Ultimate Canada and Rockies Eastbound

What to know before you look closer

• The 24 accommodation options span different tiers and cities, from the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton to the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, so which hotel you get depends on what is booked.
• The included list counts 2 lunches, though the itinerary separately describes a lunch onboard the train, a hot buffet lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre, and a meal overlooking Niagara Falls; confirm exactly which meals are covered with Amtrak Vacations.
• This is an independent rail vacation: on day 4 you transfer to your Jasper hotel on your own, and free time in Banff on day 7 has no guide described.
• The evidence does not list specific departure dates; confirm current availability and pricing with Amtrak Vacations.

The moments this trip is built around

• Day 3VIA Rail's Canadian train departs Vancouver in the early afternoon for Jasper, with a sparkling wine send-off in a domed observation car and views of the Fraser Canyon.
• Day 5A 5.5 hour tour of Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, visits Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.
• Day 6The drive from Jasper to Banff follows the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield, with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier and a walk on the Glacier Skywalk.
• Day 11A hop-on, hop-off tour of Toronto stops at the Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma and the Hockey Hall of Fame, with included admission to the CN Tower.
• Day 12A full day tour to Niagara Falls includes a meal overlooking the falls, a ride on the Hornblower boat, and a winery tour and tasting near Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

• Railbookersfrom $2,899

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?

Yes. Amtrak Vacations includes one-way VIA Rail Economy travel on the Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper and from Jasper to Toronto, with 4 nights aboard the train.

Is this trip escorted or independent?

It's billed as an independent rail vacation: you transfer to your Jasper hotel on your own and have free time in Banff, though guided tours and admissions are included in Vancouver, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper, Toronto and Niagara Falls.

Which trains are used?

VIA Rail's Canadian, in Economy class, running from Vancouver to Jasper and Jasper to Toronto, with domed observation cars.

What hotels are used?

The package offers a choice from 24 hotel options across the cities, including the Fairmont Pacific Rim or Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in Vancouver, and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Forest Park Hotel in Jasper.

What is not included?

The evidence lists 8 hotel nights, rail travel, a Jasper-Banff shared transfer and 2 lunches as included; other meals are on your own.

How much walking is involved?

The trip includes hop-on, hop-off tours in Vancouver and Toronto, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, the Jasper Skytram, and the Glacier Skywalk near the Athabasca Glacier; no hiking or high-altitude activity is described.