Itinerary
- Day 1
Toronto
Your Canadian adventure kicks off this evening in Toronto. Head to the meeting point at 6 pm where you'll connect with your Tour Director and the other travelers on this trip. Everyone gathers for a welcome drink to start getting to know each other and settle into the journey ahead.
- Day 2
Toronto to Niagara Falls
This morning you'll drive along Lake Ontario's shoreline toward Niagara Falls. Once there, you'll hop on a sightseeing cruise that takes you right up close to the falls from the river, which is quite a different perspective than viewing from above. After heading back toward Toronto, there's an orientation drive through the city, then later you'll have dinner at a restaurant perched 1,815 feet up in the CN Tower with views out over everything.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Special dinner atop the CN Tower)
Included Activities
- Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise
- Toronto orientation drive
- Dinner at CN Tower
Landmarks/POIs Niagara Falls CN Tower Lake Ontario - Day 3
Toronto to Train
Following breakfast, you'll make your way to Union Station to board the Canadian, VIA Rail's flagship transcontinental train. Your accommodations are in the refurbished art-deco Sleeper Plus class rail cars, which means you're set up nicely for comfort. After settling in, you'll start your three-day rail journey across Canada's heartland.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- VIA Rail Canadian train departure
Landmarks/POIs Union Station - Day 4
On Train Through Ontario and Manitoba
You'll spend this day traveling through Ontario and into Manitoba by rail. There's the observation dome where you can watch the landscape roll by, or you can relax in one of the lounges as the train moves past sparkling lakes, forested areas, and eventually into the flat golden prairies stretching out in every direction.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- VIA Rail train travel with observation dome access
- Day 5
Through Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Continuing through Manitoba and Saskatchewan now, you'll move through prairie landscape with winding rivers visible from your windows. This is a good day for meeting other passengers in the lounges, and the first-class service includes freshly prepared meals featuring Canadian dishes and regional specialties that change as you move through different areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- VIA Rail train travel
- Day 6
Saskatchewan to Jasper
The train travels west from Saskatchewan toward Jasper, following the historic Yellowhead Route that early travelers used heading west. Once you arrive in Jasper, there's an orientation drive through town to get your bearings, and the rest of the evening is yours to wander around, check out local restaurants, and if the sky's clear, look up at the dark skies for some great stargazing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- VIA Rail train travel to Jasper
- Jasper orientation drive
Optional Activities
- Dining at local Jasper restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Jasper National Park - Day 7
Jasper to Maligne Lake
You'll head out to Maligne Canyon this morning to see the glacial rock formations and narrow passages carved by water over time. From there, the route goes to Maligne Lake where you'll have lunch before boarding a narrated cruise that heads out to Spirit Island. Back in Jasper by afternoon, you'll have free time to spend however you'd like for the rest of the day and evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Maligne Canyon visit
- Maligne Lake narrated scenic cruise to Spirit Island
- Lunch at Maligne Lake
Landmarks/POIs Maligne Canyon Maligne Lake Spirit Island - Day 8
Jasper to Banff via Icefields Parkway
Heading south through Jasper National Park on the Icefields Parkway, you're driving toward the Columbia Icefield. There you'll board an Ice Explorer vehicle for a ride out onto Athabasca Glacier itself. You'll also climb up to Sunwapta Pass for views of the high alpine terrain, then stop at Lake Louise before continuing toward Banff for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Columbia Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier
- Icefields Parkway drive
- Lake Louise visit
Landmarks/POIs Athabasca Glacier Sunwapta Pass Lake Louise Mount Victoria - Day 9
Banff
A guided sightseeing tour of Banff takes you to Bow River and Bow Falls to see those key spots. After that wraps up, the day is yours to explore on your own throughout Canada's first national park. You can wander around the turquoise glacial lakes, check out trails, and get up close to the rocky peaks that surround the town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Banff guided sightseeing
- Bow River and Bow Falls viewing
Optional Activities
- Flightseeing trip for bird's-eye view of the Rockies
Landmarks/POIs Bow River Bow Falls Banff National Park - Day 10
Banff to Kamloops via Yoho and Glacier National Parks
Traveling west, you'll pass through Yoho National Park and Glacier National Park on your way toward Kamloops. The route climbs up Rogers Pass at 4,379 feet, which offers excellent photo stops with mountain cliffs and glaciers visible all around. Once you reach the South Thompson Inn in Kamloops, there's a riverside BBQ dinner with s'mores to finish off the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Riverside BBQ with S'mores)
Included Activities
- Yoho National Park drive
- Glacier National Park drive
- Rogers Pass stop for photos
- Riverside BBQ with S'mores at South Thompson Inn
Landmarks/POIs Yoho National Park Glacier National Park Rogers Pass - Day 11
Kamloops to Victoria
You'll head to the ferry terminal and board a BC Ferry for a 90-minute cruise over to Vancouver Island. Arriving in Victoria, the tour covers Beacon Hill Park and its gardens, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park to get oriented. The evening is free, so you can pick from the many restaurants around the harbor area for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- BC Ferry cruise to Vancouver Island
- Victoria city tour
- Beacon Hill Park gardens
- Fairmont Empress Hotel viewing
- Bastion Square visit
- Thunderbird Park visit
Optional Activities
- Dinner at Victoria restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Beacon Hill Park Fairmont Empress Hotel Bastion Square Thunderbird Park - Day 12
Victoria to Butchart Gardens
Your morning and afternoon here are unscheduled, which means you can shop along Government Street and Market Square or spend time at the Royal British Columbia Museum if that interests you. Later you'll visit Butchart Gardens, a National Historic site with millions of flowers and over 900 different plant varieties spread throughout the grounds. Dinner is a special farewell meal held in the original restored greenhouse on the property.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Special farewell dinner in the original, now restored, greenhouse at Butchart Gardens)
Included Activities
- Butchart Gardens visit
- Special farewell dinner in restored greenhouse
Optional Activities
- Government Street shopping
- Market Square shopping
- Royal British Columbia Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Butchart Gardens Royal British Columbia Museum Government Street Market Square - Day 13
Victoria to Vancouver
The BC Ferry takes you through the Gulf Islands, an archipelago with a Mediterranean type climate, heading toward the mainland and Vancouver. Once there, the city tour includes the Waterfront, Chinatown, and Stanley Park where you'll see towering evergreen trees and First Nations totem poles. The evening is yours to explore Vancouver's neighborhoods and restaurants at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- BC Ferry through Gulf Islands
- Vancouver city tour
- Vancouver Waterfront visit
- Chinatown visit
- Stanley Park visit with totem poles
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Vancouver
Landmarks/POIs Gulf Islands Vancouver Waterfront Chinatown Stanley Park - Day 14
Vancouver Departure
After breakfast this morning, your Canadian adventure wraps up and you'll head out for your departure, taking with you memories from the train journey, national parks, and both coasts of this vast country.
- Meals
- Breakfast
