7 of the Best Train Trips in Canada and What You’ll See Along the Way

Offering some of the most scenic views in all of North America, Canada’s excellent long-distance train network is a great way to experience all the best of this incredible country, from the pristine beauty of the Canadian Rockies to the dynamic big cities of the East and West Coasts. VIA Rail operates 494 trains per week in eight Canadian provinces over a network of 7,800 miles of track. So whether you travel on VIA Rail’s classic trans-continental train, The Canadian, from Toronto to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper and Vancouver, the inter-city trains between Toronto, Montréal and Québec, or the Ocean from Montréal to Halifax, you’ll experience fresh, chef-prepared meals, comfortable, relaxing amenities, and spectacular views throughout!

Learn more below about 7 of Amtrak Vacations’ best train journeys through Canada and the spectacular stops they make along the way. And remember, you can get there from any one of Amtrak’s 500+ stations in the U.S.!

1. Classic Canada Coast-to-Coast

The Classic Canada Coast to Coast is a once-in-a-lifetime journey across Canada! Experience the quaint seaside community of Halifax in the Canadian Maritimes, then journey by train to Montreal and explore the historic, multi-cultural streets. Visit Toronto, the country’s largest city, and enjoy a full-day tour out to the Ontario side of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area. Next, journey west for an incredible train experience through the Canadian plains and the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Your trip ends in Vancouver where you’ll see all the best sights of this diverse and vibrant city.

2. Canadian Rockies Discovery Eastbound

Experience the gorgeous scenery and breathtaking landscapes of the Canadian Rockies on this incredibly scenic rail journey from Vancouver to Calgary. See amazing views of Vancouver from hundreds of feet above the ground at the Vancouver Lookout. Stroll down the charming cobblestone streets of Victoria. Get up close and personal with massive glaciers during an interactive ride on the Ice Explorer. See the spectacular natural treasures of Jasper. Discover everything that Banff has to offer. Finally, discover all Calgary has to offer!

3. Ultimate Canada and Rockies Westbound

Learn what truly makes the Canadian Rockies so majestic on this amazing journey through four different cities and a fun day trip to Niagara Falls! Tour all the splendid sites of Toronto, including the lovely Harbourfront. Get up close and personal with Niagara Falls with a cruise on the lake. Sip local delicious wine during a winery tour. Explore the spectacular natural treasures of Jasper National Park. Experience breathtaking views of the Rockies during the ride of a lifetime aboard the Jasper Skytram. Visit one of the largest expanses of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle, the Columbia Icefield in Banff. Enjoy two days of sightseeing in Vancouver. You’ll be talking about this trip for years to come!

4. Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies by Rail

Experience spectacular landscapes and scenery on this 11-day adventure to Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies. Discover the beauty of Glacier National Park as you travel along the world-famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Enjoy one of the most scenic train journeys as you travel through the Canadian Rockies. Tour the Icefields Parkway and ride an Ice Explorer vehicle onto Athabasca Glacier. Explore the picturesque mountain town of Banff and take in the splendour of Lake Louise while relaxing at the historical Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

5. Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria Rail Journey

Enjoy 7-days of sightseeing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on this multi-city journey. Experience the sparkling metropolis of Seattle. Travel all around the city on a sightseeing tour that will take you to the city’s harbour front, the busy Pioneer Square, and to the iconic Space Needle where you can explore its observation deck, towering over 500 feet above the city. After that enjoy the mesmerizing artwork at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit. After your time in Seattle, board the Amtrak’s scenic Cascades train route for your trip up to Vancouver. While there, you will travel around the city on a sightseeing tour that will show you the best of what Vancouver has to offer. Then experience the beautiful and lush forests of British Columbia on the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Next up is the charming seaside town of Victoria where you will get to experience the beauty of Butchart Gardens. A magical experience awaits on this 7-day journey!

6. Canadian Rail Experience

Enjoy an experience unlike any other on the Canadian Rail Experience! Capture all of the culture and excitement of both Toronto and Vancouver with fun and user-friendly hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours! Then board VIA Rail’s Canadian for the cross-country trip to the west. Capture the pure beauty and majestic sights of the many plains, mountains, lakes, and glaciers as you travel through the Canadian countryside. With so much to take in on your cross-Canada trip, the travel becomes the destination on this Canadian Rail Experience!

7. New York and Eastern Canada

Travel from the “Big Apple” to the scenic Niagara Falls and on to the historical and cultural Eastern Canada on this 11-day journey. Start in New York where you will explore the city with a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour that will bring you to such iconic New York spots as the Empire State Building and Central Park. From there you are on to Eastern Canada where you will visit the majestic Niagara Falls, multi-cultural Toronto, and the historic cities of Montreal and Quebec City. While in Niagara you will enjoy a full-day tour of the city and surrounding areas. In Toronto, you will explore with another hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour and admission to the CN Tower. You will also enjoy sightseeing tours in Montreal and Quebec City. An exciting New York and Canadian journey awaits you!

For frequent flyers, air travel is a normal part of their life. However, for some people, it’s frightening and a major source of anxiety.

Fear of flying can be due to any of the reasons including fear of enclosed spaces, fear of heights, fear of turbulence, or fear of being out of control.

However, if the thought of flying in a plane sent shivers down your spine and you break out in a cold sweat, read these facts about air travel to help manage your flying anxiety:

1. Flying is the safest form of transport

Plane crashes are extremely rare, and when they do happen the media focusses on them because they are so rare.

As per an article published in the popular news magazine The Week, a study conducted by Harvard University found that the chances of a plane crash are 1 in 1.2 million, and the chances of dying in a plane crash are 1 in 11 million.

In fact, you’re much more likely to die in a car, bus or train accident than in a plane crash.

More than 4 billion people travel by plane each year and in an article published on Popular Science, it states that flying is definitely the safest mode of transport.

2. Pilots are re-tested every 6 months

What you might now know is that pilots have to be re-tested every 6 months to prove their competency and if they don’t pass their simulator test then they are not allowed to fly.

I don’t know of any other industry that re-tests its experts to keep the public safe.

3. A plane can fly safely with just one engine

Many people assume that you need both engines to fly a plane.

However, a twin-engine aircraft can fly safely if one of the engines does not work properly. In fact, even if both engines fail a plane could glide using the principle of flight and this is regularly practiced in the simulator as well as other emergency procedures.

For example, in 2001, Air Transat Flight 236 landed safely without any engine power and with zero fatalities.

4. Turbulence is not dangerous to the plane

For many passengers, turbulence is the most frightening aspect of air travel.

However, turbulence is a normal part of flying, and not in any way dangerous to the plane.

The main danger is people falling over in the aisle if they are not strapped in during a turbulence episode and this is why for your safety the seat belt signs go on when there is a whisper of turbulence.

So always remember to return to your seat and buckle up during turbulence!

5. Oxygen masks really do work!

There’s an old myth that oxygen masks on planes are not effective, but this is false.

When the oxygen pressure in the cabin drops below a certain mark, bags containing the oxygen masks will fall automatically.

It may not seem like there could be enough oxygen to survive, but there is plenty and nothing to be concerned about.

In the end…

No matter how many times nervous flyers read the statistics about flying safety, some people still feel anxious.

It’s such a shame because their fear of flying can affect both their personal and professional life.

Imagine this – you can travel all you want, at your own pace, without any work deadlines constantly nagging, you don’t have to rush a holiday because school summer breaks are almost over, and you don’t have to go back because classes/jobs are coming in the way (and you are broke mid-holiday).

Folks who are in their 50s and 60s have got all these sorted out for them. What a great time to travel and see the world! You are in that age where you don’t feel the need to impress anyone with how far you can trek or how fast you can hop destinations, now you can just tell people that all you want to do is travel comfortably, eat good, stay away from the crowd, sit back and relax. That’s the golden age for travelling. We have handpicked these destinations for you for your well-deserved holidays.

1. Kerala

Kerala is a timeless beauty, and our favourite for obvious reasons. From serene backwaters to gorgeous gentle hills with great weather, Kerala never disappoints. Places like Munnar, Wayanad, Kovalam, Alappuzha, Kumarakom, Alleppey, they all are great destinations for a relaxing holiday, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is not called God’s own country for nothing.

2. Puducherry

If you don’t mind leisure walks around peaceful seaside localities, Puducherry is the destination for you. Feel the nostalgia as you walk around the French quarters, visit the cool seaside eateries for a meal with a view, enjoy Auroville’s calm and serene atmosphere, and once the sun is down, head to the beach for a cool evening.

3. Rajasthan

Take your time to explore the many palaces in Rajasthan. One of the best ways to do that is to stay at one of the many havelis or palaces which are now turned into hotels. Rajasthan has been successful in maintaining the royal culture and it is a wonderful thing to experience. After all, now is the perfect time to pamper yourself with the best of luxury. Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Ranthambore, Udaipur, Jaipur and Jaisalmer should be on your Rajasthan itinerary. Slow travel is the best kind of travel,and Rajasthan is perfect for slow travel.

4. West Bengal and Sikkim

When we say West Bengal, we mean the hills. The hills of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and Siliguri are perfect for senior citizens. Views of Kanchenjunga, rich tea gardens, pretty localities, good food and friendly people, these are the experiences you will get in these hill stations. The nearby state of Sikkim should not be left out. If you don’t mind hilly roads (but scenic), Gangtok and Pelling are two great places to keep in your itinerary. Between these two places you will have plenty of beautiful monasteries to explore, you can visit Ravangla, and also experience the calm Khecheopalri Lake.

5. Himachal Pradesh

One of our favourites, Himachal Pradesh, is always a safe option when it comes to slow travel. Himachal is a popular adventure destination with so many great trekking routes around. But here we will look at more relaxed destinations like Mashobra, Chail, Fagu, Kasauli, Shimla, Shangarh, Tirthan, Barog, Dalhousie, Great Himalayan National Park, the list goes on. Summer is the perfect time to experience Himachal Pradesh. Here you can spend quality time at the fruit orchards, and the meadows are perfect for picnics.

If you also want to stay healthy while travelling and want to increase your immunity, then definitely these tips will help you.

It is very difficult to maintain a healthy routine while travelling. During this time we are forced to eat the same fried spicy food. Roaming all day and then eating street food or sitting at a restaurant when you are hungry completely spoils your routine. Eating this type of food also reduces our immunity, due to which problems like headaches, and back pain start occurring during the journey. If you also want to stay healthy while travelling and want to increase your immunity, then definitely read the tips given in this article carefully.

Exercise daily and take vitamin supplements

As you know, our immune system helps in keeping us away from infections and diseases. Due to a lack of strong immunity, germs and parasites can enter your body and make you sick. Taking a healthy diet and exercising on a daily basis helps in boosting good immunity. While travelling, you can do yoga or stretching exercises daily in your hotel room. Also, you can do meditation daily. In addition, there are many foods including kiwi, lemon, broccoli, berries and bananas that contain antioxidants, which help in boosting the immune system. You can also boost your immunity by taking essential vitamin capsules like Vitamin C and D along with Zinc on a daily basis.

Have a healthy breakfast

When you go on a trip, it is obvious that healthy food will not work for you. In such a situation, you usually keep eating snacks and fast food while travelling, which is definitely not good for your health at all. Things like potato chips and candies may fill you up for a while, but because of their high salt and sugar content, these snacks deplete your energy levels. Therefore, if you feel hungry while travelling, we suggest that you can have some light and healthy snacks, such as popcorn and dry fruits. Apart from this, you can also keep a protein bar with you.

Drink lots of water

We often forget to drink water while travelling. We drink water only when either there is food or we are very thirsty under compulsion. Due to the lack of water in the body, bacteria and viruses attack very quickly in your body, especially when you are on a foreign tour. To keep yourself hydrated, you must drink at least 8 to 9 glasses of water throughout the day or you can also keep a water bottle with you. Drink a glass of water before sleeping and after waking up in the morning.

Do not consume alcohol or smoke

When we go out for an outing with friends or partners, we often start planning for a liquor party. You should limit the consumption of alcohol or smoking while travelling, as it not only affects your sleep but can also lead to extreme fatigue and stress. Also, smoking is also very harmful to your body, so stay away from such things while travelling.

Eat the right amount of food

When we go out for a walk, when we are hungry, we tend to overeat. Due to this either the problem of acidity starts or our weight increases. If you want to keep yourself fit and your immune system strong during travelling, then try to eat something light for dinner if you have eaten heavy food for lunch. So that food can be easily digested at night. The night, you can have lean proteins, more vegetables, nutritious soups and salads.

Wash your hands after touching anything

The most important thing that you should take care of while travelling is hand hygiene because our hands touch every single thing like the doorknob, food plate, bag handle etc. Then with these hands, you eat food and touch your eyes and mouth. Before doing any work, first, sanitize your hands or after washing, wipe your hands thoroughly with a towel.