train. Tonight we stay in Kamloops.

The GoldLeaf dining car on Rocky Mountaineer, white tablecloths at booth tables beside large windows, guests mid-meal and a host walking the aisle — Breakfast and lunch are served on board both days. This is the GoldLeaf dining car.

Day 4 - Kamloops to Jasper

Early in the morning, your journey continues north and east to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Once again, you will be surrounded by dramatic scenery as you follow the banks of the North Thompson River through the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains, climbing ever nearer to the high peaks of the Continental Divide. Today’s highlights include Mount Robson, at 12,972 feet, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, followed by Pyramid Falls and the climb over the Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park. Your rail journey ends this evening on arrival in the resort town of Jasper.

Breakfast and Lunch is included on the train.

The view looking forward along the side of the Rocky Mountaineer train as it follows a river past forest and distant mountains — Looking ahead along the train as it follows the river. Rocky Mountaineer runs in daylight only, so none of this goes by in the dark.

Day 5 - Jasper

Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. The resort town of Jasper and the surrounding national park offer various activities from relaxation to adventure. Stay overnight in Jasper.

Day 6 - Jasper to Lake Louise

Travel from Jasper to Lake Louise via one of the most scenic highways in the world, the Icefields Parkway. Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefield, Glacier Skywalk, and Athabasca Falls are among the day’s highlights. The Columbia Icefield is one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle and one of the most accessible icefields in North America. Here you will ride on an Ice Explorer to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier to learn about its geological features. Lunch is provided at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. Afterwards, a brief stop will be made at Bow Lake before arriving in Lake Louise this afternoon.

Day 7 - Lake Louise

Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. With its unique history and picturesque scenery, Lake Louise will not disappoint. Learn about the local wildlife, paddle the lake by canoe, or simply relax amongst the beauty. Stay overnight in Lake Louise.

Turquoise Lake Louise below steep forested slopes with the Victoria Glacier at the far end and large boulders along the near shore — Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier, from the shore in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Day 8 - Lake Louise to Banff

This morning you are free to explore beautiful Lake Louise on your own. After lunch, a half-day transfer takes you into 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. Your transfer ends upon arrival in Banff. Overnight in Banff. Please note: While departure from The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise will be approximately 2:00 p.m., scheduled checkout time is normally 12:00 p.m. Your luggage will be stored upon checkout, and you are free to enjoy the amenities of the hotel before the tour departs.

Turquoise Emerald Lake reflecting forested slopes and gray peaks, with a bare snag and golden fall brush on the near shore in Yoho National Park — Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, one of the stops on the Day 8 drive.

Day 9 - Banff

Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. Banff has activities for all, from relaxing in the Banff hot springs, and exploring the bustling town, to outdoor wildlife adventures. Stay overnight in Banff.

A cow elk grazing on bright green moss among the pine trunks of a forest near Banff — An elk grazing in the trees on a bus tour around Banff. Photo: Larry VanBuren

Day 10 - Banff to Calgary

Today you will enjoy a full-day transfer concluding in Calgary. Begin the morning with a sightseeing tour of Banff. Among the points of interest are Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, and the Hoodoos. Before leaving Banff, you will enjoy a visit to the Banff Gondola (cost of admission included). Stay overnight in Calgary.

A Banff Gondola cabin on its cable disappearing into fog above snow-dusted evergreens on Sulphur Mountain — Riding the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain on a foggy day with fresh snow on the trees. Admission is included on Day 10.

Day 11 - Calgary

The journey ends here… unless you contact me to add on an extension!