Is the train travel included?

Yes. The package includes VIA Rail's The Canadian from Jasper to Toronto in a private Sleeper Plus Class cabin, with meals onboard included.

Is this trip escorted or independent?

It is independent travel with no fixed group schedule. Local experts from Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) plan and coordinate the trip and offer support, with a choice of small-group or private guided activities along the way.

Which trains are used?

The Canadian, operated by VIA Rail, running from Jasper to Toronto in Sleeper Plus Class.

What hotels are included?

At the Comfort Level, hotels include the Elk + Avenue Hotel or Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Lake Louise, with the standard rising to 4 to 5 star at the Superior and Deluxe levels.

What is not included?

Guided activities and excursions such as gondola rides, hikes, and rafting are offered as options rather than included in the base price, as are upgrades like Prestige Class rail service or the train extension to Vancouver.

The evidence pack does not list current departure dates.

Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) · Tailor-made rail vacation

Canadian Rockies to Toronto by Train

Independent Calgary to Toronto rail vacation with a sleeper train crossing Canada

Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) runs this 12-day independent rail vacation from Calgary to Toronto. There is no fixed group schedule; local experts plan the trip and coordinate support, and travelers can add small-group or private guided activities along the way. The first six days settle into the Canadian Rockies, with two nights in Banff, a night at Lake Louise below glacier-clad peaks, a drive along the Icefields Parkway, and two nights in Jasper. From Jasper, the trip boards VIA Rail's The Canadian for three nights in a private sleeper cabin, crossing the prairies of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the Canadian Shield's forests and lakes before reaching Toronto. Two nights in Toronto close the trip, with an optional day tour to Niagara Falls. The pace suits travelers who want the structure of planned hotels and rail bookings but prefer to explore each stop on their own schedule rather than follow a group leader.

What to know before you look closer

Hotel standard depends on which of the three comfort tiers you choose. Comfort Level pairs 3 to 3.5 star hotels with VIA Rail Sleeper Plus Class; Superior and Deluxe levels move up to 4 to 4.5 star and 5 star hotels at a higher price.
Many of the daily activities in Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, such as guided hikes, the gondola, and rafting on the Athabasca River, are listed as options rather than included in the base package.
The evidence pack does not list current departure dates; confirm availability and exact pricing with the operator before booking.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Calgary
Arrive in Calgary
Welcome to the city of Calgary, where the prairies end and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains begin.
Day 2overnight: Banff
Calgary to Banff
After a morning of discovery in Calgary, transfer through the rolling foothills of the Canadian Rockies to the mountain town of Banff. Options: Downtown Calgary Walking Tour, Studio Bell Admission, Calgary Tower Admission. Dinner in Banff.
Day 3overnight: Banff
Explore Banff National Park
Fill your lungs with cool, fresh Rocky Mountain air and explore Banff National Park in your chosen way. Options: Banff Sightseeing Tour and Gondola Ride, Guided Hike from Banff, Cowboy Cookout Lunch by Horse-Drawn Wagon.
Day 4overnight: Lake Louise
Banff to Lake Louise
Travel to Lake Louise today, where turquoise waters are surrounded by glacier-clad peaks. Relax, stroll by the lake, or take out a canoe.
Day 5overnight: Jasper
Icefields Parkway - Lake Louise to Jasper
Enjoy an all-day trip down the spine of the Canadian Rockies, on one of the most spectacular roads in the world.
Day 6overnight: Jasper
Explore Jasper National Park
Jasper's wide-open valleys are enticing to a variety of wildlife and are incredibly breathtaking. Options: Private Guided Nature Walk, Maligne Lake Tour with Cruise, Jasper Skytram and Scenic Rafting on the Athabasca River.
Day 7railovernight: Onboard train
VIA Rail - Depart Jasper
Board The Canadian train in Jasper. Settle into your private cabin and take in the spectacular views as you leave Canada's iconic Rocky Mountains behind.
Day 8railovernight: Onboard train
VIA Rail - Canadian Prairies
Make your way across the undulating plains of the Prairie provinces, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Fields of green and gold stretch endlessly under an immense blue sky.
Day 9railovernight: Onboard train
VIA Rail - Ontario
Awake in the province of Ontario and travel through the rugged landscape of the Canadian Shield. See ancient, exposed rock, boreal forest, and countless lakes.
Day 10railovernight: Toronto
VIA Rail - Arrive in Toronto
After traveling south through Ontario's cottage country, your journey onboard The Canadian train comes to an end. Arrive in Toronto, Canada's cultural heart and largest city.
Day 11overnight: Toronto
Explore Toronto or Niagara Falls
Spend a day enjoying the quaint and colorful neighborhoods of Toronto or visit the majestic Niagara Falls. Options: Niagara Falls Day Tour, Toronto Small Group Sightseeing Tour, Niagara Wine Country Bus Tour.
Day 12
Depart from Toronto
Much too soon, you journey home, leaving the fresh air and friendly faces of Canada.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Lake Louise's turquoise waters, surrounded by glacier-clad peaks, with time to stroll the lakeshore or take out a canoe.
Day 5A full day on the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper, described as one of the world's most scenic highways.
Day 7Boarding The Canadian in Jasper and settling into a private sleeper cabin as the Rocky Mountains recede.
Day 9Waking in Ontario and crossing the Canadian Shield, with ancient exposed rock, boreal forest, and countless lakes.
Day 11An optional day tour to Niagara Falls from Toronto.

Included

Hotel accommodation
Sleeper train experience in a private cabin
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

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?: Yes. The package includes VIA Rail's The Canadian from Jasper to Toronto in a private Sleeper Plus Class cabin, with meals onboard included.
Is this trip escorted or independent?: It is independent travel with no fixed group schedule. Local experts from Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) plan and coordinate the trip and offer support, with a choice of small-group or private guided activities along the way.
Which trains are used?: The Canadian, operated by VIA Rail, running from Jasper to Toronto in Sleeper Plus Class.
What hotels are included?: At the Comfort Level, hotels include the Elk + Avenue Hotel or Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Lake Louise, with the standard rising to 4 to 5 star at the Superior and Deluxe levels.
What is not included?: Guided activities and excursions such as gondola rides, hikes, and rafting are offered as options rather than included in the base price, as are upgrades like Prestige Class rail service or the train extension to Vancouver.
When does it run?: The evidence pack does not list current departure dates.