Canada Rail (canadarail.ca) · Independent tour

Train Lover's Dream: Circle Tour

Nine-day Vancouver rail loop pairing VIA Rail with the Rocky Mountaineer

Train Lover's Dream: Circle Tour, a rail journey with Canada Rail (canadarail.ca)

Canada Rail, at canadarail.ca, runs this 9-day, 8-night independent rail trip in a loop from Vancouver, described by the operator as "a train enthusiast's dream." After a day in Vancouver, travelers board VIA Rail's "The Canadian" in Sleeper Plus Class for an overnight run to Jasper, following the Fraser Valley and the Fraser River. Two nights in Jasper include a tour to Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake, followed by an Icefields Parkway tour to Banff with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, and two nights in Banff with a Gondola sightseeing tour. The trip closes with two full days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, from Banff back to Vancouver via Kamloops, in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf service. Base pricing uses 3-star hotels, with Superior and Deluxe upgrades and a Prestige Class upgrade on the VIA Rail leg available. This suits travelers who want to experience both of Canada's signature named trains in one trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • The base price uses "Popular Hotels (3-Stars)" with SilverLeaf Rocky Mountaineer service; Superior and Deluxe hotel upgrades, a GoldLeaf Rocky Mountaineer upgrade, and a Prestige Class upgrade on the VIA Rail leg are available at extra cost.
  • Transportation to and from the Vancouver airport, rail station transfers between the Jasper and Vancouver VIA Rail stations and their hotels, and meals other than those served on board the trains are not included.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver Arrival

    Coastal mountains and urban beaches greet you as you arrive in Canada's third-largest city. Vancouver is a lively and diverse city with no shortage of attractions to explore including Stanley Park, Granville Island or the Vancouver Art Gallery.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Aboard the train

    Vancouver Sightseeing and VIA Rail The Canadian Train Departure

    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. 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

    VIA Rail The Canadian Train to 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 welcoming mountain town of Jasper will be your home for the next couple of days.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Jasper Sightseeing Tour including Maligne Lake

    Today you'll embark on a 5-hour tour of one of the most beautiful areas in Jasper. First stop, Maligne Canyon, where 10,000 years of erosion have created the deepest canyon in the Rockies. After that, it's over to the disappearing Medicine Lake, followed by the fairy tale-like Maligne Lake.

  5. Day 5overnight: Banff

    Sightseeing Tour from Jasper to Banff including Columbia Icefield Excursion

    Today you're riding along the most beautiful highway in Canada, the Icefields Parkway. Highlights include stops at the powerful Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. Arrive at the Athabasca Glacier and climb aboard the Ice Explorer, a specialized bus that travels directly onto the glacier.

  6. Day 6overnight: 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.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Banff to Kamloops

    Toast to your first day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer! You'll pass by the snow-peaked mountains and crystal-clear waters that our country is famous for. Highlights include the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon and Rodgers Pass.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Vancouver

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Kamloops to Vancouver

    You're on your way back to the coast today. Dine on locally-sourced, gourmet meals as you wind through the changing scenery and step out on the open air vestibule to take in that fresh mountain air. When you add a second night in Vancouver to your vacation package, you will receive a complimentary Vancouver city tour through Canada Rail Vacations!

  9. Day 9rail

    Vancouver Departure

    Your vacation with us is complete upon checking out of your hotel room. With four days aboard two different trains, we really hope it was a train lover's dream. Thank you for travelling with Canada Rail Vacations!

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2VIA Rail's "The Canadian" departs Vancouver in the afternoon, following the Fraser Valley and the Fraser River into the British Columbia interior overnight.
  • Day 4A 5-hour tour from Jasper visits Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in the Rockies, the disappearing Medicine Lake, and Maligne Lake.
  • Day 5The Icefields Parkway tour from Jasper to Banff includes a ride aboard the Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier.
  • Day 7The Rocky Mountaineer's first day out of Banff passes the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, and Rogers Pass on the way to Kamloops.

Included

  • 2-day Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • 1 night sleeping car accommodation onboard VIA Rail train, Sleeper Plus Class
  • 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner on board the trains
  • 8 nights hotel accommodation
  • Jasper sightseeing tour to Maligne Lake
  • Icefields Parkway Tour, including Ice Explorer (scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Explore Banff tour including Gondola
  • Complimentary Vancouver tour when an additional night in Vancouver is added
  • Rail station transfers Vancouver, Kamloops, and Banff
  • Gratuities/tip for Rocky Mountaineer train staff

Not included

  • Transportation to/from Vancouver airport (available, please ask for details)
  • Rail station transfers between Jasper VIA Rail station and Jasper hotel
  • Rail station transfers between Vancouver VIA Rail station and Vancouver hotel
  • Meals, other than onboard trains
  • Gratuities/tip for hotel, VIA Rail and transfer staff
  • Canadian 5% sales tax

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. One night aboard VIA Rail's "The Canadian" in Sleeper Plus Class from Vancouver to Jasper, and two full days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service from Banff to Vancouver via Kamloops.
Is it escorted or independent?
It is an independent tour, with sightseeing tours to Maligne Lake, the Icefields Parkway, and the Banff Gondola included along the way.
Which trains are used?
VIA Rail's "The Canadian" and the Rocky Mountaineer.
What hotels are included?
Eight nights of hotel accommodation, at "Popular Hotels (3-Stars)" in the base tier; Superior and Deluxe hotel upgrades are available.
What is not included?
Transportation to and from the Vancouver airport, rail station transfers between the Jasper and Vancouver VIA Rail stations and their hotels, and meals other than those served on board the trains.
When does it run?
The operator lists 49 departures, running from April through October.

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