Rocky Mountaineer rail tour in Canada
Out of the window, an osprey sweeps low over a lake, a fish clenched tightly in its talons. Bighorn sheep scramble over the jagged scree above remote smallholdings. A drifting branch floating slowly across a lake is revealed on second glance to be an elk taking a leisurely swim. Perhaps there, by the riverside, is a grizzly bear shuffling along hopefully for sight of a salmon.
Our Rocky Mountaineer vacations unfold against sights like this, framed against old-growth evergreen forests, glacier-fed lakes and sheer rock canyons that wind and plunge, waterfalls tumbling down their sides. And all around you the imposing majesty of the Canadian Rockies, dusted with snow at their peaks.
Our Rocky Mountaineer vacations unfold against sights like this, framed against old-growth evergreen forests, glacier-fed lakes and sheer rock canyons that wind and plunge, waterfalls tumbling down their sides. And all around you the imposing majesty of the Canadian Rockies, dusted with snow at their peaks.
Slow travel at its very finest![]()
The Rocky Mountaineer is an iconic, award-winning and hugely influential Canadian rail tour service, with several routes going through the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Any of them can be incorporated into our self drive tours in Canada, or combined with an Alaska cruise.
Regularly touted as one of the greatest rail journeys in the world, it takes you from Vancouver on the west coast high into the Canadian Rockies past spectacular scenery that you cannot see any other way. The Rocky Mountaineer train, in its handsome blue-and-gold livery, is slow travel at its very finest.
Depending on the service level you choose, you can take in these surroundings from the full-length window next to your seat, look up through the glass dome of your coach, or walk into an open-air observation vestibule, where you can drink in the pure mountain air.
Onboard hosts provide a running commentary, reeling off facts on everything from the history of the British Columbia and Klondike gold rushes to the engineering challenges of laying a railway into the mountains (Banff lies at around 1,400m above sea level) and the wildlife that calls the Rockies home.
Regularly touted as one of the greatest rail journeys in the world, it takes you from Vancouver on the west coast high into the Canadian Rockies past spectacular scenery that you cannot see any other way. The Rocky Mountaineer train, in its handsome blue-and-gold livery, is slow travel at its very finest.
Depending on the service level you choose, you can take in these surroundings from the full-length window next to your seat, look up through the glass dome of your coach, or walk into an open-air observation vestibule, where you can drink in the pure mountain air.
Onboard hosts provide a running commentary, reeling off facts on everything from the history of the British Columbia and Klondike gold rushes to the engineering challenges of laying a railway into the mountains (Banff lies at around 1,400m above sea level) and the wildlife that calls the Rockies home.
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Rocky Mountaineer train route map
Rocky Mountaineer train routes
With the addition of a trip called Passage to the Peaks, which is the only one not to feature the west coast, running as it does through the mountains from Jasper to Banff or Lake Louise via Kamloops, there are now four Rocky Mountaineer routes available in Canada.First Passage to the West is the oldest line, following in the path of 19th-century explorers via the Spiral Tunnels, a masterpiece of rail engineering. The route connects Vancouver with Lake Louise and Banff, and at the end of your two-day journey you can enjoy a soak in the Banff hot springs.
Another option is Journey through the Clouds, which follows the First Passage route as far as Kamloops but continues on to the mountain town of Jasper rather than Banff. You follow the North Thompson River as you ride into the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains, past Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Rockies, arriving in one of the most beautiful national parks in North America.
The last of the four Canadian routes is Rainforest to Gold Rush, which climbs up from Vancouver to the resort town of Whistler, past the fjords of Howe Sound, and through the deep canyons between Whistler and Quesnel, with their fascinating Gold Rush history.
Rocky Mountaineer service levels
“The stunning views are obviously a big part of the appeal, but it’s also about the onboard experience,” says Simon Mills of our partner Native Escapes. “I’m talking about the quality of the staff onboard, the food and drink that is on another level, the outdoor observation platforms…”
On each route you can choose from either the GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf coaches. Both are glass-domed, allowing for panoramic views on all sides, with reclining seats. Where they differ most prominently is the opportunity to stretch your legs. The GoldLeaf coach is bi-level, with a dining car below, while the SilverLeaf coach has just one level, and meals are served at your seat. The food is exceptional, and locally sourced – think flush-pink salmon fished from British Columbia rivers, beef farmed in Alberta. The GoldLeaf service also offers passengers access to a large, open-air observation booth.
On each route you can choose from either the GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf coaches. Both are glass-domed, allowing for panoramic views on all sides, with reclining seats. Where they differ most prominently is the opportunity to stretch your legs. The GoldLeaf coach is bi-level, with a dining car below, while the SilverLeaf coach has just one level, and meals are served at your seat. The food is exceptional, and locally sourced – think flush-pink salmon fished from British Columbia rivers, beef farmed in Alberta. The GoldLeaf service also offers passengers access to a large, open-air observation booth.
Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska cruise
The Rocky Mountaineer can easily be followed by an Alaska cruise, since Vancouver is a popular departure port for many ships. On our combined Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska cruises, you might connect with a locally owned small ship taking you into the Inside Passage, with a seven-day sailing along a route that was used to transport American prospectors northwards during the Klondike Gold Rush.
“The Inside Passage has outstanding scenery that is not so well-travelled in comparison with other Alaskan cruise routes,” says Simon. “Wildlife you might see includes plenty of whales, as well as eagles, seals and otters. You may encounter bears on shore excursions, too. We prefer to use smaller, more intimate vessels, as they can enter the shallower inlets where wildlife is more easily seen.”
“The Inside Passage has outstanding scenery that is not so well-travelled in comparison with other Alaskan cruise routes,” says Simon. “Wildlife you might see includes plenty of whales, as well as eagles, seals and otters. You may encounter bears on shore excursions, too. We prefer to use smaller, more intimate vessels, as they can enter the shallower inlets where wildlife is more easily seen.”
Our travelers also ask
How long is the Rocky Mountaineer train ride?
The exact distance you travel on the Rocky Mountaineer depends on the line you take. But from Vancouver to Kamloops it’s around 460km, and from Kamloops to Banff it’s around 500km; the train generally travels at around 50km per hour. This is the only all-daylight service through the Rockies, so you never have to miss a single view.
Where does the Rocky Mountaineer start and end?
There are four Rocky Mountaineer routes in Canada, all but one of which begin or end in Vancouver on the coast, and connect with Banff, Jasper or Lake Louise up in the Rockies. Depending on the route you will either sleep in Kamloops, or Whistler and Quesnel, but the trips are always end-to-end, so you can’t join or leave the train at the overnight point. It’s easy to fly into one Canadian city and out of another, so you don’t need to backtrack at the end of your vacation.
Where do you sleep on the Rocky Mountaineer?
There is no overnight accommodation on the train. Rocky Mountaineer packages always include an overnight hotel stay, with transfers included where necessary. If you’re on the GoldLeaf package, then you will have a slightly higher standard of hotel.
When does the Rocky Mountaineer run?
The Rocky Mountaineer runs between April and October. As late as May, you’ll still see snow on the ground and on the mountaintops, while July and August are in high demand. September can be one of the nicest months to ride the Rocky Mountaineer, with lovely autumnal colours in the leaves. Whenever you go, though, we recommend booking at least six months ahead.
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