Canada By Rail

Nothing shows you Canada like the train. Travel from Toronto past shimmering lakes and towering forests, across the “big sky” prairies, through majestic mountains to Vancouver and the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Travel in the comfort of your private sitting room by day and bedroom by night. Enjoy delicious meals and outstanding service. Your Toronto overnight allows you time to see this diverse city and enjoy dinner prior to boarding the train. With four 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 spectacular photos. A morning arrival brings you into Vancouver refreshed and ready to explore. This package includes one night in Toronto and Vancouver, however, if you wish to have additional nights in either city we can assist you with those arrangements.

Here’s a typical Itinerary

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.

Day 2 – Toronto Sightseeing/VIA Rail Toronto to Vancouver (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. This evening we have included dinner at Joe Badali’s restaurant (fixed menu). The restaurant is close to the hotel and train station making it a perfect place to have a wonderful meal between the city tour and boarding the train. The train is scheduled to depart at 10:00pm.

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.

Day 3, 4, & 5 – Enroute to Vancouver

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. 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. This is an excellent time to get a seat in the domed viewing car. Following Jasper, 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.

Day 6 – Arrive Vancouver

You are scheduled to arrive into Vancouver at 9:30am. The rail station in Vancouver is a short taxi ride to the Renaissance Haroubourside Vancouver Hotel. The fare will be about $15 Canadian. Both hotels are beautiful and 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 itself for the 2010 winter games! Your hop on/off trolley tour gives you a wonderful overview of Vancouver and allows you to make stops along the way at your leisure. 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, colorful Chinatown, BC Place, the Sunken Gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory.

Day 7 –Vancouver/Home

Transportation from the Renaissance Harbourside Vancouver Hotel to the Vancouver airport is included. We hope that you have enjoyed your journey across Canada and plan to explore more of Canada on a future trip!

Canada by Rail Dates & Rates 7 days & 6 nights

Package starts on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday from Toronto
Package starts on a Monday, Thursday or Saturday from Vancouver
A surcharge is added if you are not yet 60+
Rates are in US Dollars, per person, double occupancy
Airfare from most US cities is available, please ask or staff for assistance
Dates & Rates – Starting tour in Toronto
Season Land Only
May 3 – May 28, 2010 $1,999
May 31 – June 28, 2010 $2,769
June 30 – August 30, 2010 $2,899
September 1 – October 20, 2010 $2,959
October 22 – October 29, 2010 $2,169

Dates & Rates – Starting tour in Vancouver
Season Land Only
May 1 – May 29, 2010 $1,999
May 31 – June 28, 2010 $2,959
July 1 – August 26, 2010 $2,899
August 28 – October 18, 2010 $2,959
October 21 – October 30, 2010 $2,169