2022 & 2023 Guided Tours - Cosmos® Affordable Tours

Canadian Masterpiece with Rocky Mountaineer (8920)

12 days from Vancouver to Vancouver

2025 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

Experience extraordinary beauty and adventure on this affordable Canadian vacation. Arrive in Vancouver for two nights and enjoy guided sightseeing including Stanley Park, Chinatown, and more. Then board the Rocky Mountaineer Train for a 2-day trip through spectacular scenery following the Fraser River through canyons to Kamloops. Travel through the Selkirk Mountains then enter Yoho National Park with its towering peaks. Wind through the Spiral tunnels before your train climbs Kicking Horse Pass, then crosses the Continental Divide and enters Alberta and Banff National Park. Spend two nights in Banff with options to hike, play golf, horseback ride, or relax at the hot springs. Look for big horn sheep, deer, bear, and elk that inhabit the park. Perhaps treat yourself to an optional helicopter ride for breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies from above. Visit gorgeous Lake Louise, its turquoise waters perfectly reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Travel the stunning Icefields Parkway where you’ll stop to ride the Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle over the 750-foot-thick ice! Travel to magnificent Jasper National Park with the chance to take an optional scenic float trip down the Athabasca River. Journey to the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson on your way to the resort town of Sun Peaks. Follow the routes of the historic Gold Rush and the fur traders on your way to Whistler where you’ll spend two nights and have time to enjoy the many activities this resort village has to offer. Take the ferry crossing to Victoria and visit beautiful Butchart Gardens with its 55-acre floral display followed by city sightseeing. Then have a day at leisure to explore this charming city. Perhaps enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel or take the optional Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition to look for pods of orcas. Return to Vancouver via ferry and celebrate all the memories you made on your fantastic vacation in Canada!

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available), as well as a ferry crossing from/to Vancouver Island. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Your adventure includes a 2-day, all-daylight rail journey on the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf Service (GoldLeaf Service upgrades are available).

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
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Canadian Masterpiece with Rocky Mountaineer map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

2 breakfast, 2 lunches


Notes:

Early departures may not be able to visit Columbia Icefield, which opens in early May, or take the Maligne Lake & Spirit Island optional excursion, which opens in mid to late May. Visiting and participating in other activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions and vendor dates of operation.



Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.

 Itinerary

Day 1 VANCOUVER

Welcome to Vancouver! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00pm to answer any questions.

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Day 2 VANCOUVER

This morning, an included city tour highlights Stanley Park, Chinatown, the harbour, beaches, and more. The remainder of the day is at leisure. You could take a water-taxi to lively Granville Island with its outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafés, or visit historic Gastown with its steam-powered clock, antique shops, and art galleries!

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Day 3 VANCOUVER–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–KAMLOOPS

Board the Rocky Mountaineer for a 2-day, all-daylight adventure through some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery. Travel along the Fraser and Thompson River canyons, before arriving in the city of Kamloops.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 4 KAMLOOPS–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Reboard the train and continue your adventure as you travel along Shuswap Lake, through the Columbia Mountains, and into the Canadian Rockies. Wind your way through the Spiral Tunnels while climbing Kicking Horse Pass to cross the Continental Divide into the province of Alberta. Enter Banff National Park for a two-night stay.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 5 BANFF NATIONAL PARK

After an orientation tour, today is at leisure. Hike the many wilderness trails in the area, golf, horseback ride, stroll through Banff townsite, or simply relax at the hot springs. Banff National Park is the perfect place for photographers and wildlife watching, and as a visitor you may be lucky enough to encounter some of these amazing creatures, like elk, deer, or big-horn sheep, in their natural habitat. Perhaps elevate your experience with an optional helicopter ride over the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies – a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t soon forget!

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Day 6 BANFF NATIONAL PARK–LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy a day of scenic grandeur. First visit famous Lake Louise, where green-blue waters create a perfect reflection of the surrounding mountains. Then travel the stunning Icefields Parkway where you’ll stop to ride the Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle over ice that’s 750 feet thick! This afternoon, take the opportunity to glide down the Athabasca River on an optional scenic float trip. Enjoy an orientation tour of the town of Jasper upon arrival.

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Day 7 JASPER NATIONAL PARK–MOUNT ROBSON–SUN PEAKS

Start your day with a magical optional cruise on Maligne Lake to the much-photographed, Spirit Island*. Then travel to the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Continue through British Columbia’s Fur Trade and Cariboo regions for glimpses of the soaring granite mountains. Watch for wildlife as you continue to the internationally renowned Sun Peaks ski resort for an overnight stay.

*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.

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Day 8 SUN PEAKS–LILLOOET–WHISTLER

Head south, following the once-treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. From Lillooet, “Mile 0 of the Gold Rush Route,” you’ll follow the shores of Seton and Duffey Lakes, with an afternoon arrival and orientation in Whistler.

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Day 9 WHISTLER

Today is at leisure. Explore on your own or soar to new heights on an optional Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride which spans the distance between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and is the world’s longest unsupported span for a lift of this kind. Or if you’d prefer staying closer to the ground, visit Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a First Nations Museum and Art Gallery, for an authentic Indigenous experience.

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Day 10 WHISTLER–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA

Set sail across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island. In Victoria, sightseeing includes a visit to gorgeous Butchart Gardens and their 55-acres of floral displays, and seeing the Empress Hotel, Legislative Buildings, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. In your free time this evening, perhaps take a stroll along the scenic harbour front.

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Day 11 VICTORIA

A day at leisure gives you the chance to have high tea at the Empress Hotel, go shopping on Government Street, or have lunch in one of the many pubs. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for shopping, dining, and additional sightseeing. Take home a whale of a tale by embarking on an optional Marine Wildlife and Whale Watching Expedition where you’ll cruise the beautiful waters of the San Juan and Gulf Islands, looking for whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles.

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Day 12 VICTORIA–VANCOUVER

A scenic ferry crossing to the mainland, where the trip ends with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to Vancouver International Airport are included. Please schedule flights after 2:00 pm.

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 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JENNIFER ROBERTS

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Hi, I am Jennifer Roberts. I was born and raised near Vancouver, BC, and I am a traveler, adventurer, and lifelong learner. While backpacking around the world, I fell in love with wild places, new experiences, and fresh perspectives. I have spent years guiding guests through Canada, South America, and Antarctica. I have been a Tour Director with the Globus family since 2013, and I have traveled independently to over 75 countries on 7 continents. I am thrilled to share my love of the natural world with guests from all over the globe and looking forward to helping make your travel dreams come true!”

Tour Director - JENNIFER ROBERTS

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Banff
Jasper
Sun Peaks
Victoria

Banff

Helicopter Tours

Helicopter Tours

Discover unparalleled views of the Canadian Rockies and the Banff National Park region by helicopter. There are several options to choose from, but all deliver spectacular opportunities for a once in a lifetime experience in the Rockies.

Price Range: $$$$

Jasper

Athabasca River Float Trip

Athabasca River Float Trip

Enjoy some of Jasper National Park's very best scenery from water level on this exciting rafting float trip along the Athabasca River!

Price Range: $$

Sun Peaks

Maligne Valley, Canyon & Lake Tour

Maligne Valley, Canyon & Lake Tour

Immerse yourself in the glories of Maligne Valley on this narrated scenic drive focusing on the area's breathtaking natural wonders and fascinating wildlife!

Price Range: $

Victoria

Victoria Zipline Adventure

Victoria Zipline Adventure

Experience the exhilaration of ziplining through a coastal temperate rainforest with magnificent mountain and ocean views.

Price Range: $$$$

Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition

Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition

Discover the wildlife wonders of Vancouver Island during this inspiring cruise in search for the area's abundant marine animals and pods of orca whales!

Price Range: $$$$



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.