Some journeys are simply about getting somewhere. This one was about the journey itself. In May 2026, Bob and I boarded Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf service for the Journey Through the Clouds — a trip sixty years in the making, and worth every moment of the wait. Follow our complete adventure below, post by post.
A bucket list sixty years in the making — we're boarding Rocky Mountaineer's Gold Leaf service for the Journey Through the Clouds, traveling from Vancouver through the heart of the Canadian Rockies to Banff. Follow along as we document every moment.
Planning a Rocky Mountaineer vacation? Here’s how we chose our route, why we booked GoldLeaf Service, what’s included, and what to expect before departure from Vancouver on the Journey Through the Clouds itinerary.
Before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer, we spent two memorable days exploring Vancouver — from Stanley Park and Granville Island to FlyOver Canada and Capilano Suspension Bridge. Here’s how we made the most of our time in the city before heading into the Canadian Rockies.
Two days aboard Rocky Mountaineer's Gold Leaf service on the Journey Through the Clouds — following the Fraser River through dramatic canyons, crossing into desert terrain, and winding through the Canadian Rockies all the way to Jasper. With outstanding food, remarkable hosts, and scenery that changes by the mile, every moment was worth the sixty-year wait.
One of the world's most scenic drives, an ancient glacier, a glass-floor skywalk 918 feet above
the valley, Lake Louise, and two perfect days in Banff — this is the Icefields Parkway, and it delivered
everything we dreamed it would.
Is the Rocky Mountaineer worth it? Our honest take on the GoldLeaf experience from Vancouver to Calgary — outstanding service, jaw-dropping scenery, and the one reality check every traveler should know before booking.