Canada Coast to Coast

Your cross-country vacation begins today as you arrive on Canada's West Coast in the cultural city of Vancouver. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, this city is a haven for outdoor lovers while also providing a dynamic cityscape filled with history. Make your way to your hotel for check-in, and then you are free to sightsee at leisure.

YYou might like to head to leafy Stanley Park, a natural haven in the city. Admire its ocean views while walking along the seawall, or seek out some of its most notable attractions, such as the First Nations Totem Poles. Vancouver also has a wonderful array of neighborhoods to explore, including historic Gastown and Chinatown, all of which are filled with fantastic eateries to explore with culinary offerings ranging from seafood to global favorites. Overnight Vancouver.

With a route of incredible scenery ahead, make your way to Vancouver's railway station after breakfast to board the Rocky Mountaineer. Today's route takes you from coastal Vancouver to Kamloops in the heart of British Columbia's interior.

You will see dramatic changes in scenery from the train's panoramic windows, from the lush green fields of the Fraser River Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade mountains, to the desert-like environment of the interior. Highlights of the route include the rushing waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer travels along the shores of Kamloops Lake and into Kamloops, where you stay for the night. Overnight Kamloops

• Breakfast, Lunch

Your journey continues this morning, heading eastward to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Once again, you will see a spectacular array of scenery as you travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies. Today's highlights include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers Pass, the Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels and, of course, the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies.

As the Rocky Mountaineer pulls into the resort town of Banff, make your way to the hotel for your first evening amidst the remarkable scenery of the Rockies. In addition to boasting incredible views, the town also has an array of shops and eateries for you to explore in your free time. Overnight Banff.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today, enjoy a grand introduction to the many attractions of Banff National Park on a sightseeing tour. Your excursion includes highlights like visits to Bow Falls, the Banff Gondola (admission included), Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. For departures after May 17, the tour also includes a cruise on Lake Minnewanka. Alternatively, you can elect to unveil Banff's beauty on a private sightseeing tour.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to continue your explorations of this mountain town. Opt to add on admission to the Banff Hot Springs, where you will get panoramic mountain views, or take an evening wildlife safari through Banff National Park to search for some of its most visible wildlife, including bears, deer and birds. You could also spend your time learning about Banff's history at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies before finding dinner locally. Overnight Banff.

Delving deeper into your surroundings today, you depart Banff to explore the natural wonders of Lake Louise and Yoho National Park. Along the way, enjoy highlights like a stop at Moraine Lake, the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint and Emerald Lake. Depending on the conditions, your tour might also include time at Takakkaw Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Canada, or a walk along Johnston Canyon, whose lush forests and tumbling waterfalls provide a stunning backdrop.

Your tour ends in Lake Louise, where the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Lake Louise itself is a breathtaking example of nature's prowess, with clear glacier-fed waters surrounded by mountain peaks and a hanging glacier. Overnight Lake Louise.

• Lunch

Even more Rocky Mountain scenery is on display today as you depart Banff National Park for Jasper National Park, traveling along the famous Icefields Parkway and enjoying a sightseeing tour en route. As one of the world's most scenic byways, this roadway offers access to incredible sights in both parks. See some of the highlights, including Bow Lake and Athabasca Falls, and enjoy a stop at the Columbia Icefield.

The Columbia Icefield is one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle and one of the most accessible icefields in North America. Here, you will ride on an Ice Explorer to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier to learn more about its geological features and have a chance to look out over the Sunwapta Valley from the Glacier Skywalk.

The drive concludes in Jasper late this evening. Overnight Jasper.

• Lunch

There is time to enjoy the calm atmosphere of Jasper this morning before transferring on your own to the train station for one of the world's most epic train journeys. Say goodbye to the peaceful mountain town of Jasper as you depart for Toronto, the economic center of Canada, on VIA Rail's Canadian.

Boarding the steel carriages, settle into your onboard accommodations for a three-night ride across Canada's interior. As the train follows the Athabasca River, it winds down the Rocky Mountains into the verdant foothills. Enjoy views of glaciers, plunging canyons, soaring mountains and endless pine forests before crossing further into Alberta, where the scenery changes and remote settlements and serene lakes dot the landscape. The train passes through Edmonton this evening, and you can relax and look forward to a laidback night of travel as the Canadian continues its remarkable journey. Overnight train.

• Lunch, Dinner

Waking up on the Canadian, you are welcomed to Saskatchewan's vast prairies, which you can view while enjoying breakfast. The seemingly endless grasslands of the Great Plains stretch as far as the eye can see, with boundless farming communities passing by the train.

Saskatchewan is the ideal place to sit back and watch the world go by, and the glass-roofed panoramic observation car is the best place to do this. As the day unfolds, the Canadian travels through the southern plains, home to deer, eagles and, in select areas, antelope, moose and bison. Lunch and dinner are also served on board.

Later, the train crosses into Manitoba, a province with more than 100,000 lakes stretching up to Hudson Bay's shores. Its capital is Winnipeg, which is considered the geographical center of Canada. The Canadian passes through late tonight before continuing east. Overnight train.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

During breakfast, the train crosses the rocky ground of northwestern Ontario, a landscape pocked with lakes and thick forests of ancient trees. While Ontario might be the most populous of Canada's provinces, the remote areas you travel through today are raw Canadian wilderness, with moose, lynx and black bears prowling its dense woodlands.

After lunch on board, the Canadian changes direction, continuing its journey in a southeasterly direction toward the Great Lakes. Spend some time in the observation car admiring the constantly changing scenery from the domedglass windows or in the lounge, taking part in onboard entertainment or socializing with your fellow travelers. As dinner is served this evening, the Canadian continues its epic journey toward its destination. Overnight train.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your final morning on the Canadian begins with breakfast as the train travels south toward Toronto. The views change from the mountains and prairies of the past few days to more familiar suburban scenes as you make your way around Lake Simcoe into the Greater Toronto area.

Brunch is served before arriving mid-afternoon at Toronto's Union Station, Canada's largest train station. After you disembark, transfer on your own to your centrally located hotel, and then the day is yours to explore this exciting city independently. Stop by the iconic markets, such as St. Lawrence Market for a famous peameal bacon sandwich or Kensington Market for its street food and vibrant murals and shop fronts. You may also opt to visit Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum or Art Gallery of Toronto, or take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront as you gaze at the city's skyscrapers alongside the CN Tower. Overnight Toronto.

• Breakfast, Brunch

One of the great natural wonders of the world awaits today as you venture to Niagara Falls on a full-day motorcoach tour. Travel along the Niagara Parkway, winding along the Niagara Gorge through the historic community of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Don an included rain slicker and enjoy an exciting boat ride to Horseshoe Falls aboard the famous Hornblower.

After this unforgettable cruise, you enjoy lunch with a view of the majestic Niagara Falls at the Fallsview Restaurant. Then, the journey takes you through the scenic Niagara Parkway with stops at Floral Clock, Botanical Gardens, Queenston Heights, Niagara Gorge and free time in the historic quaint town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

You return to Toronto early this evening. Overnight Toronto.

Please note: During winter months, the Niagara Falls excursion includes the Journey Behind the Falls experience in place of the Cruise Boat.

• Lunch

The day is yours to experience the cosmopolitan city of Toronto at your own pace. Make use of your included Hop-on Hop-off pass, and let the friendly and knowledgeable guides educate you on the facts and history of Toronto as they take you through the city. Featured stops include the CN Tower, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto's Harborfront and more.

Alternatively, you could select a more active way to take in Toronto's top sites with a bicycle tour or use one of the regularly scheduled ferries to cruise to the Toronto Islands, which are a fabulous place to explore on foot. These 15 islands are connected by footpaths and bridges, allowing you to explore easily. Of course, you could also experience this vibrant city at your own pace with a private sightseeing tour. Overnight Toronto.

This morning, continue sightseeing in Toronto at leisure. You might like to grab a bagel or a beaver tail - a fried dough treat with delicious toppings - and stroll through one of the parks. You could also spend some time wandering through a museum, such as the unique Casa Loma, or looking at the cityscape from above at the CN Tower.

This afternoon, make your way to Toronto's railway station to board VIA Rail's Corridor Service to Montreal. Known as Canada's cultural capital, Montreal is a melting pot representing more than 120 communities worldwide. As the train arrives, make your own way to the hotel, and then you have the rest of the evening to begin exploring. With so many global influences, the city has an excellent selection of restaurants that you can discover for dinner tonight. Overnight Montreal.

• Lunch

Get to know the wonderful city of Montreal today with a half-day sightseeing coach tour. Your fully narrated journey takes you through Old Montreal and to more than 200 city highlights, including the Notre-Dame Basilica, Olympic Park and the McGill University campus. Before the tour concludes, the coach stops at an observation point at Mont Royal, which provides an incredible perspective over the city.

Alternatively, you may like to get to know Montreal with a Hop-on Hop-off Tour that allows you to leave the bus at the places that interest you the most and join another bus when you have finished exploring. You could also upgrade to a private sightseeing tour that takes you to the city's most impressive sites at a pace that suits you.

However you choose to experience Montreal, the remainder of the day and evening is yours to dine locally or relax at the hotel. Overnight Montreal.

With a free day in Montreal, you could revisit your favorite stops from yesterday's sightseeing tour for a better look. The Notre-Dame Basilica, for example, is a beautiful example of neo-Gothic architecture with colorful arched ceilings, a stunning altar and an intricate pulpit.

Today is also a chance to stroll through the Jean-Talon Market. Montreal's oldest market, open for nearly 100 years, has stalls upon stalls of local produce and delicacies and is an excellent place to try the flavors of French Canada.

Later this evening, make your own way to Montreal's train station for another memorable overnight train journey, this time aboard VIA Rail's the Ocean. Traveling more than 835 miles from Montreal to Halifax in Canada's Maritime region, this train crosses the final stretch of Canada to complete your coastto-coast journey. Settle into your onboard accommodations and watch the city's lights fade into the backdrop. Overnight train.

• Dinner

During the night, the VIA Rail Ocean train made its way along the widening mouth of the St. Lawrence River before crossing into New Brunswick near Chaleur Bay. Reaching the Canadian Maritimes in time for breakfast on board, the scenery changes once again. Windswept shores and shaded coves speckle the coast as the Ocean rumbles east. Inland, the train pushes through spruce forests, crossing the Miramichi River towards Moncton.

Lunch is served as the train winds closer to your eighth and final of Canada's provinces, Nova Scotia. The terminus of your epic trans-Canadian adventure is Halifax on the Atlantic Coast. A cultural center of the Maritimes, Halifax retains many historic seafaring traditions.

Arriving in the early evening, drop your bags at your hotel and venture out for dinner. Argyle Street, located in the heart of downtown Halifax, has an array of options to choose from. You may also opt for a meal by the water along the boardwalk. Enjoy the fresh Nova Scotian seafood and the evening at leisure. Overnight Halifax.

• Breakfast, Lunch

A vast land of awe-inspiring landscapes and diverse cities, Canada has many sides, which you have explored over the last two-and-a-half weeks. Covering thousands of miles, you have traveled from Vancouver's unique neighborhoods to the soaring peaks of the Rockies and then into some of Canada's most popular cities and the charming Maritime provinces. Each day has been a showcase of Canadian culture and a memorable chance to explore.

Today, your journey comes to an end as you check out of your Halifax hotel. You are free to continue your adventure at your own pace or return home at leisure. If you wish to extend your time on Canada's East Coast, speak to a Rail Specialist about adding additional nights in Halifax.