The Canadian Explorer
The Canadian ExplorerDiscover Canada · Explore Beyond
The Canadian Explorer
The Canadian ExplorerDiscover Canada · Explore Beyond
Scenic Rail Journeys

Rail travel style

Scenic Rail Journeys

Daylight rides through glaciers, gorges and coastlines.

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Travel style overview

What this style is all about.

Daylight rail through the Rockies, fall colour runs into the Agawa Canyon, coastal stretches along the St. Lawrence — Canada's most photogenic train windows.

Best for

  • Photographers and slow travellers
  • Couples and small groups
  • Wildlife watchers
  • Anyone who wants the journey to be the destination

Best season

Late May – early October; late September for fall colour.

What's included

A quick comparison.

Dome and panorama coaches with massive windows

Daylight-only routes (no scenery missed)

Multiple photo stops and slow viaduct crossings

Onboard narration of the landscapes

Featured rail journeys

Best journeys for scenic rail journeys.

Rocky MountaineerCanadaLuxury daylight

Rocky Mountaineer

Glass-domed coaches, gourmet plated dining and the unfolding theatre of the Canadian Rockies — all in daylight.

Vancouver → Banff / Jasper 2–7 days
From From $2,499Explore Journey
VIA Rail — The CanadianCanadaClassic sleeper

VIA Rail — The Canadian

An iconic 4,466-kilometre crossing of a continent, from boreal lakes to prairie horizons to the Rockies.

Toronto → Vancouver 4 nights
From From $1,299Explore Journey
Glacier ExpressPanoramic day train

Glacier Express

Switzerland's slowest express — 291 bridges, 91 tunnels and the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres.

Zermatt → St. Moritz 8 hours
From From $180Explore Journey
Bernina ExpressScenic UNESCO route

Bernina Express

A UNESCO-listed crossing of the Alps with the spiralling Brusio viaduct as a quiet finale.

Chur → Tirano 4 hours
From From $80Explore Journey
White Pass & Yukon RouteCanadaScenic

White Pass & Yukon Route

A narrow-gauge climb over the Klondike gold rush trail — sheer cliffs, glaciers and Yukon wilderness in a single afternoon.

Skagway → Carcross Half day
From from $150 CADExplore Journey
VIA Rail — The OceanCanadaComfort

VIA Rail — The Ocean

North America's oldest continuously operating named train, tracing the St. Lawrence and the Acadian coast overnight to Halifax.

Montréal → Halifax 22 hours
From from $250 CADExplore Journey
Agawa Canyon Tour TrainCanadaScenic

Agawa Canyon Tour Train

A single-day round-trip into one of Ontario's most spectacular canyons — at its absolute best when the maple forests turn.

Sault Ste. Marie → Agawa Canyon Full day
From from $130 CADExplore Journey
Polar Bear ExpressCanadaFrontier

Polar Bear Express

Ontario's sub-arctic lifeline — a journey to the edge of James Bay through some of the most remote terrain in the country.

Cochrane → Moosonee 5 hours
From from $110 CADExplore Journey

Pair it with

Build a bigger trip.

National Park add-ons (Banff, Jasper, Yoho)

Whale-watching in the Maritimes

Northern lights stays

Explore National Parks Browse Itineraries Experiences

Other rail styles

Explore another way to ride.

Luxury Rail Vacations

Suites, butlers, fine wine and crystal stemware on rails.

Explore

Rail & Cruise Vacations

Pair an iconic train with a Pacific or Mediterranean sailing.

Explore

Rail & Hotel Packages

Add nights in Banff, Lucerne or Kyoto to bookend the journey.

Explore

Guided Rail Tours

Small-group escorted journeys with on-board hosts and excursions.

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Independent Rail Adventures

Pass-based, self-guided travel — your route, your pace.

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Planning assistance

Talk to our rail travel concierge.

Tell us what you're hoping to experience and we'll share ideas, sample itineraries and honest advice — no booking pressure.

We help you build the trip — no booking pressure, no obligation.

Find Your Perfect Rail Journey Read planning guides