Check in for your flight from the UK to Calgary

DAY 1 BANFF Arrive in Banff and spend the rest of the day sightseeing. This beautiful mountain resort town offers a variety of activities for both relaxation and adventure. Overnight in Banff.

DAY 2 KAMLOOPS Departing early in the morning, travel onboard Rocky Mountaineer from the mountain resort town of Banff to Kamloops, in the heart of the British Columbia Interior. Your journey takes you through ever-changing scenery as you travel between the iconic glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranchlands of the Interior. Todays highlights include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. You will arrive in Kamloops in the evening. Overnight in Kamloops. B, L.

DAY 3 VANCOUVER Early in the morning, your journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. On todays journey, you will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the B.C. Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Cascade and Coast Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hells Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Your rail journey ends on arrival in Vancouver this evening. Overnight in Vancouver. B, L.

Check in for your 1 night hotel stay in Vancouver

It seems unlikely that a character named Gassy Jack Deighton would be responsible for one of the most beautiful cities on the continent. But thats history for you. During the gold rush, Gassy Jack saw a chance to make money from the hordes of miners on their way to the Yukon. The saloon he built became the focus of the shanty town known as Gastown. From that ragtag group of shacks, modern Vancouver was born. The provincial government persuaded settlers to change the name of the town to Vancouver, after Captain George Vancouver, who sailed the regions waters in 1792. Canadas third-largest city, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan place with a European feel and a personality all its own. Its a community with a rich ethnic mix – including the second-largest Chinatown in North America – and stunningly beautiful parks.

In 1880, it was slow going for Joe Juneau and Richard Harris as they searched for gold with the help of Native guides. After climbing mountains, forging streams and facing countless difficulties, they found nuggets as large as beans. From their discovery came three of the largest gold mines in the world. By the end of World War II, more than 150 million in gold had been mined. Eventually the mines closed, but the town Joe Juneau founded became the capital of Alaska and the business of gold was replaced by the business of government. Some 30,000 people live in Juneau. Its total area makes it one of the biggest towns, in size, in the world. Only Kiruna, Sweden, and Sitka, Alaska, exceed Juneaus 3,248 square miles. Today Juneau is famous not only for gold and government but also for its breathtakingly beautiful glaciers and stunning views of both water and mountains.

Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields for the thousands who flocked to Alaska and the Yukon with the hope of striking it rich. Skagway may have boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, but it wasnt the easiest. Over 100 years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. Many a would-be miner perished on the treacherous Chilkoot Trail. The gold rush was a boon and by 1898, Skagway was Alaskas largest town with a population of about 20,000. Hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome. Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents. It still retains the flavor of the gold rush era.

This narrow fjord is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Juneau and is part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness area. Breathtaking Endicott Arm extends over 30 miles long, with nearly one-fifth of its area covered in ice. At the head of the fjord, tidewater glaciers, such as the Dawes Glacier, regularly expel enormous chunks of ice into the waters below in a magnificent process known as calving. During the summer when Princess ships visit, icebergs float along the surface of the glistening water in an array of sizes, from just a few inches up to three stories wide. Protected within the Tongass National Forest, Endicott Arm is a haven for wildlife. Black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, mountain goats and a variety of seabirds have been spotted in the area. As you glide through the pristine fjord, youll first pass by a lush forest where a number of beautiful waterfalls cascade down, and then youll be treated to views of snowcapped mountains and blue-tinged glaciers more spectacular than you could ever imagine.

Ketchikan is known as Alaskas First City because its the first major community travelers come to as they journey north. Located on an island, Ketchikan began life as an Indian fishing camp. The name Ketchikan comes from a Tlingit phrase that means eagle with spread-out wings, a reference to a waterfall near town. In the early 1900s, when gold was Alaskas claim to fame, fishing and timber industries were established in Ketchikan. The growth of these industries helped make this Inside Passage port Alaskas fourth-largest city. Visitors to Ketchikan will be intrigued by its rich Native heritage, which includes the worlds oldest collection of totem poles at Totem Heritage Center. The Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian are all a part of the citys colorful history. Ketchikan, with its abundance of salmon, is also a sportfishing paradise. Sightseers will be impressed with both the scenic town and its surroundings, especially Misty Fjords National Monument.

It seems unlikely that a character named Gassy Jack Deighton would be responsible for one of the most beautiful cities on the continent. But thats history for you. During the gold rush, Gassy Jack saw a chance to make money from the hordes of miners on their way to the Yukon. The saloon he built became the focus of the shanty town known as Gastown. From that ragtag group of shacks, modern Vancouver was born. The provincial government persuaded settlers to change the name of the town to Vancouver, after Captain George Vancouver, who sailed the regions waters in 1792. Canadas third-largest city, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan place with a European feel and a personality all its own. Its a community with a rich ethnic mix – including the second-largest Chinatown in North America – and stunningly beautiful parks.