My Journey on the Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer is a train that takes you through some of the most beautiful and breathtaking landscape in Western Canada.  I had the good fortune of being able to take a round trip on the train from Jasper, Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia and then back again on a different route from Vancouver to Jasper.  The scenery is unforgettable and the service by the staff of The Rocky Mountaineer is impeccable.  In fact, my experience on the train was nothing short of life-changing.  It opened my eyes to a part of Canada that I had never seen before and I received amazing service along the way.

The main draw for the Rocky Mountaineer is the magnificent scenery.  Beautiful mountain ranges, lush rainforest, waterfalls, a wide range of many species of vegetation, and frequent spotting of various types of wildlife are only a few of the things you will witness on the train.  As you are traveling, a friendly member of the Rocky Mountaineer staff will guide your journey through a narration.  You never have to worry about missing something because you are constantly made aware of sights as you approach them by the staff.  One of my favorite instances of this was when we were traveling through a thickly vegetated section of BC.  A staff member drew the passengers’ attention to a beautiful cascade of water that was only viewable by standing up and peering down a small canyon on the left side of the coach.

As mentioned, the wildlife is one of the interesting things you will see on your journey on the Rocky Mountaineer.  I remember distinctly passing through an open area of land on one of the initial days of my journey and spotting a lone wolf drinking from a body of water a few hundred meters away.  There were also frequent sightings of mountain sheep who always seemed to defy laws of gravity by walking along steep inclines of mountain. 

The Rocky Mountains are another thing that you will see plenty of from angles and elevations that you can’t get from anywhere else in Western Canada.  It was raining on the final day that we spent on the train and when a mountain called Mount Robson came into view, the tallest mountain in the Rockies, the sun was peeking through the clouds and a beautiful rainbow was visible adjacent to the majestic mountain, another perfect photo opportunity.

The quality of service that is received on The Rocky Mountaineer is another thing that makes the experience so memorable.  I had the privilege of being on a Gold Leaf service car.  This differs from Silver Leaf in that there is a dining section below the sightseeing section on each car.  This allows passengers to receive full dining service with their fellow travelers and the quality of service is amazing.  Breakfast and lunch is served in the dining section and the menu is varied enough to please even the pickiest of eaters.  Dinner is not served on the train because the train stops before dinner hour every evening so that passengers can stay in hotels over night.  One day, because of delays, we were on the train for longer than expected.  The service and kitchen staff were kind enough to provide each passenger with an additional meal served at their seats on this day, another example of how the staff goes the extra mile to ensure satisfaction of every passenger.

Up in the sightseeing section of the car, the staff is efficient and always pleasant.  Besides narrating your journey, the staff provides you with unending refreshments and add personal touches to the journey.  Frequently, the staff will provide amusing and interesting stories to the travelers that add colour to the trip.

I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience the Rocky Mountaineer in my life.  It is a great way to see a beautiful part of Canada.  The sights that are seen are unforgettable and the quality of service is exceptional.