Trans Canada By Rail Featuring VIA Rail's Prestige Class

Your vacation begins today as your flight arrives in the West Coast city of Vancouver. As Canada's third-largest metropolis, this destination is steeped in art, culture and fantastic amenities at every turn. You can get your first glimpses on arrival as a private transfer takes you from the airport to your four-star hotel.

The Fairmont Hotel is in the heart of Downtown Vancouver, set among 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 railway hotels. After checking in for two nights, you have the rest of the day to get to know your new surroundings.

Vancouver is one of Canada's top culinary destinations, and the restaurants around the city reflect this. Whether you crave fresh Pacific seafood or international cuisine, there are plenty of options to tempt you. Overnight Vancouver.

Setting out into the city today with a private guide, you can get to know Vancouver's best features in a way not available to larger group tours. Venture into Stanley Park, where stunning leafy expanses and ocean views meet colorful totem poles that celebrate the region's indigenous history.

Moving onto Gastown, you can wander the cobblestone streets, admiring the contrasts of red brick Victorian buildings and the modern boutiques and restaurants that call this trendy neighborhood home. Your tour also uncovers Granville Island, the historic Lions Gate Bridge, and Cyprus Mountain viewpoint before returning you to your hotel.

With the remainder of the day at leisure, you could continue exploring Vancouver at your own pace, perhaps visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery or Museum of Vancouver. You could also venture just outside the city to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park to walk amongst the treetops. Overnight Vancouver.

This morning, there is time to revisit your favorite sites throughout Vancouver or walk along one of the many trails throughout the city. You might like to grab a coffee and wander along the seawall, soaking up ocean views.

Later, an included private transfer takes you to Vancouver's train station, where your epic transcontinental journey aboard VIA Rail's Canadian begins. As you step aboard the train, you will be shown to your Prestige Class Cabin, complete with a private restroom and shower. Settle in and enjoy the passing vistas from extra-large picture windows as the Canadian departs Vancouver and begins its journey inland.

For a different perspective, you might like to take in the changing scenery from any of the lounges on the train. Your personal concierge is available to ensure your comfort at every moment, and with complimentary gourmet meals and bar service throughout, this eastbound journey is sure to leave a lasting impression. Overnight train.

• Dinner

Waking on the train this morning, the views are dramatically different than yesterday, with the rugged scenery of the Canadian Rockies passing by your window. Today's route is one of the most scenic of the rail journey, as the train follows the Fraser and North Thompson Rivers. Keep watch for wildlife, including bear and moose, and snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance. Pyramid Falls and Mount Robson - the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies - are also visible before the Canadian passes through Jasper National Park and continues its eastward journey, passing through Alberta's capital city, Edmonton, later today.

After breakfast in the Dining Car, you could explore the amenities aboard the train. You have access to all of the lounges on the train, as well as to the Skyline Car - an exclusive entertainment center with an observation dome offering 360-degree views - and the Park Car, with three different salons and an upper observation deck. Enjoy priority reservations in the Dining Car for dinner and an evening to relax as the route unfolds. Overnight train.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Having left the dramatic peaks and lush forests of Alberta behind, the train continues toward Toronto this morning, entering the mid-point of your journey. The western provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are commonly known as "The Prairies" and are awash with sights of plains, hills, lakes and rivers.

Spend the day enjoying the views of Canada's ever-changing landscape while savoring exclusive access to the Park Car, dining on superb meals and delighting in impeccable service. With a population smaller than Dallas in an area similar in size to Texas, Saskatchewan is perfect for sitting back and watching the world go by. Look for wildlife, such as deer, as the train crosses the southern plains. Later, the Canadian crosses into Manitoba, a province with more than 100,000 lakes stretching up to the shores of the Hudson Bay. Its capital is Winnipeg, considered the geographic capital of Canada, and the train pulls through this fascinating and cultural city tonight before continuing east. Overnight train.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Canadian Shield is one of the world's largest continental shields, with vast expanses of exposed Precambrian rock and pretty lakes peppered throughout the landscape. The terrain alternates between gently rolling and primarily flat, hinting at the glacial activity here millions of years ago. These visions set the backdrop for today's travels as you pass through Ontario on your third full day aboard the Canadian. A highlight of this stretch of track is Longlac, which, located at the northern tip of Long Lake, played an important role as part of the historic canoe route for fur traders.

Between meals, you could spend some time in the Park Car, enjoying its two salons and observation deck, all of which provide fantastic views of Canada and its constantly changing scenery. Overnight train.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast and brunch in the Dining Car as the final miles of this epic journey through Western and Central Canada lie ahead. The Canadian leaves the wide-open spaces of rural Canada behind, and suburban and urban scenery guide the way to Toronto's Union Station.

Toronto's Union Station is Canada's largest and most elegant train station. Its Great Hall looks like a temple to the railroad, and its limestone exterior features 22 Romanesque columns. And this is just one of Toronto's iconic buildings you will see today; your accommodations for the next two nights are at the Fairmont Royal York, another elegant Canadian Pacific Railroad hotel. After disembarking the train, transfer independently to your hotel to check in, and then you are free to explore Toronto.

Peruse the iconic markets, such as the St. Lawrence Market for a famous peameal bacon sandwich or Kensington Market to savor its street food, vibrant murals and shop fronts. Or, stroll along the waterfront as you gaze at the city's skyscrapers. Overnight Toronto.

• Breakfast, Brunch

The most populous city in Canada, Toronto is a melting pot of culture, history and art, and it is yours to uncover today on a private guided tour. Your guide picks you up from your hotel and proceeds to some of the city's most famous landmarks, offering insightful commentary and local stories along the way.

See Toronto's attractions and vibrant neighborhoods, and admire the city's magnificent architecture during your four-hour tour. Returning to your hotel, the rest of the day is free to relax at your hotel with its skylit indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms or to continue exploring at leisure.

Toronto is home to more than 9,300 restaurants, whose menus represent cultures and flavors from around the world. Find traditional Canadian dishes, such as poutine, alongside offerings like shawarma and fresh fish on your final night in Canada. Overnight Toronto.

Spanning from Vancouver on the Pacific Coast to Toronto on Lake Ontario, this remarkable journey has been the most luxurious way to travel across Canada. The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Fairmont Royal York provided top-of-the-line accommodations in your bookend cities, and your time on the Canadian was complemented by Prestige Class service. Complete with private sightseeing and some of Canada's best scenery, this has been an unparalleled adventure.

After checking out of the hotel this morning, your trans-Canada tour comes to a close. Enjoy an included private transfer to Toronto's airport for your flight home. If you wish to extend your stay in Toronto, speak to a Rail Specialist about adding additional nights.