Cross Canada RM

Beauty beyond words!
Moraine Lake, Alberta

Day 1 Arrive in VANCOUVER and check into your hotel for the night. Have some time for exploring the city voted number one travel destination in North America by the American Business Association!

Day 2 Our incredible train journey begins at Pacific Central Station (downtown) as we hear the famous "all aboard" on our Rocky Mountaineer Train Odyssey. Follow the Fraser River through snow-capped mountains until it meets the Thompson River at Hell's Gate. Breakfast and lunch are served aboard. Arrive late day in Kamloops. For passenger convenience luggage that will not be need during the train journey will be checked through to Jasper. Plan to pack an overnight bag with all necessities. Overnight in moderate or deluxe hotel, as chosen, in Kamloops.

Day 3 We board our train this morning, and witness such spectacular sights as the Shuswap Lakes, Monashee Mountains, and Glacier National Park. We next cross the Selkirk Mountains and roll through the Spiral Tunnels, an incredible engineering feat where mile-long freight trains actually spiral inside the mountains and come out directly over themselves. You can see the front and back of the train at the same time! We climb Kicking Horse Pass and cross the Continental Divide into the awesome BANFF NATIONAL PARK in the province of Alberta. Disembark and transfer to our hotel in Banff.

Day 4 After a hearty breakfast our sightseeing includes the BANFF GONDOLA RIDE to the summit of Sulfur Mountain, complete with panoramic views of BANFF'S spectacular scenery. We visit Bow Falls and have the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps enjoy a hike in the nearby trails, a round of golf, horseback riding, or a stroll through the town. The hotsprings are wonderful. For the very adventurous there are helicopter hiking excursions.

Day 5 A full day tour takes us into Yoho National Park (June thru early October) to see Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls, third highest in Canada. See the Natural Rock Bridge. We overnight in Lake Louise at the magnificent Fairmont Hotel. Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Her green-blue waters form a perfect mirror reflection of Mount Victoria.

Day 6 We have a free day at LAKE LOUISE. Stroll the lake trail or the energetic can climb to the magnificent views at the teahouse built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad many years ago. Nearby is a trail walk that leads you to great views of several ancient glaciers. How about renting a canoe and paddling out onto the lake or you can visit MORAINE LAKE.

VIA Rail - One Bedroom Sleeper

Day 7 The "Icefields Parkway", one of the world's great scenic drives, awaits us today! Climb Sunwapta Pass with vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls and massive columns of prehistoric ice. Pass BOW LAKE, PEYTO LAKE & MISTAYA LAKE and observe the stunning blues and greens of the water. We'll ride a Sno-Coach onto the Columbia Icefield's ATHABASCA GLACIER. The Columbia Icefields are 125 square miles in size (massive!), with no fewer than 30 glaciers where 3 river systems flow to three different oceans. The Icefields are so massive that the entire population of North America could stand on the ice! We see the reflections of the mountains in her aqua blue waters and we'll find out how rock flour helps the water retain its mesmerizing color. Arrive in JASPER, jewel of the Canadian Rockies, where we spend the night.

Day 8 Our morning is at leisure and you may decide to take an optional trip to MALIGNE LAKE and board a narrated cruise (highly recommended) to Spirit Island. The feelings of calm and peace that overtake you in the wild Canadian Rockies will refresh you like never before. Nearby are the VALLEY OF FIVE LAKES and PYRAMID LAKE. This afternoon we bid farewell to Jasper and depart on VIA Rail's great Trans-Canadian bound for the East. We roll through Edmonton, capital and largest metropolis in Alberta and cross the mighty Saskatchewan River which originates at the Columbia Icefields and winds its way to Hudson's Bay.

Day 9 Then continue into the great wheatfield province of Saskatchewan along the Yellowhead Route where settlers crossed in their colonization of the untamed west.   Our first-class rail cars are recently refurbished to the 1950's genre in Art Deco and private bedrooms are comfortable with all meals included for three days and nights.   Note that baggage that will not be needed will be checked all the way through to Toronto with no access en route.

Day 10 Our epic journey continues. Enjoy a hearty breakfast (included) and then occupy the observation dome which offers unequalled views as we roll through the green and golden wheatfields into Manitoba.   Arrive in Winnipeg for a one-hour stop and then travel into northern Ontario, past sparkling lakes and sun-dappled forests. Manitoba and Ontario each boast more than a hundred thousand lakes (a third of the fresh water in the world is in Canada).   The bullet car is a great meeting place for conversation and the meals on-board are fabulous. Fall asleep this evening to the gentle rocking of the train.   Ride the rails across track laid over the hardest rock on earth.

Day 11 Arrive this morning into Toronto, Ontario. Transfer to our hotel with the rest of the day free.   This evening you might want to visit one of the tallest free standing structures on Earth, the CN Tower. Be sure to ride the elevators to the second platform.

Day 12 Depart Toronto for the Niagara Peninsula. Within its heart is one of the world's natural wonders, NIAGARA FALLS. We have time to board the "Maid of the Mist" (weather permitting) to view both the American and Canadian sides of the falls. See the floral clock and picturesque village of Niagara-on-the-lake. Return to Toronto for an orientation tour of the city and some free time for shopping. Our tour guide will host a special farewell dinner atop the 1800 foot CN Tower (tallest in the world) where we can recall the highlights of our amazing journey across Canada.  The views are quite impressive from this gigantic height and we can stand on the glass floor that looks down 1400 feet to the city below! Overnight Toronto.

Day 13 All aboard! we travel by train on VIA1 into French speaking Canada. A pleasant train journey past oak and ash trees delivers us to Montreal, Quebec. The city hustles with the color and flair of an international port. The city receives 4,000 ships per year and is a potpouri of sights and fragrances. We have time on our own to explore the Chinatown or see the city from river level on a harbor cruise. Overnight Montreal.

Day 14 Our morning tram tour introduces us to the second largest French-speaking city in the world. Old Montreal is fascinating and has seen haggling and trading for 300 years. Today it is described as "Amsterdam rolled into Paris" in a vibrant new world culture. A special tram tour will show us Notre Dame Basilica, Olympic Park, Mount Royal, and the Montreal Harbor on the great St. Lawrence River. This afternoon you might shop for bargains, French Style! Board overnight VIA Rail train and check into your comfortable bedroom. Enjoy the "Ocean Train" featuring "Easterly Class" Service.

Nova Scotia Coast

Day 15 We begin our day aboard with continental breakfast and arrive in the early afternoon in Halifax. Transfer to hotel in Halifax for overnight at one of our comfortable hotels.

Day 16 A special treat awaits us today. Our escorted tour shows us Peggy Cove and the most photographed lighthouse on Earth. Overnight in Halifax once more

Day 17 Tour ends today with checkout from our hotel at 11:00AM.

You might consider 2 or more additional days in Halifax and participate in a couple of the many day tours available. Nearby are the world's highest tides at the Bay of Fundy, historic Lunenberg and the gravesights for victims of the Titanic. To the north are Baddeck, the massive fortress of Louisbourg and Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Park. Overnight Halifax.

Per Person Summer departures start at only
MODERATE from $ 5519.00 Canadian +tax, twin occupancy / DELUXE from $7969 Canadian +tax, twin

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

Tour includes 16 nights accommodation, Rocky Mountaineer Red-Leaf Service (or Golk Leaf in Deluxe), Banff tour and Gondola, Yoho National Park, Sno-coach onto Columbia Icefields, VIA Rail Silver and Blue Trans-Canada rail journey, Niagara Falls excursion, Montreal tour, VIA Easterly Class rail service, Halifax to Peggy's Cove tour, all meals while on trains, driver/ guide on motor coach sightseeing tours.