Trans Canada Winter Rail Vacation | Toronto to Vancouver

Day 1 Toronto to Jasper | VIA Rail This morning, check in at Toronto’s Union Station and board VIA Rail’s ‘Canadian’ train for the famous journey across the prairies to the Canadian Rockies. Step back in time to the days of classic rail travel, riding in the original stainless steel ‘streamliner’ railcars made famous by the ‘Canadian’ in the 1950s. Each has been restored with air conditioning, a café car, lounge car, and access to the dome car. Today is spent crossing the scenic lake lands and forests of Ontario. (brunch & dinner included today onboard VIA Rail)

Day 2 On-board | VIA Rail Watch the scenery change as you enter Manitoba and travel through the prairies and great plains of Canada. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner included today onboard VIA Rail)

Day 3 On-board | VIA Rail Continue west through the breadbasket of Canada: Manitoba and Saskatchewan each have golden wheat fields stretching as far as the eye can see. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner included today onboard VIA Rail)

Day 4 Arrive Jasper | VIA Rail This morning, awake to arrive in Jasper, a small alpine community located in the majestic Canadian Rockies.

Day 5 Jasper Freedom of Choice | 1 of 4 Excursions Personalize your stay in Jasper by choosing one of these excursions: Option 1. Maligne Canyon Ice Walk Experience the wonders of Maligne Canyon from the ground up! The canyon has withstood 10,000 years of erosion and has created a 50 metre gorge. Option 2. Discover Jasper & its Wildlife Tour Travel through the Athabasca Valley to some of the park’s most beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountain scenery to seek out all the park’s most iconic creatures. Option 3. Jasper Dark Sky Planetarium & Telescope Experience Join LIVE astronomy guides for a full evening of cosmic exploration, starting inside with a world-exclusive domed theatre experience, then outside with the largest telescope in the Rockies. In the climate-controlled 40-seat dome theatre, take a LIVE virtual tour of Jasper’s 11,000 sq km Dark Sky Preserve. Option 4. Upgrade Option: Dog Sledding Tour Travel by dog sled along 22 km (13 mi) of pristine winter scenery in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Learn the history of the area and the people amongst the crisp mountain air and the beautiful scenery that surrounds you. Enjoy lunch cooked over an open campfire, hot apple cider, and homemade treats.

Day 6 Jasper to Lake Louise | Coach | Evening Sleigh Ride Travel southward along the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise. This spectacular drive through glacier country features massive snow covered mountains, frozen waterfalls and broad-reaching valleys. Included this evening is a wonderful 40 minute sleigh ride that takes place beside the lake.

Day 7 Lake Louise | Day at Leisure Lake Louise transforms into a real-life snow globe in the winter that has to be seen to be believed. To make the most of your stay, rent a pair of ice skates and head onto the frozen lake or snowshoes and explore the many trails, wander the shoreline and take in the iconic views – both are authentic Canadian experience. For skiing or snowboarding visit Lake Louise Ski Resort, known for it’s spectacular scenery and versatile terrain. With over 4,200 acres spread across four mountain faces.

Day 8 Lake Louise to Banff | Coach Depart Lake Louise mid-morning for a short drive to Banff via the scenic Bow Valley.

Day 9 Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursions. Option 1. Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour + Gondola Keep your eyes peeled for deer, elk, and bighorn sheep on this morning tour of Banff. Scenic highlights include Fairmont Banff Springs, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, the Hoodoos Viewpoint & Lake Minnewanka. Then soar up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola for 360-degree views over Banff. Option 2. Snowshoeing at Paint Pots Afternoon snowshoe tour on an easy trail winding through a forest of pine trees to the Paint Pots with its ochre colors mineral pools. Option 3. Johnston Canyon Icewalk This morning Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour is an unforgettable experience that will introduce you to stunning frozen waterfalls and amazing views within the canyon.

Day 10 Banff to Jasper | Scheduled Coach As you return to Jasper via the Icefield Parkway, the scenery strikingly varies in each direction, further altered by shifting light and cloud formations. Winter cloaks the rugged terrain in a serene snow blanket, transforming it into a tranquil, crystal-like wonderland. Driving along, you'll see majestic mountains towering above, with frozen lakes and rivers glistening under the crisp winter sunlight.

Day 11 Jasper to Vancouver | VIA Rail This morning, reboard VIA Rail’s ‘Canadian’ train for the final stretch from Jasper to Vancouver. Using the original steel railcars from the 1950s, sit back and relax in the dome car to enjoy a dramatic change in scenery as you travel the ‘Yellowhead’ route past the sprawling grandeur of Mount Robson. Watch the landscape transition from mountains to desert as you follow the Thompson River into central British Columbia. Brunch and dinner is included onboard VIA Rail, and your private quarters will once again be transformed into a bedroom for the overnight journey.

Day 12 Vancouver Arrival | VIA Rail After breakfast disembark in Vancouver. The balance of day is at leisure. Canada’s third-largest metropolitan centre, Vancouver is a busy port city with a thriving multi-cultural ambiance. Restaurants, shopping, nightlife, a mild climate and a cosmopolitan atmosphere make Vancouver a favourite tourist destination. (continental breakfast included)