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Canada by Rail with the Rockies
From Toronto

12 Days/11 Nights
Toronto to Vancouver-VIA Rail Sleeper Car
Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Vancouver

This is one of our most popular packages, and it is no wonder.  Nothing shows you Canada like the train.  Your Toronto overnight ensures that you are at the station in plenty of time, while still having the opportunity to see the highlights of this cosmopolitan city. You will be traveling in comfort and style on VIA Rail’s Silver and Blue class that includes a private sitting room by day and bedroom by night. Enjoy delicious meals and outstanding service.  With 4 total nights aboard the train, you will experience the time-honored care that makes rail travel so popular.  Your skyline car provides an ideal vantage point for spectaculars photographs. Travel from Toronto past shimmering lakes and towering forests, across the “big sky” prairies for three nights.  Arriving Jasper, you leave the train and stay in Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff in some of the "Rockies" most famous hotels.  Continue your journey with one more overnight of rail travel through majestic mountains to Vancouver and the sparkling Pacific Ocean.  Your morning arrival into Vancouver has you refreshed and ready to explore Vancouver.  This package includes one night in Toronto and Vancouver; however; should you choose to stay additional days in either city, we can make the necessary arrangements for you.

       See 2010 Brochure Click Here:

Day 1 – Arrive Toronto

Welcome to Toronto, the starting point for your rail journey across Canada.  Your package includes a transfer from the airport to your hotel.  Our choice of the Fairmont Royal York puts you into one of Toronto’s most popular historic hotels.  Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Royal York opened in 1929, introducing visitors to the largest hotel in Canada and the tallest in the British Empire!  The hotel has so many pleasing features, that you can amuse yourself without ever leaving the hotel.  Enjoy the elegance of their gracious lobby, their beautiful pool and spa, delicious dining, and unique shops.  However, do plan to go outside and explore the many famous sights and attractions only minutes from the hotel.

Overnight – Fairmont Royal York

Day 2 – Toronto Sightseeing/VIA Rail Toronto to Jasper (D)

With the new schedule VIA Rail has adopted, you have all day to enjoy this cosmopolitan city.  We have included a city tour that allows you to hop on and off at various attractions throughout the city.  This will allow you to pick and choose what interests you the most.  Plan to have dinner before the train departs 10:00pm at a nearby restaurant.

Plan to be at the rail station one hour prior to boarding.  The rail station is just across the street from the Fairmont Royal York.  If you need assistance with your luggage, let the bell desk know that you will be departing on VIA Rail’s Canadian in Silver & Blue Service.  VIA Rail has a special check in area for Silver & Blue passengers.  Here you can present your tickets to the VIA staff and check the luggage that you want to travel in the baggage compartment.

Nothing shows you Canada like a trip on the train.  Your bedroom is VIA Rail’s “top of the line” accommodations.  Your sitting room by day converts to upper and lower berths at night.  Once aboard the train, the staff will see that you are settled into your room.  As a Silver & Blue Class passenger, your fare includes all meals, use of any of the lounges and access to the domed skyline care for spectacular viewing.  The VIA Rail staff will brief you on the dining schedule.  Seating in the domed skyline cars is on a first come, first served basis.  Hot tea and coffee is available in the lounge area throughout the day and evening.

Overnight – VIA Rail Sleeper Car

Day 3, 4 – VIA Enroute to Jasper

As you travel east to west, you will travel through five of Canada’s Provinces Starting in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, the train heads north through the Canadian Shield.    This region of billion-year-old rock lies between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay.  Here, ancient glaciers scoured thousands of lakes, clean-bottomed and filled them with remarkably clear water.  On their rocky shores, outcroppings of granite, pink, grey, and black for rounded boulders that breathtakingly tower over the tracks.  As you pass through this area of forests, lakes, and streams it is not unusual to see bear or moose.  As the train crosses into Manitoba, you enter a land of forests and lakes.  Many of the 200 lakes were formed by meteor craters.  This wealth of trees and water made Winnipeg, located at the junction of the Red, Assiniboine, and Seine Rivers the capitol of Canada’s fur trade.  Saskatchewan shows you the unique beauty of the prairie lands.

Overnights – VIA Rail

Day 5 – Arrive Jasper

Cross into Alberta heading towards Edmonton, home of the world famous West Edmonton Mall.  Midway between Edmonton and Jasper you have your first view of the Rockies and the promise of what is yet to come. Transportation to either the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge  or  Sawridge Inn is included.  The Fairmont Park Lodge is a resort unto itself in the wilderness.  The Sawridge Inn is located in the town of Jasper.

Overnight – Jasper

Day 6 – Jasper/Lake Louise

Your morning is at leisure.  This afternoon, a transfer has been arranged to Lake Louise.  The drive takes you through country that is breathtaking.  After miles of wilderness, you arrive at the jewel in the crown, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.  Even after you have seen Lake Louise you can’t describe the magnitude of the beauty of the lake and the surrounding mountains.  Sunny terraces and flower filled gardens make it the perfect place to relax.

Overnight – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise 

Day 7 – Lake Louise/Banff

After the beauty of Lake Louise, you will be surprised to find that Banff offers a different perspective.  This active alpine village is just about the best place to be in summer.  Towering mountains and the sweeping Bow Valley offer stunning contrasts.  Elk roam about the grounds of the local hotels as if they were household pets. The Fairmont Banff Springs is the castle amongst the mountains and forests and boasts of offering a world class golf course and spa.  The Rimrock Resort is built in such a manner that you have to take an elevator “down” to your room.  Plan to visit many of Banff’s fun places.  Don’t miss a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain or a dip in the sulphur pool.

Overnight - Banff

Day 8 – Banff

You are never at a loss for things to do in Banff.  The village is filled with delightful boutiques, restaurants, and shops.  Be sure to spend some time at the Fairmont Banff Springs as it is a village in and of itself.  If you enjoy outdoor activities, you can golf, bike, or hike.

Overnight - Banff

Day 9 – Banff/Jasper

If during your travels to Banff you saw places and longed to stop, our full excursion will take you to many of them.   As you travel to Jasper along the beautiful Icefields Parkway, you will pass some of the most beautiful vistas found any place on the globe.  A stop at the awesome Athabasca Glacier for an Ice Explorer ride on this prehistoric river of endless ice is included in your day.  Emerald Lakes, towering waterfalls and mountain peaks make this a day to remember.  Your full day sightseeing excursion will bring you into Jasper late this afternoon.  Once again you have the option of staying at either the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or the Sawridge Inn.

Overnight - Jasper

Day 10 – Jasper to Vancouver

You have the morning to relax and enjoy the beauty of Jasper.  Your train departs this afternoon and we have arranged transportation to the station in Jasper.  Your VIA Rail attendant will see that you are settled into your room for your continuation of your trip overnight by train to Vancouver.  This is an excellent time to get a seat in the domed viewing car.  The scenery out of Jasper is breathtaking as you continue through what is considered the jewel in the crown of this wonderful rail trip, the Canadian Rockies.  As you continue west the train crosses into British Columbia and the Rockies give way to fertile fields and eventually to the Pacific Ocean where Vancouver is perched.

Overnight – VIA Rail

Day 11 – Arrive Vancouver

You are scheduled to arrive into Vancouver at 9:30am.  Whether you choose the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel, either hotel is a short taxi ride from the Vancouver station.  The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver puts you right in center of the city with everything right at your doorstep.  The Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside is a beautiful hotel centrally located in the heart of Vancouver.  Due to your early arrival, your room may not be available for check in, so leave your bags at the hotel and set out to explore Vancouver.  The city is preparing for the 2010 winter games!  Visit Gastown, a lovely 19th century restoration offering a selection of excellent restaurants and shops.  Other places to visit while in Vancouver are: Stanley Park, the Aquarium, Granville Island, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, colourful Chinatown, BC Place, the Sunken Gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory.

Overnight –Vancouver

Day 12 – Depart Vancouver

Enclosed with your travel documents is a transfer voucher from your hotel to the airport.  The staff of the hotel you are staying at will direct you to your pick up point.  We hope you enjoyed your visit to Canada, and that it will be one of many return trips. 

12 days & 11 nights

Dates & Rates
Staying at: The Fairmont Royal York, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Season Land Only
September 30 - October 16, 2009 $3,699
October 21 - 30, 2009 $2,969
May 5 - 21, 2010 $3,319
May 26, 2010 $3,569
May 28, 2010 $3,729
June 2 - September 22, 2010 $4,549
September 24, 2010 $4,369
September 29 - October 13, 2010 $3,859
October 15 - 20 , 2010 $3,769
October 22 - 29, 2010 $2,949

A baggage & housekeeping charge of $55 per person must be added to the rates shown above.
A senior discount is available if you are 60+.

 

Staying at – Fairmont Royal York, Sawridge Inn, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Rimrock Resort, Marriott Pinnacle or Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside
Season Land Only
October 2 - 9, 2009 $3,619
October 14 - 16, 2009 $3,519
October 21 - 28, 2009 $2,729
May 5 - 21, 2010 $3,069
May 26 & 28, 2010 $3,179
June 2 & 4, 2010 $4,069
June 9 - 25, 2010 $4,099
June 30 - August 13, 2010 $4,119
August 18 - September 24, 2010 $4,099
September 29 - October 15, 2010 $3,809
October 20 , 2010 $3,799
October 22 - 29, 2010 $2,859

A baggage & housekeeping charge of $35 per person must be added to the rates shown above.
A senior discount is available if you are 60+.

 

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