Canada - Rocky Mountaineer - Platinum Sellers Trip

In preparation for my Designer Travel Platinum Top Sellers Trip, and to improve my product knowledge, I undertook training to be a "Vancouver Specialist" and also the Rocky Mountaineers “Tracks” training to become a qualified specialist in both of these areas, although experiencing them both first-hand has helped massively.

On the 10th of October, I flew from London Heathrow to Calgary in Canada as part of my Designer Travel Platinum “Top Sellers” trip, with seven of my Platinum colleagues, plus the owner of Designer Travel and representatives from First Class Holidays and Rocky Mountaineer, our trip hosts.

After arrival into Calgary, we took a transfer of around 45-minutes to Banff for our two-night stay at the Otter hotel. This is Banff's newest 4* hotel, nestled along the forest edge on Banff Avenue, with views of towering lodgepole pines and the surrounding Rocky Mountains. It’s simply stunning. 

The Otter hotel is located in uptown Banff, location-wise it's a 15-minute walk from downtown Banff. The hotel featured on-site dining at Good Folk restaurant, a rooftop mountain view with hot pools and a lounge area with fire pits, a sauna, and a fitness room. 

The Otter hotel has 174 guest rooms, with superior rooms, superior suites and hotel rooms
Given the Otter hotel's amenities and setting, this hotel would suit those of you who like scenic mountain stays, hikers, nature lovers, couples, small groups and maybe business travellers

After dropping off our luggage, in true travel agent style, we headed straight out to do the Sulphur Mountain Gondola up Grouse Mountain. This is a must for any visitor to Banff, as you get the most amazing views of Banff and there are lots of lovely walks, lots of photo opportunities and comfy sofas with fires to simply take it all in. After spending a couple of hours up the Mountain, we headed into Banff for dinner in a lovely venue, the Three Bears Brewery and restaurant.

For anyone travelling to Banff, I would suggest a minimum of three days, as there is so much to see in and around the town, and it’s really buzzing in the evenings.

On day two, we headed out on a trip to visit Lake Louise, which is simply stunning. You can spend hours there hiking, kayaking, and just taking in the beauty, after that we headed to Moraine Lake and had a lovely walk and hike there, taking some fabulous photos of the stunning turquoise lake.
As private vehicle car parking is not allowed now directly at Lake Louise and Lake Moraine, you are better to experience these as a pre-booked tour or using the park and ride shuttle service, which is to manage how busy these locations are with visitors.
As another option, you may want to stay at Lake Louise for one or two nights, as the area attracts lots of day trippers. Once they have gone, you can truly appreciate its beauty without the crowds.

On day two in the afternoon, we had free time to wander around Banff, checking out the pretty little shops and cafes. In the evening, we headed to a bar/restaurant with a live band. It started to snow in the evening (after much warmer temperatures the previous day), so our journey back to the Otter hotel was made more magical by Banff being covered in snow!
 
On our third day, we were up bright and early in Banff to board for our first day on the Rocky Mountaineer, and what a magical start it was, as we had the first snow of the season. All the trees were white, and the scenery for the first couple of hours was like a winter wonderland.

Our Rocky Mountaineer Journey is “First Passage to the West” from Banff to Vancouver with a stop in Kamloops en route.
We were super privileged to be able to travel in “Gold Leaf” on the Rocky Mountaineer. Travelling on the Rocky Mountaineer and in Gold Leaf is a truly special experience. We were called to the dining car (downstairs) for breakfast and lunch.
The food onboard was of a really high standard being cooked from scratch by onboard chefs and the hospitality is continuous, once you are back in your seat there is a constant drinks service, the seats recline and have a foot rest and of course you are in the famous glass dome car on the upper part of the train, with the most stunning views as you travel through the Canadian Rockies. There is a viewing platform where you can take in the stunning scenery, snap photos and chat to your fellow passengers. It is a very special experience. We arrived in Kamloops that evening (after around a 12hr train journey), and we were transferred to our hotel. The service is flawless; you don’t touch your luggage at any stage, and it is waiting for you in the hotel.
I would have no hesitation in suggesting the upgrade to Gold Leaf on Rocky Mountaineer; most people only take this journey once, and it’s worth the extra in my opinion.

On our second day on the Rocky Mountaineer, we travelled from Kamloops to Vancouver. It was a great day to relax and take in the differing scenery.

What makes this stretch of the route really special is how dramatically the scenery shifts, from arid landscapes, through rugged river canyons, into lush coastal valleys. Kamloops Lake and the Thompson River are key features here, especially near Kamloops. After departing Kamloops, the train follows the Thompson River and then, more dramatically, the Fraser River system. You’ll see steep canyon walls, rock sheds, tunnels, and bridges, especially through Fraser Canyon. 
One standout of the journey pop is Hell’s Gate, a narrow, dramatic portion of the Fraser River’s canyon where the water rushes through a constriction. The “Cisco Crossing” is a place where railway tracks cross bridges over the Fraser River; there are two bridges (truss‐arch design) here, with great views of white water below. As you near Vancouver, the terrain becomes wetter, greener, and more forested. Coast Mountains loom up, with more vegetation, especially moving through the Fraser Valley toward Vancouver. You can spot lots of wildlife such as: deer, ground squirrels, chipmunks, sometimes black bears, elk and birds like ospreys and bald eagles too!

In the evening, we arrived in Vancouver and were transferred to The Fairmont Vancouver, which is a beautiful classic hotel in the city centre. We opted just to have some drinks in the hotel as we had dined so well on the Rocky Mountaineer.

The downtown area of Vancouver makes for a great base, with lots of restaurants and shops nearby, and it’s handy for both the waterfront and Stanley Park.
 
On day five, we had a delicious hosted breakfast at Wedgewood Hotel and Spa, a lovely boutique classic hotel with a roaring log fire in the reception area. Then it was time to head to the Cycle City tours bike hire shop and get our electric bikes.
Our guide was fantastic, leading us on a lovely bike ride through Stanley Park
Lunch was in the Cactus Club on the Waterfront, hosted by the Vancouver Tourist Board, and it was delicious. After that, we had some free time; I headed to the Vancouver Lookout for a bird’s eye view of this fantastic city and then on to Gastown. Gastown is the city’s cobbled old-town district and has oodles of charm, with Victorian buildings housing boutiques, galleries and some of the city’s best culinary fare. Don’t miss the Steam Clock, which puffs steam-powered chimes every 15 minutes!
In the evening, we enjoyed singing in one of Vancouver’s many karaoke rooms.

On day six, we walked across the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. Despite my fear of heights, I managed to conquer all the areas we visited, such as the Skywalk, where you can walk along the tops of the trees. It was all spectacularly decorated for Halloween when we visited. Next, we headed to Granville Island and a foodie tour in the Public Market, where we sampled meats, cheeses, breads, doughnuts and coffee! The food tour was absolutely brilliant, our guide was so knowledgeable, and there was a great atmosphere in the market.

On day seven, we headed over to the waterfront in Vancouver to experience the Flyover 3D simulator ride, which is fantastic. We also squeezed in a few last hotel site visits to the JW Marriott Parq and the Douglas hotel, with a fabulous lunch at Honey and Salt at the Marriott, too. We then had a bus detour around Kitsilano, a stunning area in Vancouver, plus the Vandusen Botanical Gardens, in full Halloween theme and finally a stop on the way to the airport at the shopping outlet mall  

October was a great time to see the Rockies as the fall colours were spectacular, and we got the first snow of the season too. At this time of the year, you can embrace a more tranquil journey, away from the crowds, as North America’s autumn colours sweep through each region’s scenery.

I loved Canada so much that I have slotted it into my “top 5” favourite destinations worldwide! 🍁