Canadian Snow Train with Jasper

With some of Canada's most interesting cities and picturesque vistas ahead, your vacation begins today in Vancouver. As you arrive, transfer independently to your four-star Fairmont hotel to check in for the night, and then enjoy the rest of the day to get acquainted with your new coastal surroundings.

Vancouver is beloved for its location between the Pacific Ocean and North Shore Mountains and features scenic views wherever you turn and however you choose to explore. You might like to head to Stanley Park to walk along the famous seawall or cozy up in one of the breweries and restaurants in historic Gastown.

Alternatively, you could book an excursion at a supplement for a more structured day. The first option is admission to FlyOver Canada, a multisensory journey across Canada that presents the country's most famous sights using the latest in flight ride technology. You could instead join a hop-on/hop-off tour of Vancouver, which showcases neighborhoods, attractions and views throughout the city, with the freedom to "hop off" the bus at any stop that piques your interest. Overnight Vancouver.

The morning is yours to have breakfast locally and wrap up any sightseeing you may wish to accomplish in Vancouver. Later, make your own way to Vancouver's Pacific Central Station, where your train, VIA Rail's Canadian, awaits boarding. Arrive at the rail station approximately one hour before boarding, and head to the priority check-in area for Sleeper Plus passengers.

Once on this classic overnight train, settle into your cabin, which features comfortable seating by day and upper and lower berths at night. All of your meals and non-alcoholic drinks are included during your time on the Canadian, and as a Sleeper Plus traveler, you also enjoy use of the Skyline Car and Park Car.

Enjoy dinner in the Dining Car this evening as the city lights fade into the distance and the natural scenery of Western Canada comes into view. Overnight train.

• Dinner

Waking on the Canadian, the views are markedly different than those of last night. Look out over towering peaks cloaked in snow, thick evergreen forests and brilliantly hued bodies of water that so define the Canadian Rockies. You could soak up these wonders from your private picture window in your cabin or enjoy the changing scenery from the Dining Car while having breakfast.

The Canadian arrives in Jasper around midday, at which time an included transfer takes you to the renowned Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - a hotel that is wilderness luxury at its finest. The day is then yours to enjoy at your own pace. Perhaps set out on a walk through the woods, enjoy lunch with a view in one of the hotel's restaurants or check out the offerings of downtown Jasper. Overnight Jasper.

• Breakfast

The first of two full days in Jasper National Park, today provides an ideal time to get to know the beauty and amenities surrounding you. Perhaps book a treatment in the on-site spa or take a dip in the heated outdoor pool, which is open year-round and has a magnificent setting overlooking the mountains.

You can also select from optional supplemental excursions:

Jasper Downtown Foodie Tour - Soak up the history and flavors of Jasper on a short walking tour downtown. Spend three hours visiting four restaurants, enjoying hand-picked dishes with an alcoholic beverage at each.

Wildlife Discovery Tour - Set out into Jasper National Park with an expert guide, learning about its history, geology and ecology while searching for wildlife. The guide takes you beautiful and wildlife-rich locations that showcase the park's diversity.

Maligne Valley & Plackaitis Canyon Icewalk - Travel deep into the Maligne Valley with an expert guide, enjoying a scenic stop at Medicine Lake and a chance to walk along the ice at bottom of one of Jasper's deepest accessible canyons. Overnight Jasper.

Today brings another full day to explore Jasper National Park or the town independently. The Lodge offers a range of rental options that allow you to get in touch with nature, with options ranging from ice skates and cross-country skis to snowshoes and fat tire-bikes.

Heading into downtown Jasper instead, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the local atmosphere. You could shop at the boutiques that offer everything from outdoor gear to jewelry, uncover the history of the Astra Theatre, or have lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants or eateries. For a unique experience, you could also head to the Jasper Planetarium, which is the ideal place to see why Jasper National Park is renowned as a dark-sky preserve.

All the optional excursions offered on Day 4 can also be booked at a supplement. Overnight Jasper.

There is time to get your final look at the frosted forests and snow-capped mountains of Jasper this morning before an included transfer takes us from Jasper Park Lodge to the train station, where you reboard the Canadian to continue our cross-country rail journey.

You are welcomed back aboard and can take some time to settle into your cabin as the train pulls out of the station for its three-night ride across Canada's ever-changing landscapes to Toronto. Following the Athabasca River, the Canadian winds through the Rocky Mountains and into the foothills. Keep watch for wildlife and views of glaciers, plunging canyons, soaring mountains and endless pine forests. As you depart the Rockies and cross further into Alberta, the scenery changes, with remote settlements and icy lakes dotting the landscape.

The Canadian passes through Edmonton this evening, and dinner is served in the Dining Car. Overnight train.

• Dinner

Views of Saskatchewan's vast prairies punctuate the scenery as you enjoy breakfast this morning. The seemingly endless grasslands of the Great Plains stretch as far as the eye can see as the Canadian rolls on.

With a population similar to that of Montana and an area slightly smaller than that of Texas, Saskatchewan is ideal for sitting back and watching the world go by. The glass-roofed panoramic observation car is the best place to do this. Travel through the southern plains of Saskatchewan, home to deer, eagles, and, in select areas, antelope, moose and bison, which may be easier to spot against the white snowy fields. Lunch and dinner are also served on board as you continue east.

Later, the train crosses into Manitoba, a province with more than 100,000 lakes stretching up to the shores of Hudson Bay. Its capital is Winnipeg, and the train passes through this fascinating city, home to more than 50 ethnic communities, tonight. Overnight train.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Over breakfast on the VIA Rail's Canadian this morning, cross the rocky ground of northwestern Ontario, a landscape pocked with primordial lakes and thick forests of ancient trees. Traveling amidst this scenery during the snowy seasons is truly enchanting, as the blanket of white casts an otherworldly feel. While Ontario might be the most populous of Canada's provinces, the remote areas of today's route 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. You might like to spend some time in the observation car or lounge in your cabin before dinner as the train continues through this evocative scenery enroute to Toronto. 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 the train makes its 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. Collect your luggage and walk across the street to the five-star Fairmont Royal York hotel in downtown Toronto. This hotel, a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide, opened in 1929 and reflects timeless grandeur throughout. You might like to enjoy its amenities or begin getting to know Canada's most populous city.

This evening, you might like to dine at one of Toronto's more than 9,300 restaurants that reflect the tastes, cultures and ingredients around the globe. From upscale dishes to comfort food, you will find dining experiences to satisfy any craving. Overnight Toronto

• Breakfast, Brunch

From the West Coast to the Rocky Mountains and the bustling atmosphere of Toronto, this cross-country journey has been an incredible way to experience Canada. Traveling during the snowy months added a new lens from which to enjoy the scenery and each destination along the way, adding a majestic look to the landscape and an added layer of adventure as you explored.

Having traveled through five provinces, your trans-Canada vacation concludes this morning upon checking out of your hotel. A transfer is included to Toronto Pearson Airport for your convenience.