Our Most Popular Winter Getaways
Experience the magic of winter with a quest to spot the Northern Lights, engage in holiday festivities, or escape the cold to enjoy regions in their summer months.





Experience the magic of winter with a quest to spot the Northern Lights, engage in holiday festivities, or escape the cold to enjoy regions in their summer months.





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.







The classic ambiance of an overnight rail journey meets the splendors of one of America's top natural attractions on this rail vacation to Arizona. Join Amtrak's Southwest Chief on its cross-country route from Chicago to Flagstaff, and then board the 120-year-old Grand Canyon Railway on its route to the Grand Canyon. Uncover iconic views and top...





Seek the magical aurora borealis on a sensational winter journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage, riding the amazing Aurora Winter Train in the shadow of Denali. An evening in the wilderness provides a great chance to catch the Northern Lights, while an exciting dog-sled ride through the snow-covered tundra and a curling lesson help uncover the...





Feel the holiday spirit on this cruise along the beautiful Rhine. Discovering Germany at the most magical time of the year we stop at traditional Christmas markets along the way, including Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz and Rüdesheim. Strolling through the stalls, admire the craftsmanship of local artisans and savor the flavors that define the...







Experience the best of the Canadian wilderness in a season when crowds are low and the scenery is pristine. Frosted mountain peaks, icy rivers and snow-clad scenes pave the way on this winter journey across five provinces. Step aboard the iconic Canadian train in Vancouver, and travel through landscapes only accessible by rail. Savor unfiltered...







Experience the Northern Lights like never before on this independent trip into Alaska's backcountry to Borealis Basecamp. Set just outside of Fairbanks, this unique hotel immerses you in the spirit of Alaska with fantastic excursions, including dog sledding, and presents the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of private fiberglass igloos. ...







Embrace winter's natural beauty and Alaska's frontier spirit on this week-long journey featuring Fairbanks and Anchorage. In Fairbanks, spend your days exploring independently and your nights chasing the Northern Lights at Chena Hot Springs Resort and a backcountry yurt. Then, traverse 350 miles of the remote, untouched Alaskan interior to...





Join us on an epic adventure into this vast, vibrant and varied land to experience Australia's spectacular natural wonders, from the rainforests of tropical Cairns and kaleidoscopic colors of the Great Barrier Reef to the burnished red tones of the ancient sacred site of Uluru. Explore laid-back Adelaide and its world-acclaimed wine region,...







Watch Western Canada transform into the embodiment of a winter wonderland on this week-long journey through the Canadian Rockies. After uncovering the cultural city of Vancouver, travel inland on a classic overnight journey aboard VIA Rail's Canadian. As you arrive in the Canadian Rockies, your destination is Jasper National Park, where you spend...







Beautiful vistas and incredible adventures lie ahead on this journey through America's Last Frontier. Travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad, surrounded by pristine wilderness, and experience Fairbanks your way before heading into the backcountry in search of the elusive Northern Lights. Complete with a two-day stay at...





Follow in the footsteps of maharajas on a fantastic journey through India's Golden Triangle. Embrace the many wonders of this mystical country, taking a rickshaw ride through Delhi's buzzing bazaar, tracing the steps of the Raj on a visit to the former summer capital of Shimla and searching for Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park,...





Embark on a breathtaking Rhine cruise through some of Germany's most picturesque towns and cities at this most magical time of year. From the historic charm of Mainz and Koblenz to the storybook streets of Strasbourg and Rüdesheim, experience scenic beauty and rich culture at every stop. Onboard, enjoy a festive atmosphere with a Christmas Day...





Discover New Zealand's dynamic cities, extraordinary national parks, spectacular alpine mountains, glacial lakes and breathtaking Fiordland on this extensive tour of the North and South Islands. This epic vacation combines the greatest features of this country in one holiday: superb railways, incredible landscapes and the warm and welcoming...