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Arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, independently, you can check in to our hotel in this attractive city on Canada's Atlantic coast.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore. A cultural center of the Maritimes, Halifax retains many of its historic seafaring traditions and has scenic parks and ocean views. You might be tempted to search out some local specialties for dinner, such as the sweet and tender lobsters, succulent scallops or fresh oysters.

With an expert local guide, we explore Nova Scotia, a historic land of fishing villages and coves dappled with small bobbing boats and wooded islands.

With Nova Scotia meaning New Scotland in Latin, it is perhaps unsurprising that its capital, Halifax, blends Celtic influences with unmistakable North American style. Our first stop outside Halifax is Peggy's Cove, a tiny settlement of colorful buildings on a headland dotted with wave-battered boulders. Keeping seafarers safe for more than a century is Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, reputedly Canada's most photographed lighthouse. There are also many traditional inukshuks here - age-old rock structures used to navigate the frozen north.

A scenic drive leads us to pretty Mahone Bay, a village adorned with rustic Gothic revival buildings. The UNESCO-listed harbor town of Lunenburg is our next destination. Here, the splash of color provided by waterfront houses along Bluenose Drive is reflected in the waters. This evening is independent to try some local food like chowder.

After a final morning in Halifax, we transfer to the station this afternoon. Boarding VIA Rail's Ocean service we settle into private cabins for an overnight journey to Québec City.

With lunch and dinner served onboard, the train makes its way towards Moncton before crossing the Miramichi River amidst dense spruce forests. During the night, it continues to Chaleur Bay and crosses into New Brunswick before making its way along the widening mouth of the St. Lawrence River under the cover of night.

• Lunch, Dinner

This morning, VIA Rail's Ocean arrives in Quebec City. On arrival, a guided tour helps us delve into its history, as well as the conflicts between France, Great Britain and the United States that led to the founding of Canada in 1867. Constructed between 1820 and 1850 on early French fortifications, the star-shaped citadel served to protect British North America.

We visit the Battle of the Plains of Abraham battlefield overlooking the St. Lawrence River, before transferring by coach to an authentic 1920s sugar shack where maple syrup is produced. Amid a maple forest, we learn the history of the syrup during an informative short tour followed by a tasting of this iconic Canadian staple. Afterward, we sit down for a three-course lunch of traditional food inspired by the syrup.

Next, we check into the fairytale, five-star Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. This opulent hotel was the first of the iconic castle-like hotels constructed by Canadian railway companies from 1893. Originally built to attract tourists to the trans-Canadian railways, this revivalist masterpiece is regularly considered to be the most photographed hotel in the world.

• Lunch

Today, we board VIA Rail's train service to Montreal. Following the course of the St. Lawrence River and the shores of Lake Ontario, we arrive in this UNESCO city of design in the early evening, before continuing to this evening's destination: Toronto.

Toronto's Union Station is Canada's largest and most elegant train station. Its Great Hall looks every bit a temple to the railroad, while its resplendent limestone exterior is dominated by 22 Romanesque columns. Built in 1927, this glorious Beaux-Arts structure is actually the third incarnation of the station - a testament to the importance of railways in connecting Canada. Nearby is the iconic CN Tower built by the Canadian National Railway Company and the world's tallest free-standing structure from 1975 until 2007.

We transfer to our historic downtown hotel that has housed numerous luminaries from Mark Twain to Ernest Hemingway and the Beatles to Louis Armstrong. The rest of the day is free to unwind or explore Canada's most populous city, stopping off at one of its fine restaurants near our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

An incredible highlight of your grand trans-Canadian adventure awaits today as we are joined on a coach by an expert local guide for a full-day trip to Niagara Falls.

Connecting the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara River plunges down three astonishing waterfalls. When we arrive, we set sail on a cruise to get closer to one of the world's most impressive natural sights - with protective ponchos supplied. Marveling at the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the iconic Horseshoe Falls is an unforgettable experience as the clouds of spray and thunderous roar emphasize the awesome majesty of nature.

Back on shore, there is time for lunch independently in one of Niagara's restaurants before viewing the falls from above at Table Rock. Continuing our exploration, we reach the whirlpool where the river bursts out of the Niagara Gorge. We conclude our excursion at the pretty town of Niagara on the Lake, where there is time to stroll its quaint streets. Returning to Toronto, you can relive the day's dramatic sights as you dine independently.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we transfer to the train station for one of the world's most epic train journeys. Boarding the steel carriages of VIA Rail's Canadian, we settle into our private cabins for a three-night ride across Canada to Jasper. All meals are provided, and you can unwind in your cabins with a good book, or spend some time in the observation car or lounge.

Traveling through raw Canadian wilderness, keep lookout for moose, lynx and black bears prowling its dense woodlands. Continuing on our westward journey, we cross the rocky ground of northwestern Ontario, a wild landscape pocked with primordial lakes and thick, verdant forests of ancient trees.

• Lunch, Dinner

Waking up to our first full day on the Canadian, we are welcomed to Winnipeg, considered the geographical center of Canada. We later cross into Manitoba, a province with more than 100,000 lakes stretching all the way up to the shores of Hudson Bay.

We then travel through the southern plains of Saskatchewan, home to deer, eagles and, occasionally, antelope, moose and bison. Next, with nearly half of its 1.2 million residents living in the province's largest city, Saskatoon, scarcely populated Saskatchewan is ideal for sitting back and watching the world go by. The ideal place to relax and observe the scenery is the glass-roofed panoramic observation car, either side of lunch.

The seemingly endless grasslands of the Great Plains stretch as far as the eye can see, with boundless farming communities passing by our windows as the Canadian rolls on. Dinner is also served on board.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, the scenery of remote settlements and serene lakes dotting the landscape transforms into views of glaciers, plunging canyons, soaring mountains and endless pine forests.

As the train approaches Edmonton, we see vast forests and distant mountains, contrasting with the previous day's prairie views. This evening is an opportunity to view the Alberta countryside, dotted with rivers and lakes. Watch the Athabasca River flow beside the train as we wind up toward the Rocky Mountains.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The VIA Rail Canadian rolls into Jasper today after an epic three-night journey across the Canadian plains from Toronto.

Leaving the train, we check in to the luxury Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resort, set in 700 acres of parkland overlooking the serene Beauvert Lake and majestic mountains in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

There is then time to wander around Jasper on your own. This is one of the most important towns for miles around and a popular destination for visitors to the Rockies, yet it retains a calm, small-town feel.

• Breakfast

Today is a free day in Jasper after breakfast. In Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, there are breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, glacial rivers and expansive forests. The main attractions here are Maligne Canyon, a deep limestone gorge, and Maligne Lake - the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region. There's plenty of wildlife to watch out for such as grey wolves, hoary marmot, caribou and moose.

The town itself is charming, with a small community and a laid-back atmosphere. You will also find a choice of shops, restaurants and historical sites, providing both adventure and relaxation. This evening, we gather back at the hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Jasper this morning, we journey by coach along the famous Icefields Parkway, a 144-mile road between Jasper and Banff that passes through some incredible scenery.

After a brief stop at the Athabasca Falls, we continue towards the Icefields Center, where we pause to take in the view of the remarkable Athabasca Glacier, nestled between towering peaks. For those interested, there is the option to enjoy lunch or take a ride across the ice field in a giant, all-terrain Snocoach (payable locally). From here, we head towards Peyto Lake, passing rugged mountains and a blanket of pine forests, before admiring the stunning turquoise waters of the lake. Finally, we journey through the Canadian Rockies, past many of its highest and most formidable peaks.

On arrival in Banff, we check into the beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs, one of the most historic properties in this charming mountain town, built in eye-catching Scottish Baronial style.

• Breakfast

This morning, we explore this sensational part of the world by coach. Our first destination is the glacial Emerald Lake, so-called due to its remarkable color.

The first non-indigenous person to record seeing the lake was Tom Wilson in 1882, who was pursuing horses that had bolted. On encountering the lake, Wilson stopped to enjoy its beauty. A backcountry expert, Wilson was also the first non-indigenous person to view our next destination: Lake Louise, a turquoise glacial lake framed by towering snow-capped mountains.

As one of the most photographed sights in the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise has become intrinsically linked with the region but is equally impressive in person. There is free time to lunch independently at one of the restaurants inside the iconic lakeside Fairmont hotel. Later, we return to Banff this evening for dinner at our wonderful hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we embark on a daylight journey on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer with lunch included, on our way to Kamloops. The train winds through the spectacular Banff National Park, with its towering peaks and pristine lakes, before crossing the Continental Divide. A highlight of the journey is the stunning Spiral Tunnels, where the train curves through the mountains.

A foreboding environment for 19th-century pioneers, this evocative route oozes excitement and history - as well as spectacular vistas. In 1885 by the shores of the Eagle River, near Craigellachie, the 'last spike' was driven into the track, connecting nearly 3,000 miles of trans-Canadian railway from east to west.

Along the shore of sprawling Shuswap Lake, look out for the mythical Shuswaggi - an eight-foot monster similar to Scotland's Loch Ness Monster. We disembark in Kamloops where we spend the night in a hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Our Rocky Mountaineer adventure continues after breakfast along one of the most dramatic stretches of the line, with lunch served onboard. Look out for 'hoodoos' - tall skinny spires of rock which protrude from the arid Thompson Plateau. Local mythology describes these as giants, turned to stone by the Great Spirit. Another great spot is Rainbow Canyon, where myriad colors are reflected in the rocks. We then pass through green forests and dramatic valleys, home to an abundance of Canadian wildlife, along the Thompson and Fraser canyons.

Arriving in Vancouver, we check in to our hotel. The elegant Fairmont hotel is in the heart of Downtown, set amongst high-end boutiques and impressive art galleries. Known as the 'Castle in the City' due to its châteauesque copper pitched roof, the Hotel Vancouver was built in 1939 as one of Canada's grand railway hotels.

After check in there is a free evening to unwind or head out to try some of western Canada's finest cuisine, including top-class seafood, such as salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab, or delicious local versions of Asian and Mexican dishes.

A tour of Vancouver's most characterful and historic districts with a local guide awaits us today.

The rejuvenated area known as Gastown is Vancouver's original Downtown. Redbrick Victorian buildings dot the tree-lined streets surrounding pretty Maple Tree Square. Many upmarket fashion boutiques, trendy coffee shops, art galleries and the famous Gastown Steam Clock can be found in this area. Crossing East Hastings Street, we arrive in Chinatown - the largest in Canada - where we relish the sights and sounds of the lively streets and tranquil squares. From leafy Stanley Park, where we view colorful totem poles celebrating local Native American history, we travel to Granville Island. This buzzing district boasts independent stores and mouthwatering food markets and is where our tour concludes.

The rest of the day is free to explore independently. You can spend time on Granville Island or return to our landmark city center hotel. For dinner this evening, you could choose to indulge at a restaurant nearby.

This spectacular expedition has seen us stay in iconic Fairmont hotels and ride on world-famous trains as we traveled overland from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, crossing the world's second-biggest country and witnessing many highlights. From Halifax and Quebec City's fairytale Fairmont Le Château Frontenac to visiting an authentic sugar shack and the majestic Niagara Falls, the experiences we had are unforgettable. The incredible Canadian train carried us across Canada to the beautiful national parks around Banff and Jasper, followed by awe-inspiring vistas on the Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver.

Your Canadian adventure concludes today, and you are free to make your way home, or explore Vancouver at leisure.