What’s makes a good and proper winter train journey? Snug cabins? Dramatic landscapes? Snow absolutely bloody everywhere you look?
Well, we think we’ve found one that fits the bill: a new train journey from Vacations by Rail promises to bring that Polar Express-style dream to life – and it’ll take you all the way through Canada’s Rocky Mountains.
The service will take passengers on an epic nine-day journey from Banff to Vancouver, zooming through the majestic Bow Valley and Basin National Historic Site of Canada. You’re not just cooped up inside the train: though: you’ll also be able to take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Rockies at sunset.
There’s a trip to Jasper National Park on the itinerary, which means trekking through deep canyons and beneath the area’s famed icefalls. And you’ll also be able to spot wildlife from your carriage, with goats, wolves and moose all common sights in these parts.
Don’t worry about catching a chill, as the route includes overnight stays in various very glamorous Fairmont hotels (and on the last night, you get to sleep overnight on the train itself). Our advice? Pack your warmest jumpers and book nine nights in the mountains. Prices start at a cool $2,496 (£2,195) per person. But for a good week full of scenery like that? We reckon it could be worth it.
Looking for more railway inspo? Here are 11 of the world’s most incredible railway journeys.
Plus: these are the most scenic train rides across the USA.