British Columbia

Click here to see suppliers & points of interest on the map.

Nestled comfortably between the sparkling Pacific Ocean and the province of Alberta, British Columbia is a destination within easy reach for groups seeking the abundance it has to offer. The province boasts a temperate climate and a wide variety of geography landscapes for you to explore, from the rugged Canadian Rocky Mountains to the pristine beaches of the Gulf Islands. Spend the morning hiking through a rainforest, explore away the afternoon one of the fascinating heritage sites, and then relax over fine dining before heading out to enjoy the city nightlife.

With so many reasons to choose British Columbia as a group destination, why pick just one?

British Columbia is a year-round destination for groups of all interest.  And warm weather activities aren’t restricted to the summer months. Thanks to the province’s moderate weather conditions, birdwatchers, golfers, hikers, kayakers, and other outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy British Columbia practically year-round. 

Some of the finest ski resorts in the world are found here, as the world will discover in 2010 when Vancouver and Whistler host the Olympic and Paralymic Winter Games. 

For a top-notch tour guaranteed to bring smiles to your group, be sure to include British Columbia on your itinerary. The only challenge you’ll have is figuring out how to
fit it all in!


British Columbia & the Railway:
A Traditional and Scenic Way to View the West

Since the “last spike” was driven into the first-ever transcontinental railway at Craigellachie in 1885, joining British Columbia to the rest of Canada, rail travel has been prominent in the province. And Vancouver based Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, North America’s largest privately owned passenger rail service has written a history of its own. The
company was established in 1990 and began with a two-day, all daylight journey through Canada’s West and the Rocky Mountains in the aftermath of the federal government’s decision to cut VIA Rail’s (Canada’s national passenger train)  subsidized service and privatize the daylight tourist service that was introduced in 1988. VIA Rail’s loss was definitely RMV’s gain, as today the company begins its 17th successful season with multiple trains running on a variety of routes through British Columbia and Alberta.

Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (owned and operated by Armstrong Hospitality Group Ltd.), who also own the Gray Line West motorcoach operations based in Alberta and British Columbia, is one of the leading tourism providers for travelers in Western Canada and has hosted over 800,000 guests from all over the world onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train. 

RMV premiered two new tourist train routes in Western Canada in 2006: the Rocky Mountaineer’s Fraser Discover Route and Whistler Mountaineer train. These highly anticipated services will complement the Rocky Mountaineer’s current two routes, already drawing in thousands of visitors each year.

Including the new Fraser Discovery Route, the Rocky Mountaineer train will travel on three routes, in both eastbound and westbound directions. The two existing routes are: the Yellowhead Route, which takes guests between the beautiful coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia and Jasper, Alberta and the Kicking Horse Route, which provides a link from Vancouver to Banff or Calgary, Alberta. Guests overnight in historic Kamloops, BC on both rail journeys.

Fraser Discovery Route
Offering plenty of adventure, culture and history, Rocky Mountaineer’s new Fraser Discovery Route will open up British Columbia’s seldom seen interior to guests from around the world. This third route for the acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer train is a two-day, all daylight rail journey between Whistler, BC and Jasper, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies with an overnight stop in Quesnel, BC. The two-day trips will depart on selected Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and package tours are available for travelers to explore all that the region has to offer.

Whistler Mountaineer
Canada’s tourist train, the Whistler Mountaineer,  was launched in 2006 and takes guests on a journey through some of British Columbia’s most magnificent scenery. Following the internationally renowned Sea to Sky corridor, this highly anticipated new rail route will link the world-class destinations of Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. Travelers can enjoy the best of both worlds in just one day or longer with this service, from the bustling urban centre of Vancouver to the quaint resort town of Whistler. The three-hour trip onboard the train is comfortable and relaxing, with first-rate dining and scenery, and interesting commentary to enhance your trip. Travelling northbound, the Whistler Mountaineer will depart North Vancouver at 8:30 a.m. and arrive at its destination at 11:30 a.m., giving guests plenty of time to explore Whistler Village and the surrounding area. Southbound departures are scheduled to leave Whistler at 2:30 p.m. and will arrive back in North Vancouver at 5:30 p.m.

World-class Service
All three Rocky Mountaineer rail routes offer two choices of service: GoldLeaf Service and RedLeaf Service.

GoldLeaf Service began in 1994 when RMV had a custom-built, luxury, bi-level dome coach constructed for their rail service. Up to 72 guests will enjoy reserved seating in the two-storey glass dome coaches with spectacular panoramic views on the upper level, and in the elegant private dining room on the main level. Today the GoldLeaf Service continues to grow, representing more than half of guest bookings, with 15 GoldLeaf dome coaches in operation.

RedLeaf Service provides guests with assigned, spacious, comfortable reclining seats, large picture windows, and at-your-seat meal service, in a non-smoking, air-conditioned traditional rail coach environment. RMV owns 33 RedLeaf Service coaches, which are classically styled railcars built in 1954 and have been refurbished and upgraded a number of times since then.

For more information on Rocky Mountaineer Vacations’ full-service travel opportunities, including details on the new Whistler Mountaineer, visit www.rockymountaineer.com or www.whistlermountaineer.com and click your way to the rail vacation of a lifetime!