AN ICONIC JOURNEY … IN STYLE
Some 4000 kilometres of landscapes and luxury await on this unforgettable transcontinental journey.
When a train is iconic enough to be on the back of a country’s ten dollar note, as is the case with The Canadian (operated by VIA Rail is), you know it’s a special journey. You can thank William Van Horne for AWT’s Handpicked Canada expedition which will see you tootle from one side of the country to the other, aboard The Canadian, where the comfort in the Sleeper Plus and Prestige Classes are such that you mightn’t want to get off once you get to the end.
Travel from one side of the country to the other on VIA Rail's transcontinental passenger train The Canadian.
From a plush cabin with modern furnishings, you’ll take in all of Canada’s great landscapes as they unfold before you: mountains, lakes, forests and prairies, skirting along the historic Canadian Pacific Railway, a transcontinental line completed in 1885 to connect Canada’s east and west coasts. It was the pet project of railway boss Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, who hoped it would draw Canadians across the country; “If we can’t export the scenery then we’ll have to import the tourists,” he famously said. One of the major advantages of a Sleeper Plus or Prestige Class ticket on The Canadian is the extras to take advantage of while onboard. First, there’s the dining room, where delicious Canadian fare and typically friendly conversation is on the menu. The Prestige Park Car features a bar and lounge, while the dome glass upper-level viewing areas are the perfect place to watch six of Canada’s provinces pass by. This is one of the best things about train travel in general – being able to meander up and down the train wherever, and whenever you like.
The perfect place to watch Canada's provinces pass by.
Dine in style on an iconic Canadian rail journey.
With this in mind we’re not sure which is better: falling asleep to the hypnotic cadence of the train with a bellyful of gourmet food, or waking to see fairy tale prairies unfurling from your bedroom window as far as the eye can see. This journey is a showcase of Canada in contrast. From the billion-year-old exposed bedrock of the Canadian shield, to the Great Plains and scenic lakes of northern Ontario. As the train pulls into the Beaux-Arts styled Toronto Union Station, you disembark into a highly multicultural and cosmopolitan city, Canada's largest: the perfect exclamation mark on an epic West to East journey.
Mountains, Lakes & Glaciers
7 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS
Beautiful mountains, canyons and rivers await on the VIA Rail journey between Vancouver and Jasper. Search for wildlife in Jasper National Park and travel down the spectacular Icefields Parkway, enjoying stops at Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls and Crowfoot Glacier, before exploring the picturesque towns of Lake Louise and Banff.
FROM ONLY
$2165*
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Mountains, Lakes & Glaciers
7 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS
Beautiful mountains, canyons and rivers await on the VIA Rail journey between Vancouver and Jasper. Search for wildlife in Jasper National Park and travel down the spectacular Icefields Parkway, enjoying stops at Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls and Crowfoot Glacier, before exploring the picturesque towns of Lake Louise and Banff.
FROM ONLY
$2165*
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
SMOOTH MOVES ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
All aboard for a rollicking journey through the country’s most staggering landscapes.
It’s not how you would expect to see a grizzly bear for the first time. From a heated leather seat, one hand swirling a glass of Canadian red, the other cradling a wedge of camembert on a cracker. Welcome to Rocky Mountaineer, a train journey so utterly decadent it doesn’t seem real. It’s as though National Geographic has projected their reel of Canada’s greatest hits onto the interior of the Chairman’s Lounge. In between three-course meals that will leave you sated like a bear ready for hibernation, there’s an endless procession of jaw-dropping alpine scenery and wildlife.
Spectacular scenery is abundant throughout the journey.
Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s great train journeys. And the two-day First Passage to the West, from Vancouver to Banff, is the tourist icon’s flagship route. The journey starts with a wave off from Rocky Mountaineer’s station team and soon the aroma of egg souffle and bacon wafts through the car, as the train chugs between velvety green pastures and alongside picturesque lakes. When the train pulls into Kamloops, the landscape has morphed into desert. Disembark in the rosy twilight and settle into your hotel accommodation for the night. You will need your rest. Tomorrow it’s all about the Rockies. Day two’s journey is astonishingly beautiful as the train snakes across mountain passes, over raging rivers and through forests.
Luxury awaits on the Rocky Mountaineer.
You never know who you might meet while you're cruising the Rockies.
In Goldleaf service you can enjoy the Rockies from three vantage points: through the domed glass windows from your upstairs leather seat, from the downstairs dining car (where you might come face-to-face with a bear) or from the outdoor vestibule. But be prepared for a full sensory experience if you venture outside. Peer over the rails – wheels clattering, wind whipping your face – and the journey becomes exhilaratingly real. When the train arrives in the pop-up picture book village of Banff, you may not be ready to disembark. But Lake Louise is calling. A visit to Canada’s most famous lake is included as an extension to your rail journey, featuring a stay at the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. In summer the lake sparkles like a blue topaz gem, while in the cooler months it’s a frozen wonderland. Either way, Lake Louise is worth the upgrade.
SPEAK WITH AN ADVENTURE WORLD TRAVEL DESIGNER TO CREATE YOUR CUSTOM ITINERARY NOW!
Handpicked Canada
22 DAYS | 21 NIGHTS | FROM $15,355*
A blend of adventure and relaxation exploring the Canadian Rockies, the beauty of Niagara Falls and charming French Canada.
Mountain Peaks Rail Loop
13 DAYS | 12 NIGHTS | FROM $7079*
Discover the spectacular scenery of BC’s interior and the Canadian Rockies on this circular adventure.
Mountains,Lakes & Glaciers
7 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | FROM $2165*
Beautiful mountains, canyons and rivers await on the VIA Rail journey between Vancouver and Jasper. Search for wildlife in Jasper National Park and travel down the spectacular Icefields Parkway, enjoying stops at Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls and Crowfoot Glacier, before exploring the picturesque towns of Lake Louise and Banff.
Sip & Savour Canadian Flavours
12 DAYS | 11 NIGHTS | FROM $7195*
A culinary themed spin on a classic Canadian journey, this itinerary is a must for foodies. Enjoy discovering the local tastes and flavours, from beavertails and poutine to caesars and cider.
SPEAK WITH AN ADVENTURE WORLD TRAVEL DESIGNER TO CREATE YOUR CUSTOM ITINERARY NOW!
Handpicked Canada
22 DAYS | 21 NIGHTS | FROM $15,355*
A blend of adventure and relaxation exploring the Canadian Rockies, the beauty of Niagara Falls and charming French Canada.
Mountain Peaks Rail Loop
13 DAYS | 12 NIGHTS | FROM $7079*
Discover the spectacular scenery of BC’s interior and the Canadian Rockies on this circular adventure.
Mountains,Lakes & Glaciers
7 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | FROM $2165*
Beautiful mountains, canyons and rivers await on the VIA Rail journey between Vancouver and Jasper. Search for wildlife in Jasper National Park and travel down the spectacular Icefields Parkway, enjoying stops at Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls and Crowfoot Glacier, before exploring the picturesque towns of Lake Louise and Banff.
Sip & Savour Canadian Flavours
12 DAYS | 11 NIGHTS | FROM $7195*
A culinary themed spin on a classic Canadian journey, this itinerary is a must for foodies. Enjoy discovering the local tastes and flavours, from beavertails and poutine to caesars and cider.