Your Essential Travel

Canadian Rockies by Train

British Columbia
Canada's western-most province is the country's gateway to and from the Orient. It is the terminus of the trans-continental railroad and indeed the reason for the railroad's inception! The province is rich in resources ranging from lush hardwood forests to abundant waters teeming with fish. The picturesque ocean views and the majestic mountain scenery contrast beautifully with modern cityscapes and industrial vignettes. The population is multi-cultural, enriching the province with diverse cuisine, music, literature and other traditions. Big, beautiful, British Columbia!

Vancouver
Located on the west coast of Canada is Vancouver, a city of just over 600,000. Comprised of various neighborhoods and areas such as Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gastown and Granville Island, Vancouver was a perfect choice for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Originally named Gastown after one of the lumber proprieters, Vancouver today is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada and a popular destination for cruise and rail travelers.

VIA Rail
Listen to the peaceful sounds of a bygone era while natural beauty dances to life before your eyes in a scenic wonderland; it’s a veritable journey back in time as you travel from Vancouver to Jasper. Relax and discover the delight of overnight training aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian. Heralded in 1955 as “the first and only all-stainless steel ‘dome’ streamliner in Canada,” The Canadian has been exceeding passenger expectations ever since. Enjoy first-class meals and awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies vistas during the day. Spend the night in the comfort of your own bed inside a private sleeping room that includes a private washroom. From the moment you board VIA Rail’s The Canadian, you’ll embrace the nostalgia of a golden era; rail lines trace history while whisking travelers through scenery far removed from the highway.

Alberta


Jasper
From the humble beginnings in 1813 of the Jasper Hawes Fur Trading Post in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper became the name of the current bustling town in 1914. Today Jasper is a global village comprised of descendents of the initial settlement; First Nation, European fur traders and Greek fishermen that made their way from the Eastern Atlantic Coast.

Maligne Lake


Athabasca Glacier
Marvel at the raw beauty of the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. Stretching for almost 4 miles, take in the glacier by either driving around the ice field or from a lookout point on the glass Glacier Skywalk.

Choice on Tour: Ice Explorer Glacier Tour or Columbia Icefield Skywalk
Today in the Icefields, you have the choice between two activities. First, you may choose to ride onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier by Ice Explorer, a massive vehicle specially designed for glacial travel. An experienced driver-guide shares a wealth of fascinating information about glaciers, icefields and their impact on our environment. Your other option is to walk beyond nature's edge and enjoy the view from a fully-accessible, cliff-edge walkway that leads to a glass-floored observation platform 918 feet (280 meters) above the Sunwapta Valley.Ice Explorer Glacier TourActivity Level: 1Guests should be able to get on and off a coach and walk around on a glacier.Columbia Icefield SkywalkActivity Level: 2Guests should be able to get on and off a coach and walk around for a 45-minute, self-guided tour.

Lake Louise
Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies' Banff National Park, Lake Louise is a pristine alpine lake whose robin-egg-blue glacial waters and renowned Chateau-Style hotel have made it a Canadian travel icon. Mount Victoria and its twin glaciers are perfectly framed by the surrounding peaks and reflected in the lake's serene waters. Sunrise slowly waking up the montage is pure magic!

Banff
A small mountain town nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Banff is the second highest elevation community in Alberta, with a population just over 7500. As part of the Canadian Rockies UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banff provides visitors with activities such as hot springs, gondola rides to the mountain tops and wildlife sightings in abundance.

Calgary
Calgary is Alberta's financial capital and hosts the headquarters of many leading oil and energy companies, as well as the Canadian Pacific Railroad. It is also a major cattle market and equestrian center. Home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, Calgary continues to grow, attracting thousands of families with the availability of jobs and opportunities.

Canadian Rockies by Train

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada


VIA Rail's The Canadian
VIA Rail Canada Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada


Forest Park Hotel
76 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB, Canada


Fairmont Chateau
111 Lake Louise Drive, Lake Louise, AB, Canada


Fairmont Banff Springs
405 Spray Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada


Calgary Marriott Downtown
110 9th Avenue S. E., Calgary, AB, Canada