Canada's Maritimes 
and Eastern Highlights

Travel on VIA Rail's "Ocean"
VIA RAIL - Halifax - Peggy's Cove - Sydney - Cabot Trail - Louisbourg - Charlottetown - Fredericton - Quebec City  - Montreal - Ottawa 

This trip can be booked with or without the VIA rail train trip on Day 1 and 2!

Day 1  Board the train at Toronto's Union Station (coach service) for the short rail trip to Montreal.  Transfer to the "Ocean" train and check into your private bedroom.  Travel along the south shore of the St.  Lawrence River and the Matapedia Valley.  Dinner and overnight on board.    VIA RAIL BEDROOMS  /  DINING CAR  /  DOME CAR  /  PARK-LOUNGE CAR

Day 2  Arrive in New Brunswick with a breakfast onboard.  In the afternoon you arrive into Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Check into our Halifax hotel and meet your tour director this evening.  

Day 3  Your director is on hand this morning with a full breakfast. Then we are treated to a locally guided deluxe tour of the naval city of Halifax. The educational tour highlights the downtown area including the financial district, City Hall, Pier 21, Province House, the Titanic Memorial, Public Gardens and more. We enjoy a scattered lunch at the Halifax Historic Properties. After lunch, our leisurely drive brings us to the rustic charm of the famous fishing village of Peggy’s Cove. Peggy’s Cove is world famous for its picturesque lighthouse on the rocky shores of the Atlantic. Enjoy some free time for browsing and picture taking here this afternoon. We return to Halifax with the evening free to do as we please. (B)

Day 4  This morning we travel on the beautiful Highway 7 to Jeddore. Here we visit the Fisherman’s Life museum, where guides in period costumes recreate the simple yet hard working daily life of coastal fishing communities. Our further drive inland brings us to Sherbrooke. We visit the Sherbrooke Village Museum, giving us the history behind this once lumbering and shipbuilding town, which turned into a boom  town with the discovery of gold. Later we cross the Canso Causeway on to Cape Breton Island. We ride along the shores of Bras d’or Lakes Enroute to Sydney, our home for the next 3 nights. (B) 

Comfortable bedrooms on the train

Day 5  Our morning drive brings us to Baddeck for a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site where Mr. Bell conceived and tested some of his spectacular inventions. Next we get started on our scenic adventure on Cabot Trail, named after the famous explorer who first sighted the island in 1497. Watch as we pass the meandering glens, rugged coastlines, white gypsum bluffs and the always-pounding surf. We make some photo stops enroute to make this a very special day, indeed. Enjoy the most relaxing and scenic adventure of the tour. We retire for the night back in Sydney.  (B)

Day 6  Rest or catch up on personal enjoyments as this morning is at our leisure. At 1 PM we leave our hotel and visit the historical Fortress of Louisburg, the famous 18th century Fortress. It is beautifully restored with inhabitants dressed in period costume, and it stands today as it did 200 years ago. The whole afternoon is allowed to explore this monument thoroughly. After a pleasant historical adventure, we return to our Sydney hotel in the late afternoon. (B)

Day 7  Take the ferry to Nova Scotia and continue to Cape Breton Island.  Visit Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck.  Spend two nights at the Inverary Inn Resort where a short Eagle Watching boat tour is provided. (B)

Day 8  Prepare for a full day of adventure, sightseeing and fun. We are treated this morning to a locally guided tour of Charlottetown. We tour the Province House, churches, Victorian homes, the Confederation Centre and more. After lunch at the Charlottetown Quay, we stop at the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company on our way to Anne of Green Gables Home and the sand dunes at Cavendish Beach. We return to our waterfront hotel for the night. (B)

Day 9  After a leisurely breakfast, we prepare ourselves for a day of interesting and educational demonstrations. We leave Prince Edward Island, stopping at Gateway Village and the magnificent Confederation Bridge for pictures. Afterwards a short drive brings us to the fishing community of Sainte-Anne-de-Kent. Here we take pleasure in watching a demonstration of traditional soap making. Later on this morning we arrive in Shediac Bay where we board the town’s famous Lobstering Cruise. Learn how to fish, cook, and crack your own lobster from the best during this intriguing experience. We enjoy an included lobster lunch on board with fellow passengers. In the mid afternoon we proceed to Moncton, where we experience the sensation and mystery of Magnetic Hill. Then it’s on to Fredericton for an overnight stay. (B) (L)

Day 10  Our first stop this morning is the world’s longest covered bridge – Hartland Bridge. We continue our drive to Edmundston, NB. Later, we visit St. Jean-Port-Joli where artists and artisans produce distinctive wood sculptures, hand weaving, hooked rugs and other crafts. The French heritage is evident everywhere. Our further drive brings us to the Shrine at St. Anne de Beaupre. We then visit Cyclorama of Jerusalem, which depicts Jerusalem and Christ on the day of the crucifixion. We continue on to Quebec City and check-in to full service hotel for a two night stay. (B)

Day 11  We enjoy a locally guided city tour of old and new Quebec City this morning. The tour includes World Famous Chateau Frontenac,the Parliament Buildings, St. Louis Arch, the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, and much more! The tour ends at Place Royal, the original settlement site of what would become the city of Quebec. After a scattered lunch, we stroll around the romantic and exotic Old Quebec to view the narrow streets and quaint buildings of the “Old Town”, the only walled city on the continent, other than Mexico City. Enjoy French culture and history during the shopping & browsing time this afternoon. (B)

Day 12  We say goodbye to Quebec City this morning. Upon arrival to Old Montreal, we visit the Notre-Dame Basilica. After early scattered lunch, our guided tour (from 12:30 to 3:30 PM) helps us to appreciate the history and architecture of this great French speaking city. The historical tour of Montreal includes the Olympic Park and a view of the city from Mount Royal. After the city tour, our further journey brings us to the national’s Capital, Ottawa, ON. Ottawa has been described as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. We check into our full service, first-class downtown hotel for the next two nights stay. (B)

Day 13  This morning, we are met by a local guide for a tour of Ottawa, including a guided tour of the Parliament Building, the Prime Minister’s residence, Rideau Hall and more! After lunch we visit the Canadian National War Museum, a second to none experience and tribute to Canada’s military history. This evening, join your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a traditional good time Dinner at the hotel. We take this opportunity to say goodbye to our newfound friends while exchanging memories of good times together on this tour.  (B) (D)

Day 14  Again this morning during breakfast, we say good-bye to our friends and fellow passengers. Depending on your return flight home, enjoy a free morning to take advantage of the first class hotel facilities or explore downtown Ottawa on your own. Use your airport transfer voucher to transfer independently to the Ottawa International Airport for your return flight home. (B)  We can arrange additional transportation to Toronto for those interested.

Or how about a trip from Toronto west to the Pacific!
We can make it all happen 

Atlantic Canada

 

 

Fortress Louisbourg

 

 

Quebec City

 

 

Summer tours from only $3,310CAD, 
per person, plus tax, twin occupancy.

We recommend travel insurance.
Initial non refundable deposits are $250USD 
with final payment due 45 days prior to departure