Fresh Tracks Canada · Independent rail vacation

Across Canada by Train

Independent coast-to-coast Canada rail trip on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer

Across Canada by Train, a rail journey with Fresh Tracks Canada

Fresh Tracks Canada arranges this 13-day, 12-night independent rail vacation across Canada, from Toronto to Vancouver, with local 'Canadian Insiders' planning and supporting the trip rather than a fixed tour group or rigid itinerary. After two days in Toronto, VIA Rail's The Canadian carries travelers west in a private sleeper cabin for three nights, through Ontario's lake country, the Canadian Shield, and the Prairie provinces, arriving in Jasper as the Rocky Mountains come into view. Days in Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff are set at the traveler's own pace, with choices ranging from lake walks and sightseeing tours to guided hikes or helicopter tours. The Rocky Mountaineer daylight train then covers Banff to Kamloops to Vancouver, passing the Spiral Tunnels and Craigellachie. Three comfort tiers set the hotel standard, from 3 to 3.5 star up to 5 star with GoldLeaf service. This suits travelers who want to shape their own days rather than follow a set group schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • The final hotels depend on which tier you book. The Comfort tier uses 3 to 3.5 star hotels, Superior uses 4 to 4.5 star, and Deluxe uses 5 star, all with VIA Rail Sleeper Plus, though only Deluxe upgrades the Rocky Mountaineer to GoldLeaf Service.
  • Several days in Toronto, Jasper, and Banff list multiple activity options such as day tours, hikes, and helicopter tours; the evidence does not specify which are included in the base price versus booked as paid add-ons.
  • The Icefields Parkway day from Jasper to Lake Louise and the transfer from Lake Louise to Banff are road journeys, not train travel, so two of the thirteen days are by coach rather than rail.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Toronto

    Arrive in Toronto

    Welcome to Toronto! The sights and sounds of Canada's largest city welcome you as you arrive in the heart of downtown.

  2. Day 2overnight: Toronto

    Explore Toronto

    Spend a day enjoying the quaint and colorful neighborhoods of Toronto or visit Niagara Falls. Options: Niagara Falls Day Tour, Food Walking Tour in Toronto, Toronto Small Group Sightseeing Tour.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Onboard The Canadian train

    VIA Rail - Depart Toronto

    Board The Canadian train in Toronto and begin your transcontinental journey west. Travel north into Ontario's picturesque lake country.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Onboard The Canadian train

    VIA Rail - Ontario

    Head west through the rugged landscape of the Canadian Shield and into the province of Manitoba. See ancient, exposed rock, boreal forest, and countless lakes.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Onboard The Canadian train

    VIA Rail - Canadian Prairies

    Journey across the undulating plains of the Prairie provinces, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Jasper

    VIA Rail - Arrive in Jasper

    See the magnificent Rocky Mountains early this morning as you get close to Jasper. This laid-back mountain town lies in the heart of Jasper National Park.

  7. Day 7overnight: Jasper

    Explore Jasper National Park

    Jasper's wide-open valleys are enticing to a variety of wildlife and are incredibly breathtaking. Spend the day exploring Jasper National Park on your style of tour. Options: Private Guided Nature Walk, Maligne Lake Tour with Cruise, Jasper Motorcycle Sidecar Tour.

  8. Day 8overnight: Lake Louise

    Icefields Parkway - Jasper to Lake Louise

    Travel along the spine of the Rockies, on one of the most beautiful roads in the world, the Icefields Parkway, to picture-perfect Lake Louise. Options: Icefields Parkway Sightseeing Tour, Six Glaciers Helicopter and Icefields Tour.

  9. Day 9overnight: Banff

    Enjoying Lake Louise and Transfer to Banff

    For a good vacation, a varied pace is important and today you set the cadence. Relax, stroll around the lake, go to the spa, or ask us about getting out for an adventure like canoeing, horseback riding, hiking or climbing.

  10. Day 10overnight: Banff

    Explore Banff National Park

    Fill your lungs with cool, fresh Rocky Mountain air and head out to explore Banff National Park in your chosen way. Options: Afternoon Banff Sightseeing Tour with Gondola, Guided Hike at Sunshine Meadows, Cowboy Cookout Lunch by Horse-Drawn Wagon.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Train - Banff to Kamloops

    All aboard! Settle in while the smell of breakfast wafts from the galley. A small jolt announces you are on your way, look forward to a day of spectacular scenery. Highlights include the Spiral Tunnels and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven in 1885.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Vancouver

    Rocky Mountaineer Train - Kamloops to Vancouver

    The exhilaration of your Canada train trip continues as you enjoy another day of great food, excellent service and incredible scenery. Arrive in Vancouver late this afternoon.

  13. Day 13

    Depart Vancouver

    Much too soon, you leave the fresh air and mountain peaks of Canada to journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Board The Canadian train in Toronto and begin the transcontinental journey west into Ontario's lake country.
  • Day 6See the magnificent Rocky Mountains early this morning as the train approaches Jasper.
  • Day 8Travel the Icefields Parkway, one of the most beautiful roads in the world, from Jasper to Lake Louise.
  • Day 9A free day at Lake Louise to set your own pace, with options such as canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, or a visit to the spa.
  • Day 11The Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Kamloops passes the Spiral Tunnels and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven in 1885.

Included

  • Hotel accommodation
  • Sleeper train experience in a private cabin
  • Rocky Mountaineer daylight train journey
  • Meals onboard the train
  • Choice of unique guided activities
  • Train station transfers
  • Transportation to and from airports, timed with your flights
  • Feature dining experience at one of our favorite local restaurants
  • Electronic travel documentation package
  • Personalized Fresh Tracks Canada customer service support

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. VIA Rail's The Canadian in a private sleeper cabin from Toronto to Jasper (3 nights onboard), and the Rocky Mountaineer daylight train from Banff to Kamloops to Vancouver.
Is it escorted or independent?
Independent: local 'Canadian Insiders' plan, coordinate, and support the trip, and there is no fixed tour group or rigid itinerary.
Which trains are used?
The Canadian (VIA Rail, Sleeper Plus Class) and the Rocky Mountaineer (SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service).
What hotels are included?
Named hotels include the Elk + Avenue Hotel or Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver; the exact hotel depends on the comfort tier booked.
How much walking or activity is involved?
Mostly easy touring with optional add-ons: days in Jasper and Banff offer choices from easy sightseeing tours to more active options like guided hikes, canoeing, horseback riding, or climbing.
What is not included?
Private guided experiences such as a private hike, heli-tour, or private transfers, and celebrations like champagne, are optional extras at additional cost.

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