Rocky Mountaineer Journey Through The Clouds (Jasper to Vancouver & reverse)

Day 1 Jasper to Kamloops
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia’s interior. As you journey west and south you will be surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the Continental Divide and by the river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo mountains. Today’s highlights include Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, the climb over Yellowhead Pass and the journey along the North Thompson River as you approach Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops.

Day 2 Kamloops to Vancouver
Your journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. On today’s journey you will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser River Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Your journey ends on arrival in Vancouver this evening. Overnight in Vancouver

Highlights:

Fraser River – The mighty Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia and the 5th longest in all of Canada. The rushing waters carve through rock layers and carry sediment from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Georgia Strait and the Pacific Ocean.  Heavy with sediment, the waters are a muddy brown to milky green. Named after Simon Fraser, who originally mistook the river to be the Columbia River, the Fraser produces more salmon than any other river system in the world.  It is estimated that 10 million salmon travel up the Fraser River to spawn each year and First Nations people continue to use traditional fishing methods along its shores.

Fraser Canyon – Marvel at the Fraser Canyon as you exit the Coast Mountains.  This deep canyon is a natural wonder that extends all the way to Hope, with steep sides soaring up to 600 metres (1980 feet) above the water.

Hell’s Gate - The thundering waters of the renowned tourist attraction, Hell’s Gate, are a fascinating sight.  Located at the most narrow and intimidating point in the Fraser River, as much as 909,218,000 litres (200 million) gallons of water surge through the 33.53 metre (110 foot) gorge each minute. 

Mount Robson – Soaring a majestic 3,956.5 metres (12,972 feet), this heavily glaciated peak is the highest of the Canadian Rockies.  Dropping into Berg Lake to the North and Kinney Lake to the South, this mountain is a towering giant compared to the snow tipped peaks that surround it.  Originally, this great mountain was named Yuh-hai-has-kun, meaning “The Mountain of the Spiral Road” by the aboriginal people in the area. 

Pyramid Falls - As you pass the magnificent Pyramid Falls, cascading 91.5 metres (300 feet) beside the train tracks, the train will slow down to allow you a close-up view of this spectacular site. When the wind is right, you might enjoy a misty spray from the falls.

Albreda Glacier – This is a great vantage point to observe the Albreda Glacier.  Glaciers are permanent snowfields formed in locations where snowfall exceeds snowmelt each year. The weight of the accumulated snow compresses the under layers into ice, which then melts, allowing the glacier to move downhill. The movement grinds rocks into a fine powder, which is deposited in the lakes and rivers below giving the water a beautiful turquoise blue color.

Jasper National Park - Traveling through Jasper National Park will allow you to explore one of the largest protected areas in the world, designated a Canadian Rocky Mountains Park World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1907