Embarking on a train journey through Canada has become an increasingly popular option for summer vacations. With its unparalleled access to some of Canada's most stunning national parks, cosmopolitan cities, picturesque towns and sprawling landscapes, rail really has become the preferred way to travel for many.
Of course, the shortage of rental cars across Canada adds a little fuel to the fire, but even with self drive and train trip itineraries as an option, many are going back to rail. Whether it's to watch the beautiful scenery roll past your window, enjoy a gourmet meal in the dining car, tuck away for the night in a cozy private sleeper car or a little bit of it all, read on for 7 Canadian train trips to book for an ultimate summer vacation.
Psst, did you know most of our Canadian Rail Vacations include your choice of tours so you can personalize your trip without affecting the overall cost? Start browsing our packages here and watch for 'Freedom of Choice' options listed within the itinerary.
Why You Should Travel with VIA Rail
There are many reasons why you should travel with VIA Rail. As the only train in Canada that covers the width of the country, it offers cozy accommodation, glass-domed viewing cars and gourmet meals created by an actual chef in the onboard kitchen. Just imagine, watching the changing landscapes roll past your window during the day, sitting down to a three-course dinner where your choice of main is rack of lamb, pan-seared scallops or duck (for example) and then climbing into your cozy bunk or double bed and letting the train lull you to sleep. Come morning, hot coffee and breakfast awaits once more in the dining car, and entirely new scenes fill the windows for another day of adventure.
Alpine Canadian Train to the Rockies
Dates: May to October
The Alpine Canadian Train to the Rockies is one of the best Rocky Mountain train trips from Vancouver or Calgary. Stay in the small alpine towns of Banff, Lake Louise & Jasper, witness breathtaking scenery and travel overnight on VIA Rail in your own cozy sleeper cabin. Enjoy an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier between Jasper and Lake Louise, and in Banff select your choice of tours from wildlife viewing to a horseback cowboy cookout. This 6-day train trip is the perfect introduction to the beauty of Canada's Rocky Mountains.
Package Includes:
- Sleeping berth onboard VIA Rail Sleeper Touring service for 1 night
- 1 night accommodation in Jasper
- 1 night accommodation in Lake Louise
- 2 nights accommodation in Banff
- Transfer between rail depot and hotel in Jasper
- Full day tour between Jasper and Lake Louise with picnic lunch included
- Ice Explorer ride on to Athabasca Glacier
- Glacier Skywalk
- Scheduled coach transfer between Lake Louise and Banff hotels
- Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 5 Excursions
- Scheduled coach transfer between Banff hotel and Calgary
- Meals as per itinerary
- National Park fees
Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Rockies
Dates: July
Combine Calgary Stampede with a Canadian Rockies train tour for the ultimate summer vacation in Western Canada. Witness 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth' with its world-class rodeo, concerts and midway, stay in the Rocky Mountain resort towns of Banff, Lake Louise & Jasper and travel by train in a sleeper berth onboard VIA Rail between Vancouver & Jasper. This best selling 10-day Canadian Rockies train itinerary departs either Calgary or Vancouver -- you choose!
Package Includes:
- Sleeping berth onboard VIA Rail Sleeper Touring service for 1 night
- 2 nights accommodation in Jasper
- 1 night accommodation in Lake Louise
- 2 nights accommodation in Banff
- 3 nights accommodation in Calgary
- Transfer between rail depot and hotel in Jasper
- Jasper | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 5 Excursions
- Full day tour between Jasper and Lake Louise with picnic lunch included
- Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier + Glacier Skywalk
- Scheduled transfer between Lake Louise and Banff
- Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 5 Excursions
- Scheduled coach transfer between Banff and Calgary
- 2 days admission to Stampede Park
- Reserved seating for the Chuckwagon Races & Grandstand Show
- Reserved Seating for one afternoon’s Rodeo event
- Meals as per itinerary
- National Park fees
Eastern Canada Train Tour of the Capital Cities
Dates: May to October
If Eastern Canada is calling, this 7-day train trip departs from Toronto and includes time on VIA Rail, in vibrant Montreal and the national's capital city of Ottawa. Before wrapping up the tour in the historic heart of French Canada, Quebec City, you'll have a choice of tours like Montreal sightseeing, wandering a food market, embarking on a fabulous country tour and a rendezvous with history Quebec City tour.
Package Includes:
- 2 nights accommodation in Ottawa
- 2 nights accommodation in Montreal
- 2 nights accommodation in Quebec City
- Business Class rail travel Toronto to Ottawa (lunch included)
- Ottawa | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions
- Business Class rail travel Ottawa to Montreal (breakfast included)
- Montreal | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions
- Business rail travel Montreal to Quebec City (lunch included)
- Quebec City | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 5 Excursions
- Meals as per itinerary
Atlantic Maritimes Explorer | Montreal to Halifax
Dates: May to Oct
Go just a little farther east and experience the best of Montreal, Quebec City and Prince Edward Island on our Atlantic Maritimes Explorer tour. Discover Canada as you've never seen it before on a trip with VIA Rail through the Atlantic and Maritime provinces. Witness the dynamic landscapes change from cosmopolitan cities to quirky towns and enjoy your choice of tours in Montreal and Charlottetown. From wandering the local food market on foot to cruising for lobster by boat, each moment is as adventurous as the next.
Package Includes:
- 2 nights accommodation in Montreal
- 2 nights accommodation in Charlottetown
- 2 nights accommodation in Halifax
- VIA Rail onboard accommodation for 1 night between Montreal and Charlottetown
- Full Day Quebec City & Montmorency Falls tour
- Montreal | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions
- Full Day Quebec City & Montmorency Falls tour
- Private Van Transfer between Moncton & Charlottetown
- Island Drive & Anne of Green Gables Tour
- Charlottetown | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 2 Excursions
- Private transfer between Charlottetown & Halifax
- Halifax | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions
- Lunenburg Express Tour with Lobster Lunch
- Meals as per itinerary
- National Park fees
Canadian Train Trips Across Canada | Vancouver to Toronto
Dates: May to October
Sometimes you really just want to see and do it all, and that's when you should book a train trip across Canada. On this curated train trip, you'll experience GoldLeaf Service on Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff, then select your favorite Freedom of Choice tours in the Rockies before continuing on VIA Rail to Toronto. Highlights include an Ice Explorer ride on the Athabasca Glacier and sightseeing from the Banff Gondola, Grizzly bear viewing or a cowboy cookout BBQ dinner by horseback.
Package Includes:
- Rocky Mountaineer Train between Vancouver and Banff
- VIA Rail onboard accommodation for 3 nights between Jasper & Toronto
- 1 night accommodation in Kamloops provided by Rocky Mountaineer
- 2 nights accommodation in Banff
- 1 night accommodation in Lake Louise
- 1 night accommodation in Jasper
- Transfer between rail depot and hotel in Banff & Jasper
- Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 5 Excursions
- Coach transfer between Banff & Lake Louise
- Full day tour between Jasper and Lake Louise with picnic lunch included
- Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier
- Glacier Skywalk
- Meals as per itinerary
- National Park fees
Trans Canada Rail Adventure | Vancouver to Halifax
Dates: May to Oct
To cover even more of the country, take a trans Canada train trip from Vancouver to Halifax with visits to the Rockies, Niagara Falls and Toronto! Traveling through Western Canada with Rocky Mountaineer you'll experience beautiful Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff, then switch to VIA Rail for the journey across Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. In Banff, Montreal and Halifax you'll have a chance to make the train trip your own, with Freedom of Choice tours like Grizzly bear viewing, city walking tours and sightseeing storied lighthouses.
Package Includes:
- Rocky Mountaineer Train between Vancouver and Banff
- VIA Rail accommodation for 3 nights between Jasper and Toronto
- VIA Rail accommodation for 1 night between Montreal and Halifax
- 1 night accommodation in Kamloops provided by Rocky Mountaineer
- 2 nights accommodation in Banff
- 1 night accommodation in Lake Louise
- 1 night accommodation in Jasper
- 2 nights accommodation in Toronto
- 3 nights accommodation in Montreal
- 2 nights accommodation in Halifax
- Transfer between rail depot and hotel in Banff & Jasper
- Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 5 Excursions
- Coach transfer between Banff & Lake Louise
- Full day tour between Jasper and Lake Louise with picnic lunch included
- Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier
- Glacier Skywalk
- Niagara Falls & Niagara on the Lake Tour
- Business class rail travel Toronto to Montreal (lunch included)
- Montreal | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions
- Full Day Quebec City & Montmorency Falls tour
- Halifax | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions
- Meals as per itinerary
- National Park fees
Feeling inspired? Chat with one of our Travel Designers to create a custom trip that's just for you, or visit our Canada Rail Trips Idea page for summer trip ideas and Canadian Rockies Rail Tours for best selling Canadian train trips. Prefer to simply stay in touch? Subscribe to our newsletter for up-to-date deals, trip ideas and more!