How much does it cost?

From £8,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $11,480 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the rail travel included?

Yes. The package includes all rail journeys: VIA Rail's Ocean (Halifax to Québec City, overnight), VIA Rail's Canadian (Toronto to Jasper, three nights in sleeper cabins), VIA Rail Corridor Service (Québec City to Montreal to Toronto, daytime), and Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service (Banff to Kamloops to Vancouver). Direct flights from London Heathrow are also included.

Is it escorted or independent?

It is an escorted small-group tour with a UK Tour Manager from start to finish. Great Rail Journeys also provides expert local guides for city sightseeing in Québec City, Niagara Falls, and Vancouver. Day 11 in Jasper is free time to explore independently.

Which hotels are included?

Great Rail Journeys books you into five Fairmont hotels: The Westin Nova Scotian (Halifax, 2 nights), Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (Québec City, 1 night), Fairmont Royal York (Toronto, 2 nights), Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (Jasper, 2 nights), Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (Banff, 2 nights), and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (Vancouver, 2 nights). You also spend 4 nights aboard trains.

What meals are included?

The package includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners. Three-course meals are served in the dining cars aboard VIA Rail's Ocean and Canadian. The Ice Explorer excursion and Niagara Falls cruise are also included. Many lunches and dinners are independent; review the day-by-day itinerary to confirm what is provided and what you arrange yourself.

Great Rail Journeys offers five departures in 2027: April, May, June, August, and September.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour (Small Group)

Premium Canada Coast to Coast

Coast-to-coast Canada escorted rail tour: Halifax to Vancouver, 18 days

Great Rail Journeys operates this 18-day escorted small-group journey across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver. The tour departs London Heathrow in spring and autumn 2027, travelling aboard three VIA Rail services (the Ocean sleeper from Halifax to Québec City, the Canadian sleeper train across Ontario and Alberta to Jasper, and the Corridor Service through the St Lawrence valley) plus the Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service through the Canadian Rockies. You stay in five five-star Fairmont hotels and sleep four nights aboard trains. The itinerary mixes guided coach excursions, to Nova Scotia's coastal villages, Niagara Falls, the Columbia Icefield, and Lake Louise, with included meals in dining cars and a full-time Tour Manager. A free day in Jasper allows independent exploration. The pace is relaxed, with most hotel stops lasting two nights, and the tour suits repeat rail travellers, luxury seekers, and photographers drawn to Canadian scenery and classic trains.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £500 since 4 Jul, to £8,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Single supplements are substantial: GBP 11,299 versus GBP 8,999 double (single adds 26 percent). Confirm pricing for your cabin type before booking.
Great Rail Journeys lists optional upgrades including Prestige Class and Sleeper Plus Cabin on The Canadian; final cabin class depends on your choices and availability.
Meals are partly included (14 meals named in the itinerary) and partly independent; review the daily descriptions to confirm which dinners and lunches are at your cost.
Day 11 in Jasper is largely unguided; it is free time to explore independently, not a structured coach excursion.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Halifax
Your journey begins in Halifax
We gather at London Heathrow this afternoon with the Tour Manager to board a direct flight to Canada, arriving in Halifax in the early evening. We check in to our hotel, with the rest of the evening free to relax or explore. Note: on the 12/4, 7/6, 30/8 and 13/9 departures, we stay at The Sutton Place.
Day 2overnight: Halifax
Exploring Canada's Ocean Playground
With an expert local guide, we explore Nova Scotia, visiting Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay and the UNESCO-listed harbour town of Lunenburg. This evening we dine independently in Halifax.
Day 3railovernight: Aboard VIA Rail's Ocean (Sleeper Plus)
An overnight journey on VIA Rail's Ocean
We transfer to the station and board VIA Rail's Ocean service, settling into private sleeper cabins for an overnight journey to Québec City via Moncton, the Miramichi River and Chaleur Bay, with a three-course lunch and dinner in the dining car.
Day 4overnight: Québec City
The sights of Québec City
We wake in Québec City and transfer to the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, then take a guided sightseeing tour covering the city's history and the star-shaped citadel, followed by a visit to a 1920s sugar shack for a maple syrup tasting and lunch. The afternoon is free.
Day 5railovernight: Toronto
The Corridor Service to Toronto
We board VIA Rail's train service to Montreal, following the St Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, then continue to Toronto's Union Station and transfer to our historic Downtown hotel. The evening is free.
Day 6overnight: Toronto
Cruising amid the mist of spectacular Niagara Falls
A full-day coach excursion to Niagara Falls with a local guide, including a boat cruise close to the falls and a viewing from Table Rock, plus a stop at Niagara-on-the-Lake. We return to Toronto for a free evening.
Day 7railovernight: Aboard VIA Rail's Canadian (Sleeper Plus Cabin)
Across the Canadian Shield on VIA Rail's Canadian
We board VIA Rail's Canadian and settle into private cabins for a three-night ride across Canada to Jasper, passing through Ontario's countryside and over the Canadian Shield, with meals served in the dining car.
Day 8overnight: Aboard VIA Rail's Canadian (Sleeper Plus Cabin)
Into the great wide open of Canada's plains
We pass through Winnipeg and the plains of Manitoba and Saskatchewan aboard the Canadian, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served on board.
Day 9overnight: Aboard VIA Rail's Canadian (Sleeper Plus Cabin)
Crossing beautiful Alberta
The scenery transforms into glaciers, canyons and mountains as we travel towards Edmonton and the Rocky Mountains, with meals served on board.
Day 10overnight: Jasper
Arrival in Jasper
On our final morning aboard the Canadian we arrive in Jasper and check into the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, set in 700 acres overlooking Beauvert Lake, with time to explore the town.
Day 11overnight: Jasper
Exploring Jasper independently
A free day to explore Jasper National Park, including Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake. Dinner is at the hotel this evening.
Day 12overnight: Banff
Along the incredible Icefields Parkway to Banff
We journey by coach along the Icefields Parkway, stopping at Athabasca Falls and the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre for an Ice Explorer excursion onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, then on to Peyto Lake and the Fairmont Banff Springs. Note: the 12th April departure omits the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre and Spiral Tunnels viewpoint due to seasonal closure.
Day 13overnight: Banff
The beauty of the Rockies' national parks
A coach tour taking in Emerald Lake, Lake Louise and views of the Spiral Tunnels at Kicking Horse Pass. Dinner together at the hotel.
Day 14overnight: Kamloops
Boarding Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf
A daylight journey on the Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops in GoldLeaf Service, with panoramic glass-domed cars, gourmet meals and an outdoor viewing platform, passing Banff National Park and Castle Mountain. Overnight stay in Kamloops.
Day 15overnight: Vancouver
Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver
Our Rocky Mountaineer journey continues through the Thompson and Fraser canyons and Rainbow Canyon, arriving in Vancouver and checking in to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
Day 16overnight: Vancouver
Exploring the sights of Vancouver
A guided tour of Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park and Granville Island with a local guide. The rest of the day is free.
Day 17
Homeward bound
A free morning and afternoon in Vancouver before we transfer by coach to Vancouver International Airport to begin our journey home.
Day 18
Arrival in London
Our plane touches down at London Heathrow this morning and the luxurious Canadian journey comes to an end.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Coach tour of Nova Scotia's coastal towns: Peggy's Cove with its colourful buildings and lighthouse, Mahone Bay, and the UNESCO-listed harbour town of Lunenburg.
Day 3Overnight aboard VIA Rail's Ocean from Halifax to Québec City: three-course lunch and dinner in the dining car while traveling along the St Lawrence River and Chaleur Bay.
Day 6Cruise into Niagara Falls from Table Rock to view the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls, then visit the whirlpool and Niagara on the Lake.
Day 7Board VIA Rail's Canadian for a three-night journey from Toronto to Jasper in private sleeper cabins; watch Ontario's prairies, lakes, and the Canadian Shield from the panoramic Park car.
Day 12Coach journey along the Icefields Parkway: Ice Explorer ride across the Athabasca Glacier, Columbia Icefield Skywalk shuttle with glass floors, and views of Peyto Lake and Canadian Rockies.
Day 14Rocky Mountaineer daylight service in GoldLeaf class from Banff to Kamloops: glass-domed upper-level coaches, gourmet dining, exclusive outdoor viewing platform, crossing the Continental Divide.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
12 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
1 night in Sleeper Plus aboard VIA Rail's Ocean
3 nights in Sleeper Plus Cabin aboard VIA Rail's Canadian
GoldLeaf class on Rocky Mountaineer
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Direct flights from London Heathrow to Halifax, Vancouver to London Heathrow
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Railfrom $10,999

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £8,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $11,480 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the rail travel included?: Yes. The package includes all rail journeys: VIA Rail's Ocean (Halifax to Québec City, overnight), VIA Rail's Canadian (Toronto to Jasper, three nights in sleeper cabins), VIA Rail Corridor Service (Québec City to Montreal to Toronto, daytime), and Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service (Banff to Kamloops to Vancouver). Direct flights from London Heathrow are also included.
Is it escorted or independent?: It is an escorted small-group tour with a UK Tour Manager from start to finish. Great Rail Journeys also provides expert local guides for city sightseeing in Québec City, Niagara Falls, and Vancouver. Day 11 in Jasper is free time to explore independently.
Which hotels are included?: Great Rail Journeys books you into five Fairmont hotels: The Westin Nova Scotian (Halifax, 2 nights), Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (Québec City, 1 night), Fairmont Royal York (Toronto, 2 nights), Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (Jasper, 2 nights), Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (Banff, 2 nights), and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (Vancouver, 2 nights). You also spend 4 nights aboard trains.
What meals are included?: The package includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners. Three-course meals are served in the dining cars aboard VIA Rail's Ocean and Canadian. The Ice Explorer excursion and Niagara Falls cruise are also included. Many lunches and dinners are independent; review the day-by-day itinerary to confirm what is provided and what you arrange yourself.
When does it run?: Great Rail Journeys offers five departures in 2027: April, May, June, August, and September.