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Winter Holidays

Winter Vacations

Switch up your holiday itinerary this year with a winter vacation. There are many appealing things about traveling during the winter months: Popular attractions are devoid of summertime tourists, trains are less crowded and, of course, the scenery is amazing. Plains and prairies are blanketed with freshly fallen snow, and mountain peaks are dressed in their winter white. All of this paired with ice-encrusted rivers and frozen lakes make for some of the most incredible sights to behold. The best winter vacations highlight the beauty of the landscape while also capturing the spirit of the season. 

Visit alpine towns chock-full of winter activities, such as Banff or Jasper in the Rocky Mountains of Canada or the resort cities of the Swiss Alps. In these destinations, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are among the most popular ways to savor the winter scenes. Ride a snow train from Chicago to San Francisco or Seattle for a look at the ever-changing vistas of winter as you travel between states.  Take a train trip past the Arctic Circle to watch the Northern Lights play across the sky in places like Alaska and Scandinavia. A winter holiday may also venture to Europe, where traditional Christmas markets fill the air with spiced aromas and the joyous sounds of festive music. 

Winter holiday destinations do not have to be cold, though. Rather, travelers have the option to escape to warmer havens to soak up the sun and leave the cold far behind them. These trips combine thoughtful train itineraries with ocean cruising to destinations like Hawaii and the  Western Caribbean. Winter vacation ideas are as diverse as the travelers that set out upon them. 

55 results matching: Winter Tours

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South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Heritage Tour
4.3 stars(144 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
2025JanFebMarAprMay...
Independent
6 days from
$1,165 pp
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6 days from
$1,165
per person
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Tour map
  • AccommodationRail, Hotel
  • TransportRail
Map and accommodation
Cuisine & Culture
4.6 stars(44 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
2025AprMayJunJulAug...
Independent
9 days from
$2,755 pp
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9 days from
$2,755
per person
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  • DestinationItaly
  • TransportRail
Map and accommodation
Montreal During Foliage Season
Heritage Tour
4.8 stars(56 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
2025JanFebMarAprMay...
Independent
7 days from
$995 pp
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7 days from
$995
per person
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The Northern Lights & Lapland
Escorted
4.4 stars(21 reviews)
2024Dec
2025JanFeb
Escorted
11 days from
$3,795 pp
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11 days from
$3,795
per person
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  • DestinationNorway, Sweden
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Cuisine & Culture: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville
Cuisine & Culture
4.6 stars(13 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
2025JanFebMarAprMay...
Independent
9 days from
$2,699 pp
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9 days from
$2,699
per person
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  • DestinationSpain
  • TransportRail
Map and accommodation
Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights
Independent
4.9 stars(11 reviews)
2024Dec
2025JanFebMar
Independent
7 days from
$2,785 pp
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7 days from
$2,785
per person
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Northern Lights
NEW
2024Dec
2025JanFebMar
Independent
4 days from
$1,596 pp
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4 days from
$1,596
per person
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Banff Winter
NEW
2024Dec
2025JanFebMar
Independent
10 days from
$3,624 pp
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10 days from
$3,624
per person
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  • AccommodationRail
  • TransportRail
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Canadian Snow Train
Independent
Save $300
4.5 stars(28 reviews)
2024AprOctNovDec
2025JanFebMarApr
Independent
7 days from
$2,518 pp $2,368 pp
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Save $300
7 days from
$2,518
$2,368
per person
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  • AccommodationRail
  • TransportRail
Map and accommodation
5 days from
$1,695
per person
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  • DestinationGermany
  • AccommodationCruise
  • TransportRail, Cruise
Map and accommodation
Empire Builder Between Chicago and Seattle
Independent
4.2 stars(20 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
2025JanFebMarAprMay...
Independent
5 days from
$694 pp
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5 days from
$694
per person
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  • AccommodationRail
  • TransportRail
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Desert View Watchtower
Independent
4.4 stars(16 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
2025JanFebMarAprMay...
Independent
5 days from
$924 pp
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5 days from
$924
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  • AccommodationRail, Hotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Our customers love our Winter Tours tours
Alaska Northern Lights & Aurora Train
17/Mar
DAVID MONROE
5 stars
“While we only got a glimpse of the Northern Lights, the trip was awesome. Snowy nights kinda foiled our Lights experience, the Train ride, dog sledding and Glacier hike made it a great experience. Hotels were great as well. Can’t post my pics because they are too big but Denali was beautiful and the puppies were cuddly and loved to give kisses! Great job.
Collected by Trustpilot
Ultimate Winter Wonderland: Iditarod & Northern Lights
12/Mar
Christine Alderson
5 stars
“Great way to see the beautiful state of Alaska in the winter. Bus & rail transportations were wonderful.
Collected by Trustpilot
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland in Winter
3/Mar
NANCY JO JOHNSON
5 stars
“We thoroughly enjoyed our trip! The hotels were located conveniently close to the train stations, the SBB train schedule was easy to follow, and the scenery was beautiful. We would highly recommend this trip!
Collected by Trustpilot
Grand Canyon Railway Rails to the Rim Adventure - Los Angeles
26/Feb
VANESSA COLE
5 stars
“Great adventure
Collected by Trustpilot
Winter in the Rockies
22/Feb
MICHAEL MEYER
5 stars
“Amazing winter ride. :)
Collected by Trustpilot
Canadian Snow Train
21/Feb
VICTORIA LEEANN STONER
5 stars
“Sleeper cabins with private toilet, food included, non alcoholic beverages included, snacks, and entertainment on the train is fantastic. The shared shower is a little less fantastic, might need and automated sanitization system. The experience was 10/10 would recommend.
Collected by Trustpilot
Canadian Snow Train with Jasper
6/Feb
Susan
5 stars
“This trip was amazing and would highly recommend to anyone interested in train travel.
Collected by Trustpilot
Winter Escape to the Grand Canyon - Chicago Round-trip
10/Jan
ALLYN RICCI
5 stars
“It was a wonderful quick getaway for me, my husband, and 2 kids. They loved the train and we all experienced the Grand Canyon for the first time together. We will definitely be using Vacations by Rail for another adventure!
Collected by Trustpilot
Northern Lights at Borealis Basecamp
6/Jan
TIMOTHY JOSEPH
5 stars
“Wonderful Experience, unique and much fun
Collected by Trustpilot