3 Best Canada Rail Vacations for 2026

Last updated: December 19, 2025

2026 is the year to cross countries, traverse mountain ranges, and see the sea, all by rail.

If you’re looking for the perfect Canada vacation for 2026 then look no further. This officially begins our new tradition: a yearly curated list of rail vacations for the year to come.

Whether this is your first time taking a train trip, or you’ve been riding the rails for just as long as we have, we’ll help partner you with your perfect adventure.

If you’re just looking for the destinations we recommend, we cover that here.

Instead, we have selected our favorite journeys and experiences for 2026.

Looking to visit Alaska? See our partner brand Alaska Rail Vacations’ list of top train tours in Alaska for 2026

Top Train Trips for 2026 Summary

If you’re short on time, here are our 3 recommendations for your 2026 Canada rail vacation:

A 2026-exclusive Rocky Mountaineer journey
A trans-Canada train tour
A winter train through the Rockies

Now, let's get into the details and discover where 2026 may take you.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Passage to Peaks Circle Tour with Rocky Mountaineer

Perhaps soccer isn’t your thing, and you’re looking to avoid the added bustle in Vancouver in June.

For this year only, we designed a 2026-exclusive journey that combines the best views of Rocky Mountaineer’s routes with our personal-favorite season to travel in the Rockies. And, it bypasses Vancouver entirely.

Passage to Peaks the 2026-exclusive Rocky Mountaineer route traveling between Banff and Jasper — something not possible on any other train route in Canada. You’ll enjoy two full days onboard Rocky Mountaineer, both in the very best of the Canadian Rockies.

We extended this trip with tours and excursions in both Banff and Jasper, as well as a day-trip to Lake Louise.

The Passage to Peaks route is available for an extremely limited time: from early June to early July, and for 2026 only.

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Passage to Peaks Circle Tour with Rocky Mountaineer

Our 2026-exclusive Rocky Mountaineer journey.

Credit: VIA Rail

Canadian Trails Rail Vacation Across Canada - Toronto to Vancouver

Slow travel continues to be the perfect antidote to the ever-increasing pace of life. This vacation invites you to explore it with a trip into the golden age of rail travel.

You begin with a 5-day sleeper train across Canada onboard VIA Rail’s Canadian train.

Once you reach the Canadian Rockies, you’ll tour the mountains on an interconnecting series of excursions and transfers, exploring them from peak to valley.

Your trip will end with utter indulgence: Rocky Mountaineer’s two-day journey from Banff to Vancouver.

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Canadian Trails Rail Vacation Across Canada - Toronto to Vancouver

Venture across Canada by train.

Credit: VIA Rail

Luxury Winter Rail Vacation to the Canadian Rockies

What better way to make the most of Canada’s spectacular winter season than by seeing it from the window of your private cabin onboard a vintage sleeper train?

One of our favorite things about VIA Rail’s Canadian train — other than its jaw-dropping views, retro-futuristic, glass-domed viewing cars, and indulgent onboard dining — is the fact that it runs year-round. That means that, come wintertime, you can treat yourself to frost-filled valley views far beyond snowy roads from the comfort of your own private rail cabin.

After spending one night onboard the ‘snow train,’ you’ll arrive in the Canadian Rockies, where four days of excursions into the winter landscapes await. And, as you travel from picturesque mountain town to lakeside chateau, you’ll enjoy private tours and transfers at every step.

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