My Rockies Journey with APT & Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer: A Spectacular Start to the Rockies

In late September and early October 2026, I joined APT on an 11-day journey through Western Canada, combining spectacular rail travel, beautiful hotels, turquoise lakes and mountain adventures. Beginning in Vancouver and continuing through the Canadian Rockies before returning via Whistler and Victoria, it was a wonderful opportunity to experience the destinations I help my clients discover.

After exploring Vancouver’s waterfront, Gastown, Stanley Park and Granville Island, we boarded Rocky Mountaineer for our two-day journey to Banff, with an overnight hotel stay in Kamloops. Settling beside the panoramic windows, the scenery became the entertainment as forests, river canyons and mountain landscapes unfolded along the route.

Highlights included the Fraser Canyon, Hell’s Gate, the historic Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon. With breakfast and lunch included on both rail days, this was a lovely way to enjoy the journey itself, rather than simply travel between destinations.

Banff from Above: A Different Perspective

Arriving in Banff brought another Canadian icon: Fairmont Banff Springs, known as the “Castle in the Rockies”. Our two-night stay allowed time to explore the town and its surrounds, including Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain.

A helicopter ride in the Banff region added another dimension to the adventure. From above, the river wound through the valley, forests stretched beneath us and the mountains revealed their extraordinary scale. The photograph captures that perspective beautifully, with part of the helicopter framing the landscape below.

For travellers looking to add something special to their Rockies holiday, seeing the mountains from the air is an experience well worth considering.

Lake Louise: Reflections in the Rockies

From Banff, we continued to Lake Louise for an overnight stay in a Lake View Room at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. With the lake beneath Victoria Glacier and mountains rising on either side, the setting is a memorable part of the stay.

The conditions gave the landscape an atmospheric beauty, showing that Canada can be just as captivating when the sunshine disappears.

Staying beside the lake also gives you the opportunity to appreciate the setting beyond a brief sightseeing stop, with time to slow down and take it all in.

Moraine Lake: The Colour Everyone Comes For

Moraine Lake offers a different kind of drama. Brilliant turquoise water sits beneath snow covered peaks, with evergreen forest lining the shore. It is the kind of view that makes you stop for a moment before reaching for your camera.

The contrast between the water, mountains and trees captures so much of what makes the Canadian Rockies special. Even among the remarkable scenery of this journey, this is a setting that deserves time to appreciate.

My advice is to leave room in your holiday to enjoy these places properly. Sometimes the most memorable part is simply standing still and taking in the view.

Peyto Lake: A Highlight Along the Icefields Parkway

Our journey from Lake Louise towards Jasper followed the spectacular Icefields Parkway, travelling through a landscape of mountain valleys, lakes and glaciers. Here, the scenery between destinations is every bit as compelling as the places you stop.

Peyto Lake adds another beautiful perspective. From the lookout, its blue water stands out against the surrounding forest and distant mountains, revealing the scale of the landscape in a way that is difficult to capture from the roadside.

If you desire you can even get a canoe to view the lake from another perspective and just admire all the glory this place has to offer.

Athabasca Glacier: An Adventure on the Ice

At the Columbia Icefield, our itinerary included an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier. The specially designed vehicle took us into an icy landscape that felt completely different from the forests and lakes we had already explored.

The photograph beside the Ice Explorer captures that sense of adventure, with the glacier surroundings and rugged mountains setting the scene. Experiences like this bring variety to a Canadian holiday, combining sightseeing with the opportunity to get closer to the landscape.

We continued north to Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge before travelling onwards through Sun Peaks and Whistler. These alpine stops added village life and mountain hospitality to the journey, while our visit to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre offered insight into the heritage of the local First Nations.

Victoria: Harbour Views and Historic Charm

From Whistler, our journey continued along the Sea to Sky Highway before a ferry crossing towards Vancouver Island and Victoria. After the mountain scenery, the city’s harbour setting and historic architecture brought a lovely change of pace.

We stayed at Delta Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa in a Water View Room, with time to explore Victoria before visiting Butchart Gardens for afternoon tea. This part of the trip offered a gentler balance of gardens, waterfront scenery and beautiful buildings.

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, pictured here, provided an impressive backdrop and a reminder that Western Canada offers much more than its famous mountain landscapes.

Capilano Suspension Bridge: A Memorable Farewell

Back in Vancouver, our final day included Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Grouse Mountain before the journey home. Surrounded by forest, the bridge offered another way to experience Canada’s outdoors, with the river below and trees rising around us.

From panoramic train windows to lakeside viewpoints, glacier adventures and coastal cities, each part of the trip offered something different.

Having experienced this journey myself, I can help you plan the combination that suits you, whether that means scenic rail travel, special hotel stays, mountain adventures or extra time in Vancouver and Victoria. If Canada is on your wish list, get in touch with me at Chirn Park Travel and let’s start planning your own Canadian adventure.

 

Written by Sasha Lazarevic following his adventure in Canada with APT & Rocky Mountaineer.

Sasha Lazarevic