Canadian Rail Holidays

Luxury rail tours by Rocky Mountaineer

If you're thinking of Canada train tours, the first journey that will spring to mind is undoubtedly the Rocky Mountaineer, with its diverse landscapes and luxury. From your fanfare welcome to chef-prepared meals, you'll be treated to a VIP experience from start to finish. Rocky Mountaineer only travels in daylight, so you'll spend the nights at one of our handpicked hotels in Canada, with your luggage waiting for you. The onboard hosts are so welcoming and will be the highlight of your tour, with fun facts, storytelling, and wildlife spotting. You'll constantly have a drink in your hand and a smile on your face!

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Rocky Mountaineer routes

Rocky Mountaineer is one of the most famous trains in the world, and there are two spectacular routes in Canada you can go on. The First Passage to the West is a historic route that travels between Vancouver and Banff or Lake Louise, stopping at Kamloops in British Columbia’s interior. Journey through the Clouds links Vancouver and Jasper and has an overnight stop also at Kamloops. Both routes offer breathtaking scenery which you can enjoy from the viewing platforms on the train or in the glass-domed carriages. The train operates in both directions, and you can add extra days at the end or ahead of your rail journey. Depending on the length of your holiday in Canada and the places you would like to explore further, you can spend extra days at Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper or Vancouver.

Service levels onboard Rocky Mountaineer

There are two luxurious service levels to choose from on Rocky Mountaineer. SilverLeaf Service boasts tall picture windows and chef-prepared meals delivered to your seat. GoldLeaf Service is extra special, with a 360° domed glass carriage, à la carte meals in the separate dining carriage and an outdoor viewing platform. If you are looking for luxurious Canadian train holidays, booking a trip with Rocky Mountaineer's GoldLeaf Service means you can enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks, from local wines to freshly baked muffins. You can even be upgraded to GoldLeaf Deluxe service for the most luxurious accommodation.

Train holidays by VIA Rail

VIA Rail is Canada's national provider, with routes crisscrossing the whole country. For anyone looking for more affordable Canadian train journeys, VIA Rail is a great option, as it is a convenient way to city-hop along the East Coast or a more budget-friendly way to travel by train through the Canadian Rockies. The experience on board offers comfortable seats and café areas but varies depending on your route. Some routes offer reclining sleeper chairs. Some have two or four bunk cabins. Some even boast Prestige Class, with double cabins with en-suite bathrooms, dining facilities and a glass-domed viewing car.

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VIA Rail routes

The Canadian is one of the most famous rail journeys in the country as the famous 4-night train crosses Canada from Toronto to Vancouver. In the East, VIA links the major cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City. The Ocean route through the Maritimes heads all the way to Halifax in Nova Scotia, through New Brunswick, and is one of the most famous Canadian rail journeys you can enjoy. VIA's Adventure Routes link Winnipeg with Churchill and Jasper with Prince Rupert, as well as heading off the beaten track to adventure destinations in Québec province.

Service levels onboard VIA Rail trains

Service levels vary depending on your route. Economy sleeper services offer a comfortable reclining seat, while Sleeper Plus provides a bunk in a two-bed cabin with shared shower facilities and access to the scenic glass dome car. On The Canadian train trip, Prestige Class is a cut above the rest, with double en-suite cabins, concierge and à la carte dining. They even have private lounge cars for a comfortable space to relax.

The Rocky Mountains by train

Whilst there are lots of Canada rail holidays to choose from, the Rocky Mountains should be the first one on your bucket list. The Rocky Mountaineer is best known for its routes through the Rockies and is not only considered one of the best train rides in North America but in the whole world. Its destinations include coastal Vancouver, Kamloops in the BC Interior and the mountain towns of Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise. The daylight service means you won’t miss any views, and you’ll be able to explore more of each destination on your overnight stopover. You can add extra nights before or after your train ride and explore at your own pace one or more of the great national parks in the Canadian Rockies, including Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks. VIA Rail also travels between Vancouver and Edmonton via Kamloops and Jasper on a sleeper service, providing a great travel experience.

Eastern Canada train destinations

VIA Rail connects more than a dozen towns and cities along Canada's East Coast, and during your holiday, you can go on one of these iconic Canadian train journeys. In Ontario and Québec, the route connects Windsor in Ontario through Toronto, Niagara Falls, Kingston in the Thousand Islands region, and the capital city, Ottawa. As it heads into Québec, it passes Montréal and Québec City, all the way up to the Gaspé Peninsula. In the Maritimes, you can visit Moncton and Halifax in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Trans-Canada train holidays

One of the most iconic rail tours across Canada is VIA Rail's The Canadian. This train journey across Canada links Toronto and Vancouver, taking in a diverse range of destinations along the way, including Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and Kamloops, while showcasing landscapes from the Prairies to the Canadian Rockies. It takes four nights and three days, passing incredibly varied scenery as you begin to understand how vast Canada really is. The Canadian route offers the luxurious Prestige service class as well as Sleeper Plus and Economy.

Remote Routes

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, then there are Canada rail holidays that will cater for you. VIA Rail's Adventure Routes connect some of Canada's more remote wilderness locations. There is no road to Churchill, the Polar Bear Capital of the World, but you can hop on a train service from Winnipeg. From Jasper, there is a route to beautiful Prince Rupert on Kaien Island, near the Alaska border, where you can enjoy incredible bear-viewing opportunities. You can also travel from Montréal to Senneterre and Jonquière, which are full of outdoor activities. These are routes you won't find on any driving tour!

Canadian Rockies train holidays & Alaska cruise

Combine your rail tour through the Rockies with a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska’s Inside Passage. These two very different modes of travel go together like pancakes and maple syrup, offering two distinct flavours of Canada and Alaska that contrast and combine perfectly.

Cruise to Alaska first or enjoy the train ride first, with a seamless connection in Vancouver, there isn’t a better way to visit both destinations on a single trip.

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Eastern Canada by train & cruise

Explore the rich heritage of Ontario and Québec by train and the charm of Atlantic Canada and New England by cruise. From buzzing Toronto to French-speaking Montréal and Québec City, city-hopping onboard Via Rail is easy.

From Québec City embark on a scenic cruise down St. Lawrence River, stopping at Saguenay Fjord on your way to the Atlantic Ocean. Your onward journey will take you past the iconic rugged coastline of Canada’s Maritime provinces, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, before reaching the beautiful New England in the U.S.

You can book your Eastern Canada train and Atlantic Canada cruise holiday in both directions.