The Great Trans-Canada

The Canadian Shield, The Lofty Rocky Mountains, Across the divide to the Pacific Ocean
Toronto - Sioux Lookout - Edmonton - Jasper - Banff - Lake Louise - Kamloops - Vancouver  

Day 2  Wednesday/Friday    Two Choices today.   Depart for NIAGARA FALLS  including an exciting "Maid of the Mist" cruise for a close up look at the falls (subject to favorable weather).   Alternatively you may choose to spend time exploring Toronto's many shopping, attractions and museums.   An optional dinner in the World's tallest free standing structure, the CN Tower is a great idea for the evening.  Overnight Toronto.

Thursday/Saturday  Board the train this evening in  Toronto at Union Station (downtown) and unpack for the next 3 nights aboard VIA's Trans-Continental.  Your porter is on-hand throughout the journey to ensure that you have a comfortable stay.  Roll across the Canadian Shield, boreal forests, countless lakes and the hardest rock on Earth! 1/3 of the fresh water in the World is in Canada and you will see some of it on this trip. 

Day 4  Friday/Sunday  Arrive into Winnipeg to take on more passengers and continue rolling through Manitoba, the province of 100,000 lakes.  Drink in the vistas from the Dome Cars and enjoy the terrific on-board service including World-Class Cuisine.  
How about a night cap in the Park Car tonight?

Day 5  Saturday/Monday  Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the Dining Car and relax as we forge across the great wheatfields of Saskatchewan 

Day 6  Sunday/Tuesday  Cross into Alberta before our arrival into Edmonton, capital largest metropolis in Alberta.   After a brief stop we continue the train journey to the "Jewel of the Canadian Rockies" JASPER, Alberta.  Disembark and we are transferred to our hotel for the first of 2 nights.  Keep on the lookout for wild animals often seen in and around the town.   

 
   Toronto, Ontario

  
   Great scenery rolls by the 
dining car windows

Stunning blue waters of Peyto Lake

 
     Vermillion Lakes near Banff

We can pre-book  7 night  ALASKA CRUISES at wholesale rates.

 

Day 7  Monday/Wednesday   This morning we tour JASPER and, above the townsite, beautiful PYRAMID LAKE.   Perhaps take an optional cruise of magnificent MALIGNE LAKE and its incredible aquamarine waters.  The views are stunning and the water is a shade of blue found only in these mountains.   Spirit Island is a famous spot for  photographers seeking the perfect picture.  Return to Jasper via the Valley of the FIVE LAKES.  A few miles to the south of  Jasper is the JASPER GONDOLA from where the views of the valleys and peaks are outstanding and ATHABASCA FALLS /  HORSESHOE LAKE.  Overnight in one of our Jasper hotels

Day 8  Tuesday/Thursday   Depart Jasper for Banff on our deluxe motor coach along the Icefields Parkway.  This is one of the most scenic drives on earth.  We'll ride a Sno-Coach (weather permitting) 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 Parkway delivers us  past BOW LAKE, PEYTO LAKE and MISTAYA LAKE  south to LAKE LOUISE, one of the most enchanting spots on earth.  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.  Continue further into BANFF NATIONAL PARK to our hotel for the night

Day 9  Wednesday/Friday   Tour today includes mountains lakes and waterfalls.  Depart Banff on our motor coach and travel the beautiful Bow Valley Expressway to JOHNSTON CANYON where you are given time for a short nature walk.  We continue to beautiful MORAINE LAKE to see its mystical green waters and then visit LAKE LOUISE.  Visitors come from all over the World to stand before the lake.  After lunch at Lake Louise (lunch not included in fare),  cross the Great Divide and enter Yoho National Park. You’ll visit Yoho’s scenic highlights such as tumbling Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake and the Natural Rock Bridge before returning to BANFF TOWN in the late afternoon.  What a great day!  Overnight Banff

Day 10  Thursday/Saturday   Board our motor coach for the trip once more along one of the World's great drives and arrive in Jasper in the afternoon.  Bring lots of film as the sights are breathtaking.  You have time for souvenir shopping and fine dining.  Overnight in beautiful alpine Jasper.

  Board VIA Rail trans-continental from Jasper in the early afternoon.  Cross over the Continental Divide.  Travel through no fewer than 5 mountain ranges, past emerald lakes and raging rivers and massive Mount Robson.  Sunset to the west is usually a photographers delight especially from one of the dome cars.  

Day 12  Saturday/Monday   Travel along the Fraser Valley and arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia in the morning and pick up your luggage. 

You may choose to extend your stay and visit Vancouver and the largest island in North America, mighty Vancouver Island.  Those extending their stay can go whale watching, see BUTCHART GARDENS and the city of VICTORIA  on Vancouver Island or travel up to WHISTLER Resort area (North of Vancouver).