Rocky Mountaineer Station
Tour operator · Strathcona ·
Luxury rail journeys with gourmet dining & panoramic glass domes
Luxury rail journeys with gourmet dining & panoramic glass domes
"A luxury rail experience through the Canadian Rockies aboard comfortable, glass-domed cars with multi-night options such as an 11-night Grand Adventure Circle Journey that includes five days aboard the train and overnight stays in Vancouver, Whistler, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, and other towns; routes wind through British Columbia's Sea-to-Sky Corridor, farmland, stunning canyons, and the Icefields Parkway (with Ice Explorer excursions to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier)." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A luxury scenic train operator offers multi-day rail journeys across the Canadian Rockies and the American Southwest that are designed as much around the onboard experience as the destinations; for the traveler who understands that getting to their destination can be half the fun, this train makes for an ideal vacation. The experience emphasizes panoramic and dome-shaped windows, comfy seats with plenty of legroom, animated storytelling from onboard hosts, curated entertainment, and delicious meals, plus hotel stays at overnight stops, optional excursion packages, and travel only during daylight hours so passengers don’t miss any inch of the jaw-dropping landscape. Routes range from two- to three-day itineraries (with the option to combine two routes into a four- or five-day circle journey): First Passage to the West (Vancouver → Kamloops → Banff) moves through Fraser Valley, green forests and rivers, with iconic views of Castle Mountain and access to Banff National Park and Lake Louise; Journey Through the Clouds (Vancouver → Kamloops → Jasper) highlights the Blue River, Pyramid Falls, and Mount Robson; Rainforest to Gold Rush (Vancouver → Whistler → Quesnel → Jasper) begins around Horseshoe Bay and Howe Sound, includes an overnight in Whistler (where the Peak-2-Peak gondola is recommended) and then traverses arid gold-rush–era canyons en route to Jasper; Rockies to the Red Rocks (Denver → Glenwood Springs → Moab) crosses the Continental Divide and the 6.3-mile Moffat Tunnel, includes a Glenwood Springs overnight (where visiting the world's largest mineral hot spring pool is a must), and trades high Rockies for red‑rock vistas such as Mount Garfield and Ruby Canyon before arriving in Moab for Arches and Canyonlands. Service levels are distinct: GoldLeaf is a two-level luxury coach with a first-floor dining room with large panoramic windows, a large outdoor platform, second-floor seating with dome-shaped windows and plush heated leather seats, and made-to-order cuisine with elevated presentation; SilverLeaf is a single-level coach with large picture windows, meals prepared before departure and warmed onboard, comfortable seats, and a small outdoor viewing area (one to two people at a time); and because tunnels preclude the usual two-level GoldLeaf coach on the Rockies‑to‑the‑Red‑Rocks route, SilverLeaf Plus is offered, which pairs SilverLeaf seating/meal service with a small standing-only viewing area plus a separate lounge car where passengers can relax and grab a drink at the bar. "When attempting to help prospective guests decide between SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf, I try and paint a picture of two great — but different — levels of service," "I describe our SilverLeaf experience as a single-level railcar with beautiful large picture windows, great food and storytelling, and ample room between the seats. When describing our GoldLeaf experience, I try to present an image of true luxury with plush leather heated seats, a fully domed railcar with maximum viewing ability, an additional onboard host for enhanced service and more frequent storytelling, and made-to-order cuisine with world-class presentation and taste," said Danny Becker, senior manager of sales development. "You really can’t go wrong whether you choose SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, both are high-quality, all-inclusive levels of service," Becker added." - Jessica Poitevien Jessica Poitevien Jessica Poitevien is an international storyteller and regular contributor to Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"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
"I note that the itinerary includes GoldLeaf Service on Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Jasper, presented as one of the luxurious rail segments that make up the around-the-world trip." - Rachel Chang Rachel Chang Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A premium daytime rail service used on the western leg of the itinerary, this train emphasizes panoramic scenery and on-board dining, ferrying guests through mountain landscapes while serving meals and enabling leisurely viewing of changing fall colors." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
