Train passing between a large lake and a mountain
Rocky Mountaineer attendant
two women smiling on the Rocky Mountaineer: Ultra-Luxe Canadian Rockies Adventure journey
Rocky Mountaineer rounds bed w red bushes
Dining car on the Canadian train

Trans-Canada Rail Adventure Toronto-Vancouver

North America
16-day Independent Tour
Reverse Direction
Book Now

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.

Read More

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.

Trans-Canada Rail Adventure Toronto-Vancouver map

Countries Visited

  • Canada

Itinerary

Download 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 accommodations in Kamloops are 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

Sorry, booking for this Journey is temporarily unavailable.

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.

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.