Rocky Mountaineer, an Experience of a Lifetime!

Rocky Mountaineer
Canadian Rockies

Everyone has that “wish list” of things they would love to do and places they would love to visit.  While the list may evolve as your tastes change or as you cross off those that you are able to experience, over time, the priorities on your wish list morph as you mature and become empty nesters.

Rocky Mountaineer
planning info

For my husband and I the top of our bucket list has been dominated by the same name for well over a decade.  We have long dreamed about experiencing the Canadian Northwest on the Rocky Mountaineer Train.  The Rocky Mountaineer Train is a day train with night stops.  You travel in the day time, enjoy breakfast, lunch, snacks, plus unlimited drinks aboard the train and spend the night at designated hotels.  Since the train only travels in the daylight, that means you never miss the amazing scenery!

Rocky Mountaineer
Coastal Mountains

In early 2016, we decided that 2017 was going to be the year!  Between the two level choices, Silver and Gold, we chose the Gold Level.  This was our bucket list trip, right?  Go big or go home!  We chose the “Golden Circle” itinerary which includes a pre-night in Vancouver, three-day train, then 6-nights land stay, another 2-day train, and a post night in Vancouver.  With over a year to wait, we went to the internet to watch other guests’ videos of past trips and read reviews.  The more we learned the more excited we became!

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Documents

Finally, May 2017 arrived and it was time for our dream vacation!

Day 1: We arrive in Vancouver

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Train

Day 2: We board the train in Vancouver and head to Whistler.

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rushing water
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waterfall

Scenery on the way to Whistler

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Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Overnight at Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

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Our View

Our view from our room!

Day 3: On the train and head to Quesnel.  This is a long day on the train but there was so much to see that the day flew by!

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Lunch

Lunch onboard! Yummy!

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View out the front

Day 3: On the train and head to Jasper.

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Lovely
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Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Overnight at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

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What a view!

Breakfast the next morning with a view!

Day 4: Spend the day at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and experience Jasper Highlights Tour.  Overnight at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

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Tour Pic
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Tour Pic 2

Day 5: Experience Jasper to Lake Louis Tour.

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Tour Pic 3

Wildlife!

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Waterfall

Waterfalls

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Picture Perfect

Mountains

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Glacier Pic 1
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Glacier Pic 2
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Glacier Pic 3

Ice fields & glacier tour

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Fairmont Chateau Lake Louis

Overnight at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louis.

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Fairmont Chateau Lake Louis
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Fairmont Chateau Lake Louis

Lovely inside and out!

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Our view

The view from our room.

Day 6: Down day to do what you would like at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louis.  Overnight at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louis.

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Tour Pic 1

Day 7: Experience Yoho Park Tour, travel from Lake Louis to Banff.

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Tour Pic 2
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Tour Pic 3
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Tour Pic 4

Turquoise Glacier Waters

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Fairmont Banff Springs

Overnight at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

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Our view

Our Room View

Day 8: Free day at Banff.

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Gondola

While hubby and I are both afraid of heights, we were not going to miss the opportunity to take a gondola to the top of the mountain and experience the views!

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Gondola 2

Up we go!  That is the Fairmont Banff Springs in the distance.

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Gondola 3
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Gondola 4

Fantastic Views!

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Gondola 5

No matter which direction you look, the view is breathtaking!

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Harp Player

Overnight at Fairmont Springs Banff. Harp player in the Banff Springs lobby.

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Train Part 2

Day 9: On the train saying goodbye to the Rockies

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to Kamloops

Head to Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops.

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Rolling Hills

Rolling hills and farms near Kamloops.

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Very comfortable

Day 10: A view of the seats on the train as we head to Vancouver.

Day 11: The end to the perfect “bucket list” vacation!

Rocky Mountaineer, check!  One less adventure on our bucket list!

So where shall we go next?  Perhaps an Antarctica Cruise!

Looking for your own adventure?  Stop by Magically Carefree Vacations and ask for a quote!  Looking for a Disney vacation just visit The Magic For Less Travel for any and all Disney vacation!