How much does it cost?

From £6,925 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $9,354 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes 2 days of scenic travel on the Rocky Mountaineer and 3 nights on VIA Rail's Canadian in Sleeper Plus class.

Is this trip escorted or independent?

It is an independent trip; you travel largely at your own pace between named stops, with a guided tour of Banff and a full day guided excursion to Niagara Falls included.

Which trains are used?

The Rocky Mountaineer (Vancouver to Banff via Kamloops, in Silverleaf or Goldleaf service) and VIA Rail's The Canadian (Jasper to Toronto, Sleeper Plus).

What hotels are used?

Hotels vary by city and include choices such as the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, the Rimrock Resort or Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, the Post Hotel & Spa or Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and Hotel le Germain or the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance, plus optional excursions such as the Banff Hot Springs, helicopter tours, and wildlife safaris.

Great Rail Journeys · Independent rail holiday

Canada - Rockies to the Niagara Falls feat Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail cross-Canada rail journey to Niagara Falls

Great Rail Journeys runs this 13-day independent trip across Canada, from Vancouver to Niagara-on-the-Lake, using two named trains. The Rocky Mountaineer carries you by daylight through the Coast Mountains and Hell's Gate to Kamloops, then on through Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels to the alpine town of Banff, where a guided tour includes the Banff Gondola. After Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway, where the Columbia Icefield stop includes an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, you board VIA Rail's Canadian in Jasper for three nights aboard, with Skyline and Park Car access across the Great Central Plains to Toronto. The trip ends with a full day at Niagara Falls, including a Hornblower boat ride to the base of Horseshoe Falls. It suits travellers who want two distinct rail journeys, mountain scenery, and a guided day out at the falls, without a full-time tour escort.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £6,925 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Hotels are offered as options in several cities (for example the Rimrock Resort or the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, and Hotel le Germain or the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto), so the exact hotel depends on which option you choose.
Optional excursions such as the Discover Banff and Wildlife Tour, the Continental Divide Helicopter Tour, the Grizzly Bears tour, and Banff Hot Springs admission cost extra and are not included in the price.
The trip includes an overnight flight from Toronto back to the UK in addition to the rail journey.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Vancouver
Vancouver
Arrive in Vancouver and make your own way to a centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the city and its restaurants.
Day 2overnight: Kamloops
Rocky Mountaineer
Board the all-daylight Rocky Mountaineer, travelling through the Coast Mountains and Hell's Gate to Kamloops, with a lavish onboard lunch. Transfer to a hotel selected by Rocky Mountaineer based on your service tier.
Meals: Lunch
Day 3overnight: Banff
Rocky Mountaineer to Banff
Reboard the Rocky Mountaineer, passing the South Thompson River area, Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels, with lunch served at your seat, arriving in Banff.
Meals: Lunch
Day 4overnight: Banff
Banff
A guided tour of Banff town, Surprise Corner and Tunnel Mountain, plus the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain. Optional excursions include wildlife tours, a helicopter tour, or a grizzly bear tour.
Day 5overnight: Lake Louise
Lake Louise
Travel via the Vermillion Lakes and Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon for a walk to the lower falls, then cross the Continental Divide into Yoho National Park to visit Emerald Lake before arriving at Lake Louise.
Day 6overnight: Jasper
The Icefields Parkway
Travel the Icefields Parkway past glaciers and waterfalls, stopping at the Columbia Icefield to ride an Ice Explorer on the Athabasca Glacier, before arriving in Jasper.
Day 7railovernight: Aboard VIA Rail's Canadian
VIA Rail's The Canadian (day 1)
Transfer to Jasper train station to board VIA Rail's Canadian for the journey to Toronto, with Sleeper Plus access to the Skyline and Park Cars.
Day 8railovernight: Aboard VIA Rail's Canadian
VIA Rail's The Canadian (day 2)
Breakfast in the dining car, then travel through Winnipeg towards Ontario with lunch and dinner served in the dining car.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9railovernight: Aboard VIA Rail's Canadian
VIA Rail's The Canadian (day 3)
Breakfast at your own pace, lunch and dinner served at your seat, with evening access to the Park Car for views of the night sky.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10overnight: Toronto
Toronto
Breakfast and lunch onboard before arriving in Toronto in the afternoon and checking into the hotel, with the rest of the day free to explore.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11overnight: Toronto
Niagara Falls
A full-day excursion to Niagara Falls via the Niagara Peninsula, with a buffet lunch overlooking the falls, a Hornblower boat trip to the base of Horseshoe Falls, and stops at the Floral Clock and Niagara-on-the-Lake before returning to Toronto.
Meals: Lunch
Day 12
Toronto to UK
Transfer from the hotel to Toronto Pearson International Airport for the overnight flight back to the UK.
Day 13
Arrival in UK
Arrive back in the UK, full of inspiring memories and tales to tell.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The all-daylight Rocky Mountaineer travels through the Coast Mountains and Hell's Gate on the way to Kamloops, with a lavish lunch onboard.
Day 6The Icefields Parkway stops at the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier.
Day 7You board VIA Rail's Canadian in Jasper, with Sleeper Plus access to the Skyline and Park Cars for views across the Great Central Plains.
Day 11A full day excursion to Niagara Falls includes a buffet lunch overlooking the waterfall and a ride on the Hornblower to the base of Horseshoe Falls.

Included

Hotel accommodation for 8 nights
2 days of scenic travel onboard Rocky Mountaineer
Rail travel on VIA Rail Canada (3 nights on train)
Flights from London to Vancouver and Toronto to London
Airport transfers in Canada
16 meals

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £6,925 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $9,354 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes 2 days of scenic travel on the Rocky Mountaineer and 3 nights on VIA Rail's Canadian in Sleeper Plus class.
Is this trip escorted or independent?: It is an independent trip; you travel largely at your own pace between named stops, with a guided tour of Banff and a full day guided excursion to Niagara Falls included.
Which trains are used?: The Rocky Mountaineer (Vancouver to Banff via Kamloops, in Silverleaf or Goldleaf service) and VIA Rail's The Canadian (Jasper to Toronto, Sleeper Plus).
What hotels are used?: Hotels vary by city and include choices such as the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, the Rimrock Resort or Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, the Post Hotel & Spa or Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and Hotel le Germain or the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance, plus optional excursions such as the Banff Hot Springs, helicopter tours, and wildlife safaris.