Canadian Train Odyssey
Canadian Train Odyssey
Canadian Train Odyssey
15 Days Starting in Toronto and ending in Vancouver
Visiting: Toronto, Toronto. Excursion To Niagara Falls, VIA Rail, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Via Rail The Canadian, Jasper National Park, Columbia Icefield, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Glacier National Park, Kamloops, Ferry Crossing, Victoria, Vancouver
Tour operator:
Tour code:
8960-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Please Advise Request
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
This adventure across Canada begins in Toronto, ends in Vancouver, and includes beautiful scenery and fun-filled activities in some of Canada’s most popular cities. A highlight of this Canada train tour is the 3-day, 3-night journey on VIA Rail’s® the Canadian—a premier continental train—from Toronto to Jasper. In refurbished art deco rail cars and domed observation cars, enjoy views of the ever-changing landscapes as you leisurely travel through Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The spectacular landscapes on your train trip are just a part of the amazing scenery you’ll witness on this Canada rail tour. Marvel at thunderous Niagara Falls on your boat cruise past the falls. In the Canadian Rockies, ride the Ice Explorer—an all-terrain vehicle—on Columbia Icefield, an expanse of ice that is 750-feet thick. Stop in breathtaking Lake Louise, where its gorgeous turquoise waters mirror the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Spend time in wondrous Jasper National Park—with its rugged mountains, glaciers, alpine meadows, rivers, and abundant wildlife—and Banff National Park, home to majestic mountains and picture-perfect scenery. Also travel through Yoho National Park, with its famous fossils, and Glacier National Park, with its scenic wilderness and wildlife. From the Pacific Coast, sail to Victoria through the scenic Gulf Islands. Throughout this Canada train tour, enjoy included city sightseeing and also have time to explore on your own. You may want to dine at the top of Toronto’s CN Tower, hike in Banff, enjoy Afternoon Tea at Victoria’s Empress Hotel, or shop Vancouver’s Robson Street. See spectacular mountain scenery, stunning lakes, picturesque towns, gentle prairie fields, and exciting cities on this rail tour across Canada—what a fantastic vacation!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Toronto
Location: Toronto
Welcome to Toronto! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Day 2: Toronto. Excursion To Niagara Falls
Location: Toronto. Excursion To Niagara Falls
Begin the day with an orientation tour of Toronto that includes City Hall, the downtown banking district, Rogers Centre, and the stunning CN Tower. Leave the city and travel along the shores of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls. Sightseeing here includes a Niagara Falls cruise for an exhilarating ride to see the thundering Falls up close. Fall even more in love with the falls with an optional excursion to Skylon Tower for spectacular views and a buffet lunch. Return to Toronto and spend the evening exploring the city sights on your own.NOTE:Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions. Favorable conditions usually exist from May to October. When conditions are unfavorable, a visit to Journey Behind the Falls will be substituted.
Day 3: Toronto,Via Rail The Canadian
Location: Toronto
Accommodation Name: On board The Canadian
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
This morning, transfer to Union Station for a departure on The Canadian, VIA Rail’s premier transcontinental train. Spend the next three days and nights on this classic trip across Canada’s heartland. Your Sleeper-Plus class rail cars are refurbished art-deco cars from the 1950s. Domed observation cars let you enjoy views of the Canadian countryside as you roll past Ontario’s landscapes. Chef-prepared meals offer a tempting array of soups, salads, main courses, and desserts.
Day 4: Via Rail The Canadian
Location: VIA Rail
Accommodation Name: On board The Canadian
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, watch the scenery as you whisk by the ever-changing Canadian landscape and travel the full length of the Canadian National Railway’s breathtaking mainline.
Day 5: Via Rail The Canadian
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Accommodation Name: On board The Canadian
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Canadian glides through Winnipeg, before continuing the journey through Manitoba’s prairies and into Saskatchewan.
Day 6: Via Rail The Canadian,Jasper National Park
Location: Via Rail The Canadian, Jasper National Park
Arrive in Jasper this morning and enjoy an orientation tour of the townsite. The remainder of your day is free to enjoy the ambiance of this wonderous mountain setting. Go with the flow on an optional scenic float trip on the Athabasca River.
Day 7: Jasper National Park
Location: Jasper National Park
Today is at leisure. Make your day magical with an optional narrated cruise on Maligne Lake to the much-photographed Spirit Island*. On the return journey, stop to view mighty Maligne Canyon. This afternoon, perhaps hike on the trails and watch for wildlife, or stroll the streets of Jasper. *This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.
Day 8: Jasper National Park,Columbia Icefield,Lake Louise,Banff National Park
Location: Jasper National Park, Columbia Icefield, Lake Louise, Banff National Park
Board your motorcoach this morning and journey through Jasper National Park, stopping along the way at the Columbia Icefield to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet (250 meters) thick! Continue down Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, known for its stunning turquoise waters that mirror the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Arrive in Banff National Park for a leisurely 2-night stay. An orientation tour highlights Banff’s unspoiled beauty.
Day 9: Banff National Park
Location: Banff National Park
The day is free to independently explore. Perhaps stroll Banff Avenue, the main thoroughfare with boutiques and souvenir shops in this resort town or hike in some of the surrounding 2,564 square miles of parkland which are home to wildlife, including elk, deer, and grizzly bear. Take your day higher with an awe-inspiring optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies! Your Tour Director can offer many suggestions for activities and dinner.
Day 10: Banff National Park,Yoho National Park,Glacier National Park,Kamloops
Location: Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Glacier National Park, Kamloops
Accommodation Name: Best Western Premier Kamloops
This morning, leave Banff National Park and travel over Kicking Horse Pass on the Continental Divide. Travel through Yoho National Park, where pre-Cambrian fossils were discovered, and Glacier National Park, where recreational mountain climbing was introduced to North America a century ago. Late this afternoon, arrive at the cattle-ranching center of Kamloops.
Day 11: Kamloops,Ferry Crossing,Victoria
Location: Kamloops, Ferry Crossing, Victoria
As you travel through the Coast Mountain Range to its majestic Pacific coastline, the vegetation changes from desert landscape to lush alpine forest. Board your afternoon ferry for the spectacular crossing to Vancouver Island. Sightseeing in Victoria includes the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening, consider taking a relaxing stroll along the lovely Waterfront Promenade.
Day 12: Victoria
Location: Victoria
Be sure to discover some of the attractions this splendid city has to offer, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel, and fine shopping along Government Street. Take time to smell the roses on an optional excursion to see the 55-acres of incredible floral displays at world famous Butchart Gardens or have an adventure at sea on an optional whale and wildlife watching cruise.
Day 13: Victoria,Ferry Crossing,Vancouver
Location: Vancouver
Accommodation Name: Sandman Suites on Davie
This morning, set sail across the Strait of Georgia and through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-like climate. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes Stanley Park, Gastown, Chinatown, and many other famous landmarks. The remainder of the day is free to explore Robson Street and experience British Columbia’s premier shopping and entertainment location.
Day 14: Vancouver
Location: Vancouver
Today is at leisure for independent sightseeing or join us for unforgettable optional excursions, featuring one of the world’s most scenic drives along the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler or elevate your adventure on an optional aerial tram ride up the mountain for exquisite views and a walk through a rainforest canopy at Grouse Mountain & Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Day 15: Vancouver
Location: Vancouver
Your vacation ends this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodations
Stay in comfort at selected hotels including Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto, Marmot Lodge, Lobstick Lodge, Rundlestone Lodge, Best Western Premier Kamloops, Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, and Sandman Suites on Davie.
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Sightseeing Highlights
Enjoy the breathtaking views of Canada's landscapes from refurbished art deco rail cars and domed observation cars, marvel at Niagara Falls, explore the stunning Jasper National Park, travel through Yoho and Glacier National Parks, and experience the vibrant cities of Toronto and Vancouver.
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Meals
2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners.
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Transportation
Travel aboard VIA Rail's premier transcontinental train, The Canadian, for a classic trip across Canada's heartland. Experience the Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield and enjoy ferry crossings to Vancouver Island.
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Visit stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and Yoho National Park.
What's Not Included
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Airfare
International and domestic airfare not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended but not included.
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Optional Tours
Optional tours and activities not included.
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Personal Expenses
Items of a personal nature, including souvenirs, laundry, and telephone calls, are not included.
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Meals not mentioned
Any meals not listed in the inclusions are not covered.
Meals
2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Notes
Early departures may not be able to visit Columbia Icefield, which opens in early May, or take the Maligne Lake & Spirit Island optional excursion, which opens in mid to late May. Visiting and participating in other activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions and vendor dates of operation.Furnishings in your VIA Rail train cabin are arranged in armchair style by day. By night, beds are configured to upper and lower bunkbed-style arrangement requiring one guest be able to climb a ladder to the upper bed.Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.
UNESCO Sites
Banff National Park|Jasper National Park|Yoho National Park
Accommodation
Toronto:Courtyard by Marriott Downtown TorontoJasper National Park:Tonquin InnJasper National Park:Lobstick LodgeBanff National Park:Rundlestone LodgeBanff National Park:Irwin's Mountain InnKamloops:The Thompson Hotel & Conference CentreVictoria:Royal Scot Hotel & SuitesVancouver:Sandman Suites on Davie
Check out our Q&As
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What are the highlights of the Canadian Train Odyssey tour?
The highlights of the Canadian Train Odyssey tour include enjoying views of the ever-changing landscapes in refurbished art deco rail cars and domed observation cars, marveling at hypnotic Niagara Falls on a boat cruise, stopping in breathtaking Lake Louise, spending time in stunning Jasper National Park, and traveling through Yoho National Park and Glacier National Park.
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What type of accommodations are included in the tour?
The accommodations included in the tour are Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto, Marmot Lodge, Lobstick Lodge, Rundlestone Lodge, Best Western Premier Kamloops, Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, and Sandman Suites on Davie.
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Are meals included in the Canadian Train Odyssey tour?
Yes, the tour includes 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners.
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What UNESCO World Heritage Sites will be visited during the tour?
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites visited during the tour include Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and Yoho National Park.
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Is airfare included in the tour package?
No, international and domestic airfare is not included in the tour package.
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What type of transportation is used during the tour?
The transportation during the tour includes travel aboard VIA Rail's premier transcontinental train, The Canadian, the Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield, and ferry crossings to Vancouver Island.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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