Journey through the Clouds on Rocky Mountaineer: A trip of a lifetime with Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Jasper through the majestic Canadian Rockies via Kamloops. This train journey delivers stunning views on the way, with friendly and efficient service, exemplary food and big, comfy seats with those stunning views I mentioned earlier. It’s a memory-making bucket list train journey through some of Canada’s most speculator scenery.
with
Gold Leaf Service
From the tinkling ivories on a grand piano in Rocky Mountaineer’s terminus in Vancouver, to the towering mountains, excellent food and friendly service on board, my Journey though the Clouds on this iconic of trains was the ultimate bucket list train journey from start to finish. And, it was made even more pleasurable as I was travelling in Rocky Mountaineer’s luxury Gold Leaf Service, which was the ultimate icing on the cake. My journey started in vibrant Vancouver and ended in the beautiful mountainous town of Jasper, and along the way I was treated to some of the most spectacular scenery you’re even likely to see, as well as being spoilt with snacks at my seat, an open bar service and some pretty amazing meals; all of this I will cover in future posts, but for now, I want to give you an overview and taster of what my Gold Leaf journey with Rocky Mountaineer was like.
Rocky Mountaineer Gold Leaf Service:
Travelling in Gold Leaf Service gives you added luxury to an already fabulous train journey; here’s what to expect with Gold Leaf Service:
* A refreshing welcome aboard toast
* Hot gourmet breakfasts and lunches, morning scones and afternoon wine and cheese
* A custom-designed bi-level dome coach with meal service below and seating up top
* An exclusive outdoor viewing platform
* Complimentary beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and gourmet snacks
* Complimentary baggage delivery to your hotel
Sample Breakfast Menu:
Ease yourself into another glorious day with a gourmet breakfast served in the exclusive lower-level dining room of your dome coach. Freshly baked butter croissants, warm cinnamon scones, and some seriously good coffee – these are just mere appetisers to tantalise your senses.
Breakfast begins with Chef’s seasonal fruit creation and a freshly baked treat.
SOURDOUGH STACK
Caramelized sourdough flapjacks, served with country chicken sausage and cranberry maple cream.
CANADIAN CHEDDAR SOUFFLÉ
A light and fluffy egg and cheddar cheese soufflé, baked and served with roasted nugget potatoes, smoked bacon and country chicken sausages.
SMOKED CORN & EGG CRISP
Scrambled Fraser Valley eggs, mozzarella cheese, smoked corn,and sweet bell peppers wrapped in a crispy spring roll, served with roasted nugget potatoes and Montreal pastrami beef.
SIR SANDFORD FLEMING EGGS BENEDICT
Two poached eggs and Montreal style smoked beef stacked on a toasted English muffin, topped with tarragon scented hollandaise.
STOVETOP OATMEAL
Traditional prospector rolled oats, cooked stovetop and served with brown sugar and fresh berries.
CRANBERRY APPLE FRENCH TOAST
Pan-fried cranberry and apple baguette, drizzled with maple cream and served with roasted almond and honey syrup.
FIELD BERRY PARFAIT
Homemade crunchy roasted almond granola, layered with a sweet field berry compote and creamy yogurt.
The Trip: Journey through the Clouds:
There are several routes that Rocky Mountaineer takes, I was on the very romantic and historical 2-day Rail journey from Vancouver to Jasper called Journey through the Clouds. Here’s a rough outline of my route:
Travel through scenic valleys, the Coast Mountains range and the Fraser Canyon with its spectacular white water rapids and dramatic landscape. You will follow the route of the Fraser River, home of British Columbia’s largest salmon run, pass by the Albreda Glacier and magnificent Pyramid Falls, and hopefully see wildlife on the way. The highlight of this route is majestic Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Relax on-board Rocky Mountaineer for two days of all-daylight rail travel through Canada’s West and the Canadian Rockies.
2 days onboard the Rocky Mountaineer
Station and hotel transfers in Kamloops
1 night hotel in Kamloops
To extend your journey with hotel nights at the beginning and end of your journey, book the Journey through the Clouds Classic, Vancouver to Jasper package.
2 breakfasts, 2 lunches plus Gold Leaf service snacks and drinks
The luxury and comfort is simply beyond compare. No wonder this is our most popular…
Starting from
View spectacular Scenery and Wildlife along the way:
Part of the excitement and exhilaration of travelling on one of Rocky Mountaineer’s routes, is seeing the stunning scenery and wildlife from the comfort of your luxurious reclining leather seat. From the gentle rivers outside Vancouver to Mount Robson as you enter Jasper, it’s all laid out for you like a celebratory dinner!
The train slows down as it approaches certain points of outstanding beauty or interest along the way and even if wildlife is seen by the edge of the rail tracks too. The on-board magazine called Mile Post also has maps and snippets of interesting facts for you to read and follow along on the way.
Bear and moose viewing is popular and we did see, albeit fleetingly, a bear just outside Jasper which resulted in the whole carriage shouting with excitement!
I hope you have enjoyed my “taste of Rocky Mountaineer”, which is my first post about my “once in a lifetime trip”. Please keep popping back to see more detailed posts about the trip, the hotels, food, and excursions that I undertook whilst on the train journey. I’ll leave you with a video of a typical Rocky Mountaineer train trip, and for more information about all the routes you can take, why not visit their page here: Rocky Mountaineer Routes
Disclaimer: I am a “Rocky Mountaineer Ambassador” and this is a sponsored post. All of my flights, transfers, meals, hotels, the train journey and related excursions were free, and I was not asked to write a favourable review.
Images: All images are mine, Karen Burns-Booth, unless otherwise stated.
Ron says
What a wonderful experience the “Gold Leaf Service” must have been. Living in the Vancouver area for years, we would often see the Rocky Mountaineer flying by on the tracks and wonder what it was like inside. You’ve shown us that and now we know what a grand trip it would be.
Karen Burns-Booth says
It REALLY was a trip of a lifetime Ron and we were so well looked after with FAB food, service and wines, snacks etc etc. I have been on many train journeys and this was the creme de la creme! LOVE Vancouver too by the way, so cool and laid back! Karen
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
Karen, what a wonderful review! Your photos make me feel as if I’ve just had a bit of a holiday this morning!
Artisan Traveller says
This was such a fantastic read. It certainly does look like a trip of a lifetime! I will definitely look into Rocky Mountaineer as this is something I would love to do.
Karen Burns-Booth says
It is the stuff of Bucket List dreams, and well worth it…..I loved it and I am sure you will too. Karen
Andrea Pretli says
The description of a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer is not exaggerated! We went on our trip in June 2015, taking the Gold Leaf Service from Banff to Vancouver with an overnight stop in Kamloops and we enjoyed every single moment along the way! It was worth every penny even though it was expensive, but we have no regrets on spending the money. We live in Ontario and had travelled extensively in Europe (I am originally from North East England) but had never been out to Western Canada so this was our dream trip in Canada. We flew from Toronto to Calgary and we were picked up the next day by the Rocky Mountaineer bus and driven to Banff. Along the way they took us on side trips plus we got to fly in a Helicopter above Kanaskis Park….which is stunning! After and overnight stay in Banff we boarded our train and the real fun began. The service on the train is second to none, everyone so friendly and full of information along the way. We were also lucky to spend a week on Vancouver Island …staying with friends, another bucket list item scratched off! So glad you enjoyed our beautiful country.