Canada Coast to Coast Escorted Experience

Arrive in Vancouver, and transfer to your hotel to meet your group and Tour Manager. This hotel is ideally located, which puts us near fantastic shopping opportunities, award-winning restaurants and the best attractions in downtown Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.

The city of Vancouver is one of the most desirable places to live in the world, thanks to its fantastic atmosphere and incredible setting between the breathtaking Coastal Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. We take all this in and more today on our guided sightseeing tour through the city. We visit Gastown - an area of coffee shops, galleries, native art stores and the famous Gastown Steam Clock. We experience the vibrant surroundings of Chinatown and drive to leafy Stanley Park, where Vancouver's famous totem poles are situated. We finish at Granville Island with time to explore the amazing food market and peruse the craft studios. Following the tour, the remainder of your day is at leisure to continue your explorations or to experience the eclectic food scene in the city. Overnight Vancouver.

Our explorations begin early in the morning as we make our way by coach to Tsawwassen for the ferry to Swartz Bay, on Vancouver Island. On arrival, we transfer to the marvellous Butchart Gardens, designed by horticulture expert Jennie Butchart in the early 20th century. A designated national historic site of Canada, the gardens stretch over 55 acres and feature a Japanese style garden, a rose garden and beautiful sunken garden. With free time to wander the landscaped paths at your own pace, this is a haven of cultivated nature set amid the wild landscapes of Victoria. Overnight Vancouver.

We leave Vancouver by coach, beginning the first leg of our trans-Canadian adventure. Our route takes us across the magnificent and mountainous Coquihalla Pass before we stop for lunch and continuing to Kamloops for the night. Overnight Kamloops.

We journey past Clearwater this morning, a stunning river valley in British Columbia. Dense forests, glittering lakes, snaking rivers and soaring, snow-capped peaks pass by our window as we travel towards our hotel in Jasper, home for the next two nights. Overnight Jasper.

• Breakfast

We set out for a scenic excursion to Jasper National Park. Among the attractions we see during our time here are the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, as well as many more stunning lakes, mountains, waterfalls and hot springs. The most impressive natural features of the park though, have to be Maligne Canyon, a 164-feet deep gorge of sheer limestone walls featuring a number of interesting karst rock formations, and Maligne Lake - the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region. This part of the world is also naturally home to plenty of rare wildlife, including grey wolves, hoary marmot, caribou and moose. Overnight Jasper.

After a free morning in the lovely town of Jasper, we begin our epic journey aboard The Canadian, travelling to Toronto over the next three days and nights. We settle into our berths for the journey through the foothills of the Rockies, passing pine forests, glaciers, plunging canyons and soaring peaks.

• Dinner

Today is our first full day on the train. From the comfort of the glass-roofed panoramic observation car, sit back and watch the world go by as we travel eastwards, crossing the prairies into the province of Saskatchewan. You may glimpse local wildlife, including bear, moose, eagles and elk. We arrive in Winnipeg tonight, a fascinating city, home to over 50 different ethnic communities.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is spent crossing the Canadian Shield - a wild land of glacial lakes, ancient trees and isolated communities. Our journey continues through the scenic lakelands of northern Ontario as we travel overnight towards Toronto.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arriving in Toronto, our base for two nights, enjoy a free evening to begin exploring your new surroundings and settle in. Overnight Toronto. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

We take a guided coach excursion to Niagara Falls, one of the most impressive natural wonders in the world. We enjoy a boat tour to the base of the falls, getting the full effect of the tumultuous waters as the three separate sections, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls, converge into one. Continuing to Table Rock, a national park on the edge of Canada's Blue Ridge Mountains, we also see the Niagara Whirlpool, a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the powerful force of the rapids, transferring to the small town of Niagara-on-the-Lake afterwards, a quaint area known for its wineries. Overnight Toronto.

Departing Toronto via the Corridor Service this morning, we arrive in Montreal late this afternoon. In Montreal, we change trains one last time for the final stretch of the day's travels, this time to Quebec City. We enjoy access to the restaurants, boutiques and points of interest throughout this French-speaking city, thanks to its convenient location. The food scene in Quebec is continually evolving and has a dynamic range of offerings. Perhaps seek out one of the local restaurants to try for yourself. Overnight Quebec City.

We enjoy a guided tour that includes the Citadel and the 'Plains of Abraham' - the site of a brutal battle between British and French forces during the Seven Years' War. Later, we transfer by coach to a local sugar shack where maple syrup is produced, enjoying a brief tour that teaches us about the history and importance of maple syrup in Canada, how it's made and a tasting. This is followed by a delicious three course lunch inspired by the sticky sweet treat. The rest of your afternoon is free. Take an atmospheric walk around the Old Town, which dates back to the 17th century and is home to a rich collection of historic landmarks and museums, before we board The Ocean for our overnight rail journey to Nova Scotia. Overnight train.

• Lunch

During the night, The Ocean travels alongside the St Lawrence River to Chaleur Bay. The train then heads across New Brunswick and into Nova Scotia itself, arriving at Halifax, where we stay for two nights. Overnight Halifax. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

We explore Nova Scotia's maritime treasures on a sightseeing tour today. One of the crowning jewels of this tour is Peggy's Cove, a charming fishing village with a famous and distinctive lighthouse. We also visit picturesque Lunenburg during our explorations. This town was founded in 1753 and has since earned UNESCO World Heritage status, as it is the best example of a colonial British settlement in all of North America. The charm of this city is undeniable, from its quaint waterfront and colorful wooden buildings to its narrow, winding streets and historic homes. Returning to Halifax, you have the evening at leisure to relax or dine in one of the local eateries. Overnight Halifax.

Your day is at leisure to sightsee your way through Halifax independently and to return home as you please. Perhaps explore the star-shaped Citadel or visit the Titanic Cemetery, where many who perished in the 1912 disaster are buried. Pier 21, Canada's equivalent to New York's Ellis Island, is also an excellent option. The tour comes to a close as you transfer to the airport on your own for your return flight.