We start in the attractive city of Vancouver on Canada’s west coast and end in the ‘cowboy capital’ of Calgary a week later. By then our steam-hauled train will have climbed from sea level through the Rockies to almost 4,500ft, run over the awesome Crowsnest Pass and along the remarkable Fraser and Thompson river canyons. A further highlight is the mile long, 314ft high Lethbridge Trestle Bridge, the highest in North America.

We include private visits to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel and the historic Spirit of Kamloops Railway, and in Cranbrook enjoy a special dinner in the reconstructed Alexandra Hall, once the original dining room of the Canadian Pacific Railway Hotel in Winnipeg. There’s also an optional visit to the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Overnight accommodation is in three to five star hotels, and we spend our days aboard our private ‘Empress’ train. A bar serves light refreshments, and an additional option is to travel in either our glass-roofed ‘Dome’ observation car or the ‘Beavertail’ observation car at the rear of the train, each of which allow unparalleled views of the mountainous scenery, river canyons and Prairies we travel through. The dates for the tour (27 September-3 October) have been chosen to coincide with the onset of autumn with its stunning range of natural colours.

Our steam locomotive throughout will be beautifully restored ‘Hudson’ No. 2816 Empress, built in 1930. Empress will need to use all its 4,700 horsepower to haul our train along the steep gradients of the Canadian Pacific main line, a railway that finally opened up the wilds of the country when it opened in 1885.

From its remotest to its busiest parts Canada is a remarkable country. A journey across the Rockies with steam is something you’ll never forget.

The Rockies with steam!

Our itinerary

Join Steam Dreams for the holiday of a lifetime...

Day 1: Vancouver

After arrival from the UK we check in to the five-star Fairmont Waterfront Hotel (or similar) in this cosmopolitan city for a one-night stay. In the evening we enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Vancouver-Kamloops

Today we leave Vancouver with our private steam-hauled train and head east along the spectacular canyons of the Lower Fraser and Thompson River Canyons, before reaching Kamloops 250 miles away.

Day 3: Kamloops-Golden

After breakfast we take a special trip on the Spirit of Kamloops heritage train, before continuing our journey into Canada’s awesome mountains. After a private visit to Revelstoke Railway Museum we end our day in the town of Golden, situated in the stunning Columbia valley and surrounded by three different mountain ranges (Selkirk, Purcell and the Rockies) and six national parks.

Day 4: Golden-Fort Steele

Today we head along the Columbia Valley towards the US border, before staying overnight in Cranbrook. Here we enjoy a fabulous private dinner in the reconstructed Alexandra Hall, once the dining hall of the Canadian Pacific Railway hotel in Winnipeg.

Day 5: Cranbrook-Crowsnest Pass-Lethbridge

After a special visit to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel our train takes the spectacular route through the Crownest Pass, crossing the continental divide. There is an optional visit (at extra cost) to the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump UNESCO World Heritage Site. We overnight in Lethbridge.

Day 6: Lethbridge-Calgary

This morning we have the opportunity to photograph Empress and our train on the unique Lethbridge Trestle, one mile long and 314ft high. We continue our journey across the wide open Prairies before arriving at Calgary where we will overnight in the five star Fairmont Palliser Hotel.

Day 7: Calgary

Our tour ends in the Palliser’s Rimrock Room. Before flying out we have the chance to explore the city, which among other sights has a fascinating heritage park devoted to 19th Century life.

Costs

£1995 per person

Book on line

 Booking Terms & Conditions 

Flights are not included, further details on request. Single person supplement £420 per person.

Dome car supplement £500 per person.

It is a condition of booking that you have current and valid travel insurance.