Is train travel included?

No, not by default. The trip is primarily a coach tour; the only train option is a half-day VIA Rail Skeena excursion from Jasper to McBride, offered as an add-on to Day 3.

Is it escorted or independent?

Independent travel with no fixed group schedule. Local experts from Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) plan and coordinate the trip, with a choice of small-group sightseeing tours.

What hotels are included?

At Comfort Level, hotels include the Elk + Avenue Hotel or Moose Hotel and Suites in Banff and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, with a higher standard at the Superior and Deluxe levels.

The trip is framed as a winter itinerary of snow-capped mountains, ice walks, and dog sledding; the evidence pack does not list specific departure dates.

What is not included?

Meals are not listed as included. Optional activities such as dog sledding, ice walks, the Winter Heli Safari, and the VIA Rail Skeena excursion cost extra.

How much walking is involved?

The base itinerary is coach transfers and time in mountain towns; optional activities like snowshoe tours and ice walks add more exertion for those who choose them.

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

Canadian Rockies Winter Discovery

Independent winter coach tour of Banff and Jasper with a train excursion

Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) runs this 8-day independent winter vacation through the Canadian Rockies, starting in Edmonton and ending in Calgary. There is no fixed group schedule; local experts plan the route and hotels, and travelers choose from small-group sightseeing tours along the way. Despite its place among rail vacations, this trip runs mostly by coach: a minicoach carries travelers from Edmonton to Jasper past dramatic winter mountain vistas, then back along the Icefields Parkway to Banff. Two nights in Jasper and three in Banff leave time for optional winter activities such as dog sledding, ice walks, snowshoe tours, and a half-day VIA Rail Skeena excursion from Jasper to McBride. The trip suits travelers who want a planned winter base in the Rockies with the freedom to choose their own daily activities, rather than a rail journey in the strict sense, since train travel here is an optional extra, not a core part of the route.

What to know before you look closer

This is primarily a coach tour, not a train journey. The only train component is an optional half-day excursion on Day 3, the Jasper Train and Sightseeing Tour on VIA Rail's Skeena from Jasper to McBride, and it is not included in the base price.
Most named winter activities, such as dog sledding, ice walks, snowshoe tours, and the Winter Heli Safari, are optional add-ons rather than included in the base package.
Hotel standard and transfer style depend on the comfort tier chosen. Comfort Level uses scheduled bus transfers and 3 to 3.5 star hotels, while Deluxe Level uses private driver transfers and 5-star hotels.
The evidence pack does not list current departure dates; confirm availability and exact pricing with the operator before booking.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Edmonton
Begin your Canadian vacation in Edmonton
Arrive in Edmonton, your gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies, and begin your winter adventure.
Day 2overnight: Jasper
Edmonton to Jasper National Park
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Edmonton before heading west by minicoach. Sit back and admire dramatic mountain vistas as you approach Jasper and the edge of the Rockies.
Day 3railovernight: Jasper
Discover Jasper
Jasper is a great base for exploring Jasper National Park, the largest park in the Canadian Rockies. Options: Jasper Train and Sightseeing Tour, Icewalk Tour, Morning Discovery Tour of Jasper, Winter Wonderland Snowshoe Tour.
Day 4overnight: Banff
Jasper to Banff
Travel back along the Icefields Parkway this morning to Banff National Park by minicoach. Suggested upgrade: Winter Heli Safari (extra cost).
Day 5overnight: Banff
Explore Banff National Park
Banff is the liveliest of the mountain towns on your Canadian holiday. Options: Dog Sledding Tour, Jeep Sightseeing and Wildlife Tour with Afternoon Tea, Banff Sightseeing Tour and Gondola Ride.
Day 6overnight: Banff
Explore Banff National Park
Fill your lungs with cool, fresh Rocky Mountain air and head out for another day of exploration. Options: Lake Louise and Yoho Sightseeing Tour, Paint Pots Snowshoe Tour, Banff Icewalk (daytime or nighttime).
Day 7overnight: Calgary
Banff to Calgary
Travel back through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to Calgary this morning by motorcoach. Options: Calgary Tower Admission, Studio Bell Admission.
Day 8
Depart from Calgary
Say goodbye to the snowy Canadian Rockies as you depart from Calgary.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The drive from Edmonton to Jasper by minicoach passes dramatic mountain vistas as the road nears the Rockies.
Day 3In Jasper, optional excursions include an Icewalk Tour and the Jasper Train and Sightseeing Tour on VIA Rail's Skeena.
Day 4The return along the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff, with an optional Winter Heli Safari upgrade.
Day 5Banff offers optional winter activities such as a Dog Sledding Tour or a Jeep Sightseeing and Wildlife Tour with afternoon tea.
Day 6A second day in Banff with optional excursions to Lake Louise and Yoho National Park, or a Paint Pots Snowshoe Tour.

Included

Hotel accommodation
Choice of unique guided activities
Transportation to and from airports, timed with your flights
Electronic travel documentation package
Personalized Fresh Tracks Canada customer service support

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?: No, not by default. The trip is primarily a coach tour; the only train option is a half-day VIA Rail Skeena excursion from Jasper to McBride, offered as an add-on to Day 3.
Is it escorted or independent?: Independent travel with no fixed group schedule. Local experts from Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) plan and coordinate the trip, with a choice of small-group sightseeing tours.
What hotels are included?: At Comfort Level, hotels include the Elk + Avenue Hotel or Moose Hotel and Suites in Banff and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, with a higher standard at the Superior and Deluxe levels.
When does it run?: The trip is framed as a winter itinerary of snow-capped mountains, ice walks, and dog sledding; the evidence pack does not list specific departure dates.
What is not included?: Meals are not listed as included. Optional activities such as dog sledding, ice walks, the Winter Heli Safari, and the VIA Rail Skeena excursion cost extra.
How much walking is involved?: The base itinerary is coach transfers and time in mountain towns; optional activities like snowshoe tours and ice walks add more exertion for those who choose them.