Is the train travel included?

Yes, an overnight VIA Rail sleeper cabin from Jasper to Vancouver is included, with meals onboard.

Is it escorted or independent?

It's independent travel with no fixed group schedule; local experts plan the trip and offer a choice of guided activities each day.

Which train do I take?

VIA Rail's The Canadian, in Sleeper Plus class, from Jasper to Vancouver.

What hotels are used?

Named hotels include the Banff Caribou Lodge, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and the Azur Legacy Collection Hotel or Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver, with the standard varying by tier.

How much walking is involved?

Options include an e-bike tour of Banff and scenic drives; no hikes are described in the itinerary.

What's not included in the base price?

A helicopter add-on to the Icefields tour, an upgrade to Prestige Class, and extensions such as Victoria, BC or the Northern Lights are called out as extra.

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

Canadian Rockies Voyage by Train

6-day Banff to Vancouver trip with an overnight VIA Rail sleeper

Canadian Train Vacations, part of Fresh Tracks Canada, runs this 6-day, 5-night trip from Calgary into the Canadian Rockies and on to Vancouver, with no fixed group schedule. It starts with a day exploring Banff, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a choice of sightseeing including an e-bike tour or a trip to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Day 3 follows the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, and on day 4 you board VIA Rail's The Canadian for an overnight sleeper journey, crossing the continental divide and passing Mount Robson before arriving in Vancouver on day 5. One reviewer with family called the pace 'not rushed, with lots of time to relax,' and another said it was a great first train trip with time to explore on their own. Local experts plan the details and offer a choice of guided activities throughout.

What to know before you look closer

The lead price of 5,390 CAD (about 3,795 USD) is the Comfort Level tier, with 3 to 3.5 star hotels and a scheduled bus transfer between Calgary and Banff; the Deluxe Level tier (6,790 CAD) uses 5 star hotels and a private driver.
The Private Icefields Sightseeing with a helicopter tour add-on, offered as an option on day 3, is noted as an extra cost.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Banff
Calgary to the Canadian Rockies
Travel from Calgary to the Canadian Rockies. Start to explore Banff, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the charm of a small mountain community.
Day 2overnight: Banff
Explore Banff
Fill your lungs with fresh Rocky Mountain air and head out for a day of exploration in Banff National Park. Options: Banff Sightseeing Tour and Gondola Ride, Banff E-Bike Tour, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Tour.
Day 3overnight: Jasper
Icefields Parkway - Banff to Jasper
Travel along the spine of the Rockies on one of the most beautiful routes in the world, the Icefields Parkway. Options: Icefields Parkway Tour to Jasper, Private Icefields Sightseeing with Heli-Tour (extra cost).
Day 4railovernight: Onboard train
VIA Rail - Depart Jasper
Board The Canadian train in Jasper. Leave Jasper National Park, cross the continental divide, and travel through beautiful British Columbia. See mountain valleys and pristine forests, keep an eye out for Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockies' highest peak.
Day 5railovernight: Vancouver
VIA Rail - Arrive in Vancouver
After travelling through BC's Fraser Valley, your journey on board The Canadian train comes to an end. Arrive in coastal Vancouver, a spectacular city surrounded by mountains and the ocean.
Day 6
Depart Vancouver
Much too soon, you journey home, leaving the fresh air and mountains of Canada behind.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Travel from Calgary into the Canadian Rockies to explore Banff, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 3A tour along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in the world, connects Banff to Jasper.
Day 4You board The Canadian in Jasper, crossing the continental divide with a chance to spot Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockies' highest peak.
Day 5You arrive in Vancouver after travelling overnight through British Columbia's Fraser Valley.

Included

Hotel accommodation
Sleeper train experience in a private cabin
Meals onboard the train
Choice of unique guided activities
Transportation to and from airports, timed with your flights
Train station transfers
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, an overnight VIA Rail sleeper cabin from Jasper to Vancouver is included, with meals onboard.
Is it escorted or independent?: It's independent travel with no fixed group schedule; local experts plan the trip and offer a choice of guided activities each day.
Which train do I take?: VIA Rail's The Canadian, in Sleeper Plus class, from Jasper to Vancouver.
What hotels are used?: Named hotels include the Banff Caribou Lodge, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and the Azur Legacy Collection Hotel or Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver, with the standard varying by tier.
How much walking is involved?: Options include an e-bike tour of Banff and scenic drives; no hikes are described in the itinerary.
What's not included in the base price?: A helicopter add-on to the Icefields tour, an upgrade to Prestige Class, and extensions such as Victoria, BC or the Northern Lights are called out as extra.