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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Canada Coast to Coast Escorted Experience

Coast-to-coast Canadian rail journey from Vancouver to Halifax in 18 days

Illustration of Canada Coast to Coast Escorted Experience

Vacations By Rail's Canada Coast to Coast Escorted Experience is an 18-day journey from Vancouver to Halifax, blending rail travel with guided touring across the country's most celebrated landscapes. The tour opens in Vancouver with a guided city tour of Gastown, Chinatown, and Stanley Park before a coach and ferry day trip to The Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island. From there, the pace shifts to rail: a scenic coach ride through the Cascade Mountains leads to two nights in Jasper, where a day excursion visits Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake. Then comes the signature three-night journey aboard VIA Rail's Canadian in Sleeper Plus berths, crossing the Athabasca River valley, the prairies, and the Canadian Shield to Toronto. A full day is devoted to a guided boat cruise among Niagara Falls, followed by rail travel to Montreal and Québec City, where guests visit a 1920s sugar shack for a maple syrup tasting and three-course lunch. The final leg is an overnight aboard VIA Rail's Ocean to Halifax, with a guided coastal tour of Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg. The tour includes a Tour Manager throughout, 13 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels, four nights aboard trains in sleeping accommodation, and 14 included meals.

What to know before you look closer

  • Final hotel varies by tier; the pack lists two options each in Jasper and Québec City, so confirm which property you are booked into before departure.
  • International flights and airport transfers are not included; you arrange your own passage to and from Vancouver and Halifax.
  • The from-price of USD 6,999 covers the package; VIA Rail sleeper surcharges may apply if you upgrade beyond Sleeper Plus.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Your overland journey begins on arrival in Vancouver

    Make your own way to the Vancouver hotel and meet the Tour Manager, with the evening free.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vancouver

    Exploring Vancouver

    A guided sightseeing tour of Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park and Granville Island, with the rest of the day free to explore independently.

  3. Day 3overnight: Vancouver

    The Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island

    A coach and ferry crossing to Vancouver Island to visit The Butchart Gardens, then time in Victoria before sailing back to Vancouver.

  4. Day 4overnight: Sun Peaks

    Through the mountains to Kamloops

    A scenic coach journey along the Fraser Valley through Hope and the Coquihalla Highway, climbing through the Cascade Mountains to the resort village of Sun Peaks.

  5. Day 5overnight: Jasper

    Into the Rockies to Jasper

    The Yellowhead Highway follows the North Thompson River to Clearwater and on past Mount Robson, arriving in Jasper.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper

    The stunning sights of Jasper National Park

    A free morning in Jasper, then a scenic coach excursion into Jasper National Park's Maligne River valley, including Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Overnight aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

    Crossing Alberta on the Canadian

    Board VIA Rail's Canadian in semi-private berths for a three-night ride to Toronto, following the Athabasca River down from the Rockies and passing Edmonton this evening.

    Meals: Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Overnight aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

    Into the great wide open

    The Canadian crosses Saskatchewan's prairies and into Manitoba, reaching Winnipeg late this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Overnight aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

    Across the Canadian Shield

    The train crosses northwestern Ontario's rocky, forested landscape before turning southeast toward the Great Lakes.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: Toronto

    Arrival in cosmopolitan Toronto

    Arrive at Toronto's Union Station and transfer to a city-center hotel, with time to unwind or explore independently.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  11. Day 11overnight: Toronto

    A cruise among the spectacular Niagara Falls

    A full-day guided excursion to Niagara Falls including a boat cruise amid the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls, viewing from Table Rock, the whirlpool and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Montreal

    To the 'City of Saints' by rail

    Board a VIA Rail train service to Montreal, following Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and transfer to a central four-star hotel.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Québec City

    The Corridor Service to Québec City

    An afternoon journey on VIA Rail's Corridor Service to Québec City, checking into a four-star hotel with a free evening to explore Old Québec.

    Meals: Breakfast

  14. Day 14overnight: Québec City

    Discovering Québec City and maple syrup tasting

    A guided city tour covering the citadel and the Plains of Abraham, followed by a visit to a 1920s sugar shack for a maple syrup tasting and three-course lunch.

    Meals: Lunch

  15. Day 15railovernight: Overnight aboard VIA Rail's the Ocean

    Free day in Québec City and overnight on VIA Rail Ocean

    A free day to explore Québec City further before transferring late in the evening to Sainte-Foy station to board VIA Rail's the Ocean overnight to Nova Scotia.

  16. Day 16railovernight: Halifax

    Through New Brunswick to the Atlantic Ocean

    The Ocean crosses into New Brunswick near Chaleur Bay and on through Moncton to Nova Scotia, arriving in Halifax in the early evening and checking into a four-star hotel by the train station.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  17. Day 17overnight: Halifax

    The maritime gems of picturesque Nova Scotia

    A guided tour of Nova Scotia's coast including Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay and the UNESCO-listed harbor town of Lunenburg.

  18. Day 18

    Traveling home

    The tour concludes as you transfer independently to the airport for your journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Coach and ferry crossing to Vancouver Island to visit The Butchart Gardens, then sail back to Vancouver.
  • Day 6Scenic coach excursion into Jasper National Park's Maligne River valley, including Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake.
  • Day 7Board VIA Rail's Canadian in semi-private berths for a three-night journey across Canada, following the Athabasca River from the Rockies.
  • Day 11Full-day guided excursion to Niagara Falls with a boat cruise among the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.
  • Day 17Guided tour of Nova Scotia's coast including Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay and the UNESCO-listed harbor town of Lunenburg.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 13-nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 3 nights in Sleeper Plus aboard VIA Rail's Canadian, 1 night in double occupancy cabin aboard VIA Rail's Ocean
  • Economy Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
  • 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Vacations By Rail includes all rail, coach, ferry, and cruise travel throughout the tour: three nights aboard VIA Rail's Canadian in Sleeper Plus berths, one night on VIA Rail's Ocean in a double occupancy cabin, and Economy Class rail between Toronto-Montreal and Montreal-Québec City.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish and leads guided sightseeing tours in Vancouver, Niagara Falls, Québec City, and Nova Scotia. Some days, such as the free morning in Jasper and day 15 in Québec City, are unguided.
What is included in the price?
The tour includes 13 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels, four nights aboard VIA Rail trains, 14 meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners), all guided tours and excursions, and the expertise of a Tour Manager. Flights, airport transfers, travel insurance, and cancellation insurance are not included.
Which hotels will I stay in?
The itinerary names specific hotels: Century Plaza in Vancouver, Sun Peaks Grand Hotel in Sun Peaks, Jasper Inn & Suites or The Crimson Hotel in Jasper, Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, Hotel Omni Mont-Royal in Montreal, Delta Hotels or Hilton Quebec in Québec City, and The Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax. The final choice depends on your selected tier.
How much walking is involved?
The tour has a Mobility Rating of 2. Days include guided city walking tours in Vancouver and Québec City, a boat cruise at Niagara Falls, and guided coach excursions in Jasper National Park and Nova Scotia. Most days involve moderate walking and standard luggage handling.
Can I upgrade my cabin on the trains?
Yes. Optional upgrades are available: a Sleeper Plus Cabin (private washroom) or Prestige Cabin (private bathroom with shower, flatscreen TV, and concierge service) on VIA Rail's Canadian. The base package includes Sleeper Plus berths.

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