Trans-Canada by Rail - The Canadian & Rocky Mountaineer

Canada is a vast country, and popular with the self-drive traveller, but for many the appeal of sitting back, sipping a coffee (or something a bit stronger!) and being able to take the time to spot the native wildlife without having to fly or drive is becoming increasingly popular.

The Canadian traverses the boundless landscape between Toronto and Vancouver, or vice-versa, offering travellers the chance to break the journey up in sections or cross the country in one fell swoop with a three-night journey in comfortable couchettes or private cabins.

Economy Class features a large armchair by day, that changes into a sleeper couchette at night with a curtain for privacy and shared washroom facilities.

Sleeper Plus class includes en-suite facilities and meals so there really is nothing else to but put your feet up and watch the countryside roll by your window.

Introduced in 2014, an upgrade to “Prestige Class” offers a large sofa area, that converts into a comfortable double bed at night and a very large picture window, the best view in the house. With the addition of exclusive access to its own domed viewing carriage and with a complimentary mini-bar, this is the way to travel in style!

Many travellers choose to disembark The Canadian in Jasper and complete the journey through the Rockies on board Rocky Mountaineer (link to the land page for Rocky) and a combination of the two trains is the perfect way to see Canada in all its glory.

In addition, Via Rail also offer services from Jasper to Prince Rupert (The Skeena train) and up the East Coast through Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and to Halifax (The Ocean train)

For a rail enthusiast, no trip to Canada is complete without a journey on Rocky Mountaineer; one of the world’s most well-known trains. While many travellers opt for a self-drive holiday, the appeal of sitting back, sipping a coffee (or something a bit stronger!) and being able to take the time to spot the native wildlife and admire the stunning backdrop of the dramatic Rockies is becoming increasingly popular.

Rocky Mountaineer operates four routes – three in Canada and the newly-introduced “Rockies to the Red Rocks” route in the USA.

The flagship routes travel between Vancouver and the pretty mountain resort towns of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, as well as coach transfers to more urban Calgary – home of the famous annual Stampede. As you board the train at its very own train station in Vancouver and take your seats - either in comfortable SilverLeaf carriages with their floor-to-ceiling semi-domed windows, or upscale GoldLeaf seating, with fully glass-domed carriage roof, reclining seats and table service meals - the sense of adventure among the travellers is palpable.

Heading out of the city and following the river towards the foothills of the Rockies to stay overnight at a hotel in Kamloops, you can enjoy drinks served to your seat and a selection of meals, all without taking your eyes off the passing scenery while listening to the onboard commentary to ensure you don’t miss a thing. In GoldLeaf service, there are also small open-air sections between carriages where you can feel the mountain air on your face and get some great photo opportunities. With a bit of luck, you’ll spot a grizzly!

The following day you’ll reach the Rockies proper and the scenery becomes even more dramatic. Depending on which journey you have chosen you will visit Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper (or a combination) and we can find you the perfect accommodation to make the most of your time in this dazzling landscape.

We recommend spending some time in the relaxed and fashionable Vancouver; a friendly and welcoming city with so much variety to offer visitors. The capital of British Columbia is a safe, clean and refreshing place, with wide open green spaces, waterfront culture (including beaches), a vast array of wildlife-spotting opportunities as well as some exhilarating adventures close by; take a walk on the wild side in the treetops at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park or enjoy the “Fly Over Canada” virtual reality experience in the city centre. And if all of that doesn’t pique your interest, there is an extraordinary range of culinary options too, street food galore in the trendy Granville Island public market, to high-end haute cuisine with real a passion for local produce from farm-to-table.

Extend your trip with a stay in Calgary and get involved in a spot of line-dancing with the locals, and take a trip up the Calgary Tower where the Rockies loom on the fringes of the capital of Alberta.

There are many departure dates across all four routes:

“First Passage to the West”: Vancouver – Kamloops - Banff (as described above)

“Journey Through the Clouds” : Vancouver – Kamloops - Jasper

Both the above can be combined with Columbia Icefield, Lake Louise and Calgary

“Rainforest to Gold Rush” : Vancouver – Whistler – Quesnel – Jasper

“Rockies to the Red Rocks” NEW USA ROUTE! : Moab – Glenwood Springs – Denver (coach connections to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City).

At Fred. Holidays, we appreciate that everyone is different and has different preferences - our team of specialists can build a rail holiday to your exact requirements, with what is important to you in mind. Call our team of helpful Travel Specialists to build this train into your dream holiday.