There is something incomparable about the city falling away behind you — slowly, at first, as towers of steel morph into low and sprawling farmland before even that peters away — and watching as nature reclaims the land. People have been traveling Canada by train for over a hundred years, slowly picking their way through the mountains and rivers to connect the small communities that call them home. So, as the world speeds up, savor the quiet wonder of the slower way to the mountains, patiently waiting to take you to a world apart.
Train travel in Canada has had a tumultuous history. Following its pre-World War heights, train travel as a form of transit has significantly declined across the country. Now, both the Rockies and trans-Canada rail routes are primarily used by freight trains connecting towns and cities across the vast Canadian landscape.
But, among them, a few passenger trains continue through the mountains, bringing visitors far beyond where roads will go. Dripping in vintage luxury, they invite holidaymakers/vacationers back to the golden age of exploration — when the gentle sway of the carriage accompanied people across countries and slow travel was the only option. As our love of a softer style of travel continues to rise, and we seek respite from the hustle and bustle of the world around us, our nostalgia and love carry us back to the trains.
So, boasting a frankly overwhelming number of awards, including ‘World's Best Train in 2023,’ ‘World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train’ eight times, and earning accolades from National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and Forbes, the ever-luxurious Rocky Mountaineer train might be just what you are looking for.
The Rocky Mountaineer train passing between fjords and cliffs
Rocky Mountaineer Luxury Rail Travel
For the answer to a tranquil trip into the old world, Rocky Mountaineer is it.
Slipping through the wilds by day, and resting in cozy hotels by night, Rocky Mountaineer offers a seamless transition between life-as-you-know-it and the rustic comfort that has come to be associated with train travel.
But here, rustic charm is traded for exquisite luxury.
Cared for by expert hosts, you will be masterfully introduced to your surroundings as they tell stories of the fauna and flora you spot, the sites you pass, and the rich history of rail in Canada, key to connecting remote communities across the country. Across two different service levels (which we will explain in just a moment), you can experience untouched wilderness alongside unmatched service.
The Rocky Mountaineer’s Canadian Routes
Rocky Mountaineer Canadian Train Journeys
Rocky Mountaineer offers three routes through Canada, varying in location and duration, but never in their stunning views.
Three Routes in Canada
All Canadian routes begin (or end, on Westbound journeys) in the coastal city of Vancouver, where visitors can spend a day before their journey exploring the city perched on the edge of forests and seas. From Vancouver, venture onwards, ready to discover the expansive Rocky Mountains.
The vantage point from the SilverLeaf Service car | Passing by elk on the train journey
First Passage to the West
2 days | Vancouver - Kamloops - Banff or Lake Louise
First Passage to the West transports travelers to the heart of old-world train travel. This route passes through the Canadian Rockies on the historic Canadian Pacific Railway tracks, and today is the only passenger train still traveling this stretch. As the route always has, this trip connects Vancouver, British Columbia, to the rest of Canada, traversing the rugged terrain as it does. Across two days on board, watch as the landscape around you shifts and morphs as you enjoy the luxurious onboard service. Start with breakfast accompanied by city views falling away in favor of the Fraser Valley farmland, to a gourmet lunch — followed, of course, by a rich and decadent dessert — accompanied by the Coast Mountains. As evening rolls around and the sky slowly begins to dim, arrive in the arid desert, where you will disembark to spend the night comfortably in the small city Kamloops.
In the morning, board to the smell of fresh coffee and get settled — today, you’re bound for the Rocky Mountains. And, once you reach them, you will switch between planes of dense forest, dappled with blue lakes to narrow valleys, safely slipping between cliffs of rock and over gushing rivers on wooden trestles.
As you arrive in Banff National Park, passing the famous wall of Castle Mountain as you do, step off the train into world-class views, rivaled only by those that have come before, and those that will come after. In Banff, luxury is all around.
Rocky Mountaineer heading towards Mount Robson in the Canadian Rockies
Journey through the Clouds
2 days | Vancouver - Kamloops - Jasper
Your first day on the Journey through the Clouds follows the same route as First Passage to the West, trading city for fields for desert. Again, you will spend the night in Kamloops before plunging into the untouched Canadian forests lying between the peaks. But this time, on your second day, you break away north along the Thompson River to venture into the Clearwater region. Following the river, carry on past Mount Robson — the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies — until you pull into the small mountain town of Jasper in the evening. Although Jasper has had a challenging year, it remains a gem of the Canadian Rockies and a perfect end to Rocky Mountaineer's journey. The town has reopened — complete with its rushing rivers, hiking trails, and local wildlife — and is the ideal place to soak in the ever-welcoming atmosphere and Rockies scenery.
Rainforest to Gold Rush
3 days | Vancouver - Whistler - Quesnel - Jasper
But perhaps you’re looking for a little more time to rest among the onboard luxuries of Rocky Mountaineer and be thoroughly treated. This extended three-day route is the way.
The Rainforest to Gold Rush route is different from the onset, setting off from North Vancouver and taking you up through British Columbia’s coast — fjords on your left and temperate rainforest on your right. The luxurious views are fittingly paired with the Rocky Mountaineer’s luxurious service, with welcoming hosts caring for you from the minute you step on board. After you wind through forests, past inlets, and along the famed Sea-to-Sky corridor, arrive in Whistler in the early afternoon to explore the resort town tucked between mountains. With more time here, you are free to stretch your legs hiking the many trails along mountain ridges or around valley lakes or relax with some well-deserved après-ski — available year-round and regardless of whether you have, in fact, skied. Then, spend the night in the resort's comfortable hotel accommodations in preparation for another day of spectacular views through panoramic windows.
Rocky Mountaineer deep in the forest of Western Canada
After the first of your overnight stops, you will continue to venture north as you roll through the Pemberton Valley, deeper still into British Columbia and its gold-mining past. You follow the once-treacherous trails of the 1860s gold rush; lunches served as you relax in your comfort, passing easily over soaring railway bridges and through deep canyons. Spend the night in Quesnel, a city hidden in the Cariboos region and rich with gold rush history, that once served as the hub for ever-further explorations north in search of fortune.
Although time will pass slower on Rocky Mountaineer, and you wish to spend longer with your fellow passengers, hosts, and the exquisite bites they bring you, your third day onboard this trip is your last.
But entering into the Rockies is the perfect end to your journey.
Before you know it, you are deep within them, weaving between peaks and trees, and catching sight of Mount Robson standing even taller among the rest. As you reach the town of Jasper, feel the welcoming atmosphere of the mountainside community invite you in.
One Route in the United States
Rocky Mountaineer’s newest route takes riders through the lowlands of the American Old West. However, as Canada travel experts, we only sell Rocky Mountaineer in the Canadian Rockies. Naturally, we highly recommend them.
The train passing through the arid American landscape
Rockies to the Red Rocks
2 days | Moab - Denver
Rockies to the Red Rocks makes a striking picture, with startlingly red sands stretching out on every side of the track. The terrain, rugged as ever, rivals that of Mars as plantlife clings to rock, broken only by patches of lush vegetation clinging to canyon riverbanks.
This route continues the tradition of a world-class service backed by world-class views, introducing passengers to an entirely new region — through dripping, as ever, with history and stories, true to the signature Rocky Mountaineer experience.
The Rocky Mountaineer Train
Onboard Rocky Mountaineer, luxury is a given. Your hosts are ceaselessly warm, always with a story to tell, and leave you always with a drink in hand. Carriages are plush, the views spectacular, and the food delectable — and always prepared by a full culinary team. The Rocky Mountaineer service levels depend on the country you are in. In Canada, you choose between GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf Services. On the Rockies to the Red Rock route in America, the options levels are, instead, SilverLeaf and SilverLeaf Plus Services.
The seats in GoldLeaf Service | GoldLeaf Service-exclusive outdoor viewing platform
GoldLeaf Service
GoldLeaf Service is the pinnacle of opulence. Served by four hosts, providing both impeccable service and expert guidance on the region, you ride atop a custom-built bi-level carriage with the iconic panoramic glass-dome windows resting over your head. There are no mountain peaks too high or valleys too low to see. And, with an exclusive outdoor viewing platform reserved for GoldLeaf passengers, you can feel the fresh mountain air whenever you please.
But the service extends far beyond the train itself. GoldLeaf Service is where upscale dining meets train travel. The lower level dining room is fixed with leather seats and linens, fine tableware, and, of course, gourmet meals prepared fresh by a full onboard culinary team on board. Each meal is designed to blend their expertise with the region's ingredients to create a locally inspired dining experience.
A meal onboard in Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf Service dining car
Stay in the best hotels in the town or city each night, and wake refreshed and ready for your return to train travel during daylight hours. It is difficult to think of a better way to explore the Canadian backcountry wilds than the Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf Service. It continues the longstanding history of luxury-on-the-tracks and welcomes you, the guest, to experience the heyday of rail travel.
SilverLeaf Service
SilverLeaf Service doesn’t cut corners when it comes to its refined experience. Your hosts are, of course, friendly and knowledgeable — still ever-ready to provide expert information about the sites you pass, and refreshments whenever desired. And, with the Rocky Mountaineer signature curved glass windows, you can see the landscapes in all their wide-screen glory.
Inside Rocky Mountaineer’s SilverLeaf Service | Delicious fresh-made meals brought directly to your seat
The seat-side service allows you to relax among nature without missing a single thing. And, here, you can enjoy the little luxury of gourmet meals brought straight to you. The food is, as always, inspired by local ingredients and flavors. SilverLeaf Service is committed to comfort, allowing you to rest fully among spectacular views with no worries other than keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife slinking through the trees, and mountains sneaking up on you.
SilverLeaf Plus
SilverLeaf Plus is exclusive to the American Southwest. In addition to the signature SilverLeaf Service, access to an elegant lounge car, premium refreshments, and an outdoor lounge area. As this service is unavailable on Canadian routes, we do not offer it as a part of our packages. However, for visitors looking for an elevated experience, SilverLeaf service welcomes you to unmatched comfort across the American landscapes.
Rocky Mountaineer Tour Packages
Though a spectacular journey alone, Rocky Mountaineer train trips are an excellent way to begin or end a journey through the Rockies. To help you get inspired, here are our three favorite Rocky Mountain train tours centered around Rocky Mountaineer. If you see something you like — or if you want to customize something entirely unique — our travel experts would love to help. Contact a Travel Designer today for more information or to begin planning your trip to Canada.
Driving the stunning Rocky Mountain highways
Canadian Rockies Scenic Delights by Road & Rail
9 Days / 8 Nights | Available May to October
The Canadian Rockies are a call to the wild. Expansive roads lead into the wilderness, dotted with small towns. In enclaves between towns, trailheads — their promise hidden behind an unassuming sign with no more than an arrow into the trees — await the lucky few who know to explore. Lakes bluer than any you’ve seen before are found at the ends of long winding roads, with boats cruising their surface. And, from the mountaintops and the gondolas floating along their sides, you can see it all below.
This tour lets you see it all from the Rockies’ wide highways. As you travel from town to town through the uninhibited forest, you can feel nothing but the serenity that comes with being on the only road for miles around. Wildlife often hover at the side of the road, munching on the lush greens growing in the absence of woodland shadow. The mountains border your view, sweeping down to meet the Icefields Parkway. But, in each stop along the way, take time to experience life among the Rocky Mountains. Hang high in the sky on a gondola between mountains in Whistler, and then venture down to the valley in Jasper to cruise Maligne Lake. Step onto an ancient glacier, living and moving slowly under your feet, in Banff before exploring its rivers on a canoe tour.
With no wrong choices, you can customize your trip exactly to your liking — and, with the tour designed by Canada travel experts, you don’t have to worry about missing anything.
But, at the end of it all, when your adventures have left you wonderfully worn, step onboard the Rocky Mountaineer to welcome you back to the West Coast. Across your two days on the train, sink into leather seats with a drink in hand and watch the road fall away behind you as you journey off into the trees. There is no better way to relax after an adventure than by soaking up the impressive scenes, accompanied by the nostalgic glamour of fine train travel.
A Rocky Mountaineer route through the mountains
Grand Canadian Rockies Train Circle Tour | Rocky Mountaineer
7 Days / 6 Nights | Available April to October
Old-world charm has made its home in the Rockies. From suites in mountain castles to a Rocky Mountaineer journey, continuing on its way, vintage luxury never left the Rocky Mountains.
This tour is grand in both name and nature. From the minute you step on board your first train carriage to your nights in iconic Fairmont stays to, of course, the scenery that surrounds you there, every part of your trip is tailored to a world-class break in the mountains. Onboard Rocky Mountaineer, let your welcoming hosts introduce you to Western Canada, telling tales of its past and present as you pass through. Dine on gourmet meals — prepared fresh onboard from local ingredients — and savor the atmosphere onboard one of the world's most luxurious trains.
Once you reach the Rockies, embark on scenic trips through Banff and Jasper National Parks, choosing to cruise Moraine Lake or see the sights from Banff Gondola as you pass through each. We recommend a tour through the lesser-known Yoho National Park with expert guides — complete with lunch at Emerald Lake's waterfront lodge — to catch a sight of elusive wildlife.
Between trips, enjoy the best luxuries that the region has to offer. Lakefront high tea at the historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a must, as is a trip to the Fairmont Banff Springs’ spa: a modern reimagining of the hot springs that made Banff the destination it is today.
As the circle tour comes to an end, another train ride awaits, this time departing Banff, Vancouver-bound. This peaceful ride home allows you to see the best of the region — relishing in the warm nostalgia for a time just passed and retaining the era's best for its modern participants.
This way of seeing the Rockies — enjoying both a venture into the mountains and a peaceful time there onboard the tracks — is one of our favorites. You are free to step away from the realities of life and live instead among incredible scenery in a lavish retreat.
CMH Bugaboos Lodge, far from the rest of the world
Journey through the Clouds Rail & Heli Adventure | Rocky Mountaineer
8 Days / 7 Nights | Available July to August
To find yourself far beyond where roads go, take a train journey deep into the mountains before a helicopter, deeper still, far from civilization. Here, by rail and air, you will see Western Canada at its absolute best.
Like the other packages here, we invite you into the Rocky Mountains by way of luxury train. Whether looking through the glass-dome windows above or past your three-course lunch in the lower-level dining room, there are far worse ways to begin your vacation.
The Rocky Mountaineer journey, though, is only the start.
After your stay in the Canadian Rockies, two full days exploring the best of Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise, make your way, by helicopter, into the Rocky Mountains' mysterious backcountry.
A Helicopter ride takes guests deep into the mountains to hike
Far from the nearest settlement and accessible only by air or 30 miles of unpaved service road, stands the CMH Bugaboos Lodge. During your stay, helicopter trips transport you from the lodge across the sky to remote peaks and valleys, where you can hike mountains most will never see. Expert guides lead you on expeditions — always suited to your ability and comfort level — to explore the region's immense landscapes. Each day, you will return back to the base lodge for a dip in the hot tub, a trip to the sauna, and chef-prepared meals to end the day in comfort.
From beginning to end, this tour offers high-end service, luxurious details, and an experience of the Rocky Mountains you are unlikely to forget.
Reach Out to Canada Rail Vacations
At Canada Rail Vacations, this is what we love most — pairing soon-to-be travelers with their perfect vacation in Canada. We create our packages with you, the traveler, in mind. But, from there, we work one-on-one with our clients to build a trip that reflects their dream trip, not ours. Canadian Rockies or otherwise, if these train trips inspire you, or you're looking for something a little different, reach out to a Travel Designer to learn more about our bespoke Canadian vacations. Their insider knowledge can help you see the best of Canada, and tick off your must-sees as you do.
If you're still deciding, subscribe to our newsletter to stay in touch. There, we share everything from our favorite packages (and any secret deals) to our best tips on what to do once you arrive.
FAQ's, Tips, and Tricks
How much does it cost to ride the Rocky Mountaineer train?
Depending on the time of year you choose to ride and your route, the Rocky Mountaineer costs between $2,245 and $5,035. This includes all meals onboard the train, luggage handling and transfers, as well as overnight hotel stays between train days. Be sure to ask our team about any current promotions, as this can have an impact on the price.
Do you sleep on the Rocky Mountaineer train?
No, it is a daylight-only train service. You get to enjoy the best of both worlds: a world-class train by day and a comfortable hotel room by night.
What is the best month to go on the Rocky Mountaineer?
Rocky Mountaineer runs for three out of the four seasons. And, as a daytime-only trip, you’re ensured daylight for all of your viewing. For fewer crowds, choose either side of the busy summer months — late May for spring wildflowers and young wildlife or early September to see early fall colors and the last of the bears as they fatten up for their winter slumber. The days are long enough so that you have light skies for the entire trip (arriving at approximately 8pm, depending on the route).
Can you still visit Jasper?
Jasper has reopened following the 2024 wildfires and is ready to welcome travelers back to the town and surrounding national park. New growth has coated the forest floor in a lush green — the perfect signal that Jasper is still full of life and beauty. Visitors can expect businesses, including many locally owned gems, to be open throughout town as the community rebuilds and the landscapes, though changed in some ways, to remain some of the best in the Canadian Rockies.
What is the most popular Rocky Mountaineer trip?
The most popular Rocky Mountaineer Route is the 'First Passage to the West.' The route was their first, maintaining the history of Canadian rail travel. This route, still exclusive to the Rocky Mountaineer, makes for a unique train journey in the Rockies.
Which is the best side to sit on the Rocky Mountaineer?
There isn’t one! Unlike many train trips, Rocky Mountaineer often slows down when passing important landmarks and features, giving you plenty of time to move about the train and get the perfect view and, of course, photo.
Anything else I need to know?
A trip onboard Rocky Mountaineer is designed around excellent service, so you have little need for concerns.
- Each day, you board between 7am and 8am. As you set off, you will be served breakfast onboard. Arrive hungry, but be aware that meals are served in two seatings, so you might have to wait. That being said, there are always plenty of snacks and drinks available, so you are unlikely to need your own. You can expect to be kept full while on board.
- Arrival is scheduled for between 6pm and 8pm most days. This can be subject to change as freight trains take priority.
- You pass by some of the best views in Canada. And, with no overnight stay on the train, you don't need to pack extra clothes to bring on board (your luggage will be checked on check-in and appear at each stop before you arrive), so you will have plenty of room in your day bag. We recommend a camera and a book, though we doubt you will want to take your eyes off the scenery.