What it’s really like to ride the Rocky Mountaineer

It feels special before you even board

After an early start, your luggage is tagged and taken care of, leaving you free to check in, collect your boarding pass, and enjoy tea or coffee before departure. There’s live music, including piano and bagpipes, and time to take photos beside the train. Even before you board, it feels like the start of something out of the ordinary. Once on board, your hosts (Harley and Emily in our case) welcome you into your GoldLeaf carriage with a departure mimosa.

The GoldLeaf carriage is all about the view

The first thing you notice in GoldLeaf is the glass-domed ceiling. The seats are spacious and comfortable, but really, everything is designed to keep your attention outside. Over the course of the journey, the scenery changes constantly. Vancouver gradually gives way to open countryside, then drier desert-like landscapes, dense forest, rivers, and finally the mountains. And when there’s something particularly worth seeing, the train won’t just rush past it. It slows down at key moments, giving you time to take in waterfalls and other standout views properly, while your hosts explain what you’re looking at.

Your hosts are your Google

There’s no Wi-Fi on board Rocky Mountaineer, and that quickly becomes part of the experience. Instead of reaching for your phone every time you want to know the name of a mountain, river, or town, you ask your hosts. They share stories about the places you pass, point out wildlife and landmarks, explain the history of the route, and answer the many questions that naturally come up during a full day on board.

Lunch is more than a sandwich at your seat

One of the biggest differences with GoldLeaf is the dining experience. Rather than eating at your seat, guests head downstairs to a dedicated dining carriage, where breakfast and lunch are served at proper tables. The menu changes throughout the journey and, importantly, the kitchen can adapt dishes to suit individual tastes. If you want something tweaked, just ask.

Guests rotate between the first and second dining sittings each day, and if you are on the later sitting, you won’t be left hungry while you wait – snacks are brought to your seat upstairs. The dining carriage also gives you a different view of the landscape, so even while you’re eating, you never really lose sight of the journey happening outside.

And the drinks keep coming to you

Back upstairs, drinks are served directly to your seat throughout the day. There are Canadian wines, spirits, classic drinks, soft drinks, hot beverages, and some very good speciality cocktails. One particular favourite is the Baileys hot chocolate, which feels especially appropriate when you’re sitting beneath a glass dome watching the Canadian landscape roll past.

The service is what brings it all together

The scenery might be the reason you book Rocky Mountaineer, but the people on board are a huge part of what you remember. From the moment you arrive at the station, everything is organised for you. Luggage is taken care of, the day is clearly explained, food and drinks appear when needed, and the hosts always seem to know when there was something coming up that everyone should look out for. Nothing feels rushed, and no question or request is too much trouble.

To book your trip on the Rocky Mountaineer, speak to your Travel Counsellor today.