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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Ultimate Canada Coast to Coast

Independent 18-day rail crossing of Canada, Halifax to Vancouver on VIA Rail

Illustration of Ultimate Canada Coast to Coast

Railbookers runs this 18-day independent rail vacation across Canada, starting in Halifax and ending in Vancouver. The trip is self-guided, with a Railbookers Rail Expert on hand for arrangements rather than a tour director leading the group. Days alternate between city stops and rail travel: VIA Rail's The Ocean carries you from Halifax to Quebec City past rocky, forested coastline, then trains link Quebec City to Montreal and Montreal to Toronto, with a guided city tour included in each of the first two. After a day trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto, VIA Rail's The Canadian takes over for a multi-day crossing to Jasper, with stops built in for the Columbia Icefield, an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, and the Glacier Skywalk on the way to Banff. The trip finishes with a two-night stay in Vancouver and a hop-on, hop-off city tour. It suits independent travelers comfortable arranging their own transfers, and history-minded travelers drawn to Quebec City and Montreal's older quarters.

What to know before you look closer

  • Accommodation comes from a list of 37 hotel options across price tiers and cities (for example the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront or the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City), so the specific hotel you get depends on the tier and city option you choose.
  • Only 3 meals are included across the 18 days (2 lunches and 1 dinner), so plan to cover most meals yourself.
  • The included VIA Rail travel is booked in Economy class; the evidence does not describe a sleeper cabin or berth for the overnight legs onboard The Ocean and The Canadian.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Halifax

    Your Journey Begins in Halifax

    Welcome to Canada! Enjoy the town's charming seaside areas. Find a great restaurant for dinner by the water.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    You have some of the morning free to complete your visit to Halifax. Head over to the VIA Rail station to depart for Quebec City. The train winds its way north and west through the Canadian Maritimes, with delightful views of the rocky and forested coast.

  3. Day 3overnight: Quebec City

    Quebec City, QC

    Today you will reach Quebec City. You arrive early with a full day to explore this fascinating destination, from its centuries old defensive walls to its historic waterfront. Dinner tonight is included at a classic Quebecoise restaurant.

  4. Day 4overnight: Quebec City

    Quebec City, QC

    Included today is a guided tour of Quebec City. Your guide will provide stories and background on the town while riding past popular and historic points of interest such as the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, the Ramparts, Place-Royale, and the Citadelle.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Montreal

    Quebec City to Montreal

    Board the train today and continue on to Montreal.

  6. Day 6overnight: Montreal

    Montreal, QC

    Today you will explore a city that is an interesting blend of the Old World and the New: Montreal! Your included tour includes famous attractions like Notre Dame Basilica, the hip Place des Arts, Place Jacques Cartier, the Hotel de Ville, and Old Montreal.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Toronto

    Montreal to Toronto

    Take the train over to Toronto, Canada's largest city. This metropolis is not only the most populous urban center in Canada, it is arguably its most culturally diverse with a wealth of colorful neighborhoods such as Yorkville, Cabbagetown, and the Annex.

  8. Day 8overnight: Toronto

    Toronto to Niagara Falls

    After exploring the great city of Toronto, Niagara Falls will impress in a completely different way. Carved by the glaciers of the last ice age and the mighty flow of the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes, the falls roar with as much as six million cubic feet of water pouring over the edge every minute! Enjoy lunch overlooking the falls.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    Today, travel on your own to the VIA Rail station and board the iconic Canadian Line for your exciting three-day trip across Canada.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    You will journey across Canada today, traveling through a variety of beautiful landscapes and taking in sights only possible by train, including pristine lakes, charming farm country, wide open plains, and rolling tree covered hills.

  11. Day 12railovernight: Jasper

    Jasper, AB

    After the train rides into the heart of the mountains, it will arrive in the picturesque mountain community of Jasper. Travel on your own to your hotel and check in. Enjoy the clear mountain air and beautiful surroundings of the Canadian Rockies.

  12. Day 13overnight: Banff

    Jasper to Banff

    This morning, you will depart Jasper for a scenic drive out to Banff along the world-famous Icefields Parkway. Visit the Columbia Icefield, step onboard an Ice Explorer for an interpretive adventure on the Athabasca Glacier, and enjoy the Glacier Skywalk. Other highlights include Athabasca Falls, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier and Lake Louise.

  13. Day 14railovernight: Jasper

    Banff to Jasper

    You will be transferred today from Banff through the mountains and back to Jasper. Rest and relax before tomorrow's train journey to the West Coast.

  14. Day 15railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    This morning, board VIA Rail's Canadian to continue your journey through the majestic Canadian Rockies. Enjoy dinner as the train whisks you past Moose Lake and the peaks of Mt. Robson and the Monashee Mountains.

  15. Day 16overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver, BC

    Head to the dining car this morning for a freshly prepared breakfast and enjoy the stunning views of central British Columbia. Upon arrival in Vancouver, check in at your hotel for a two-night stay and start to make use of your 24-hour hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour.

  16. Day 17overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver, BC

    Today, continue on with your sightseeing tour and experience the best of what Vancouver has to offer. Head over to Granville Island, stop by Chinatown, and visit the historic Gastown.

  17. Day 18

    Your Journey Ends in Vancouver

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Ocean departs Halifax for Quebec City, tracing rocky and forested coastline through the Canadian Maritimes.
  • Day 4A guided tour of Quebec City passes the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, the Ramparts, Place-Royale, and the Citadelle.
  • Day 8Lunch overlooking Niagara Falls on a sightseeing day trip from Toronto.
  • Day 13The Columbia Icefield stop includes an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk, along the Icefields Parkway past Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, and Lake Louise.
  • Day 15Dinner in the dining car as VIA Rail's Canadian passes Moose Lake and the peaks of Mt. Robson and the Monashee Mountains.

Included

  • One-way VIA Rail® in Economy accommodations from Halifax to Quebec City, Quebec City to Montreal, Montreal to Toronto, and Vancouver on The Ocean® and The Canadian®
  • 11 nights' accommodations; 5 nights' onboard VIA Rail
  • 3 meals included (2 lunches and 1 dinner)

Also sold by

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

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Railbookers includes one-way VIA Rail travel in Economy class from Halifax to Quebec City, Quebec City to Montreal, Montreal to Toronto, and on to Vancouver, using The Ocean and The Canadian.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is an independent, self-guided trip. Railbookers provides a Rail Expert for arrangements, and the package includes guided sightseeing tours in Quebec City, Montreal, at Niagara Falls, and a hop-on, hop-off tour of Vancouver.
Which trains does the trip use?
VIA Rail's The Ocean for the Halifax to Quebec City leg, and VIA Rail's The Canadian for the cross-country leg to Vancouver, both in Economy class.
What hotels are used?
The trip draws from 37 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than one fixed hotel; examples include the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront and The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites in Halifax, and the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac and Hotel Manoir Victoria in Quebec City.
What is not included?
Only 3 meals are included (2 lunches and 1 dinner) across the 18-day trip, so most meals are on your own.

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