The more you know about the different types of train journeys offered in the Canadian Rockies and the American Southwest, and what they include, the easier it will be for you to choose a rail vacation that checks all your trip-of-a-lifetime boxes. Let’s begin by explaining all you need to know about our different types of packages and the train journeys included in each. No matter which package you choose, you’ll experience the spectacular scenery of Western Canada or the American Southwest paired with outstanding service, to make for an unforgettable rail adventure.
1. Short Journeys: journeys of 2-3 days
Our short journeys range in duration from two to three days of rail travel and include travel along one of our four rail routes. In Western Canada, our routes connect Vancouver, British Columbia to Lake Louise, Banff or Jasper in Alberta, and in the American Southwest, between Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah.
Experience the First Passage to the West rail route, a two-day luxury train between Vancouver and Banff or Lake Louise, along the same historic line that first united Canada from east to west.
Our Journey through the Clouds rail route is also a two-day train connecting Vancouver to Jasper, and includes views of Pyramid Falls and Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Rainforest to Gold Rush is our three-day journey between Vancouver, Whistler & Jasper, which travels through some of the most diverse landscapes that Western Canada has to offer.
Our newest rail route, Rockies to the Red Rocks, is a two-day journey between Denver and Moab via Glenwood Springs, taking you to some of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes the American Southwest have to offer.
2. Rockies Highlights: journeys of 4 days or more
If you want to extend your rail journey to explore even more of Western Canada or the American Southwest, choose a Rockies Highlights package. These longer journeys include travel on one of our four rail routes, plus stays in destinations like Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise on our Canadian routes, or in Moab, Salt Lake City, or Las Vegas on our US route. We work with trusted local tour providers to curate a selection of experiences that include hotel stays, sightseeing tours, and excursions, that highlight the best sights, scenery, and activities around each destination. We handpick our partner hotels, like the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs and the historic Crawford Hotel in Denver, to provide you with a comfortable place to rest and an ideal location to explore the region.
For those who want to experience it all on our Rockies to the Red Rocks route, choose our Rockies to the Red Rocks Denver Return Journey. This eight-day journey includes four days onboard our train travelling from Denver to Moab back to Denver, and includes three nights in Moab so you have plenty of time to explore the region including the Mighty 5 national parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion.
3. Circle Journeys: combine two of our Canadian Rockies rail routes
Our Circle Journeys allow you to extend your time onboard our train by combining two of our Canadian Rockies rail routes for an all-encompassing adventure. Unlike our other journeys, Circle Journeys begin and end at the same destination. They include up to five days onboard with additional nights in the Canadian Rockies so you can explore even more of Canada's majestic national parks like Banff and Jasper.
No matter which of our four rail routes and three package types you choose, spectacular natural wonders in iconic destinations and outstanding service are guaranteed. Whether you select a rail journey on its own with one of our Short Journey packages, one of our longer Rockies Highlights packages, or a Circle Journey for a grand rail experience, it will be the journey of a lifetime.
Learn more about the Rocky Mountaineer train journey itself, and see what’s included.
Discover which rail route is perfect for you.
Can't decide which journey to take? Let us help you find the route that's right for you.
