VANCOUVER -- Snow Train to Jasper packages are being offered by
three North American tour operators. The programs include the VIA
Rail train ride, with all meals on board and accommodations in
Jasper at a choice of five hotels -- the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
and the Jasper Inn, both in Jasper National Park; the Amethyst
Lodge in downtown Jasper; the Lobstick Lodge, and the Marmot Lodge.
Some packages include downhill skiing and snowboarding at the
Ski Marmot Basin resort or a visit to Edmonton, Alberta, and the
West Edmonton Mall. Rates vary, depending on the duration of each
package and the category of hotel.
John Steele Railtours, Gibson, British Columbia, offers a
two-night Jasper plan departing from Edmonton, priced at $275 per
person, double, and a five-night Rockies Winter Wonderland out of
Vancouver, from $1,219. The rates are valid through April 30.
Cartan Tours, Lisle, Ill., has a six-night Vancouver, Jasper,
Lake Louise and Banff rail tour, including sleeping car
accommodations, through April 5, priced from $789 to $899 per
person, double. The trip departs Mondays, Thursdays and
Saturdays.
Brewster Tours, Banff, Alberta, offers a seven-night Winter
Wonderland program, which starts with VIA Rail's service from
Vancouver to Jasper, and includes overnight accommodations and
meals.
The rail trek is followed by a motorcoach tour that visits
Jasper and the Icefields Parkway with overnights in Lake Louise.
The itinerary stays two nights in Banff, Alberta, and then takes
the Dream Catcher tour through the mountains of Alberta's
Kananaskis County to conclude in Calgary.
The cost for the moderate program is $907 per person, double,
from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1; $873, Jan. 4 to March 29, and $793, April 2
to April 26.
For more information on the Snow Train to Jasper, visit the Web
site, at www.snowtraintojasper.com. For package information,
call John Steel, (800) 988-5778, or view www.johnsteel.com;
Cartan, (800) 422-7826 or view www.cartantours.com, or Brewster, (800)
661-1152 or view www.brewster.ca.