As Canadian author Douglas Coupland once said, “You don’t simply visit Canada. You feel it – deeply, quietly, and all at once.” That sentiment rings especially true when you’re on one of the country’s iconic rail journeys, travelling through rugged mountain ranges, tracing ancient coastlines toward pulsing cities, and soaking up unique views that transform by the minute. Here, everything you’ll need to get on track for your ultimate Canada-by-rail holiday.
Why rail is the way to go in Canada
From the glacier-carved peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the wild shores of the Maritimes and the polar bear-dotted tundra, Canada’s landscapes are vast and varied, spanning 9.98 million square kilometres (get your bearings with this handy map). If you’re hoping to experience this remarkable country not just through its cities but also through the living map between them, trains offer a front-row seat to one of the world’s most spectacular slide shows – inviting you to breathe it all in with a sense of scale and immersion that flying simply can’t match.
With 46,000km of train tracks crisscrossing the country, there’s no shortage of memorable routes where you can kick back in roomy, reclining seats, glass-domed observation cars and cosy sleeper cabins; savour onboard culinary experiences and watch for wildlife as Canada unfurls around you. Rail travel also offers a more sustainable way to cover long distances – and, with limited connectivity in remote stretches, it presents a rare chance to unplug from the everyday and tune in to your extraordinary surrounds. Not sure where to start? Read on to discover some of the most prized train journeys for your holiday to-do list.
Ride the country’s most epic journey, The Canadian
The country’s longest passenger train route, The Canadian ventures 4,466km between Toronto and Vancouver, crossing five provinces over four nights.
The journey begins in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, where leafy neighbourhoods, the Distillery Historic District, and day trips to Niagara Falls or the nearby Toronto Islands are popular pre-boarding highlights. From there, the train travels northwest through the lake-speckled boreal forests of Northern Ontario before entering the golden prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In Alberta, the terrain rises into the foothills and snow-capped slopes of the Canadian Rockies, with dramatic views around every bend as the train winds through Jasper National Park and rolls into British Columbia.
At journey’s end in Vancouver, you can explore First Nations culture in Stanley Park and take part in two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences: a guided tour of Granville Island’s Public Market, where sustainability and community are at the heart of every bite, and an immersive culinary tour of Gastown that champions local producers.
While cabins and berths are available onboard throughout the entire trip, there are 65 stops along this route – many of them request-only – so you might like to add stopovers, hopping on and off in sync with the train’s schedule (it operates several times per week, all year round).
Adventure World’s 22-day Authentic Canada holiday features unforgettable rail journeys from The Rockies to Québec and beyond, including The Canadian.
Roll on through The Rockies
Seeking your own Rocky Mountain high? Take your pick of several different routes with VIA Rail and the Rocky Mountaineer across the Canadian Rockies.
Rocky Mountaineer operates a range of scenic daylight-only journeys in the region, including the Rainforest to Gold Rush, a three-day route from the Pacific Coast to Jasper, with overnight hotel stays in Whistler and Quesnel. It traces the Sea to Sky Corridor – a dramatic stretch of highway and rail between Vancouver and Whistler known for its coastal mountains, fjord-like inlets and plunging waterfalls – before climbing into the Cariboo and Columbia Mountains and following remote stretches made famous during the Gold Rush. Keep an eye out for the deep canyons of the Fraser River and awe-inspiring views of Mount Robson – the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
VIA Rail’s Snow Train to the Rockies offers a winter adventure between Jasper and the coast, with options to add on stays in Banff and Lake Louise. You’ll be in the right region for snowshoeing, ice skating, skiing, exploring World Heritage-listed Jasper National Park, and road-tripping along the magical Icefields Parkway.
Wherever you begin your Rockies adventure – and whether you travel in summer or winter, by daylight rail or sleeper service – these journeys place you in the heart of the action. Make the most of it with an excursion to the Columbia Icefield, take in sweeping views from the Banff Gondola, and unwind at the historic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – a destination in its own right.
Chug across the tundra to polar bear country
On the permafrost banks of Hudson Bay, Churchill is widely known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World – and it’s easily reached by train from Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba. Covering some 1,700km of prairie and tundra over two days and two nights, the train departs twice a week and, with no roads in, remains the only land route to town. Before you board in Winnipeg, take time to explore city highlights like the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Design Quarter and FortWhyte Alive – an outdoor activity hub set across lakes, trails and restored prairie. In Churchill, Arctic wildlife takes centre stage, whether you’re visiting in winter to see polar bears by tundra buggy, or arriving in summer to cruise with beluga whales.
Experience the awe of The Corridor
Canada’s busiest network, The Corridor service links Ontario and Québec’s major cities across more than 1,150km. Board in Windsor, where you can glimpse the Detroit skyline before rolling past Essex County’s vineyards and the Lake Huron shoreline. The train then passes through the university town of London, the cultural hub of Stratford, and the lakeside city of Kingston, known for its 19th century limestone architecture and views over the 1000 Islands.
As the journey continues east, you’ll stop in Ottawa, where you can stroll the Rideau Canal, browse the ByWard Market, and check out its neo-Gothic Parliament buildings. Next is Montréal, where French and English cultures converge across cobbled laneways, art-filled districts, and one of Canada’s liveliest culinary scenes. The route ends in Québec City – North America’s only walled city – where turreted stone buildings, the historic Citadel, and the dramatic silhouette of Château Frontenac rise above the St. Lawrence River.
With dozens of trains operating daily in both directions and city-centre stations throughout, The Corridor makes it easy to explore at your own pace and add stopovers between segments.
This culinary themed holiday features a delicious rail adventure and more.
Coast along The Ocean route
Canada’s oldest continuously operating passenger train route, The Ocean has been running since 1904, travelling 1,346km between Montréal and Halifax and crossing three provinces over a single night and day. Before your rail journey begins in Montréal, take a cruise along the St. Lawrence River to see the city’s layered history in heritage landmarks like the Old Port, Saint Helen’s Island and the Boucherville Islands. Upon boarding, the train heads east through the fertile farmlands and forested hills of rural Québec before entering New Brunswick, where it winds past charming towns and coastal inlets. The final stretch unfolds in Nova Scotia, with views of colourful lighthouses, quaint fishing communities and the rugged Atlantic shoreline. When you disembark in Halifax, you can visit the Citadel historic site, stroll the Victorian-era Public Gardens, or explore exhibits on immigration, shipwrecks and the Titanic at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. With stops in Moncton and several request-only stations along the way, The Ocean offers a relaxed and scenic way to hop between the provinces and the Maritime coastlines of Eastern Canada.
What to expect aboard Rocky Mountaineer
Travelling aboard Rocky Mountaineer means sweeping views by day and restful hotel stays each night. It’s a daylight-only train, so instead of sleeper cabins, your journey includes carefully selected accommodation in Kamloops, Lake Louise, Banff or Jasper, depending on your route. With no onboard Wi-Fi or screens, this is slow travel at its best – a curated blend of fine dining, first-class hospitality, and the simple joy of watching the world roll on by. Plus, you can take your pick of two levels of service:
- GoldLeaf is the first-class option, offering a bi-level carriage with a glass-dome upper level and a dedicated dining room below, where you’ll enjoy gourmet breakfasts and multi-course lunches at white-linen tables. A spacious outdoor viewing platform lets you step into the fresh air, and complimentary drinks are served throughout the journey.
- In SilverLeaf, you’ll travel in a single-level glass-domed carriage with panoramic windows, relax in reclining seats, and have access to an outdoor viewing area. Meals are served at your seat and include regionally inspired dishes paired with Okanagan Valley wines. Gracious hosts provide attentive commentary and service throughout the day, too.
Our 10-day Authentic Canadian Rockies itinerary ventures deep into the wilderness aboard legendary Rocky Mountaineer.
Inside the VIA Rail experience
While nights on the Rocky Mountaineer are spent in hotels, VIA Rail’s long-distance trains offer indulgent overnight stays onboard. Depending on the route and season, you might travel in a mix of carriage types – from dining and lounge cars to Skyline glass-domed observation coaches – and hit refresh in your own private cabin or berth.
- Prestige Class features luxe cabins with ensuite showers, flat-screen TVs, 24/7 concierge service, and modular leather seating that converts into a double bed. This tier also includes priority boarding, premium dining with wine pairings, and exclusive access to Prestige lounges.
- Sleeper Plus Class includes all meals and private quarters – either curtained upper/lower berths or cabins that transform from daytime seating into a bed at night. (Note: the upper berths are accessed by ladder and may not suit those with limited mobility.) Cabins come with linens, turndown service, air conditioning, and access to shared showers and toilets. Chef-prepared meals are served in the dining car and often showcase regional flavours.
- Business Class, available on select daytime routes, has spacious reclining seats, complimentary hot meals and drinks, Wi-Fi, pre-departure lounge access, and a quiet, work-friendly atmosphere.
An iconic VIA Rail journey between Toronto and Québec City is just one highlight of our Authentic Eastern Canada by Rail adventure.
Your Canada rail holiday FAQs, answered
From what to eat to when to travel, here’s four handy things to know before you go.
What’s the food like onboard?
Well, you certainly won’t go hungry! Onboard dining is a highlight of premium train travel in Canada, with thoughtful menus and chef-prepared fare reflecting the country’s diverse regions and passion for fresh seasonal ingredients. On the Rocky Mountaineer, guests in GoldLeaf dine in a dedicated lower-level restaurant, where dishes like wild Pacific salmon, Alberta beef short ribs, and vegetarian gnocchi are paired with local wines and craft beers. SilverLeaf travellers enjoy similarly elegant meals, with steelhead trout, braised chicken and lemon cheesecake starring on recent menus. In VIA Rail’s Sleeper Plus and Prestige classes, rotating menus feature regional ingredients (think pan-seared trout from Ontario, maple-glazed chicken, and local roast lamb with rosemary jus). Prestige Class elevates the experience further with thoughtful wine pairings, made-to-order breakfasts, and premium snacks and drinks served round the clock. In Business Class, available on select daytime routes, hot meals, wine, and pre-departure lounge access are all part of the experience.
What about delays – are they common?
Delays aren’t common, but they can happen – usually due to infrastructure issues, mechanical problems, changes in freight train traffic, track repairs, or extreme weather. Whichever line you’re travelling on, it’s a good idea to check in early and avoid booking tight flight connections for any onward travel, just to be on the safe side.
Are these journeys seasonal, or can I travel anytime?
While the Rocky Mountaineer operates from April to October, many of VIA Rail’s long-distance journeys run year-round, allowing you to explore Canada in every season.
What about stopovers– can I get on and off?
You can’t hop on and off the Rocky Mountaineer. It follows a fixed route with overnight hotel stays in select locations, so you’ll stay with the train for its full journey; but you can extend your holiday by adding extra nights and excursions before or after your train trip. VIA Rail, on the other hand, does allow stopovers on long-distance routes like The Canadian. With the right ticket – namely a Flexible, Sleeper Plus, or Prestige fare – you can plan multi-day stays at select stations and continue your journey aboard a later train. Since the trains don’t stop at every station on every departure, your best bet is to have an Adventure World Destination Expert coordinate your stopovers.