Great Cities and Rail Tour

French Canada to the Pacific and the spectacular Rockies en route.  A great way to see Canada!
Montreal - Toronto - Niagara Falls - Winnipeg - Saskatoon - Edmonton - Jasper - Banff - Lake Louise - Vancouver 

Day 1 Monday or Wednesday  Transfer by train in coach class from downtown Montreal to downtown Toronto.  Overnight in one of our Toronto hotels  
Day 2  Wednesday  Free time to explore Toronto.  How about dinner in the tallest free standing structure in the World this evening?  The CN Tower is amazing in its height and stature.  Or you can see Broadway style theater, one of many interesting museums or shop in massive Eaton Center. 

Day 3    Thursday  Two Choices today.   Depart for NIAGARA FALLS including an exciting "Maid of the Mist" cruise for a close up look at the falls (subject to favorable weather).   Alternatively you may choose to spend time exploring Toronto's many shopping, attractions and museums.   An optional dinner in the World's tallest free standing structure, the CN Tower is a great idea for the evening.  Overnight Toronto

Day 4  Friday  Enjoy a free day in Toronto.  Visit the Skydome, waterfront, Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, Historic Fort York, Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Art Center, Canada's Wonderland (Toronto's version of Disneyland), Metro Zoo, Ontario Place, Maple Leaf Gardens or the Royal Ontario Museum.  See Broadway-style theater or visit the performing arts at the O'Keefe Center.  There is so much to do here!  Overnight at one of our Toronto  Hotels

Day 5  Saturday Our incredible train journey continues!  Transfer to Union Station (downtown) for our departure (Saturdays).  All aboard the "VIA Rail Transcontinental" bound for the Pacific Coast.  Our first class rail cars are refurbished to the 1950's genre in Art Deco.  The observation dome offers unequalled views as we roll across the Appalachian Shield of Ontario.  The private bedrooms are comfortable and all meals are included (Checked baggage is not available until day 5, smaller overnight bag is recommended on the train).  Be sure to visit the Bullet Lounge in the Park Car for a nightcap.  
VIA RAIL BEDROOMS  /  DINING CAR  /  DOME CAR  /  PARK-LOUNGE CAR

Day 6  Sunday Each day is a culinary delight as all meals are included.  We pass sparkling lakes and boreal forests as we roll into Manitoba, the province of 100,000 lakes.  Drink in the vistas from the dome cars and enjoy the terrific on-board service.  We arrive in Winnipeg for a brief stop and continue our train journey. 

Day 7   Monday  Enjoy a delicious breakfast and relax as we forge across the great wheatfields of Saskatchewan before our morning arrival into Edmonton, capital and most vibrant metropolis in Alberta.   After a brief stop we continue the train journey to the "Jewel of the Canadian Rockies" Jasper, Alberta.  Disembark and  transfer to your hotel.  Keep on the lookout for wild animals often seen in and around the town.  

Day 9  Wednesday We have a free day in this pristine alpine paradise.   Perhaps rent a car and drive south on the Icefields Parkway.  Stop at waterfalls (including ATHABASCA FALLS), mountain vistas and some of the most stunning aqua green and blue lakes you will see.  ATHABASCA GLACIER  is a very pleasant drive south of Jasper.  Bikes can be rented in town, horseback riding is available and there are trails for every level of adventurer.  Be sure to stop by the magnificent Jasper Park Lodge, built between two lakes and visited by King George the V and Marilyn Monroe.  Cuisine tastes even better after walks in the fresh mountain air and Jasper has no shortage of terrific restaurants.  Overnight at one of our Jasper Hotels

Day 10  Thursday Board VIA Rail trans-continental in the early afternoon.  Cross over the Continental Divide.  Travel through no fewer than 5 mountain ranges, past emerald lakes and raging rivers and massive Mount Robson.  Sunset to the west is usually a photographers delight especially from one of the dome cars.  

Day 11  Friday  Travel along the Fraser Valley and arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia in the morning and pick up your luggage.  Take a taxi for the short drive to one of our downtown hotels.  Check in and have the rest of the day to explore VANCOUVER.  We recommend Gastown and the World's first outdoor steamclock.  Robson Street is loaded with restaurants and shopping.  Vancouver has two cruise ship piers and a walk along the promenades is interesting.

Day 12 Saturday   We are picked up at our hotel (or very near) and begin our exciting VANCOUVER sightseeing tour.   Discover QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK and its beautiful grounds and STANLEY PARK with its famous totem poles.  Cross the Lions Gate Bridge to the Capilano Suspension Bridge where you can take a heart quickening walk across.  At Grouse Mountain you ride the Skyride Gondola to the summit where there are lumberjack shows, parasailers launching down the valley, and incomparable views of Vancouver and the Inside Passage.  Pier into the misty distance to see Vancouver Island, which you will be visiting tomorrow!  Visit the second largest Chinatown in North America and then have the evening free to take in one of Vancouver's great restaurants such as the "Seasons Restaurant" or maybe book an optional harbor cruise dinner or perhaps one of two revolving restaurants.  Overnight at one of our Vancouver Hotels

Day 13 Sunday  We are picked up at our hotel and depart on a great adventure.  We transfer by motor coach onto British Columbia Ferries ships to sail the inside passage to Vancouver Island.  Our motor coach drives us to beautiful BUTCHART GARDENS.  With its millions of flowers it is hard to imagine this was once a horrid rock quarry.  Continue to VICTORIA, capital of British Columbia and the most "British" city in Canada.  Enjoy a scenic drive with vistas of the Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains.  There is enough time for shopping and High Tea at the Empress Hotel before returning to the ferry which will deliver us back to our Vancouver hotel.

Day 14 Monday  End of services or we can arrange additional nights and activities in refreshing and beautiful Vancouver.  How about a tour to Bowen Island, WHISTLER ski resort, whale watching, or we can pre-arrange a self drive boating adventure!

 
       Toronto, Ontario

 

 

Comfortable bedrooms

 

 

Lakes and Waterfalls in Alberta

 

 

 

Vancouver

Summer tours from only $4,050CAD, per person, including tax, twin occupancy.
Prices are lower November through May

We recommend travel insurance.
Initial non refundable deposits are $250USD 
with final payment due 45 days prior to departure