Itinerary
- Day 1
Toronto
You'll land in Toronto and head to your hotel for check-in. You have 2 nights here, staying at either Town Inn Suites if you go with the Standard option or Chelsea Hotel for the Superior choice. After settling in, the rest of the day is free to explore the neighborhood around your hotel or grab dinner somewhere nearby.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel, Hotel
- Day 2
Toronto
You've got the full day to check out Toronto at your own pace. The CN Tower gives you those sweeping views across the city, and from there you can head to Chinatown, browse St. Lawrence Market, or hit up the Eaton Centre if shopping's on your list. If you're into sports, the Hockey Hall of Fame and Rogers Centre are worth the trip. The Entertainment District has shows running throughout the day if you want to catch some live performances.
Optional Activities
- Visit CN Tower (553 m high) for city views
- Explore Chinatown
- Experience Entertainment District with pubs, bars, clubs, cinemas and musical theater
- Browse St. Lawrence Market specialties
- Visit Rogers Centre
- Visit Hockey Hall of Fame
- Shop at Eaton Centre
Landmarks CN Tower St. Lawrence Market Rogers Centre Hockey Hall of Fame Eaton Centre 
- Day 3
Toronto to Winnipeg
Make your way to Union Station and board VIA Rail's 'The Canadian' around 9:45 am. You'll settle into your cabin or couchette and start getting comfortable for the next three nights on the rails. Lunch and dinner come served onboard, so you can relax and get oriented to your accommodations as the train pulls out of the city.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Depart Toronto on VIA Rail train 'The Canadian'
Optional Activities
- Individual transfer to Union Station (available for a fee)
Landmarks Union Station - Day 4
Canadian Shield to Winnipeg
Today you're traveling through the Canadian Shield with its rocky landscape and thousands of lakes dotting the region. You'll pass through extensive farmland and the famous Muskoka Lakes area. The train stops frequently so you can step out and stretch your legs. By evening you'll roll into Winnipeg and have time to walk around The Forks park near the station, where you'll find indigenous heritage artwork and see where two rivers meet. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Train journey through Canadian Shield landscape
- Train stops for leg stretching
Optional Activities
- Stroll through The Forks park in Winnipeg
- Explore Niizhoziibean area with indigenous heritage artwork and meeting place
- Walk along Red and Assiniboine Rivers banks
Landmarks The Forks Niizhoziibean - Day 5
Prairie Provinces to Edmonton
The prairie landscape stretches out as you travel through Saskatchewan, and by late afternoon you'll cross into Alberta. You arrive in Edmonton, the province's capital, known for the West Edmonton Mall, which is North America's largest shopping center. The city has a vibrant urban feel worth exploring. All meals continue being served onboard throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Train journey through Saskatchewan prairies into Alberta
Optional Activities
- Visit West Edmonton Mall (largest shopping mall in North America)
Landmarks West Edmonton Mall - Day 6
Alberta Night Journey to Jasper
You'll travel through the night across Alberta as the Rocky Mountains start appearing in the distance. The Dome Car has panoramic windows if you want to catch views of the night sky. By 6:30 am you're in Jasper, and you'll make your own way to the hotel from the station. This mountain town sits at about 1,062 m in the national park, with restaurants and shops clustered in the center. You're settling in here for three nights.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- View starry sky from Dome Car at night
- Explore restaurants and shops in Jasper town center
Landmarks Jasper - Days 7 - 8
Jasper National Park
You've got two days to explore Canada's largest national park right in the Rockies. Head out to Maligne Lake, which gets its water from glacier runoff including the Athabasca Glacier about 50 km south. A gondola ride up Whistler Mountain gives you those panoramic views across the peaks. Jasper's a Dark Sky Preserve with very little light pollution, which makes it ideal for watching the night sky and chasing Northern Lights if conditions cooperate.
Optional Activities
- Visit Maligne Lake
- Gondola ride up Whistler Mountain
- View night sky at Jasper Dark Sky Preserve
- Observe Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
Landmarks Jasper National Park Maligne Lake Whistler Mountain - Day 9
Jasper to British Columbia
Make your way back to Jasper station and board 'The Canadian' at 9:30 am. You'll pass Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at over 3,900 m, and travel through Clearwater, which opens onto Wells Gray Provincial Park. The landscape shifts to the desert-like region around Kamloops as you head into British Columbia. The large panoramic windows give you great views throughout the day. You'll spend one night onboard with lunch and dinner served.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Depart Jasper on VIA Rail train 'The Canadian'
Optional Activities
- Individual transfer from hotel to Jasper train station (not included)
Landmarks Mount Robson Wells Gray Provincial Park Clearwater Kamloops - Day 10
Arrival in Vancouver
The train pulls into Vancouver around 8:00 am. After getting to your hotel, you'll have the rest of the day to explore the West Coast city. Grouse Mountain offers hiking trails and views overlooking everything, while Stanley Park has its well-known aquarium and a waterfront cycling path. You can also wander through Robson Street, Gastown, or Chinatown. You're staying one night here before heading out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Transfer from train station to accommodation
Optional Activities
- Visit Grouse Mountain with views and hiking trails
- Explore Stanley Park with aquarium
- Walk or cycle around Stanley Park peninsula
- Stroll through Robson Street
- Explore Gastown
- Explore Chinatown
Landmarks Grouse Mountain Stanley Park Robson Street Gastown Chinatown - Day 11
Vancouver
This is your final day in Vancouver as the rail journey wraps up. If you want to extend your time in the city or elsewhere, VIA Rail can arrange that for you. 'The Canadian' itself covers the continent in four days and nights with stops throughout, serving a la carte dining in the dining car. The train staff, who speak English and some French, provide solid service throughout your journey.
Optional Activities
- Arrange individual extension (tour concludes)
