Ultimate Canada and Rockies Westbound

What to know before you look closer

• The operator's own itinerary numbering skips day 5 entirely, jumping from day 4 to day 6; the included list confirms 4 nights onboard VIA Rail in total, one more than the 3 days explicitly labeled 'Overnight Onboard VIA Rail' in the available itinerary text.
• The 24 accommodation options span different tiers and cities, from the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre to the Fairmont Royal York, so which hotel you get depends on what is booked.
• The included list counts 2 lunches, though the itinerary separately describes a meal overlooking Niagara Falls and a hot buffet lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre; confirm exactly which meals are covered with Amtrak Vacations.
• This is an independent rail vacation: on day 6 you travel to your Jasper hotel on your own when the train arrives, and free time in Banff on day 9 has no guide described.

The moments this trip is built around

• Day 2A day trip to Niagara Falls includes a meal overlooking the falls, a boat ride, and a winery tour and tasting, with free time to explore Niagara Falls on your own.
• Day 7A tour of Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, visits Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.
• Day 8The drive from Jasper to Banff follows the Icefields Parkway past the Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier and Lake Louise, with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier.
• Day 10Boarding the train west from Jasper to Vancouver, travelers pass Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
• Day 12A guided city tour of Vancouver includes admission to the Vancouver Lookout for 360-degree views, with an afternoon option to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

Also sold by

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

• Railbookersfrom $2,599

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?

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

Is this trip escorted or independent?

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

Which trains are used?

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

What hotels are used?

The package offers a choice from 24 hotel options across the cities, including the Fairmont Royal York or Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre in Toronto, 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 Toronto and Vancouver, the Glacier Skywalk near the Athabasca Glacier, the Vancouver Lookout and the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park; no hiking or high-altitude activity is described.