This Luxury Train Journey in Canada Is One of the Best Ways to Experience Jasper and Banff National Park — Here’s What It’s Like
"Founded in 1990 by Peter Armstrong, the company now operates four routes — Rockies to the Red Rocks, Rainforest to Gold Rush, First Passage to the West, and Journey Through the Clouds (the latter running between Vancouver and Calgary with a notable stop in Jasper). The multi-day luxury train experience feels far from ordinary: cars have a spiral staircase (and an elevator) leading to a seating area with a glass dome for panoramic views, and seats are spacious, plush, and compared favorably to business-class plane seats — "more luxurious than elite seats on many carriers." Luggage is handled end-to-end: after dropping bags on day one they "seamlessly appear" in hotel rooms and are returned to the train. Onboard dining in GoldLeaf Service offers gourmet meals in the lower level with booths and white tablecloths; menus change seasonally and include vegetarian and gluten-free offerings — examples given include eggs benedict, chia seed pudding for breakfast, and seared tuna on a salad for lunch. Executive chef Kaelhub Cudmore said, "Our goal on the train from a culinary standpoint is to really bring in the areas that we're traveling to into these domes and express the regions through the food." The main seating area has a small bar/kitchenette and attendants who walk the aisle offering unlimited drinks and snacks; the writer sampled a Caesar — described as "Canada’s take on The Bloody Mary — except lighter, more binge-able" — and notes staff adapted during delays by serving an impromptu excellent meal. Scenic highlights include glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, limestone caves, ice fields, canyons and numerous wildlife sightings (the author specifically mentions bear sightings approaching Jasper), and the scenery was so absorbing the writer skipped books and shows and took 60-plus photographs of her first glimpse of the Rockies. Editor's Note: Jasper National Park was among the areas affected by wildfires in Alberta, Canada, in 2024. The government of Canada is keeping travelers updated with resources and information at parks.canada.com." - Travel + Leisure Editors
