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Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Canadian Rail Adventure: Rocky Mountaineer & The Canadian

Twelve-day rail loop from Vancouver to Toronto on Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Canadian

Illustration of Canadian Rail Adventure: Rocky Mountaineer & The Canadian

Vacations By Rail's 12-day Canadian Rail Adventure moves you from Vancouver to Toronto via two of North America's most celebrated trains. You begin with the Rocky Mountaineer, traveling in daytime comfort through the Fraser River valley and across the Canadian Rockies, passing the Spiral Tunnels and Continental Divide en route to Banff. You spend days in mountain resort towns, enjoying guided tours of Banff National Park (including the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain), a sightseeing drive to Emerald Lake, and an excursion to the Columbia Icefield with an Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier. On day 7, you board VIA Rail's Canadian in a private sleeper cabin for a three-night overnight journey across the prairies and Canadian Shield to Toronto. A final guided tour takes you by coach to Niagara Falls. The itinerary suits independent travelers who prefer structured guides at set stops, couples seeking luxury accommodation and sleeper-cabin romance, and repeat rail travelers eager to experience both famous Canadian trains.

What to know before you look closer

  • The Superior tier hotels list includes 'or similar'; your final accommodation depends on availability and the specific hotel tier selected.
  • Flights to and from Canada are not included in the from-price of USD 9,595.
  • Departures and exact dates are not published in the operator's available information; confirm scheduling and availability before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Arriving in Vancouver

    Transfer independently to a centrally located hotel for one night, with the evening free to explore.

  2. Day 2overnight: Kamloops

    To Kamloops on Rocky Mountaineer

    Board Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf Service for an all-daylight journey through the Fraser River valley and Hell's Gate to Kamloops, with breakfast and a three-course lunch served at your seat.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  3. Day 3railovernight: Banff

    Continuing into the Canadian Rockies by rail

    Rocky Mountaineer continues past Shuswap Lake, Kicking Horse Pass, the Spiral Tunnels, the Continental Divide and Castle Mountain, arriving in Banff.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4overnight: Banff

    A day to discover Banff

    A guided tour of Banff National Park including Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, Two Jack Viewpoint and the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain (plus a Lake Minnewanka cruise for departures after May 11).

  5. Day 5overnight: Lake Louise

    Visiting the Yoho Valley and Lake Louise

    A sightseeing route through Yoho National Park to Emerald Lake, with an included lunch at Emerald Lake Lodge, continuing to Lake Louise.

    Meals: Lunch

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper

    Along Icefields Parkway to Jasper

    A motorcoach tour along the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk, with a hot buffet lunch, arriving in Jasper.

    Meals: Lunch

  7. Day 7railovernight: Overnight aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

    Boarding VIA Rail's Canadian to Toronto

    Board VIA Rail's Canadian in a private cabin for a three-night journey to Toronto, following the Athabasca River down from the Rockies, with dinner served in the Dining Car.

    Meals: Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Overnight aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

    Through the prairies of Saskatchewan

    The Canadian crosses Saskatchewan's prairies and into Manitoba, passing through Winnipeg this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Overnight aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

    The ever-changing landscapes of the Canadian Shield

    The train crosses northwestern Ontario's lakes and ancient forests before continuing toward the Great Lakes.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: Toronto

    Canada's largest city, Toronto

    Breakfast and brunch are served onboard before arriving at Toronto's Union Station mid-afternoon and transferring to a centrally located hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

  11. Day 11overnight: Toronto

    The beauty of Niagara Falls

    A full-day sightseeing excursion to Niagara Falls, including a ride on the Hornblower to the base of Horseshoe Falls, a lunch buffet overlooking the falls, and stops at the Floral Clock and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

    Meals: Lunch

  12. Day 12

    Tour conclusion

    An included transfer takes you from your hotel to Toronto's international airport for your flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Rocky Mountaineer departs Vancouver in SilverLeaf Service, traveling all daylight through the Fraser River valley and Hell's Gate to Kamloops with breakfast and three-course lunch at your seat.
  • Day 3Rocky Mountaineer passes the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Pass, and the Continental Divide before arriving in Banff.
  • Day 4Guided tour of Banff National Park includes the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain and a Lake Minnewanka cruise.
  • Day 6Motorcoach tour along the Icefields Parkway includes an Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk.
  • Day 7Board VIA Rail's Canadian in a private sleeper cabin for a three-night journey to Toronto, following the Athabasca River down from the Rockies with dinner in the Dining Car.

Included

  • 8 nights' hotel accommodation
  • 3 nights in a Sleeper Plus Cabin aboard VIA Rail's Canadian
  • Choice of SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service on Rocky Mountaineer
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Transfer to Toronto airport
  • 5 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 7 lunches, 3 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights

Questions travellers ask

Which trains does this trip use?
Rocky Mountaineer (SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, depending on tier) operates two daytime journeys from Vancouver through Kamloops to Banff. VIA Rail's Canadian operates a three-night sleeper journey from Jasper to Toronto.
Is the train travel included?
Yes. The from-price of USD 9,595 includes all rail, cruise, and coach travel throughout the tour, Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf Service, and a Sleeper Plus Cabin on VIA Rail's Canadian.
Is this escorted or independent?
Vacations By Rail structures this as an independent rail vacation. You travel on your own following a planned itinerary, but the operator includes guided tours at key stops such as Banff National Park and Niagara Falls.
How many hotel nights are included?
Eight nights in hotels: one or two nights in each of Vancouver, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and Toronto. Three additional nights are spent aboard VIA Rail's Canadian in a Sleeper Plus Cabin.
What meals are included?
The package includes 5 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 7 lunches, and 3 dinners, plus meals served aboard both trains as part of the service.
How much walking is involved?
The trip is primarily coach and train based. Guided tours include walking at Banff National Park, a gondola ride to Sulphur Mountain, an Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier, the Glacier Skywalk, and a Hornblower boat ride to Niagara Falls.

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