Trans-Canada Rail Adventure Toronto-Vancouver
Overview
The Highlights
- Spotting Canadian wildlife from trains’ domes—big-horned sheep, elk, black bears, bald eagles, osprey
- Enjoying VIA Rail’s The Canadian, with all meals included, wine-tasting in the dome car, and your private compartment
- Tasty meals in the lovely diners of The Canadian and Rocky Mountaineer
- Private tours of Banff, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park, Icefields Parkway and Niagara Falls
- Time to explore Lake Louise, Banff and Jasper
- Riding on some of the best equipment in the world on the Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf service, the double-decked dome cars with open-air platforms and on The Canadian with its great dome observation cars
The Tour
Take this legendary Trans-Canada rail tour on two first-class trains: The Canadian, with VIA Rail’s lovely service, including its luxurious Prestige Class, and the all-daylight Rocky Mountaineer train.
See Niagara Falls, and spend four days exploring the pristine wilds of Lake Louise, Jasper and Banff National Parks. Tour runs between Toronto and Vancouver. Cross northern Ontario’s scenic lake lands, the prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and the towering Canadian Rockies, before ending on the Pacific Coast.
View eastbound (Vancouver-Toronto) Trans-Canada itinerary.
Countries Visited
- Canada
Itinerary
Day 1: Toronto
Arrive Toronto, and explore Canada’s largest city at your leisure. A private transfer will take you from the station to your hotel for a two-night stay.
Accommodations: the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Deluxe Room.
Day 2: Private tour of Niagara Falls
Enjoy a full-day private tour to Niagara Falls, one of the world’s great wonders. Includes Hornblower Cruise (formerly Maid of the Mist; subject to cruise schedule) and lunch. Return to Toronto early this evening to stay overnight. (IMAX Theatre or Journey Behind the Falls is substituted when the Niagara Falls boat tour is not operating.)
Accommodations: Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Deluxe Room. (B, L)
Day 3: Depart Toronto
In the morning, a private transfer will take you to the Toronto train station, where you will begin your four-day journey across Ontario and Prairie Provinces on board The Canadian, with all meals on board included. (Brunch, D)
Days 4-5: On board Canadian
Continue rail journey across western Canada toward Jasper, with all meals included on the train.
Overnight on VIA Rail’s The Canadian. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Jasper
Early morning arrival in Jasper, surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery and teeming with wildlife. Transfer to your hotel for a three-night stay in a Deluxe Room.
Accommodations: Junior Suite Lakeview, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. (B)
Day 7: Private Jasper sightseeing
Jasper National Park is a World Heritage Site and Canada’s largest National Park. Today you will enjoy a private scenic tour including the many natural attractions and rugged peaks in the area. You might even catch a glimpse of some of the unique animals that call this mountain park home.
The remainder of the day is free to explore Jasper at your leisure.
Accommodations: Junior Suite Lakeview, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. (B)
Day 8: Jasper
Enjoy a free day in Jasper.
Accommodations: Junior Suite Lakeview, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. (B)
Day 9: Private tour Jasper to Lake Louise
Private tour and transfer to Lake Louise via one of the most scenic highways in the world, the Icefields Parkway. Highlights are Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls, and a ride on an Ice Explorer.
Arrive in stunning Lake Louise early this evening. Often described as the crown jewel of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the striking turquoise waters of Lake Louise, Alberta, are perhaps the most photographed in all of Canada.
Accommodations: Fairmont Gold Lakeview Room, Fairmont Château Lake Louise (B)
Day 10: Lake Louise
Enjoy a day at leisure in picturesque Lake Louise. Ask the hotel concierge for help arranging some of the plentiful nearby activities.
Accommodations: Fairmont Gold Lakeview Room, Fairmont Château Lake Louise (B)
Day 11: Private Yoho Tour, Lake Louise-Banff
This morning is at your leisure. Private afternoon half-day tour departs Lake Louise and into Yoho National Park. See the Bow River, Emerald Lake, and natural rock bridge-spanning Kicking Horse River before arriving in the charming mountain hamlet of Banff.
Accommodations: Fairmont Gold Mountain View Room, Fairmont Banff Springs. (B)
Day 12: Private Banff sightseeing
Begin the morning with included breakfast, after which you will enjoy a private sightseeing tour of Banff. Visit Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. Banff Gondola is included. The rest of the day is free.
Accommodations: Fairmont Gold Mountain View Room, Fairmont Banff Springs. (B)
Day 13: Banff
Enjoy a day at leisure in Banff.
Accommodations: Fairmont Gold Mountain View Room, Fairmont Banff Springs. (B)
Day 14: Banff-Kamloops
This morning, a private transfer will take you from the Fairmont Pacific Rim to the Rocky Mountaineer train station. Enjoy your day on board the Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf service. Overnight in Kamloops.
Accommodations: Kamloops hotel. (B, L) (Please note that all accommodation in Kamloops is considered moderate.)
Day 15: Kamloops-Vancouver
Enjoy another full day on the Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf service. Once you arrive in Vancouver, transfer to a modern icon of the city, the Fairmont Pacific Rim.
Accommodations: Fairmont Gold Harbour Mountain View Room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. (B, L)
Day 16: Vancouver
Tour ends with checkout from Vancouver hotel. A private airport transfer is included today. (B)
Dates & Prices
2023 Dates
October 1 - 15
*Train operating season is April through early October. Contact us for availability.
| Travel season | Double | Single | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder season (April/early May/Oct) | From $16,005 | From $28,068 | 40% |
| High season (May to Sept) | From $17,415 | From $30,005 | 40% |
- Prices are per person in US Dollars and do not include Canadian GST (5%) or fuel surcharge.
- Pricing varies depending on the exact dates of travel.
- We include GoldLeaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer and Prestige Class on the Canadian because we feel these classes are so superior to anything else offered on the train.
- Room upgrades from the listed room types are available; please inquire. The tour operates in the early Spring and late into the fall – but we recommend choosing a more moderate time to travel, from June through August.
Our Process
This is a suggested itinerary for a wonderful private journey. It will be fully customized for you. Please contact us at (800) 478-4881, or (502) 897-1725, or email us at tourdesk@irtsociety.com, to schedule a brief conversation with one of our specialists to discuss our process.
Book Your Journey
Reviews From Our Travelers
WAY over first class -- VIA rail is just unbelievable. We absolutely loved being on the train...Would recommend to ANYONE. It was beautiful. The people that you meet in the Prestige Class lounge were so much fun.
Rocky Mountaineer upgraded all our hotel reservations through the trip. The bottle of Champagne sitting in our room in Vancouver was also a nice touch.
When our tour bus arrived at the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, we gasped at how beautiful it was. We emailed [Eleanor] right away to say how thrilled we were at her choice.
More
B=Breakfast Included, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Note: The Vancouver-Toronto (eastbound) itinerary is 15 days, with one fewer day in Jasper, than the 16-day Toronto-Vancouver (westbound) itinerary outlined above. View the eastbound itinerary.
Inquire About This Journey
For dates and prices, please click here.
Questions? Our experienced luxury rail travel consultants are ready to help.