Latest news with #IceExplorer
The Independent
29-07-2025
- The Independent
The ‘world's best train' to launch new mountain route next summer
A train operator crowned the 'world's best' will roll out a new rail journey through the Canadian mountains next summer. The Rocky Mountaineer will travel between Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper for a 'limited time' in June and July 2026 as part of a new route, named 'Passage to the Peaks'. In July, Travel + Leisure proclaimed the Rocky Mountaineer the world's best train route in its annual awards survey. According to Rocky Mountaineer, the new journey is for travellers who want to immerse themselves in 'evergreen forests, sparkling glacial lakes, and towering mountains.' The package has been introduced for the summer of 2026 to coincide with Fifa World Cup events taking place in Vancouver. Rocky Mountaineer said: 'With the city expected to welcome a significant number of visitors, we're excited to offer an alternative route for those seeking a quieter experience.' Passage to the Peaks is a two-day journey with an overnight stay in a hotel, although packages can be extended for up to nine nights. Rail fans will be set back between £1,670 and £7,193 per person, depending on which of the seven packages customers choose. The route through the Canadian Rockies can be taken westbound or eastbound, passing highlights such as Mount Rundle, Pyramid Falls and Mount Robson. Optional activities include gondola rides to the top of Sulphur Mountain and a ride on an Ice Explorer to the Athabasca Glacier – located on one of the largest ice fields south of the Arctic Circle. The Rocky Mountaineer isn't the only operator trying something new in 2026. A new rail journey from Adventures by Rail will roll travellers around the world in 100 days – if passengers splash out over £100,000 on a ticket. In April, the tour company offered 12 customers the chance to book a mammoth adventure through Europe, Asia and into North America. The flagship 'Around the World by Train in 100 Days' journey departs London on 17 March 2026, and includes iconic rail routes such as Japan's Shinkansen bullet train and an Orient Express-inspired trip through Istanbul. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder's podcast
Time Out
25-07-2025
- Time Out
The world's best train is launching a brand-new route next summer
Pack your bags, boots and winter coats. The same train that just won Travel + Leisure 's world's best train category is breaking ground with a new, limited-edition route through some gorgeous, icy landscapes. That's right, folks. The Rocky Mountaineer has stretched its rails further with its brand-new ' Passage to the Peaks ' route, available to book now for June and July of 2026. The new route takes a break from the Mountaineer's typical journey through the West Coast and instead ventures through the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, stopping at the towns of Edmonton, Jasper, Banff, Calgary, Kamloops and Lake Louise. In between stops, the train glides through dazzling natural landscapes like glacial lakes, deep valleys, mountain ranges and forests along the Canadian Rockies, making optimal use of that panoramic glass roof that helped the Mountaineer gain its notoriety in the first place. Travellers can choose from one, five, seven or nine-night experiences. The first and main route starts at either alpine towns, Banff or Jasper, making an overnight stop at Kamloops with time to explore each town. The five-night package offers the same stops, but way more time to explore the towns, plus a half-day sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park. Seven-night trips can vary – one excludes Banff, but has extra stops in Edmonton, Lake Louise and Calgary, while the other excludes Lake Louise, but keeps Banff. As for the nine-night experiences, the Rocky Mountaineer will whisk you through the mountains to visit all the stops, or if you'd like a return trip, the train will exclude Edmonton, but will start and end back in Calgary. Feel like upping the ante? Travellers can also add a ride on an Ice Explorer vehicle to glide along the Athabasca Glacier in Columbia Icefields – one of the largest icefields south of the Arctic Circle. Whichever route you choose, each has its unique perks, whether it be cosy hotels, sightseeing tours and free time to roam solo and take in that fresh, mountainous air.
