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Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Canada Coast to Coast

Seventeen-day rail journey from Vancouver to Halifax across Canada

Illustration of Canada Coast to Coast

Vacations By Rail's 17-day Canada Coast to Coast is an independent rail journey from Vancouver to Halifax that combines the comfort of guided sightseeing with the freedom of self-directed exploration. The trip spans 4,000 miles, beginning with two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer through the Fraser River Valley and Canadian Rockies, stopping for guided tours in Banff National Park, Lake Louise, and the Columbia Icefield. You then board VIA Rail's Canadian for a three-night sleeper journey across the prairies and Canadian Shield to Toronto, where you spend three days with a guided tour to Niagara Falls and a free day with an included Hop-on Hop-off pass. From Toronto, the itinerary continues by rail to Montreal for a half-day guided sightseeing coach tour, and concludes with an overnight journey on VIA Rail's Ocean to Halifax. With 12 nights in hotels, meals, and all excursions included, the tour suits repeat rail travellers and couples who want the security of a well-planned itinerary without a tour guide at every step.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; you arrange your own travel to Vancouver on Day 1 and from Halifax on Day 17.
  • Day 1 is unguided arrival in Vancouver; you make your own way to the hotel.
  • The Sleeper Plus Berth on VIA Rail's Canadian is the standard cabin on this package; upgrades to Sleeper Plus Cabin or Prestige Cabin are available at extra cost.
  • Day 15 free time in Montreal before evening departure; the Ocean train departs in the evening, not morning.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Arriving on Canada's West Coast

    Arrive independently in Vancouver and make your way to the hotel, with the rest of the day free to explore neighborhoods such as Stanley Park, Gastown and Chinatown.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Kamloops

    The Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops

    Board the Rocky Mountaineer at Vancouver's railway station for a daylight journey through the Fraser River Valley, Hell's Gate and the Thompson River to Kamloops.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  3. Day 3overnight: Banff

    Into the Canadian Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer

    Continuing east on the Rocky Mountaineer past Craigellachie, Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon and the Spiral Tunnels, arriving in Banff.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4overnight: Banff

    The breathtaking sights of Banff National Park

    A sightseeing tour of Banff National Park including Bow Falls, the Banff Gondola, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos (plus a Lake Minnewanka cruise for departures after May 17), with the rest of the day free.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lake Louise

    The iconic waters of Lake Louise

    Depart Banff for Lake Louise and Yoho National Park, taking in Moraine Lake, the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint and Emerald Lake, ending in Lake Louise.

    Meals: Lunch

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper

    To Jasper via Icefields Parkway

    A sightseeing drive along the Icefields Parkway taking in Bow Lake, Athabasca Falls and the Columbia Icefield, including an Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk, arriving in Jasper.

    Meals: Lunch

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

    Joining VIA Rail's Canadian to Toronto

    Free time in Jasper before transferring to the station to board VIA Rail's Canadian in a Sleeper Plus Berth for a three-night journey, passing through Edmonton this evening.

    Meals: Dinner

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

    Across the Great Plains

    The Canadian crosses Saskatchewan's prairies and into Manitoba, passing through Winnipeg late in the day.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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

    Journey across the Canadian Shield

    The train crosses northwestern Ontario's lakes and forests before turning southeast toward the Great Lakes.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: Toronto

    Arrival in Toronto

    Arrive at Toronto's Union Station mid-afternoon and transfer independently to a centrally located hotel, with the rest of the day free to explore.

    Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

  11. Day 11overnight: Toronto

    A wonder of the world: Niagara Falls

    A full-day motorcoach tour to Niagara Falls, including a Hornblower boat ride to Horseshoe Falls, lunch at the Fallsview Restaurant, and stops along the Niagara Parkway and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

    Meals: Lunch

  12. Day 12overnight: Toronto

    A day at leisure in Toronto

    A free day in Toronto with an included Hop-on Hop-off pass covering sights such as the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame and Royal Ontario Museum.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Montreal

    VIA Rail's Corridor Service to Montreal

    Free time in Toronto this morning before boarding VIA Rail's Corridor Service to Montreal in the afternoon.

    Meals: Lunch

  14. Day 14overnight: Montreal

    Sightseeing in Montreal

    A half-day narrated sightseeing coach tour of Old Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica, Olympic Park and McGill University, ending at a Mont Royal viewpoint.

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

    Toward the Atlantic on VIA Rail's the Ocean

    A free day in Montreal before an evening transfer to the train station to board VIA Rail's the Ocean for an overnight journey to Halifax.

    Meals: Dinner

  16. Day 16overnight: Halifax

    Crossing New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

    The Ocean crosses into New Brunswick near Chaleur Bay and on through Moncton to Nova Scotia, arriving in Halifax in the early evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  17. Day 17

    Tour conclusion

    Check out of the Halifax hotel and continue independently or return home; extra nights in Halifax can be arranged.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day 2: Board the Rocky Mountaineer at Vancouver's railway station for a daylight journey through the Fraser River Valley and Thompson River to Kamloops.
  • Day 3Day 3: The Rocky Mountaineer passes the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon before arriving in Banff.
  • Day 6Day 6: A sightseeing drive along the Icefields Parkway includes an Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk.
  • Day 7Day 7: Board VIA Rail's Canadian for a three-night journey across the prairies and Canadian Shield toward Toronto.
  • Day 11Day 11: A full-day motorcoach tour to Niagara Falls includes a Hornblower boat ride to Horseshoe Falls and lunch at the Fallsview Restaurant.

Included

  • 12 nights' hotel accommodation
  • 4 nights aboard VIA Rail Canada
  • 2 days of scenic rail travel onboard Rocky Mountaineer
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • 6 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 4 dinners
  • All tour 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 all train travel included?
Yes. The Rocky Mountaineer (Vancouver to Banff, two days), VIA Rail's Canadian (Jasper to Toronto, three nights), VIA Rail's Corridor Service (Toronto to Montreal), and VIA Rail's Ocean (Montreal to Halifax, overnight) are all included, as is all coach travel and transfers.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is independent, meaning you travel on your own following the itinerary. However, Vacations By Rail includes guided sightseeing tours at Banff National Park, Niagara Falls, and Montreal, plus free time to explore on your own.
What class of cabin is included on the VIA Rail trains?
The standard included accommodation on VIA Rail's Canadian is a Sleeper Plus Berth. Upgrades to Sleeper Plus Cabin or Prestige Cabin are available at additional cost.
How many nights are in hotels and how many aboard trains?
Twelve nights in hotels (Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Toronto three nights, Montreal) and four nights aboard trains (three nights on VIA Rail's Canadian, one night on VIA Rail's Ocean).
What meals are included?
Vacations By Rail includes six breakfasts, 11 lunches, and four dinners. Meals aboard VIA Rail trains are included; meals in hotels and free time are your own.
How much walking and activity is expected?
The tour has a Mobility Rating 2. Expect city walking tours, sightseeing excursions, and steps at hotels and stations. The Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier and Glacier Skywalk are included but optional.

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