Overview
You’ll continue by luxury motorcoach to the most beautiful national parks of the Canadian Rockies, including Jasper, Banff, Yoho, and Glacier National Park. Roast s’mores at a riverside barbecue in historic Kamloops before s’more fun in the British-infused city of Victoria and the multicultural metropolis of Vancouver. Keep the journey going by adding a leisurely Alaska cruise to your grand tour of Canada. While your ship will sail through the glacial beauty of the Inside Passage, Tracy Arm, and Glacier Bay National Park, you’ll personally cruise through several exciting ports of call, including the capital city of Juneau, the gold rush town of Skagway, and totem-pole-dotted Ketchikan.
Itinerary
Welcome to Toronto!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
Taking the Plunge
Drive along the shores of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls. Take a Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise for a thrilling boat ride to view the thundering falls from river level. Return to Toronto for an orientation drive before a special dinner atop the 1,815-foot-tall CN Tower. (B/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NATURAL WONDERS: The famous natural wonder of Niagara Falls consists of three massive waterfalls - American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls - plummeting from the southern end of Niagara Gorge. Spanning the border between Canada's Ontario and America's New York State, the largest of the falls is Horseshoe Falls - also known as the Canadian Falls -which straddles the border of both countries. Take a thrilling sightseeing cruise on the waters below the thunderous cascades of Niagara Falls and feel the mist and magic of this stunning spectacle of nature.
All Aboard in Toronto!
After breakfast, head to Union Station for departure on the Canadian, VIA Rail's premier transcontinental train. (B/L/D)
On VIA Rail, during the day your cabin for two offers armchairs, toilet, and a picture window. By night it transforms into upper and lower beds where guests must be able to climb a ladder to reach the upper bed. If you are a single passenger, your cabin by day features small couch-style seating, toilet and sink, and a large picture window. By night, an economy of space requires the pull-down bed to fill the space (obstructing the furniture and bathroom facilities). Public restrooms are available on each coach. Train travel is subject to unforeseen delays.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - TRAIN SPOTLIGHT: Spend the next three days and nights on this classic trip across Canada's heartland. Your VIA Rail Sleeper Plus class rail cars are refurbished art-deco cars from the 1950s. Domed observation cars let you enjoy views of the Canadian countryside as you roll past Ontario's beautiful landscapes.
Riding the Rails
Your exciting travel on the VIA Rail train continues through Ontario and Manitoba. (B/L/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: Watch the scenic countryside from your train as you glide past sparkling lakes and sun-dappled forests of Ontario. Try the observation dome for unparalleled views or enjoy quiet conversation in one of the comfortable lounges. Enter Manitoba with its endless golden prairies and vast cultivated fields.
Spectacular Saskatchewan
Continue through the picturesque prairies and winding rivers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. (B/L/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - SCENIC WONDERS: View the ever-changing landscape with ease and comfort as you meet and mingle with fellow passengers and enjoy freshly prepared meals that showcase Canadian cuisine and regional specialties courtesy of your VIA Rail first-class train service.
Rocky Mountain Trails
Travel from Saskatchewan to Jasper. Admire the scenery as your train roughly parallels the famed Yellowhead Route, Canada's historic trail of westward expansion. Arrive in Jasper for an orientation drive and free time this evening. (B)
FREE TIME TIPS - EXPLORE MORE: in Jasper with free time to taste the traditions of Alberta's gorgeous town nestled in the Canadian Rockies. Take your pick of an abundance of local eateries serving everything from Mediterranean cuisine to wood-fired pizza to good old-fashioned comfort food like smokehouse brisket, mac-and-cheese, venison sausage, bison short ribs, and baked beans, of course! Your Tour Director can recommend the best spots to satisfy your adventurous appetite and your GlobusGO mobile app has maps and tips for a terrific night under the Dark Sky stars.
Untamed Beauty
Travel through Jasper's unspoiled beauty to glacial Maligne Canyon to stunning Maligne Lake for lunch and a narrated scenic cruise to Spirit Island. Return to Jasper where the balance of the day is at leisure to explore Jasper on your own. (B/L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NATURAL WONDERS: Spanning nearly 4,250 square miles of spectacular natural beauty, Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Its vast wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking panoramic sights lie below an incredible Dark Sky to thrill stargazers as well. A cruise to Spirit Island on the turquoise waters of Maligne Lake is a spectacular sight to behold as one of the most photographed locations in the world for its jaw-dropping beauty.
Moving Mountains and Lifting Hearts
Head south through Jasper National Park on Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield for a thrilling Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier with a Glaciologist guide. Climb Sunwapta Pass to savour stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and massive glaciers. Next, stop at Lake Louise, whose green-blue waters form a perfect mirror reflection of Mount Victoria. Continue into Banff. (B/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: Be moved by an expedition across the Athabasca Glacier. Traverse this massive ice field aboard the all-terrain Columbia Ice Explorer and walk on the surface where the Earth's geology is changing beneath your feet. Feel the force of nature's strength on an ancient glacier that still carves the face of the Rocky Mountains today.
Breathtaking Banff
Guided sightseeing includes Bow River and Falls. The balance of the day is at leisure. Consider an optional flightseeing trip for a bird's-eye view of the Rockies. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - PICTURE PERFECT: Get ready for a spectacular adventure to explore the beauty of Rocky Mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes in Banff National Park - Canada's first national park. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, where soaring peaks and sapphire lakes meet the heavens for a breathtaking experience like no other on Earth!
Heavenly Heights
This morning, travel through the spectacular beauty of Yoho National Park, one of Canada's most popular recreational areas and site of pre-Cambrian fossil finds. On to Canada's Glacier National Park, where the motorcoach climbs 4,379-foot-high Rogers Pass, a perfect spot for photos of the surrounding mountain cliffs and glaciers. Continue to your riverside resort. Tonight, enjoy a riverside BBQ with S'mores. (B/D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE - ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT: Put your feet up in historic elegance in this beautifully rugged setting at the South Thompson Inn in Kamloops. Once home to a thoroughbred-racing stable, the 55-acre riverfront property retains its original Manor and Carriage Houses, renovated into first-class luxury lodging.
British Columbia Treasures
Continue west and catch a BC Ferry to Vancouver Island. An orientation tour of Victoria includes the gardens of Beacon Hill Park, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. Free time this evening-enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants in this harbour city. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: Cruise on the BC Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria for its 90-minute cruise across the water, keep a watchful eye on this bracing crossing to spy sea birds, seals, dolphins, or maybe even a humpback whale or a pod of Orcas. Arrive in the very British city of Victoria on Vancouver Island - also known as the Garden City for its amazing array of blooming flowers. Wander the quaint downtown core with its British colonial architecture to shop and admire its heritage buildings and stunning gardens, then relax over proper British afternoon tea.
The Grandest of Gardens
The morning and afternoon is at leisure for independent sightseeing and shopping. For shoppers, Government Street's elegant shops and Market Square's collection of specialty stores are good places to start. History buffs should be sure to visit the Royal British Columbia Museum. Later, visit Butchart Gardens, followed by a special farewell dinner in the original, now restored, greenhouse. (B/D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE - PICTURE PERFECT: Butchart Gardens, named for the woman who founded this botanical oasis of blooming shades and horticultural design, is a National Historic site for its legacy and lush treasure of millions of flowering beds and over 900 varieties of plants in exquisitely landscaped gardens bring fairytales to life.
British Columbia Treasures
Take the BC Ferry through the Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-type climate. Arrive in Vancouver for a city tour that includes the Waterfront, Chinatown, and Stanley Park with its towering evergreen forests and totem poles. Free time this evening to enjoy this vibrant city on your own. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CITY SIGHTS: Created in 1888, Stanley Park is considered the 'crown jewel' of Vancouver. The oldest park in the city of Vancouver, the dramatically beautiful and panoramic setting of Stanley Park spans more than 1000+ acres right next to downtown Vancouver. Here, Native culture is preserved with a striking collection of First Nations Totem Poles, carved from western red cedar and each carving tells of a real or mythical event with each carving bearing significant meanings - the eagle representing the kingdom of air; the whale as the lord of the sea; and the wolf as the genius of the land - to name a few.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- We've packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world's most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
- Your Train: Accommodations on the train are in private Sleeper Plus service, featuring premium service, exquisite cuisine highlighting regional dishes, and exclusive access to stylish lounges with local artists and music. Beds in the cabin are arranged by day in armchair style, and by night, beds are converted to upper and lower bunkbed-style arrangement requiring one guest to climb a ladder to reach the upper bed. By day, your cabin for two offers armchairs, toilet, and a picture window. By night, it transforms into upper and lower beds where guests must be able to climb a ladder to reach the upper bed. If you are a single passenger, your cabin by day features small couch-style seating, toilet and sink, and a large picture window. By night, an economy of space requires the pull-down bed to fill the space (obstructing the furniture and bathroom facilities). Public restrooms are available on each coach. Train travel is subject to unforeseen delays.
- 13 Breakfasts
- 4 Lunches
- 7 Dinners
- Toronto Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel (Moderate Deluxe)
- Jasper Chateau Jasper (First-Class)
- Banff Banff Park Lodge (First-Class)
- Kamloops South Thompson Inn Guest Ranch & Conference Centre (Superior First-Class)
- Victoria Inn at Laurel Point (First-Class)
- Vancouver The Listel Hotel Vancouver (Superior First-Class)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
- Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favourable weather and/or river conditions. Favourable conditions usually exist from May to mid-October. When weather is unfavourable, a walking tour through the scenic tunnels will be substituted.
- Due to the frequent use of this railroad for other services, delays may occur during the journey.
- Aboard the train, one guest will be required to climb a ladder to reach the upper berth in a double cabin.
- Visiting and participating in activities in this region may be subject to favourable weather conditions.
- At least one member of the travelling party must be 21 years of age or older.
Globus includes all must-see sites, with special VIP access that lets you skip to the front of the queue. Read more
Globus has the recipe for a great holiday. Savour the flavours of Canada & Alaska through its regional cuisine. Read more
Travel with expert Tour Directors and Local Guides who share their vast knowledge of Canada & Alaska. Read more
Globus' selection of hotels in unforgettable places ensure you stay right in the heart of each destination. Read more
Globus' coaches offer one of the most comfortable, stress-free and eco-friendly ways to travel. Read more
Do as the locals do and enjoy unique experiences that you wouldn't find touring on your own. Read more
Trip Reviews (1) Most Recent 'Great Canadian Rail Journey' Reviews
Brochure
Globus Worldwide (2023-24)
Availability
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Globus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Globus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
