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Whether you really love trains, or whether you are just looking for an extremely comfortable, relaxed, easy way to get great views of the spectacular Canadian landscapes, a train trip is a superb option in Canada.
Not only does the Canadian scenery, with towering mountains, deep valleys, chrystal lakes and magnificent forest, lend itself particularly well to train travel, but also the Canadians are particularly good at trains. The name 'Canadian Pacific Railway' is synonymous with great train journeys and the trains that run on their railways are truly iconic. There are two great options:
The Rocky Mountaineer is an internationally renowned train operating in the Canadian Rockies between Calgary in Alberta and Vancouver in British Columbia. It has several different routes, taking in Banff and Jasper. It travels only during the day to maximise viewing opportunities, with hotel stops at night. And it offers superb levels of comfort and service.
Via Rail offers a range of services across the whole country, from Vancouverto Halifax inNova Scotia, with branch lines into places like Churchill. Some of its routes are daytime only, but others have sleeper cars, as well as observation cars. Among its best loved routes are:
The Canadian, also known as The Great Western Way which runs between Vancouver and Toronto
We can give expert advice; make sure your bookings are flexible and take care of all the admin. We work only with the most experienced and reliable suppliers and your consultant will be available to you 24/7 from your first contact to your return home.
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Tremendous Canada Train Trip Options
Rocky Mountaineer
Probably the favourite Canadian train option is the Rocky Mountaineer.
This operates only between Vancouveron the west and Jasper or Banff on the east, with a link to Calgary. You can go in either direction (or both, by combining two trips into a circular route). The trains leave early in the morning and the journeys last either two or three days, with overnight stops at Kamloops, or Whistler and Quesnel.
There are two levels of service: Goldleaf and Silverleaf, and both are excellent. Goldleaf carriages have two levels, with dining areas at the lower level for the breakfast and lunch that are served each day, outside observation platforms and, upstairs, superb glass enclosed seating areas. Silverleaf has only one level, with outside observation areas between carriages and seating areas with unobstructed views where the breakfasts and lunches are served to passengers in their seats.
The different levels enjoy different hotel accommodation for the overnight stays, but in all cases luggage is seamlessly transferred to the hotels. The service and comfort on these trains is absolutely superb as is the scenery that you travel through.
Via Rail
Canada's other rail service is much bigger and much more complicated with a vast set of options. It serves everywhere from Vancouver to Halifax and all types of users from day trippers to business people. So there are many different ways to travel, as well as many places to go. It also has a reputation for comfort, service and charm!
There are three routes that are particularly popular:
The Canadian
This is an immensely popular option. It is a four day journey in either direction between Vancouver and Torontooffering an excellent impression of the vast prairie provinces as well as the splendid Rockies. You can do it in economy class, in a comfortable seat, but for a journey of this length you would probably want to be in a sleeper. These are available in various sizes and classes, up to Prestige Sleeper Class. Excellent meals are served in dining cars and different observation carriages are available for different ticket classes. There is great flexibility, so you can break the journey along the way or take a side trip to Churchill.
The Skeena
This is a two day, daytime only trip across the Rockies either way between Jasper and Prince Rupert in northern British Columbia. It has an overnight stop in Prince George. This trip gives a real sense of the scale and variety of the landscape inBritish Columbia.
The Ocean
This is another sleeper train option, between Montréaland Halifax,giving an excellent view of south eastern Canada.
There are any number of ways to plan these train trips into superb holidays
You could combine Via Rail and the Rocky Mountaineer by taking the Canadian from Torontoto Jasper and then taking the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper toVancouver or Prince Rupert, or you could take a road trip or a tour from Jasper to Banf and take the Rocky Mountaineer from Banf to Vancouver.
You could combine a train trip with a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska
You could incorporate one of the train trips in aguided tour.
The options are endless. Why not come up with one we haven't thought of and get in touch with us to see how we can make it happen? We work with trusted, experienced and reliable suppliers and tour operators, to make sure your bookings are secure and flexible and that your Canada train journey is everything that you hope for.