Itinerary Details
Canadian Train Odyssey
Day 1: TORONTO Welcome to Toronto! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.
Toronto is considered the most culturally diverse city in the world with its population representing a wide range of ethnicities and languages. Once checked into your hotel, perhaps do some shopping at nearby Eaton Centre or venture a little further and check out the Hockey Hall of Fame or try some local culinary treats at St. Lawrence Market, a city landmark over two centuries old.
Day 2: TORONTO. EXCURSION TO NIAGARA FALLS Begin the day with an orientation tour of Toronto that includes seeing City Hall, the downtown banking district, Rogers Centre, and the stunning CN Tower. Leave the city and travel along the shores of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls where you’ll take an exhilarating cruise to see the thundering falls up close. Fall even more in love with the falls on an optional excursion to Skylon Tower for spectacular views and a buffet lunch. Return to Toronto and have time this evening to explore this vibrant city on your own.
NOTE:
Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions. Favorable conditions usually exist from May to October. When conditions are unfavorable, a visit to Journey Behind the Falls will be substituted.
Day 3: TORONTO–VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN This morning, transfer to Union Station for a departure on The Canadian, VIA Rail’s premier transcontinental train. Spend the next three days and nights on this classic trip across Canada’s heartland. Your Sleeper-Plus class rail cars are refurbished art-deco cars from the 1950s. Domed observation cars let you enjoy views of the Canadian countryside as you roll past Ontario’s landscapes. Chef-prepared meals offer a tempting array of soups, salads, main courses, and desserts. (L,D)
Day 4: VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN Today, watch the scenery as you whisk by the ever-changing Canadian landscape and travel the full length of the Canadian National Railway’s breathtaking mainline. (B,L,D)
Day 5: VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN The Canadian glides through Winnipeg, before continuing the journey through Manitoba’s prairies and into Saskatchewan. (B,L,D)
Day 6: VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN–JASPER NATIONAL PARK Arrive in Jasper this morning and enjoy an orientation tour of the townsite. The remainder of your day is free to explore the ambiance of this wonderous mountain setting. Perhaps go with the flow on an optional scenic float trip on the Athabasca River to take in the natural beauty and look for wildlife along the shoreline.
Day 7: JASPER NATIONAL PARK Today is at leisure. Make your day magical with an optional narrated cruise on Maligne Lake to the much-photographed Spirit Island*. This afternoon, perhaps hike on the trails and watch for wildlife, or stroll the streets of downtown Jasper.
*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.
Day 8: JASPER NATIONAL PARK–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–LAKE LOUISE–BANFF NATIONAL PARK Board your motorcoach this morning and journey through Jasper National Park, stopping along the way at the Columbia Icefield to ride the all-terrain Ice Explorer, crossing ice measuring 750 feet (250 meters) thick! Continue down Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, known for its stunning turquoise waters that mirror the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Arrive in Banff National Park for a leisurely two-night stay. An orientation tour highlights Banff’s unspoiled beauty.
Day 9: BANFF NATIONAL PARK The day is free for independent exploration. Perhaps start your day with an awe-inspiring optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies! Or hike in some of the surrounding 2,564 square miles of parkland which are home to wildlife, including elk, deer, and grizzly bear. Your Tour Director can offer many suggestions for activities and dining.
Day 10: BANFF NATIONAL PARK–YOHO NATIONAL PARK–GLACIER NATIONAL PARK–KAMLOOPS This morning, leave Banff National Park and travel over Kicking Horse Pass on the Continental Divide. Travel through Yoho National Park, where pre-Cambrian fossils were discovered, and Glacier National Park, where recreational mountain climbing was introduced to North America a century ago. Late this afternoon, arrive at the cattle-ranching center of Kamloops.
Day 11: KAMLOOPS–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA Travel through the Coast Mountain Range to its majestic Pacific coastline, where the desert landscape gives way to lush alpine forest. Board your afternoon ferry for the spectacular crossing to Vancouver Island. Upon arrival, take time to smell the roses on an optional excursion to see the 55 acres of incredible floral displays at world famous Butchart Gardens. Later, enjoy sightseeing in Victoria including the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening, consider taking a relaxing stroll along the lovely Waterfront Promenade. (B)
Day 12: VICTORIA Enjoy a day at leisure with time to discover some of the attractions this splendid city has to offer. Visit the Royal British Columbia Museum, tour the Parliament Building, enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel, or shop along Government Street. Perhaps have an adventure at sea on an optional whale and wildlife watching cruise!
Day 13: VICTORIA–FERRY CROSSING–VANCOUVER This morning, set sail across the Strait of Georgia and through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-like climate. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes beautiful Stanley Park and other famous landmarks. The remainder of the day is free to explore. Perhaps visit Robson Street and experience British Columbia’s premier shopping and entertainment location or take a water taxi to Granville Island to visit its bustling Public Market and waterfront cafés.
Day 14: VANCOUVER Enjoy a day at leisure for independent sightseeing or your choice of an unforgettable optional excursion, featuring a trip to Whistler on one of the world’s most scenic drives along the Sea to Sky Highway or an adventure on an optional aerial tram ride up the mountain for exquisite views and a walk through a rainforest canopy at Grouse Mountain & Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Day 15: VANCOUVER Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Vancouver further.
