Amtrak Vacations
Classic Canada and Canadian Rockies with Seattle in Winter Westbound
Winter cross-Canada rail journey from Toronto to Seattle via Jasper
11 daysfrom $3,079
64% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Classic Canada and Canadian Rockies with Seattle in Winter Eastbound
Winter cross-Canada rail journey from Seattle to Toronto via Jasper
Amtrak Vacations runs this 11-day independent rail vacation eastbound from Seattle to Toronto in winter, with stops in Vancouver and Jasper. Amtrak's Cascades carries travelers from Seattle to Vancouver, followed by 4 nights onboard VIA Rail's The Canadian across two legs, first to Jasper and then on to Toronto. Three nights in Jasper include a Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour looking for elk, deer, sheep, coyotes, and moose, and a Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour to the bottom of the canyon to see frozen waterfalls and ice caves. Admission is included to the Seattle Space Needle, Fly Over Canada in Vancouver, and Toronto's CN Tower. Hotels are chosen from 24 options across the four cities, so the exact property depends on the tier selected. The trip suits independent travelers who want a guided taste of winter in the Canadian Rockies bookended by long-distance train travel and self-paced time in three major cities.
What to know before you look closer
- The package offers 24 hotel options across price tiers in Seattle, Vancouver, Jasper, and Toronto; which specific hotel you get depends on the tier chosen at booking.
- Meals are not listed among the package inclusions except for those served onboard VIA Rail on the Jasper-to-Toronto leg; food in Seattle, Vancouver, Jasper, and Toronto is on your own.
- The rail segments are booked in standard Coach (Cascades) and Economy (VIA Rail) class; upgrading to a sleeping accommodation onboard the train is a separate optional extra.
- No current departure dates are listed in this package's details; confirm exact winter travel dates with Amtrak Vacations.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Seattle
Your Journey Begins in Seattle
Welcome to the great city of Seattle! Upon arrival, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay and begin discovering the 'Emerald City.' Check out the iconic Space Needle for 360-degree views of the entire city, picturesque Elliott Bay and the snow-capped Mt. Rainier in the distance. Explore other not to be missed attractions, including the Seattle Aquarium, Pike Place Market, the Great Wheel and much more.
- Day 2railovernight: Vancouver
Seattle to Vancouver
Board Amtrak's Cascades train this morning for the scenic and relaxing four-hour journey to Vancouver. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay. Be sure to visit Canada Place today, where you'll have admission to Fly Over Canada, an ultimate flying sensation experience of Canada's beautiful vistas. In the evening, make your way to lively, historic Gastown, with its unique mix of indie art galleries, shops, and excellent bars and restaurants.
- Day 3railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail
Overnight Onboard Via Rail
The day is yours today to explore Vancouver at your leisure before your train journey across Canada begins this evening.
- Day 4railovernight: Jasper
Jasper, AB
Welcome to Jasper, a serene town located high in the magnificent Canadian Rockies! Your train will arrive this afternoon, and you will travel on your own to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to start getting to know Jasper. Take the afternoon to explore the local restaurants and shops in the quaint downtown area.
- Day 5overnight: Jasper
Jasper, AB
Today, a Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour of Jasper National park is included. Your knowledgeable guide will seek out all of the park's most iconic wildlife - you may see elk, deer, sheep, coyotes, and moose and more! You'll also learn about the history, geology, and ecology of the area.
- Day 6overnight: Jasper
Jasper, AB
Enjoy a truly unique experience today with your Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour. You'll be taken to the bottom of Maligne Canyon, the deepest accessible canyon in Jasper National Park, where you will observe frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and incredible ice formations.
- Day 7railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail
Overnight Onboard VIA Rail
Board the train for your journey to Toronto. Once onboard, enjoy delicious meals, comfortable accommodations and epic panoramic views out your window as you glide through the Canadian countryside.
- Day 8railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail
Overnight Onboard VIA Rail
Continue your journey towards Toronto on VIA Rail, traveling out of the Canadian Rockies and through the beautiful prairies of Ontario.
- Day 9railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail
Overnight Onboard Via Rail
- Day 10overnight: Toronto
Toronto, ON
Arrive in Toronto and check in at your hotel for an overnight stay. Enjoy discovering the sights of this dynamic city today, and be sure to ride the glass elevators to the top of the CN Tower, Toronto's signature icon of the skyline, for a memorable bird's eye view.
- Day 11
Your Journey Ends in Toronto
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2Amtrak's Cascades train carries the trip from Seattle to Vancouver on a scenic four-hour ride.
- Day 5A Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour in Jasper National Park looks for elk, deer, sheep, coyotes, and moose with a guide who explains the park's history, geology, and ecology.
- Day 6The Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour takes travelers to the bottom of Maligne Canyon, the deepest accessible canyon in Jasper National Park, to see frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and ice formations.
- Day 7VIA Rail's The Canadian departs for Toronto, with meals, comfortable accommodations, and panoramic views included onboard overnight.
- Day 10Arrival in Toronto includes a ride up the CN Tower's glass elevators for a view of the city skyline.
Included
- 6 nights' hotel accommodations; 4 nights' onboard VIA Rail®
- One-way Amtrak in Coach accommodations on the Cascades® from Seattle to Vancouver
- One-way VIA Rail in Economy accommodations from Vancouver to Jasper; Jasper to Toronto
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak Coach class travel on the Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver, plus one-way VIA Rail Economy class travel on The Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper and Jasper to Toronto, including 4 nights onboard.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- It is an independent rail vacation with guided tours included in Jasper (Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour, Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour) and free time to explore Seattle, Vancouver, and Toronto on your own.
- Which trains are used?
- Amtrak's Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver, then VIA Rail's The Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper and on to Toronto.
- What hotels are used?
- The package offers 24 accommodation options across Seattle, Vancouver, Jasper, and Toronto, with sample choices including the Fairmont Pacific Rim and Hampton Inn & Suites.
- When does this trip run?
- This is the winter edition of the itinerary, timed around Jasper's Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour and Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour.
- What is not included?
- Meals are not listed as included except those served onboard VIA Rail between Jasper and Toronto.
