Search

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Trans Canada by Rail

Seven-day rail journey from Vancouver to Toronto aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

Illustration of Trans Canada by Rail

Vacations By Rail's Trans Canada by Rail is a 7-day independent journey across one of North America's largest countries. You spend four nights aboard VIA Rail's Canadian, a sleeper train that travels from Vancouver on the Pacific coast to Toronto on the Great Lakes, and two nights in premium hotels in each city. The route crosses the Canadian Rockies on day three, where you can watch the scenery from the Park Car and Skyline Car; on days four and five the train moves through prairie, lake, and wetland landscapes. You have leisure time in Vancouver before departure to visit Granville Island or Stanley Park, then board the overnight train for a relaxed, unhurried crossing of Canada. Upon arrival in Toronto, you have time to explore the city or visit the CN Tower before your departure flight.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; you arrange these separately
  • Hotel accommodations for only 2 of the 6 nights; the other 4 nights are aboard the train
  • The package covers rail travel one direction only (Vancouver to Toronto or reverse); the operator notes the itinerary is also available from Toronto to Vancouver

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver

    Arrive in Vancouver and check in to your hotel. Free time to explore; optional FlyOver Canada or the Capilano Suspension Bridge and park.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Overnight train

    Depart Vancouver onboard VIA Rail Canadian

    Morning and early afternoon at leisure (optional Granville Island, Gastown, Stanley Park), then transfer on your own to the train station. Board VIA Rail's Canadian and settle into Sleeper Plus accommodations.

  3. Day 3overnight: Overnight train

    En Route to Jasper

    Wake to the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, with access to the Park Car and Skyline Car for panoramic views.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Overnight train

    En Route to Toronto

    Travel through Saskatoon and Melville (named after Charles Melville Hays, President of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad Company).

  5. Day 5railovernight: Overnight train

    VIA Rail to Toronto

    Highlight of the day is Longlac, at the northern tip of Long Lake, historically part of the fur trader canoe route.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Toronto

    Toronto

    Train arrives in Toronto this afternoon. Time in the Park Car's three salons and observation deck and the Skyline Car before settling into your hotel; optional CN Tower admission.

  7. Day 7

    Conclusion

    Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board VIA Rail's Canadian in Vancouver and settle into a sleeper cabin as the train departs for the cross-country journey
  • Day 3Wake in the Canadian Rockies and access the Park Car and Skyline Car for panoramic views of the mountain landscape
  • Day 4Pass through Saskatoon and Melville, named after Charles Melville Hays, President of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad Company
  • Day 5Travel through Longlac at the northern tip of Long Lake, historically part of the fur trader canoe route

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 2 nights
  • Rail travel on VIA Rail Canada (4 nights on train)
  • 12 meals

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, four nights aboard VIA Rail's Canadian with Sleeper Plus Class accommodations are included in the from-price of USD 2695. Hotel stays in Vancouver and Toronto are also included.
Which trains are used?
VIA Rail's Canadian, which runs from Vancouver to Toronto. The package can also be booked in reverse (Toronto to Vancouver). Sleeper Plus Class includes a semi-private berth or private cabin depending on tier; Prestige Class is also available.
What meals are provided?
Twelve meals are included throughout the journey on the train and in the hotels.
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, and travel insurance are not included. Optional activities in Vancouver and Toronto, such as FlyOver Canada, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and CN Tower admission, are extra.
Is this an escorted tour?
No, this is an independent rail vacation. You have free time to explore Vancouver and Toronto, and you arrange your own transfer to the train station.

Similar journeys