Rocky Mountaineer Train

To take in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Vancouver area, climb aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train for a one-day rail trip to Whistler, home of North America’s largest ski resort. The “Whistler Sea to Sky Climb” train travels 74 miles (120 kilometers) along the shore overlooking Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains as you eat breakfast, enjoy entertainment on board and soak up the views. You’ll pull into Whistler three-and-a-half hours later, just in time to have lunch and briefly explore the village. The return train departs from Whistler mid-afternoon. Alternatively, you can stay overnight in Whistler, so you have more time to experience the mountain town, and catch the return train the next afternoon.

If you have more time, head for the Rocky Mountains. In two days, you can make the scenic journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper.

The ultimate Rocky Mountaineer adventure is a nine-day round-trip excursion from Vancouver to Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff. This longer tour starts with an overnight in Vancouver and gives you more time to explore in each destination.

Practical Info

The Rocky Mountaineer’s Whistler train runs daily, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from mid-May through late September. The train departs at 8 am from a North Vancouver depot (located at the corner of Philip Ave. and W. 1st St.), and the ticket price includes bus transportation to and from a number of downtown Vancouver hotels. Pick-up times vary depending on your hotel but are generally between 6:45 and 7:15 am. The train arrives in Whistler at 11:30 am. The Whistler station is located at the Nita Lake Lodge; transportation to and from Whistler Village is provided. The return train leaves Whistler at 3:30 pm, arriving in North Vancouver at 7.

The Rocky Mountaineer trains travel to the Canadian Rockies from May through September or October. The two-day trip aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to Banff departs from Vancouver’s Rocky Mountaineer Rail Station on Mondays and Fridays; departures for Jasper are on Tuesdays and Fridays. Lake Louise trips depart on Fridays only. Note that these two-day tours are one-way.