97hrs on Luxury Canadian Sleeper Train | Toronto to Vancouver

Today I am going to travel on this

sleeper

train

for 97 hours across an entire continent. I'll show you exactly what it's like to live on board this

train

, from economy class to first class, from how you wash the food you receive to what it's like to sleep. On board, there are even separate viewing cars to enjoy one of the longest train journeys in the world from the mountains to the cities and nature. Let's pick up my story at the beginning of this epic adventure in Toronto, Canada. here bright and early at Toronto Union Station where we're going to catch the Canadian super excited about this if a bit intimidated as we're touring an entire continent opened in 1927 Toronto Union Station is a landmark in its own right it's Canada's station largest and most opulent train designed in a bourgeois style way back in 1913. it certainly stood the test of time and is a fitting space to start our epic journey today we are in Prestige class so instead of checking in at the counter Headed to VIP lounge business class next to the main ticketing hall after a warm Canadian greeting.

Our bags are checked. The validated tickets were taken to the VIP room. Naturally, let's start with a caffeine hit. Relax in a lounge that Prestige guests have access to. In fact, this section is completely for us, since there are no other guests. In First Class in what seems to be a very short time. We are welcome to board at our leisure. Our friendly concierge Natalie accompanies us. through the station to our platform here we are then our train the world famous VIA Rail

canadian

our home for the next 97 hours with its pedigree dating back to the first transcontinental passenger trains of 1886 this is a service steeped in history It wasn't until the 1950s, however, that a new

luxury

offering known as the Canadian came to light.

What makes it so special is that the train still operates the original Bud stainless steel carriages from the 1950s, oh, and it's also featured on the Canadian 10 note. You will find our first class Prestige Carriage. at the back of the train in car 130. There are six rooms with private bathrooms per car and today we are in room D, right in the middle. This is my preference for a quieter ride. Welcome aboard and once again welcome back to the channel, Millie. hello, you're about to say you're back, I think that's your catchphrase, um, but anyway, welcome to our room, our Prestige classroom, where it will be our home for the next five days, let's settle in, let's leave and we I'll show you around after a few minutes.

We are notified that it is time to leave and thus the constant movement begins for the foreseeable future. So where does the second longest passenger train in the world take us? We will cross the lakes of northern Ontario, the open prairies. of Manitoba and Saskatchewan before passing through Alberta and the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and finally arriving in Vancouver on day five as we slowly make our way out of Toronto, enjoying epic views of the CN tower, it's actually more relevant than you think as the CN tower was commissioned by the Canadian National Railway company in 1973.

Anyway back to our Prestige compartment we were offered champagne and canapés to start with this is certainly a far cry from Amtrak with that let's take a look at our room this it's the best class. of travel within the Via realm Network and is offered exclusively in the Canadian with a huge picture window and a comfortable leather-trimmed L-shaped sofa to use during the day and will convert into a comfortable double bed at night. There's even a TV loaded with a variety of movies and TV shows There's a mini bar that can be stocked with the beverages of your choice restocked throughout your trip There are multiple power outlets that will keep your AC powered devices controlled via from a central control panel that can also cool your janitor at any time, from broom service to turndown service.

It's a smart space, that's for sure, but it must be for this price. There's also a private bathroom complete with a shower and toiletries, though we'll take a closer look at that later. Anyway, I arrive at lunch time, each meal is served in two sittings and sometimes three joint Peaks summer trips on Prestige, you get first pick times and we're gone for the last sitting today , apart from room service meals, all served in the dining room. The car one car down the train is a lovely place to be with huge picture windows and seats arranged in sets of four that are set apart from our separate cabin at the back which has been reserved just for Millie and I should we take a look at the menu then four impressive options are offered for the main course along with the soup of the day and a selection of desserts in terms of drinks these are taken care of by most passengers however Prestige guests include them naturally let's start proceedings with an ice cream DC as our orders are done it certainly started to get a lot busier here remember it's communal seating for most so be prepared to make some super new friends on the day it turns out to be a tomato served with a Kellogg's cookie I can't say I've been served a combo like this before, but hey, it works great a few minutes later and we're served our main course.

Milly opts for the spinach and ricotta cannelloni complete with a rich tomato sauce and barter of garlic saddle. In the meantime, I opt for the foreign pulled pork sandwich. Top marks everywhere, although I'm pretty full now, just as lunch wraps up, we pass over the famous Parry Sound Trestle Bridge, completed in 1907, but the Canadian Pacific Railway is 105ft high. tracks this also means we have reached our first outdoor break we better bundle up it is certainly well below freezing outside currently Parry Sound is a popular vacation destination from hiking trails to the beautiful shorelines of Georgian Bay though today I'll just talk I'll try not to pile it on the incredibly icy shelf we've already covered a few hundred kilometers so we're now in quite a different environment to Toronto of course but time to take some of fresh air and step on a bit of dry land. on board I think it's time we explored the train a bit more including the sleeping cabins of the Dome carriage and the Bullet Lounge unfortunately unlike the Royal Scotsman or Andean Explorer there are no spa facilities on board on the

canadian

sleeper

train however in such cases you can take the spa for yourself presents swedish beauty technology brand foreo the sponsor of today's video foreo actually has a wide range of innovative devices for the home such as the UFO 2 supercharged at-home facial device that virtually gives you a spa facial in just two minutes.

It's the perfect gift for your partner, but let me tell you a little more, UEFA 2 features a lot of technology that you can only get in a spa, such as thermotherapy, cryotherapy and LED light therapy. Your app is connected for true personalization allowing you professional-level treatment from the comfort of your home. from your own home at less cost Milly is obsessed with the UFO 2 device and constantly shows me how her skin is more radiant and smoother. I have to admit that she may have stolen this from him to prove it. every skin type so make no mistake it makes the perfect gift or indeed home spa treatment for yourself thanks again foreo for sponsoring today's video Let's get into the Sleeper Plus car featuring three types of accommodations , first the most economical upper and lower births by day two double seats facing each other but at night the seat folds down to provide two comfortable beds with a privacy curtain there is no private bathroom but a toilet located at the end of the car now let's go go up another class to the private cabin for one, these come with lockable doors, privacy curtains and a very important bathroom, well not quite as this is your toilet, no thanks.

I would opt for the toilet at the end of The Carriage again instead. Both accommodations offer access. to a shared shower facility lastly the private cabin for two sadly i can't access these on my trip as they are fully booked but here are some stock images to give you a rough idea in our cabin dusk begins to drop by while we A charcuterie board was served before dinner, which is certainly a pleasant surprise. The foreigners also sit down for dinner, but they remain in the same position at the back of the dining car. Tonight's menu looks particularly special and I'm sure you can guess what I'm on.

Our drinks are to be served and orders are taken and in no time we are served an appetizer of Road salmon and creme fraiche over bellinis with a balsamic dressing salad that is not quite Beluga caviar but tastier as As we move into the darkness of Ontario, we are served a delicious pretzel roll along with our entrees. We both opted for the steak. decadent chocolate brownie cake which is absolutely divine with our full Tommy's, back to our cabin for some sleep, it's worth noting that our room is accessible via hotel style key cards unlike the rest of the train which it simply locks from the inside so our bedroom has been transformed into a very comfortable sleeping place, thanks even to placing some Belgian chocolate next to our pillow, all in detail huh time to rip up the Thames and getting ready to get some sleep it's been a long day of eating and exploring with so much more to undertake tomorrow the next day we woke up in a wonderful winter wonderland still in the state of ontario.

I make time for a shower, which is always a challenge when you're moving at 70 miles an hour, believe it or not. In fact, I'm a little hungry, let's go to the dining car to remedy that Guinea Tao is a little cold. You can almost build a snowman in the lobby. for transcontinental breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs hash browns and foreign bacon at our first stop of the day so watch out let's grab my jacket and head off my cheeks while Millie says it's unbelievably cold in here minus 25 degrees Celsius to warm us up Hop on the front of the train and watch our locomotive take us all the way to British Columbia.

In fact, two General Electric p-42 DCS with a combined output of 8,500 horsepower will pull us and they will surely work. anyway back to sue Lookout known to locals as Hub of the north its name originates from the nearby mountains used to watch the Sioux Warriors Incorporated in 1912 as a terminus on the national transcontinental railroad today the town It's a busy hub for healthcare and education for the Northern communities that swells in size during the summer months with many seasonal visitors welcome to, well, it's a pretty small town, although for the area it's a big city. and a population of about 5000 people, we're just going to take a quick look because it's freezing, isn't it that cold?

Freezing completely around minus 20 here. Also comment on how much more prepared Millie is than I am. I have very basic gloves in the coat. It's okay, but Millie is much warmer than me. getting back on board and not wanting to risk being without another westbound train for quite some time as we glide through the winter wonderland outside. other vantage points compare to get a closer look at the fabulous Panorama that is Canada located at the end of the train here is during peak hours access here is limited to Prestige guests only so it is almost like a private lounge however during the Winter months is open to all on board, snacks are available throughout the day with complimentary drinks for us, even though we are constantly jetlagged.

I think we'll stick with the caffeinated variety. 2-2 setup with arguably the best views early on. These are reserved for the exclusive use of Prestige class passengers. snow clears up a bit on arrival in winnipeg the provincial capital of manitoba this will be an extended layover of around four hours so plenty of time to get out and stretch your legs it seems strange to be back in a big area urbanized after Spending the last 36 hours in nature, coupled with poor cell reception, not wanting to walk too far, you'll head to the station and check out the immediate area around downtown Winnipeg.

This station is also the gateway to Churchill. This is definitely a train. I would love to at some point take more than 45 hours on board and it will take you to what is known as the Paradise of Beluga Whales and Polar Bears. It's also a great place to see the Northern Lights. Let me know if you want to see a video. on this later in the year well it's a pretty good night here from winnipeg station we're actually i thinkalso in the city center so we actually have a bit of time to go and explore the city.

I've never been here before you know anything about where we are me no no it's not good well let's try to figure it out together a bit we have about an hour and a half before we have to get back on the train and of course I don't want to miss the train because if we do there's no good we're not going to Vancouver we'll be stuck in Waterberg and all our luggage will be going to Vancouver so yeah let's not do that thing named after nearby Lake Winnipeg though perhaps one of the city's most unique quirks It is the world's largest ice skating rink, technically the world's longest natural frozen skating rink at five and a half years in length.

Half a mile, to be honest, feels like we're ice skating walking downtown. It's so incredibly slippery that after seeing the iconic Fort Gary Hotel, which was built by the great Pacific Railway in 1913. We decided it's probably best to head back. in the heat of the train and indeed for dinner back on board let's go straight to the dining car as usual the menu looks great to start milops with the seared prawns with sweet chilli sauce while I go for the winter vegetable soup Particularly warm tonight, it's served with delicious freshly baked for Maine pretzel bread. I go for the garden vegetable lasagna with breadcrumbs.

It certainly hits the spot now, I probably shouldn't have, but hey, for review purposes, let's try the Salted Caramel Cheesecake. rich and moist and absolutely delicious but my Fork down will start coming out of Winnipeg station so let's get back home and deliver see you next morning good morning from another new province Saskatchewan via In the evening we toured the rest of Manitoba, which also means we've gained another hour just as we finished the last of our coffee. We began to glide towards our first stop of the day. Saskatoon. Unfortunately the railway is five miles from the CBD so no chance to explore the city center originally saskatoon main station was located closer to the city center opened in 1908 by canadian pacific however passenger service it ended up here in 1960 where it relocated to the current station well hello and good morning where are you from We are Millie Saskatoon and we are here because I think it is 20 minutes or so, yes, for the Amiga to return, although soon, yes. the tracks your anxiety levels are at eek i like being near the train no i don't blame you i mean given what i've been able to do before a long time channel viewers will know my uh how i almost missed training in the desert from Alaska where there wasn't a train for another two days we don't want to do that let's make sure we don't do so much to Millie's relief we'll head back to the platform where the refueling is almost done and get back on board I think it's time we let's explore the train some more believe it or not there are still some cars we haven't seen yet we will start with the Skyline car located near the front this is accessible for both bunk and economy passengers with this comfortable lounge to relax and watch the time go by world this is also where the catering provision is for budget passengers but also on request for sleeper passengers there is also a less glamorous dining room to eat I think it is referred to as the skyline cafe but the real special feature of this car is another dome up, no reserved seating here but never found seating to be an issue of course in the more popular areas like the Rocky Mountains which we will be passing through. morning want to get there early during the summer months this would be the only option for non prestige guests for most of the day however they do add extra Dome cars especially for increased passenger traffic now did I mention economy this is located one car up which again can Flex for capacity today there is only one of these cars on the train but more are added during peak season travel Can't say I'd like to spend five days here though with the sun going down in the sky remember it's still winter so it sets pretty early let's go and enjoy the views from the prestige seats in the park wagon oh and so we can enjoy the drinks served in our seats too as it's been Late night, of course, it's time for dinner in the dining car and what a pleasure we have I have tonight to start with.

I opt for the pumpkin soup, but it's the main event. What I'm craving the most is the beef short rib, of course, complemented by a delicious rosemary demi-glaze. To close, we both opted for the famous chocolate brownie. cake this has to be one of my favorite desserts aboard a train to date top marks theorail and with that it's time for bed because tomorrow will be in the Rockies the next day good morning from Jasper Alberta another news more Province having traveled overnight from Saskatchewan, unlike provinces we have passed through thus far with indigenously derived names, Alberta was named for Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Alberta in 1905.

Jasper to me brand one of the highlights of the trip as we will continue through the Rocky Mountains today. Jasper is a playground for all seasons, from skiing during the winter months to cross country trails, hiking and rafting during the summer. It's also one of the terminal stations for the Rocky Mountaineer, a

luxury

train that I took last summer while it's a beautiful good morning here from Jasper Alberta it's uh it's about eight and we have about an hour to explore this city it's a place where i want to be for a lot longer of course it's also our first look at the Rocky Mountains because last night when we were sleeping we went through a lot of the Rocky Mountains but this morning we got some amazing views it's at this point that we get distracted with this cute little cafe and the baked goods it has to offer I mean we need to warm up with the proper caffeine it's time to get back on the train Jasper is a popular boiling point for many passengers who just want to spend the night in Vancouver and enjoying some of the most incredible scenery Canada has to offer on this next leg of the journey it will take around 24 hours to reach our final destination of Vancouver early tomorrow morning.

This is where the Prestige class really comes in a clutch with seats reserved in advance for the most scenic part of the journey and my word it's just minutes after leaving Jasper. evident while the Rocky Mountaineer exclusively operates a train for this sector. I have to admit, this is one of the most magical train experiences I've had to date, gliding down one of the world's most iconic mountain ranges while relaxing in a comfortable recliner sipping coffee in the heat, but that's not it. everything as we continue even higher we meander through woods under heavy snow its really just a dream at this point we have a brief interlude where the train passes through the Rocky Mountain trench between the Rocky Mountains and three mountain ranges. caribou monashi and selkirk ranges this is known as the Valley of the Mountains or formerly Belmont, but it also signifies our entry into our final province of British Columbia since it is well past noon.

I think we should enjoy brunch that we serve in the dining room. car and since we've been up since six in the morning, I definitely feel more like lunch than breakfast, so pasta is on the agenda. The pasta of the day is a delicious four cheese ravioli served with fresh garlic bread. It definitely hits the spot, however, the resulting coma from the meal means an afternoon nap is definitely in order. This, of course, highlights the benefit of having a cover service when you want it. picture windows is the most relaxed I've been in a long time awake and rejuvenated we are about to reach Kamloops Incorporated in 1893 as a result of the gold rush and the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway saw this once small settlement drive to dozens of thousands is a major transportation hub but also a tourist hotspot, it's actually one of the sunniest destinations in Canada with many emerging resorts to cater for both domestic and international visitors, welcome to Kamloops North for about 20 minutes drive out of kam lips actually been here before when i took the rocky mountaineer from banff to

vancouver

this was the halfway point of the stop and actually you probably just saw in the corner of the jacks now the rocky Mountaineer which is basically in hibernation mode until the summer months, this will be our last stop on the train before we hit Vancouver in the morning, although we still have one last car to experience beforehand, the bullet lounge, it's actually part of the car parked at the rear of the train and is one of the busiest on board we rarely find it empty, however with early dinner seating currently underway this allows us a breather we can enjoy alcoholic beverages and refreshments included here and what a way to end another amazing day on the rails. last dinner on board and starting with a delicious chorizo ​​appetizer served with a Dijon mustard dressing, the main melee went for the rack of lamb while I went for the chickpea curry served with fresh Roti, usually also I would have gone for the lamb, but I'm in the mood for something a little different tonight, something neither of us felt like changing, although the chocolate brownie cake is back on the menu by popular demand.

Seriously, I need to find the recipe for this one the next day. the last mile to Vancouver at this point you've probably wondered how much this all cost, well it was far from cheap for five days in Prestige class but the two of us got to CDN$11,257 now, the service was impeccable, the Food was amazing and it was a very comfortable way to get across the country however it is still an incredible amount of money and although I loved it this is Orient Express level of cost if I were to do this again I would probably go for the plus bedroom cabin for two at more than half the price, we are pleased to announce that we have safely arrived in Vancouver after five days on the train from Toronto Millie, how has your experience been on the Canadian?

Oh it's been absolutely amazing the staff were lovely the food was amazing oh my god the food I feel like I don't need to eat for days yes we had to leave that but we had an amazing time thank you so much for joining us and lo we will catch all of you again next time