A scenic train ride through the Canadian Rockies is a relaxing experience, but for a group of military veterans who recently spent three days soaking in the majestic mountain views, the trip was more than about unwinding.

Five veterans, including two Canadians, embarked on a life-changing trip from Vancouver to Lake Louise in Alberta earlier this month. The soldiers, who have all served in war zones and suffer from issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, shared their personal stories on the trip.

John Lowe, one of the veterans selected to take part in the inaugural train ride, was only 21-years-old when he joined the Canadian Armed Forces as an infantry soldier. Not long after enlisting, he was shipped off to Afghanistan.

Lowe only spent six months overseas, but he says the experience changed him forever.

"I did lose my first roommate when I was initially stationed and I did lose a friend I trained with," the former corporal told CTV News. "When you leave Afghanistan, it takes a piece out of you."

Organized by Wounded Warriors Canada -- a non-profit group that helps injured Canadian vets -- and the Rocky Mountaineer tour company, the trip aims to provide soldiers with a comfortable place to talk about their war experiences and to help them readjust to civilian life.

"You come home and it is hard to figure out who you are and what you should be doing," Lowe said.

Called the "Life Changing Train for Heroes," soldiers who have made a "significant impact on the lives" of others were hand-picked for the trip, said a release from Rocky Mountaineer.

Lowe, like the other soldiers on the trip, suffers from PTSD.

"When we talk about PTSD, it’s not one thing. It is depression, it’s not being able to leave your home for days, it’s anxiety," he said.

The trip also provided an opportunity for the vets to spend some time with their families.

"It was a chance to spend time with mom and grandma," Lowe said.

"The ride for me was just a reminder of just how good life can be and it was just a moment of happiness."

With a report from CTV’s Melanie Nagy