Compare Discover the Canadian Rockies - Eastbound by G Adventures vs Canada's Eastern Cities by Train by Audley Travel

Day 1 Vancouver

Arrive at any time.

Please make your own way to the joining hotel.

If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.

Day 2 Vancouver/Victoria

Head downtown to explore the lush gardens, beaches, woodlands, and miles of trails around Stanley Park, considered one of the world’s greatest city parks. Venture to historic Gastown, and stroll cobblestone streets past Victorian buildings that now house lively restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Then board the scenic ferry to Victoria.

Take a stroll around the city with your CEO to get familiar with your surroundings before you can enjoy the evening on your own.

Day 3 Victoria

Today is free to explore the charming city of Victoria. Wander along the waterfront and choose among an array of optional activities. Discover the stunning floral displays at the famous Butchart Gardens, peruse the Royal British Columbia Museum, or enjoy high tea at a historic hotel. Or opt to cruise the sea in a Zodiac boat in search of gray whales, sea lions, seals, orcas, and other marine creatures.

Day 4 Victoria/Whistler

Catch the ferry back to the mainland and drive the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the village of Whistler, host of some of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Enjoy a G for Good experience at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a showcase for First Nations customs, art, and music. Join an indigenous guide on an interpretive walk through the forest, hear how First Nations people lived off this land, and learn about local flora used for food and medicine. Then take part in a traditional tea ceremony to sample teas and bannock while listening to ancestral stories and legends. Continue to the mountain resort of Whistler, co-host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Day 5 Whistler

Spend today exploring Whistler and the surrounding parks on your own. Stroll through the village, and opt to ride the gondola up the mountain for 360-degree views. Or choose to hike one of the many beautiful trails in the area, go ziplining through the rain forest, or set out on an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip.

Whistler and its surrounding provincial parks are places you must discover. It is also a great place to try one of the many optional mountain activities.

Day 6 Whistler/Blue River

Pass through the Coastal Mountains into the Caribou Mountains on a route once marked by gold prospectors. Sit back and enjoy dramatic changes in your surroundings, the mountains to sweeping grasslands. Enjoy stops at Kamloops Lake, an oasis amid an arid landscape, and the turquoise Seton Lake, a freshwater fjord ringed by towering peaks. Arrive in the small community of Blue River.

Following this extraordinary route, once marked by the gold prospectors, we leave the Coastal Mountain Range and set foot into the arid and dry land of the Thompson Okanagan region. Aboriginal peoples led a semi-nomadic life moving between hunting and fishing grounds in the summer and settling into pit houses for the winter. Europeans came at first for fur trading and later on to establish cattle ranches, farms, and mining operations. The scenery changes dramatically and could even make you feel as if you were in a western movie.

Day 7 Blue River/Jasper National Park

Cross the Rockies into Jasper National Park and follow in the historic path of fur traders on a scenic float trip down the tranquil Athabasca River, encountering a few gentle rapids along the way. Look out for wildlife, which can include bears, moose, eagles, ospreys, and mountain sheep. Later, gaze up at the highest peak, Mount Robson, during a stop at the visitor centre.

Day 8 Jasper National Park

Spend the day at leisure enjoying Jasper’s friendly mountain hospitality. Choose your own adventure among an array of optional activities: Hike to Maligne Canyon, cruise glacially fed Maligne Lake, or rent a bike or canoe to explore on your own. This evening, rejoin your fellow travelers for an unforgettable soak in Miette Hot Springs, where spacious pools of hot mineral springs offer panoramic views of the spectacular Fiddle River Valley.

Jasper's friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful atmosphere, and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable.

Day 9 Jasper National Park/Lake Louise

Pass lush coniferous forests, soaring mountains, turquoise lakes, and epic glaciers as we travel the winding Icefields Parkway—considered one of the world’s most scenic drives—to Bow Lake, stopping along the way to enjoy photo opportunities and wildlife encounters. At the Columbia Icefield, step foot on the lower Athabasca Glacier with an expert guide for a firsthand experience of this active glacial landscape. Continue to magnificent Lake Louise, an alpine lake legendary for its emerald-blue waters.

Along the 300km (186.4 mi) ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, turquoise lakes, high-falling cascades, and humbling glaciers. Numerous stops will be planned along the way for photos, observation, and wildlife encounters.

Day 10 Lake Louise/Banff

Enjoy the morning at Lake Louise, taking in the scenery of the Victoria Glacier. Opt to join a hike to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House, following a forested trail past Mirror Lake and cascading waterfalls to the shores of Lake Agnes, where a remote tea house built in 1901 serves loose-leaf teas and other refreshments. Continue to Banff. Go on a walk back in time through this historic resort town alongside an expert from the Whyte Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the Canadian Rockies. As you explore local landmarks on foot, discover how the construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad served as a stepping stone towards opening up western Canada.

Day 11 Banff/Calgary

Spend the morning in Banff, then drive to Calgary for a day at leisure. Experience the city’s Western spirit at lively honky-tonk bars, go museum-hopping, or opt to visit the Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, where you can luge down the bobsledding track in a wheeled cart or soar through the sky on a zipline.

Famed for its entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population, Calgary prides itself on being the heart of the new west while honouring its cowboy heritage.

Day 12 Calgary

Depart at any time.

If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.

Day 1 : Toronto

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Toronto. On arrival, make your way from the airport to your downtown accommodation - you could get a taxi, ride the Union Pearson Express rail to Union Station or catch a bus. After checking into your hotel, you have the rest of the day to relax or explore Canada's largest city. There are many museums, shops, galleries and restaurants to browse, or you can head to the top of the CN Tower to take photographs over the cityscape.

Day 2 : Toronto

Enjoy a full day soaking up the sights and sounds of Toronto. You could explore the city's array of galleries and museums, or venture into its quirky, eclectic neighbourhoods. If you're a sports fan, we recommend a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame or the Rogers Center, home to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. Alternatively, take a 15 minute ferry ride over to Toronto Island, where parks offer a peaceful place to walk or cycle and you can relax on sandy beaches - and admire the city skyline.

Day 3 : Toronto

Join a full day, small group guided trip to Niagara Falls. The journey takes around two hours, passing the fruit-growing town of St Catherine's and the Niagara Peninsula wine region (you may have the chance to stop at a winery later today for some wine tasting). On arrival at Niagara Falls, you have plenty of time to take in the beauty and power of the cascading water, and an exhilarating boat trip gives you a closer view. After lunch in one of the local restaurants, you're driven along the scenic Niagara Parkway, winding along the Niagara Gorge, before visiting the pretty village of Niagara-on-the-Lake. You may have time to take an optional helicopter flight from here over the falls for superb bird's-eye views.

Day 4 : Ottawa

This morning, make your own way to Union Station, where you board the train from Toronto to Ottawa. The journey takes around four and a half hours; you can admire the view as cut through Ontario's forested interior. A snack and bar service is offered on all of your journeys. On arrival at Ottawa's Tremblar Road Station, take a short taxi tide to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring Canada's capital city. We can book you on a free 20 minute tour of Parliament Hill's government buildings. You'll also find the Peace Tower here - a lift can take you up to the top for sweeping views over the city.

Day 5 : Ottawa

Spend today further exploring the compact city of Ottawa. Many superb parks and gardens, as well as the Rideau Canal, offer a peaceful place to stroll. There are also a variety of museums and galleries to browse, including the Museum of History, which charts 1,000 years of Canadian history through interesting and atmospheric exhibits. We also recommend visiting the Byward Market, where you're spoilt for choice when it comes to cafes and restaurants.

Day 6 : Montréal

Take a taxi to Ottawa's Tremblar Road Station, where you board the train to Montréal. The journey takes around two hours through lush green landscapes. On arrival at Montréal's Central Station, take a taxi to your hotel. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring this cosmopolitan city, which blends French, British and Canadian cultures. You could browse the many chic shops and galleries or take a guided walking tour along the cobbled streets of Old Montréal and the Old Port area to learn about the city's history.

Day 7 : Montréal

The day is yours to explore more of the city. You may wish to take a relaxing bateaux mouche cruise along the St Lawrence River, visit the Planetarium for an insight into astronomy, stroll around the beautiful Botanical Gardens or learn about the environment in the distinctive Biosphere Museum. You could also visit the Museum of Fine Arts or go walking in Parc du Mont Royal for excellent views over the city.

Day 8 : Québec City

Take a taxi to the train station and board the train to Québec City. The journey takes around three and a half hours and you pass some beautiful scenery, including snow-capped mountains and dense evergreen forest. Upon arrival at Québec City's Gare du Palais, take a taxi to your hotel before heading out to take in this historic city's many sights. Enjoy a drink in one of the quaint cafes while soaking up the distinctly European atmosphere, or visit La Citadelle with its old fortified walls.

Day 9 : Québec City

Join a two hour guided, small group walking tour of old Québec. Your guide is an expert on the city's history and gives you a fascinating insight into its past. Highlights include strolling along the Duffering Terrace for views over the surrounding countryside and the St Lawrence River, walking through the Governor's Garden to see the Wolfe-Montcalm monument and learning about the last siege on the city at La Maison du General. After the tour you can spend the rest of the day exploring the city through new eyes, spending more time at its historical sites, enjoying a spot of shopping or tucking into the fine French cuisine served in many of the cafes and restaurants.

Day 10 : International return flight

There may be time this morning for some last minute shopping and sightseeing before taking a taxi to Québec Airport for your onward flight.

Day 11 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.