Even the most seasoned travellers agree. Experience the Rocky Mountaineer and you will leave the train in a swirl of superlatives. Crossing the sublime Canadian Rockies from British Columbia to Alberta, the Rocky Mountaineer provides unswerving commitment to delivering the best: in hospitality, comfort, cuisine and knock-out scenery.
If youplan a trip to Canada, a rendezvous with the Rocky Mountaineer is highly likely to be your holiday highlight. The rail season runs from late April to early October, and the most popular service is the "First Passage to the West", which connects Vancouver with Calgary and Banff.
The flagship journey rattles along the final leg of the line that united British Columbia with the rest of Canada. From the emerald-green, glacier-fed rivers to nature's soaring cathedrals of the Continental Divide, the two-day rail ride is all exalted scenery and wildlife-viewing opportunities.
As you enter Fraser Canyon, Hell's Gate is an arresting sight as surging Fraser River thunders through the narrow gorge. Jackass Mountain is a hangover from the gold-rush era, when mules lugged supplies across the lofty pass, many slipping to their deaths on the narrow route.
Rainbow Canyon is a photogenic feast, with the minerals in the rocks reflecting a rainbow of colours that give the canyon a painted look. After an overnight stop in Kamloops, you'll encounter striking pillared rock formations called Hoodoos, the world's largest salmon run at Adams River, and the historic site of Craigellachie, where the last rail spike was driven in to complete the transcontinental railway in 1885. Snow-domed ranges abound as the train passes through the Columbia Mountains, the magnificent Spiral Tunnels and on to the Rockies. Towering Mt. Rundle lords over Banff and is reflected in Vermillion Lakes. But it's the Three Sisterss that send photographers into overdrive, before the lowland romp across the prairie to Calgary.
The on-board hospitality is exceptional and the expert commentary delivers the right mix of history, geographic points of interest and wildlife-viewing. Choose from three service classes. The upper-level glass-domed coaches guarantee panoramic views, and the downstairs dining room is a graceful affair, serving a la carte breakfast and lunch.
The cuisine is five-star dining standard. Best of all, the Rocky Mountaineer is a highly sociable experience, with a continuous, complimentary bar service lubricating the wheels of conversation.
