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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Canada, Niagara Falls & the Rocky Mountains

13-day Vancouver to Toronto rail journey through Canadian Rockies and prairies

Illustration of Canada, Niagara Falls & the Rocky Mountains

Great Rail Journeys operates this 13-day escorted tour departing from London Heathrow, combining coach travel through the Canadian Rockies with a three-night sleeper journey on VIA Rail's Canadian. The first four days explore Vancouver, its neighbouring islands, and the drive through the Cascade and Columbia Mountains to Sun Peaks. Days five and six focus on Jasper National Park, where you coach through the Maligne River valley, passing Medicine Lake and hot springs amid snow-dusted peaks. On day seven, you board the Canadian at Jasper for a three-night train ride across the country: day eight crosses Saskatchewan's Great Plains with moose and bison visible from the panoramic observation car; day nine passes through the rocky Canadian Shield into Ontario; and day ten arrives in Toronto. The final days include a full-day cruise to Niagara Falls, the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls, before your return flight to London. Great Rail Journeys includes your tour manager, eight hotel nights, all rail and coach travel, guided city tours, and key excursions. The itinerary suits repeat rail travellers, guided-comfort seekers, and families wanting a mix of scenery and structured activities.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single-room supplement is £1,200 (compared to £1,999 for the double), a significant upcharge; confirm pricing for solo travellers.
  • Maximum group size is 40 people; this is not a small-group tour.
  • Most meals are not included; only 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners are provided across 13 days, with many dinners and lunches independent.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Arriving in Vancouver to begin our Canadian overland adventure

    Meeting the Tour Manager at London Heathrow, board a direct flight to Vancouver, arriving early evening local time. Check in to the downtown hotel; evening free to unwind or explore western Canada's cuisine including seafood such as salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vancouver

    Sightseeing in Vancouver

    Guided sightseeing tour of Vancouver's most characterful districts including Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park with totem poles, and Granville Island. Afternoon free to explore independently, options include Capilano Suspension Bridge or Grouse Mountain cable car.

  3. Day 3overnight: Vancouver

    Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island

    Coach to Tsawwassen for the ferry to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. Visit the renowned Butchart Gardens (sunken garden, Japanese garden, Italian garden, rose garden). Transfer to Victoria for free time to explore the Inner Harbour. Sail back to Vancouver; dine independently.

  4. Day 4overnight: Sun Peaks

    Through the mountains to Sun Peaks

    Leave Vancouver by coach along the Fraser Valley to Hope, surrounded by the Cascade Mountains. Continue via the Coquihalla Highway through the Columbia Mountains to Sun Peaks, a popular year-round mountain resort with a European feel and Canada's second-largest ski resort.

  5. Day 5overnight: Jasper

    Into the Rockies to Jasper

    Follow the Yellowhead Highway along the North Thompson River to Clearwater, then continue to Mount Robson (summit nearly 13,000ft, 'King of the Rockies'). Continue to Jasper, a calm, small-town feel with charming buildings, shops and restaurants nestled among imposing mountains.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper

    The stunning sights of Jasper National Park

    Free morning to unwind or stroll around Jasper. Afternoon coach excursion into UNESCO-listed Jasper National Park through the Maligne River valley, snow-dusted mountains, plunging waterfalls, hot springs, crystalline lakes, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake. Free evening with wildlife-spotting opportunities.

  7. Day 7railovernight: The Canadian (train)

    Beginning a three-night journey on the Canadian train

    Free morning in Jasper. Transfer to the train station to board VIA Rail's Canadian for a three-night ride to Toronto. Follow the Athabasca River down the Rocky Mountains into the foothills. Views of glaciers, canyons, mountains and pine forests. Cross into Alberta; pass Edmonton in the evening.

    Meals: Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: The Canadian (train)

    Into Canada's great wide open

    Wake up to Saskatchewan's vast prairies. View the Great Plains from the glass-roofed panoramic observation car. Travel through the southern plains with deer, eagles, antelope, moose and bison. Cross into Manitoba with its 100,000+ lakes; pass through Winnipeg late evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: The Canadian (train)

    Across the Canadian Shield in northern Ontario

    Cross the rocky Canadian Shield, a geological formation of ancient rock stretching over 3 million square miles. Pass through remote communities where the Canadian Pacific Railway has been a lifeline. After lunch, the train changes direction southeast towards the Great Lakes. Dinner served on board.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10railovernight: Toronto

    Arrival in Toronto

    Continental breakfast as the train travels south towards Toronto. Arrive at Toronto's Union Station (built 1927, Beaux-Arts, 22 Romanesque columns). Transfer to downtown hotel. Evening free to explore Canada's most populous city and dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  11. Day 11overnight: Toronto

    Sailing into the mist on a Niagara Falls cruise

    Full-day guided excursion to Niagara Falls. Cruise to the falls (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls) with protective ponchos. Lunch independently in Niagara. View falls from Table Rock. Visit the whirlpool where the river bursts from the Niagara Gorge. Stroll Niagara-on-the-Lake. Return to Toronto; dine independently.

  12. Day 12overnight: In flight

    Homeward bound

    Free time in Toronto, explore the Distillery Historic District, CN Tower observation decks (glass floor option), or ferry to Ward's Island/Toronto Island Park. Mid-afternoon regroup at hotel and transfer by coach to the airport for the direct overnight flight to London.

  13. Day 13

    Arrival in London

    Land at London Heathrow early this morning, concluding the Canadian adventure having journeyed overland from the Pacific coast to the Great Lakes.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: Ferry to Vancouver Island and tour of Butchart Gardens with its sunken garden, Japanese garden, Italian garden, and rose garden.
  • Day 6Day 6: Coach excursion through Jasper National Park past Maligne Lake, Medicine Lake, hot springs, and snow-dusted mountains.
  • Day 7Day 7: Board VIA Rail's Canadian sleeper train at Jasper and depart for a three-night journey across Canada's mountains and prairies.
  • Day 8Day 8: Wake aboard the train in Saskatchewan and observe the Great Plains, moose, bison, and eagles from the glass-roofed panoramic observation car.
  • Day 11Day 11: Niagara Falls cruise to the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls with protective ponchos; view from Table Rock and the whirlpool.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 8 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 3 nights in Sleeper Plus aboard VIA Rail's Canadian
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Direct flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver, Toronto to London Heathrow
  • 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

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Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price includes three nights aboard VIA Rail's Canadian in Sleeper Plus Class (Jasper to Toronto) as well as all coach, ferry, and cruise travel.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A UK Tour Manager leads the group from London Heathrow throughout the entire 13 days.
What hotels are included?
Great Rail Journeys books eight nights in three and four-star hotels: Century Plaza in Vancouver (3 nights), Sun Peaks Grand Hotel (1 night), The Crimson Jasper (2 nights), and Chelsea Hotel in Toronto (2 nights).
When does the tour run?
Departures in May 2027, June 2027, September 2026, and September 2027.
What meals are included?
Four breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. All meals are provided on the Canadian train; other meals are independent or free time to eat on your own.
How much walking is involved?
Days include guided city tours, coach excursions, and a full-day Niagara Falls cruise, with walking at various stops. No hikes or high-altitude activity mentioned.

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