Westbound - Lake Louise or Banff | Kamloops | Vancouver
Eastbound - Vancouver | Kamloops | Lake Louise or Banff
First Passage to the West is Rocky Mountaineer's most popular route, connecting Vancouver and Banff through some of Canada's most breathtaking scenery. If you're exploring Rocky Mountaineer holidays, this is the route that started it all. The two-day journey, with an overnight stop in Kamloops, spans an extraordinary range of landscapes – from the lush Fraser Valley and the thundering rapids of Hell's Gate to the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies – with iconic landmarks such as the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon all viewed through panoramic glass-dome coaches.
DAY 1 — LAKE LOUISE or BANFF to KAMLOOPS
Among the most celebrated First Passage to the West highlights, Day 1 takes you west from Banff or Lake Louise through ever-changing scenery, crossing the Continental Divide and threading through the remarkable Spiral Tunnels and the dramatic depths of Kicking Horse Canyon. The route also passes through Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven – one of the most storied moments in Canadian history. Overnight in Kamloops.
DAY 2 — KAMLOOPS to VANCOUVER
The second day, the route takes you westward through winding river canyons and pristine forests, past the steep slopes of the Thompson River and the thundering waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon, before the landscape opens into the lush Fraser Valley. The journey ends in style as the train arrives on Canada's stunning Pacific coast.
DAY 1 — VANCOUVER to KAMLOOPS
Begin your journey in the coastal city of Vancouver, journeying east through the farmlands of the Fraser Valley as the landscape transforms dramatically around you. The towering peaks of the Coast Mountains give way to the mighty Fraser River and the raging white waters of Hell's Gate – a narrow canyon where the volume of water dwarfs even Niagara Falls. By the time you reach the desert-like interior of British Columbia, it's clear this is no ordinary train journey. Overnight in Kamloops.
DAY 2 — KAMLOOPS to LAKE LOUISE or BANFF
Day 2 delivers some of the finest First Passage to the West highlights as the route pushes deeper into the mountains. The train passes Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, before threading through the engineering wonder of the Spiral Tunnels. Cascading waterfalls, ancient glaciers, and the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies carry you all the way to the alpine town of Banff or the brilliant turquoise waters of Lake Louise – all from the comfort of your glass-dome coach.
Still can’t decide which route is best for you? Read our detailed comparison of all three Rocky Mountaineer routes here.
Below is a selection of the Canada tours featuring First Passage to the West.
Alaska Cruises
Alaska Cruises
Canada Rail Holidays
Canada & Alaska Cruises
Calgary Stampede
Canada Escorted Tours
Canada Rail Holidays
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