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 Jasper | VIA Rail This morning, awake to arrive in Jasper, a small alpine community located in the majestic Canadian Rockies.
Day 5 - 6 Jasper Freedom of Choice | 2 of 4 ExcursionsPersonalize your stay in Jasper by choosing two of these excursionsOption 1. Maligne Canyon Ice WalkExperience 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 TourTravel 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 ExperienceJoin 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 TourTravel 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 7 Jasper to Banff with Heli Snowshoe + Ice Bubbles AdventureTraveling along the Icefields Parkway today, witness glacier country's awe-inspiring sights like snow-covered mountains, frozen waterfalls and broad-reaching valleys. This unique winter experience includes a private helicopter flight to Abraham Lake to view an incredible natural phenomenon where methane gas bubbles freeze under the lake surface creating an incredible landscape of frozen bubbles. Continuing over the frozen winter wonderland, we'll whisk you away to a High Alpine Meadow to try snowshoeing to a frozen waterfall. Once you have enjoyed your Hot Chocolate with Irish Cream in the wilderness, climb back aboard your helicopter for the return flight to the base. (Gourmet picnic lunch included today)
Day 8 Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursionsOption 1. Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour 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.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-colored mineral pools.Option 3. Johnston Canyon IcewalkThis morning Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour is an unforgettable experience that will introduce you to stunning frozen waterfalls and amazing views within the canyon.
Day 9 Banff to Lake Louise | Private Transfer | Evening Sleigh Ride Depart Banff in the early afternoon for a short drive to Lake Louise via the scenic Bow Valley. Included this evening is a wonderful 40 minute sleigh ride that takes place beside the lake.
Day 10 Lake Louise to Jasper | Private TransferTravel northward along the Icefields Parkway back to Jasper today. This spectacular drive through glacier country features massive snow covered mountains, frozen waterfalls and broad reaching valleys.
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 RailAfter 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)