Ontario Holidays
Sample itineraries
Trans Canada by Rail
From £2669
This rail journey invites you to travel in luxury from Toronto’s urban excitement, through a spellbinding diversity of landscapes to Vancouver, a metropolitan gem on the Pacific coast. Explore cosmopolitan Toronto before boarding VIA Rail’s famous "Canadian" travelling west through the lake regions of Manitoba and the grain fields of Saskatchewan. Once in Alberta, you will embark on a tour of the Canadian Rockies, culminating in a visit to the Columbia Icefield. Your journey continues as you board the Rocky Mountaineer and enjoy daylight train travel through some of the most spectacular areas in Western Canada en route to Vancouver. Sightseeing tours of Toronto and Vancouver, as well as day trips to Niagara Falls and Victoria are sure to enhance your experience.
Holiday cost includes:
- Transatlantic flights from UK to Toronto and return from Vancouver
- All airport taxes
- Provincial taxes and federal GST
- Deluxe accommodation for 14 nights.
- Toronto to Jasper rail transfer on VIA Rail's "The Canadian" with Section class accommodation.*
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners on board Via Rail.
- 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 0 dinners on board the Rocky Mountaineer.
- Icefields Parkway to Banff sightseeing transfer, including Ice Explorer ride.
- 2 hour sightseeing tour of Toronto.
- 3 hour sightseeing tour of Banff.
- Full-day sightseeing tour of Niagara Falls, including lunch and Maid of the Mist.**
- Full-day sightseeing tour of Victoria, including Butchart Gardens visit.
- Transfer from Lake Louise to Banff.
- Transfer from train station to Fairmont Hotel, Jasper
- Vancouver Hop-on/ Hop-off trolley tour.
- Banff / Kamloops / Vancouver rail passage on the Rocky Mountaineer (RedLeaf Service).
- Transfers to and from Kamloops train station.
- Transfers to and from airport and / or train stations in Toronto, Jasper, Banff and Vancouver.
"Section" class accommodation with VIA Rail comprises of comfortable bunk style beds with privacy curtain.
(FC/Jonview)
Prices are based on off-season travel. Please call or email for costs for your preferred date of travel.
Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver via Kamloops-Goldleaf Service Upgrade
The onboard staff provide you with the highest level of service. They are gracious, energetic, pleasant and attentive, and will keep you informed of the history and sights along the way.
You will
enjoy fine cuisine amidst the elegant ambience of the GoldLeaf dining
lounge. You won't be able to resist the Chef's creations which feature
local delicacies such as BC salmon, accompanied by fresh fruit and
vegetables.
Departure Dates
Thursdays and Sundays
May 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
June 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24
July 1, 4, 8, 15, 18, 22, 29
August 1, 5, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
September 2, 5, 9, 23
VIA Rail "The Canadian" Bedroom/Roomette Upgrade
Supplement
May 2 - 27 £169 per Adult
May 30 - Sep 23 £265 per Adult
Day 1 Toronto
Arrive at Toronto’s International Airport and transfer independently to your
downtown hotel. Pick up your information kit at the front desk upon check-in.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Canada’s commercial and
cultural centre. Overnight in Toronto.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Royal York or similar
Day 2 Toronto
Discover the many identities of this cosmopolitan city on a sightseeing tour
of Toronto. Highlights include the provincial Parliament Buildings, City Hall,
the financial district, Chinatown, residential areas, the waterfront and the CN
Tower. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration, shopping or
simple relaxation. Overnight in Toronto.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Royal York or similar
Day 3 Toronto
Enjoy a full-day excursion to Niagara Falls. The route travels through the lush fruit-growing district of the Niagara Peninsula to the spectacle of Niagara Falls. Board the Maid of the Mist for a spectacular boat trip to the foot of the Horseshoe Falls. Ample time will be spent at the falls to give you every opportunity to take pictures and admire the thundering waters. Highlights include a lunch and a trip along the beautiful Niagara Parkway which winds its way along the Niagara Gorge. Pass through the historic community of Niagara-on-the-Lake before returning to Toronto. Transfer independently to Union station to board VIA Rail's The Canadian en route to western Canada. Overnight on board VIA Rail’s The Canadian. Lunch included.
Day 4 - 5 Winnipeg
Travelling north of the Great Lakes, view the rugged terrain of the Canadian Shield, some of North America’s oldest rock formations. Rich in minerals and forests, the region is dotted with thousands of freshwater lakes. By early evening, the train crosses the border into the province of Manitoba and stops briefly in the capital, Winnipeg. Overnights on board VIA Rail’s The Canadian. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners included.
Day 6 Jasper
By early morning, you will have crossed the vast expanses of prairie flatland
in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and will be approaching the imposing silhouette of
the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy the spectacle of nature as the train enters Jasper
National Park. Overnight in Jasper. Breakfast and lunch included.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or similar
Day 7 Jasper
You have a full day to relax and tour Jasper and the surrounding area. Enjoy
a ride on the Jasper Tramway or visit Miette Hot Springs. Take in the
breathtaking panorama of Jasper National Park’s serene lakes and gentle meadows
standing in stark contrast to its jagged peaks and spectacular glaciers.
Overnight in Jasper.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or similar
Day 8 Lake Louise
Today will be an unforgettable journey as you depart Jasper on your transfer
along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic roads in all of Canada.
Every turn unveils spectacular vistas of magnificent peaks, outstretched
valleys, cascading waterfalls and mountain meadows alive with colour. At the
Columbia Icefield, ride in a Ice Explorer to explore the Athabasca Glacier (ride
included). Continuing just beyond edge of the glacial shelf, you arrive at Lake
Louise – a verdant shimmering lake reflecting the majesty of the Victoria
Glacier. Overnight in Lake Louise.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or similar
Day 9 Banff
Take some time in the morning to explore the village of Lake Louise - a picturesque gateway to the mountain areas of Banff National Park, its small train station made famous in the film Dr. Zhivago. Today you will be transferred through the winding roads of Banff National Park to arrive at the Banff town site. Wildlife meander through the green spaces creating truly unique photo opportunities. Boutiques, confectioners and eateries line the quaint boulevards, adding to the charm of this picturesque alpine town. Overnight in Banff.
Deluxe hotel: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel or similar
Day 10 Banff
This morning, discover the town of Banff and its natural surroundings on a
comprehensive sightseeing tour. The tour will show you some of Banff National
Park’s many highlights, including the Hoodoos, curiously shaped by centuries of
erosion, Surprise Corner and Tunnel Mountain Drive, overlooking the beautiful
scenery of the Bow River Valley. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Banff.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel or similar
Day 11 Kamloops
Today you board the Rocky Mountaineer heading west to the Pacific Coast. This
unique daylight service allows you to view some of the most spectacular sights
in western Canada. The route departs the Rockies through Kicking Horse Pass,
then climbs into the Selkirk Mountains following Rogers Pass. By late afternoon,
you are in the arid ranchland of interior British Columbia, where you disembark
for the night. Overnight in Kamloops. Breakfast and lunch included.
Deluxe Hotel: Thompson Hotel or similar
Day 12 Vancouver
Today your spectacular daylight rail excursion to Vancouver continues. The
journey leads through the "cowboy country" ranchland of the British Columbia
interior and along the mighty Thompson and Fraser rivers. Rugged mountain peaks
and rolling, wind-swept hills will define the horizon as you traverse the
interior and approach the Coastal Mountains surrounding Vancouver. Upon arrival
in Vancouver, transfer independently to your hotel. Overnight in Vancouver.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or similar
Day 13 Vancouver
Discover Vancouver on a hop-on hop-off trolley tour, taking in the sights of
historic Gastown, English Bay, Granville Island, the colourful totem poles of
scenic Stanley Park and much more. Overnight in Vancouver.
Deluxe Hotel: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or similar
Day 14 Vancouver
This full-day trip to Victoria begins with a cruise through the scenic Gulf
Islands and includes a visit to the acclaimed Butchart Gardens. Afterwards
continue to Victoria for a city sightseeing tour that encompasses Victoria’s
stately homes and gardens as well as historic landmarks. You will see the
University of Victoria and Beacon Hill Park and pass the Royal British Columbia
Museum, Thunderbird Park, the Parliament Buildings and the exclusive homes of
the Uplands and Oak Bay. You will return to Vancouver in the early evening.
Overnight in Vancouver.
Day 15 Vancouver
Individual transfer to Vancouver International Airport in time to check in for your return flight.
