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 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 get your bearings in Downtown Vancouver, wandering amongst the shops and restaurants, or you could head to one of the fantastic museums, such as the Museum of Anthropology.

Alternatively, you could use your included 24-hour Hop-on/Hop-off pass to tour Vancouver. The buses showcase the best 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 berth* and relax as your journey begins. 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.

*Please note: upgrades to Sleeper Plus Cabins or Prestige Class Cabins are available upon request. Speak with a Rail Specialist for details.

• 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 picture window or enjoy the changing scenery from the Dining Car while having breakfast.

The Canadian arrives in Jasper around midday, at which time you can make your own way to your conveniently located hotel. After checking in for three nights, the day is then yours to enjoy at your own pace. You might like to head right into nature, exploring Jasper's sugar-dusted surroundings on one of the local hiking trails, or you could discover the selection of restaurants and shops at your fingertips. Overnight Jasper.

• Breakfast

Setting out with a local guide this morning, get to know Jasper National Park on a wildlife discovery tour. Your excursion reveals the diversity surrounding Jasper as you head to some of the most scenic and wildlife-rich regions throughout the park. As your route unfolds, your guide will tell stories of the history, geology and ecology of the park and point out significant sights.

Returning to Jasper, the remainder of the day is yours to continue exploring at your leisure. In Downtown Jasper, the Astra Theatre has a fascinating history that you can uncover, and the Jasper Planetarium is the ideal place to see why Jasper National Park is renowned as a dark sky preserve. Of course, you could also tuck yourself away in one of the local restaurants or pubs and warm up over a delicious meal after your sightseeing excursion. Overnight Jasper.

Today brings a full day to explore Jasper National Park or the town independently. Nearby, there are a range of rental options (payable locally) that allow you to get in touch with nature in a memorable way, from ice skating on a local lake to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or meandering about on a fat-tire bike.

Should you wish to explore the Jasper region with a guide, you could instead book one of the following optional excursions available at a supplement. Overnight Jasper.

Optional Excursions

Jasper Downtown Foodie Tour - Soak up the history and flavors of Jasper on a short walking tour through downtown. Spend three hours walking between restaurants with a guide, enjoying factual stories and local tales as you relish the town's ambiance. At each of the four included stops, enjoy a hand-picked dish for which the establishment is known, served with a complementary alcoholic beverage.

Maligne Valley & Pleckaitis Canyon Icewalk - Travel deep into the scenic Maligne Valley on a 3-hour guided excursion. The route includes a stop at Medicine Lake and travels through a region impacted by wildfires, allowing you to learn more about tree growth. The highlight of the tour comes as you arrive at one of Jasper's deepest accessible canyons, Pleckaitis, where you can walk along the bottom while surrounded by high rock walls.

*Please note: if you want to explore on multiple excursions, speak with a Rail Specialist about adding additional nights in 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.