An epic adventure that starts in Vancouver, takes you through Jasper, and on to Edmonton with VIA Rail. There are loads of opportunities to discover and explore at every stop.
This itinerary is great for travellers who want to “see it all” and who enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.
At a glance
- 5 day itinerary
- 1585 km (985 mi) total distance
- 32 hrs 54 mins drive time
- Your starting point is in Vancouver
Overnight on the VIA Rail Train
Canada's national rail passenger service invites you aboard to experience the Rockies like never before. Enjoy delicious meals, cozy accommodations and discover landscapes that will astound and amaze on your route to the historical site of Jasper station.
TIP FROM A LOCAL
Be sure you wake up early to catch the sun rising over the stunning Canadian Rockies.
Jasper SkyTram
Take a ride on the Jasper SkyTram – Canada's longest and highest guided aerial tramway. You will experience unprecedented views of six mountain ranges, the Athabasca River, glacier-fed lakes and the town of Jasper.
Jasper Food Tours
Sample delicious local food from some of Jasper's best restaurants. This guided tour is a 1.5 km (0.9 mi) walk with stops at four restaurants. Taste carefully selected dishes (one dish per restaurant), each paired with an alcoholic beverage.
Warrior Women
Warrior Women offers a truly unique and personal experience through drumming, singing and interactive storytelling for any sized group. Learn the legends through the eyes of the Cree.
Jasper Planetarium & Telescope Experience
Enjoy a full evening of cosmic exploration in the world's largest dark sky preserve. Take-part in an inspiring guided tour of Jasper Dark Sky Preserve in a domed theatre. Then venture outside for a chance to explore planets, stars, the aurora, and more under the darkest skies in the Rockies.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge offers unique lakefront luxury accommodation. It's nestled amidst pristine wilderness, and sprawls across 700 acres (283 hectares). Resort highlights include an award-winning 18-hole Stanley Thompson designed golf-course, destination spa, and beautiful outdoor heated pool with mountain views.
Maligne Adventures - Wildlife Tours
Search for wildlife in Jasper National Park with Maligne Adventures. Led by a professional, certified guide, you'll venture into the scenic Maligne Valley to look for elk, bear, moose, bighorn sheep and deer. Early morning and evening tours promise the best opportunity for sightings.
Jasper Yellowhead Museum & Archives
The Jasper Yellowhead Museum historic gallery includes exhibits on the fur trade, the railway, and early exploration and tourism in Jasper National Park.
VIA Rail – Jasper to Edmonton
Edmonton is a vibrant urban centre in the heart of the wilderness, the largest northernmost metropolis, and the capital of Alberta. There's a uniqueness to how Edmontonians do ordinary things, and visitors are welcomed to be a part of it.
Fort Edmonton Park
Visit Fort Edmonton Park to step back in time more than 150 years. Nestled amidst 158 acres (64 hectors) of parkland, this living history museum brings stories from the fur trade and pioneer eras to life through costumed interpreters, interactive exhibits and historic replicas.
Métis Crossing
Métis Crossing offers visitors the opportunity to participate in guided cultural interpretive experiences, sharing the distinct Indigenous story of the Métis people in an interactive way. Visitors can enjoy Indigenous signature experiences, which include activities such as Walk in our Mocs, Paddle into the Past, and Meet the Métis.
Elk Island National Park Stargazing Experience
Join a Parks Canada interpreter around a campfire for an evening of storytelling. Search for stars or the awe-inspiring Northern Lights while taking in the grandeur of the expanding universe, and discover all that you can see and do under dark skies.
Edmonton Food Tours
Taste your way through the historic Old Strathcona district with a local guide. Meet with Edmonton chefs, producers and farmers. Enjoy regional flavours, artisanal products and farm fresh produce at several neighbourhood eateries.
West Edmonton Mall
West Edmonton Mall spans the equivalent of 48 city blocks and includes more than 800 shops and services, a casino, movie theatres, mini golf course, a skating rink and the Sea Life Caverns aquarium.
Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm
Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm is a working 35-acre (14-hectare) family farm with more than 50 family-fun farm activities, a garden centre, U-pick berry fields, a pumpkin patch, a klondike ghost town, seven-acre Corn Maze, and a whole host of indoor and outdoor adventure play to experience.
Art Gallery of Alberta
The Art Gallery of Alberta is a centre of excellence for the visual arts in Western Canada, connecting people, art and ideas. The institution is focused on the development and presentation of original exhibitions of contemporary and historical art from Alberta, Canada and around the world.
River Valley Adventure Co. – Edmonton Segway Tours
Explore Edmonton's lush network of waterfront trails on a guided Segway tour. The locally owned outfitter, located in the heart of the river valley, also offers mountain bike, stand-up paddleboard and sports equipment rentals, as well as the Urban Green Café with a year-round riverfront patio.
Edmonton ICE District
Within the ICE District you'll find Rogers Place, two new office towers, condos, hotels, a public plaza and much more. Spreading across 25 awe-inspiring acres (10 hectares), ICE District gives Edmonton an energy and feeling unlike anything the city has seen before.
Edmonton Oilers
Experience the rush of an Edmonton Oilers home game at Rogers Place, located in the city's famous sports and entertainment hub, the ICE District. Expect the fans to be loud and proud as they watch the orange and blue take on top National Hockey League teams.
Edmonton Helicopter Tours / Air Taxi Charter
See Alberta's capital city from a whole new perspective. Edmonton Regional Helicopter's services include private city and river valley sightseeing experiences, as well as chartered VIP air transportation throughout central Alberta and the Canadian Rockies.
Royal Alberta Museum
The Royal Alberta Museum is one of Canada's leading human and natural history museums. Within the permanent exhibits you’ll find more than 2.4 million objects showcasing the history of Alberta’s people, animals and landscapes.
Timberwolf Tours
Timberwolf Tours is a western Canadian tour operator, based near Edmonton, the gateway to the Canadian north. The private company, established 1986, is a well known and reliable outfitter for adventure tours and small group travel from the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver Island.
Muttart Conservatory
Explore the colourful and exotic gardens at Muttart. Each of the conservatory's four glass pyramids feature a unique themed garden. Wander through to view delicate orchids, towering banana trees, prickly cactus and exotic species.
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