Rocky Mountaineer

One of the best ways to enjoy spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies is from the Rocky Mountaineer train.

Calgary

We arrived in Calgary, Alberta, a couple of days prior to the train departure. This city appeared to be in the midst of a mining boom and there was plenty of construction and expansion going on. It’s fairly small in size and easy to get around. Tram transport is free within the city limits.

Make sure you go up the Calgary Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city. You will also enjoy walking around the malls downtown with their stunning floral hanging baskets.

If you are here in July, visit the world-famous rodeo, the Calgary Stampede.

Banff

We fitted in a day trip to Banff which is an hour and a half drive away. You can take a gondola up Sulphur Mountain for stunning views of the Bow River winding its way around the city below. If you have some time, take a cruise on the glacial Lake Minnewanka. Banff is a charming little town and popular in summer. Of course, if you’re into skiing, it would be ideal to visit it in winter.

On the train

There are several routes you can select on the Rocky Mountaineer and also a combination of rail-plus-road. We boarded in Calgary and headed west towards Vancouver, stopping in Banff and Lake Louise to pick up passengers. We had an overnight stop at a hotel in Kamloops and boarded the train again the next morning. The second day we continued westwards along the banks of the Fraser River. The train travels along the Canadian Pacific railway line often running parallel to the Canadian National line but they do intersect at some point.

The scenery along the way is unbelievable as the train trundles along. The landscape changes constantly from aquamarine rivers to evergreen pines to mountains ranges, some with snow-capped peaks in the distance.

One of the amazing sights is the confluence of the Thompson and Fraser rivers at Kamloops. It’s incredible to see the light and dark water flow separately until they blend into one. Another spot is Hell’s Gate where the Fraser River narrows, causing a powerful surge of water.

The service on the train is superb with a guide narrating the local history and pointing out landmarks on the journey. You do feel like a VIP when the smartly-uniformed staff line up to wave you off and a new group greets you when you reach your destination, Vancouver Rocky Mountaineer Station.

Vancouver is a beautiful city, blessed with natural resources. It has the added bonus of mountains and the sea in proximity. We spent a few days here before embarking on the Alaska Cruise (see my post on Cruising Alaska). I would recommend you combine the cruise and train journey, but even if done separately, each one is a breath-taking experience of nature in all its glory.