Tour Highlights:
- See Canada's world famous towns & cities: Toronto, Banff, Jasper, Vancouver
- 2 days on Rocky Mountaineer
- Spectacular Niagara Falls!
- Choice of great hotels
From the metropolis of Toronto to the serenity of Lake Louise, the Across Canada by Train trip fills your desire for the energy of big cities, as well as the peacefulness of nature. As you travel across the country by train, you see firsthand how diverse Canada’s spectacular scenery really is. And with plenty of time to relax in the Canadian Rockies, you won’t miss any of Canada’s natural beauty.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 – Your Vacation Begins – Arrive in Toronto
The sounds of Canada’s largest city welcome you as you step out of your taxi in downtown Toronto. Couples hurry along the sidewalk, rushing to one of Toronto’s big stage productions. A woman quickly shifts all her shopping bags to one arm as she raises a hand to hail a cab, and the smell of Chinese food makes you salivate as a delivery boy bikes along the street in front of you. Toronto beckons and you’re anxious to get out and explore the city.
Day 2 – Roaring Waters - Tour Niagara Falls
Sink into the seat of your luxury motorcoach this morning as you begin the journey to southern Ontario’s greatest natural wonder – Niagara Falls. Your discovery of Canada’s diverse regions starts today as you travel through industry driven Hamilton, the fruit producing area of St. Catherine’s, and the wineries of the Niagara Peninsula. A waterproof poncho - the classy uniform of the Maid of the Mist – keeps you from getting soaked when you get so close to the falls that you can feel the spray on your face. A scenic drive along the Niagara Parkway takes you to the calmness of Niagara-on-the-Lake - the ideal place to unwind by strolling through the local shops.
Days 3 and 4 – Canadian Rail Journey to the West – onboard the Canadian train
A cozy cabin with a large picture window and seats that make up into a bed at night awaits you on the Canadian train. Travel past the rolling farmland of rural Ontario, through the vast “Canadian Shield’s” land of lakes and forests, before starting across the fertile prairies. After two nights, you spot the snow covered peaks of the Canadian Rockies. A panoramic dome car - where you can relax, unwind, and see the sights all around you - is only a short walk from your cabin. Tasty meals are served in an elegant yet casual dining car and chatting over a drink with fellow travelers makes the evening end before you realize the time. You climb into your warm bed and are rocked to sleep by the clickety-click of timeless tracks
Day 5 - Enter Canada’s Rocky Mountains – Arrive in Jasper
Step off the Canadian train and take a deep breath – the crisp mountain air is invigorating. You are completely surrounded by mountains and trees. You look to your left and see a downtown gas station with a snow topped mountain peak standing proudly in the distance behind it. Jasper is summed up in that one view. It’s a town with all the modern touches, but the splendor of the Canadian Rockies is never out of your thoughts.
Day 6 – Maligne Lake Tour with Cruise – Discover Jasper
Jasper’s natural beauty is right outside your window as you take a guided tour through one of the National Park’s most spectacular areas. Maligne Canyon will have you in awe of the powers of erosion, where 10,000 years have created a gorge so deep that it looks almost bottomless. You will learn how Medicine Lake is “mysteriously” disappearing before boarding a narrated cruise on Maligne Lake, bound for the serenity of Spirit Island. Looking around you at the dark green of the trees, the earth’s history told in the surrounding cliffs, and the rippling water below, you’re overcome by the sense that you’re part of something special.
Day 7 – The Icefields Parkway – Jasper to Lake Louise
Welcome the morning by boarding a luxury motorcoach and relaxing in comfort as you head south along the Icefields Parkway. You’re traveling along one of the most scenic highways in the world, so wipe the sleep from your eyes quickly! Your tour guide’s commentary throughout the journey lets you know which direction to look so you don’t miss a thing. An optional snocoach ride on the Athabasca Glacier will amaze you with wonders that nature builds - and that feeling only gets more intense when you arrive in Lake Louise. Picture the clearest glacier water you can imagine, and then frame this water with some of the most majestic mountains in the world – Lake Louise is like nothing else.
Day 8 – Explore the Mountains – See Banff and Yoho National Parks
The mist hangs above Lake Louise this morning, giving the water an otherworld appearance unlike anything else you’ve seen. Stroll along the lakeshore, learn about local wildlife, or relax on a bench and enjoy the view. The water is so pure that you want to jump right in, but renting a canoe and going for a paddle will be the warmer option! This afternoon you transfer to Banff - the liveliest of the mountain towns on your Canadian holiday. The energy on Banff Avenue is contagious. Quaint shops are interspersed with chain stores, horse drawn carriages line the street waiting to show you around town, and the scent of homemade maple fudge wafts out of sweet shops. After your laid back night at Lake Louise, the lively atmosphere in Banff is exhilarating.
Day 9 – In the Canadian Rockies – Explore Banff
Today’s the day to get outside, explore, and see why the population of Banff doubles during the summer months. A guided tour lets you relax in comfort as you visit four local mountains and learn how natural phenomena have made Banff into the outdoor paradise it is today. A gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain gives you a panoramic view of Bow Valley - the mountains surround you on all sides as you gaze upon the pristine wilderness below with the river glistening in the distance. Now, you understand the sense of peace that keeps people returning to Banff year after year.
Day 10 - On the Rocky Mountaineer – Banff to Kamloops
A lonesome wail sounds from the train’s whistle and the smell of breakfast wafts through your car as the Rocky Mountaineer pulls out of the train station in Banff and begins the descent into British Columbia. Circle around and around through the Canadian Rockies’ famous spiral tunnels as you descend. Over coffee you chat with old friends and new, but mostly you can’t help staring out the window at some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. From the onboard guide, you learn the history of the Canadian railroad, all the while keeping your eyes peeled for bears, elk and other mountain residents outside the train’s big windows. Early in the evening, after a day of good food, great company, and awe-inspiring scenery, the Rocky Mountaineer arrives in Kamloops where you have a good night’s rest.
Day 11 – On the Rocky Mountaineer – Kamloops to Vancouver
This morning, return to your home on rails – the Rocky Mountaineer. Travel through the mighty Thompson Canyon before staring in awe at Hell’s Gate, where 200 million gallons of water push their way through the narrow gorge. As you move from the arid interior of British Columbia to the coastal city of Vancouver you marvel at the diversity of the scenery you’ve seen during your Canadian rail vacation. This afternoon you travel through the lush Fraser Valley before arriving in Vancouver. A city surrounded by mountains and ocean, the air is fresh, the ambiance cool, and the residents are friendly. Vancouver’s personality is just the kind of last stop you need after your rail trip across the country.
Day 12 - With Fond Memories Made – Depart Vancouver
Much too soon, you leave the clean air and colourful sights of Canada behind as your rail vacation comes to an end.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Includes:
- 2 days Rocky Mountaineer - Standard and Superior include RedLeaf service whilst Deluxe features GoldLeaf Service
- 4 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
- 9 nights hotel accommodation
- 2 nights bedroom accommodation onboard VIA Rail Canada
- Tour to Maligne Lake with Walk (departures before May 23rd, 07) or Cruise (departures from May 23rd, 07 onwards)
- Banff Tour, including Sulphur Mountain Gondola (from May 1st, 07 onwards)
- Niagara Falls Daytrip
- Icefields Parkway scenic transfer between Jasper and Lake Louise
- Documentation package
Not Included:
- Airport transfers
- Rail Station transfers in Vancouver, Banff, Jasper, and Toronto
- Meals, other than onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, VIA Rail & Niagara Falls Daytrip
- Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Baggage handling and gratuities
- National Park Pass
- 6% GST
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
Ontario
British Columbia
Alberta
Railway Trips
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