Canadian rail trips.

Nebulous2

Not exactly money-saving, more a bucket-list type experience.

Does anyone have any experience of doing a long-distance Canadian train trip?

I'm not a huge train fan, but a lot of people do a train trip in Canada combined with a cruise. I've become fascinated with the train journeys through the Rockies.

There's the Rocky Mountaineer, which a friend did, but he found it a pain disembarking every night.

Then there is the Canadian - four days from Toronto to Vancouver - individual cabins, glass observation cars, meals provided.

Any advice, recommendations or suggestions to get the best deal?

Brie

Canadian here. Raised & lived mostly in Ontario.

My mom did the transcanada Toronto to Vancouver and thought while the facilities were fine it was both expensive and boring. Do you want to stare out at a forest for 5 hours straight? Or look at a flat prairie for a full day?

I did live in Vancouver (granted decades ago) and loved taking the train from Vancouver to Whistler. (the Whistler stop used to be at the youth hostel where a brother lived for a few years) And I've driven from Van to Kelowna - marvelous scenery. So my vote would be to do a train trip in the Rockies maybe with some boat action as well.

A random google threw this up - no idea what the company is like so not a recommendation. What I like is that it eliminates the long cruise up to Alaska as, again, people I know who have taken this got either scenery overload or grew tired of rain and fog obliterating that view.

Best Rocky Mountaineer Train and Alaska Cruise Trip in 2026

no.1swimmum

I've not done The Canadian yet, I have it booked for beginning of April next year, for out 40th Anniversary it looks amazing and I am so excited already, I booked direct with Via Rail online - just for the train journey, I didn't book a package.

I haven't done the Rocky Mountaineer myself, my parents did it and it was very expensive but excellent, my husband and I however decided that 5 days and 4 nights on a train for the same amount of money as one and a half days and not even sleeping on the train.

We have however done two long Amtrak journeys, the first called the California Zephyr which goes from Chicago to San Francisco, and although the food was ok it was not the quality of The Canadian, but the views were out of this world through the Rockies, we went Easter holidays and we saw people skiing etc, and you spend only 2 nights on the train, another 2 night train we did was from New Orleans to Las Vegas and although the views (Sunset Limited) we enjoyed both, meeting other travellers from all over the world. Maybe you could try one of these shorter journey first to see if you like it, they were also quite reasonable as well, again I booked these both direct online with Amtrak.

eskbanker

There's the Rocky Mountaineer, which a friend did, but he found it a pain disembarking every night.

The Rocky Mountaineer itself is just a two-day (one-night) trip, although there are plenty of extended itineraries built around it. The process of overnighting in Kamloops is as smooth as it possibly can be…

martindow

Seat61 is always a good place to start when planning international rail travel. Here is his Canada page

https://www.seat61.com/Canada.htm

with lots of links to different routes and booking advice.

daveyjp

Regardless of the journey, you still do have to enjoy sitting on a train for hours. Spectacular scenery in an environment you don't find enjoyable can be a chore.

Nebulous2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061471#Comment_82061471

I largely haven't enjoyed sitting with the great unwashed who are arguing about seats.

At one point the first class travel from Scotland to London was preferable to flying, but the last time I did it the standards had slipped considerably.

I'm hoping that doesn't sound snobby - I'm normally an economy flight type of person, but I want to change to someone who regards the journey as part of the holiday, rather than someone who can endure getting there.

I'm also hoping that paying enough to get 2 weeks all- inclusive in Tenerife, for 4 days in a train, brings me something I can enjoy.

Nebulous2

Thanks very much. I'm looking at June or September next year.

We want to spend around a month visiting Canada, including seeing some relatives.

The Canadian would be part of that, but probably the most important part. I'm still working out if it would be worth it.

I'd welcome hearing how you get on,..

Nebulous2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061374#Comment_82061374

Thanks very n

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061374#Comment_82061374

That is largely what did it for me. His description starts with:

"It's one of the world's greatest train journeys."

https://www.seat61.com/train-from-toronto-to-vancouver.htm

 

Nebulous2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061349#Comment_82061349

Have you done it? Did it leave you thinking Woww - or Mehh?

My friend might have added on some additional starting and finishing bits, but he was certainly underwhelmed…

Some of the packages I have seen have included a hotel before and after. That may have been what he described.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061662#Comment_82061662

Yes, I was on it a few weeks ago, and was definitely impressed - it's certainly not cheap but worth it IMHO, although didn't benchmark it against the Canadian. We just did the train itself rather than any add-ons, and arranged the rest of the trip ourselves, a beautiful country and well worth spending plenty of time in!