Canada Rail (canadarail.ca) · Independent tour

Rockies Winter Wonderland

8-day winter rail circuit from Vancouver to Calgary on The Canadian

Rockies Winter Wonderland, a rail journey with Canada Rail (canadarail.ca)

Canada Rail Vacations operates this 8-day, 7-night independent rail vacation from Vancouver to Calgary through the Canadian Rockies in winter. After a night in Vancouver, travelers board VIA Rail's 'The Canadian' in the afternoon for an overnight journey to Jasper in a private sleeper cabin, with dinner and breakfast served onboard as the train passes the Fraser Valley and Hell's Gate. Two nights in Jasper include a guided icewalk tour into the Maligne Valley, exploring frozen waterfalls and ice caves in the deepest accessible canyon in the park, with free time to ski, skate, or snowshoe. A scenic transfer along the Icefields Parkway leads to a night at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, then on to two nights in Banff with a guided gondola tour up Sulphur Mountain, before the trip ends with a transfer to Calgary. This suits couples or travelers who want a slower-paced winter introduction to the Rockies, with an overnight sleeper journey as the centerpiece.

What to know before you look closer

  • The base package uses Popular Hotels (3-star), with a Superior Hotel upgrade in Lake Louise included; Superior, Deluxe, and Prestige Class Train upgrades cost more.
  • Outside the onboard dinner and breakfast on the train, meals are on your own; gratuities for hotel and transfer staff are also excluded.
  • Ice skating, skiing, and snowshoeing during free time in Jasper and Lake Louise are optional activities and not included in the price.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver Arrival

    Vancouver has a temperate climate that doesn't generally get as cold as other Canadian cities. It is a lively and diverse city with no shortage of attractions to explore including Stanley Park, Granville Island or the Vancouver Art Gallery. Spend tonight in your downtown Vancouver hotel room.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Aboard the train

    Free morning & Board "The Canadian" Winter Train to Jasper

    Depart Vancouver aboard VIA Rail's The Canadian train in the afternoon. Travel through the lush Fraser Valley and along the salmon-rich waters of the Fraser River. Meals will be included on board and you are free to roam about the train as you wish. During the day you'll pass beside river canyons and natural wonders like Hell's Gate. By nightfall you've reached the interior of British Columbia and the sound of the train is rocking you to sleep.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Jasper

    "The Canadian" Winter Train - Arrival in Jasper

    You'll wake up to a Rocky Mountain sunrise and head to the dining car for breakfast. Mount Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies, greets you on your approach to Jasper. The charming little mountain resort town of Jasper is home for the next couple of days and you'll have the afternoon free to ice skate, take in some mountain scenery or go skiing or snowshoeing.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Jasper Maligne Valley & Pleckaitis Canyon Icewalk

    This tour will take you to the deepest accessible canyon in Jasper National Park, where you will explore frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and incredible ice formations. You will learn about Jasper's Maligne Valley, Karst topography, and the mystery of the "disappearing" Medicine Lake.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lake Louise

    Scenic transfer on the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Lake Louise

    Board the motorcoach as you travel southeast down the Icefields Parkway, often hailed as the most beautiful highway in Canada. You'll travel through the natural splendor of Jasper and Banff National Parks as glaciated peaks tower breathtakingly along the roadside. Your guide will stop for a few photo opportunities at Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield and the pristine Bow Lake, before arriving at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for the night.

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Transfer from Lake Louise to Banff

    Awake to the crisp mountain air of Lake Louise and enjoy a hot breakfast at one of the fantastic restaurants that overlook the breathtaking scenery. Take a walk out on to the lake, or perhaps rent some skates and play some Pond Hockey, a time-honoured Canadian tradition. You will be transferred to Banff by motorcoach mid-day.

  7. Day 7overnight: Banff

    Banff Sightseeing Tour including Gondola

    Today you'll be on a 5-hour guided tour through the towering Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade and Norquay Mountains. Learn about the wind-shaped hoodoos and experience Surprise Corner along Tunnel Mountain Drive. Take a gentle gondola ride up to the top of Sulphur Mountain for fantastic views, interpretive boardwalks and photo opportunities.

  8. Day 8rail

    Transfer Banff to Calgary

    Your journey continues with a two hour transfer to Calgary. Thank you for traveling with Canada Rail Vacations!

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Departure aboard VIA Rail's 'The Canadian' winter train from Vancouver, with dinner served onboard and an overnight in a private sleeper cabin.
  • Day 3Arrival in Jasper aboard the train, with Mount Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies, visible on approach.
  • Day 4A guided icewalk tour into Jasper's Maligne Valley, exploring frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and ice formations in the deepest accessible canyon in the park.
  • Day 5A scenic transfer along the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Lake Louise, with photo stops at Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield, and Bow Lake.
  • Day 7A guided tour through the Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade, and Norquay Mountains, including a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain.

Included

  • 6 nights hotel accommodation
  • VIA Rail from Vancouver to Jasper, Sleeper Plus Class
  • 1 night Private Sleeper Cabin accommodation onboard VIA Rail train
  • Dinner and breakfast on board the train
  • Maligne Valley & Pleckaitis Canyon Icewalk Tour
  • Icefields Parkway motorcoach transfer from Jasper to Lake Louise
  • Motorcoach transfer from Lake Louise to Banff
  • Banff tour including Banff Gondola
  • Transfer from Banff to Calgary Airport

Not included

  • Meals, other than onboard the train
  • Gratuities/tip for hotel and transfer staff
  • Optional activities during free time
  • Canadian 5% sales tax

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, an overnight VIA Rail 'The Canadian' journey from Vancouver to Jasper in Sleeper Plus Class, with a private sleeper cabin, is included.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent tour. Vancouver arrival is on your own, and sightseeing in Jasper, along the Icefields Parkway, and in Banff is pre-arranged.
Which train and class are used?
VIA Rail's 'The Canadian,' in Sleeper Plus Class, with a Prestige Class upgrade available.
What hotels are used?
Popular Hotels (3-star) is the base tier, with a Superior Hotel upgrade at Lake Louise's Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise included.
What meals are included?
Dinner and breakfast onboard the train; other meals are on your own.
When does it run?
43 departures in the winter months, January through March and November through December, in both 2026 and 2027.

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