Day 1 Toronto to Jasper | VIA RailThis morning, check in at Toronto’s Union Station and board VIA Rail’s ‘Canadian’ for the famous train 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)
Day 2 On-board VIA RailWatch the scenery change as you enter Manitoba and travel through the prairies and great plains of Canada. (breakfast, lunch & dinner included)
Day 3 On-board VIA RailContinue 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)
Day 4 Arrive Jasper | VIA RailStep off the "Canadian" train and take a deep breath – you’re here in the Canadian Rockies and the crisp mountain air is invigorating. After an orientation of this scenic mountain town we will take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 5 Jasper to Lake Louise | Sightseeing with picnic lunchYour sightseeing tour today will encompass the ultimate glacier exploration as you travel along the spectacular Icefields Parkway. From walking on ancient ice at the Glacier Adventure (included), to standing on a glass platform almost one thousand feet in the air at the Glacier Skywalk (included), today’s experiences will leave you with a special appreciation for this treasured region of the Rockies. (picnic lunch included today)
Day 6 Lake Louise to Banff | CoachThis morning is at leisure to explore Lake Louise before a mid-day transfer to Banff via the scenic Bow Valley highway, arriving mid-afternoon.
Day 7 Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 ExcursionsToday you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursionsOption 1. Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour + Banff GondolaExplore the natural wonders near the town of Banff on this half-day, small-group tour. Admire the unparalleled beauty of natural sights including Bow Falls, the surreal Hoodoos rock formation, and beautiful Lake Minnewanka, among others. Then Maximize your views of Banff National Park with minimal exertion during this round-trip gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.Option 2. Discover the Grizzly Bears, Lake & WaterfallsPursue the elusive Canadian Grizzly Bear on this 10-hour excursion through Banff and Yoho National Parks, perfect for animal- and naturelovers alike. Head out for a gondola ride up to 7,700 feet for a mountaintop lunch at Canada’s highest restaurant, and then take a chairlift ride up to the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat to see Boo the resident bear rescued as a cub.Option 3. Cowboy Horseback Cookout BBQ Lunch or DinnerSaddle up for a ride along the Bow River in Banff and a Western style cookout. Choose from riding on horseback or in a covered wagon through the beautiful Rocky Mountain terrain
Day 8 Banff to Kamloops | Rocky MountaineerAll aboard Rocky Mountaineer for the scenic rail journey to Kamloops in the interior of British Columbia. As the train crosses over the continental divide you pass through the spiral tunnels in Yoho National Park, a remarkable engineering achievement. Continue on through the Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park with endless views of snow capped mountains and stunning glaciers. Pass by Craigellachie, where the last spike was driven completing the Canadian Pacific Railway Trans Canada link in 1885.(breakfast & lunch is included today)
Day 9 Kamloops to Vancouver | Rocky MountaineerRe-board the train and follow the Thompson River through Ashcroft - one of Canada’s driest towns (with an average rainfall of just 18 centimetres). Pass through Rainbow Canyon with its cliffs striped with pinks, greens and greys creating a stunning effect. The last leg of the journey takes you through the lush farming region of the Fraser Valley to arrive in the Pacific port of Vancouver late afternoon. (breakfast & lunch is included today)
