Compare Canadian Rail Adventure from Vancouver by Brewster Travel Canada vs Canada (Western): See & Experience it ALL in 10 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler

Day 1 – Vancouver Arrival
Welcome to the beautiful city of Vancouver, situated on the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, and backed by the spectacular Coast Mountain range. The day is yours to explore the many highlights of downtown. For locally crafted food, art and clothing, visit the Granville Island Market. Stroll through historic Gastown, or take a walk along the seawall. A visit to FlyOver Canada provides a great introduction to Canada’s diverse geography and scenic wonders from coast to coast.

Day 2 – Vancouver to Kamloops
All aboard the Rocky Mountaineer sightseeing train headed east towards Kamloops. View the dynamic landscapes of British Columbia as the train traverses through desert hills, ranchlands, lush river valleys, and mountains. Arrive in Kamloops, situated in the beautiful Thompson River Valley, for an overnight stay.

Day 3 – Kamloops to Banff
Enjoy a second day on the Rocky Mountaineer train, bound for Banff National Park. Travel through the rugged wilderness of Roger’s Pass, wind through the Spiral Tunnels, and climb and descend the Continental Divide. Pass the towering peak of Mount Temple, and follow the Bow River to the town of Banff. Enjoy an evening of relaxation in this charming alpine resort.

Day 4 – Banff
Spend the morning visiting Banff’s local points of interest. Visit scenic highlights including Bow Falls, Two Jack Lake, and Surprise Corner. Learn the historical significance of Hoodoo rock formations overlooking the Bow Valley. At Banff Gondola, ascend to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding peaks and the Banff town site far below. Stand on the shores of Lake Minnewanka and look out over the vast waters surrounded by impressive mountain peaks. Spend a leisurely night in Banff.

Day 5 – Banff to Lake Louise
Explore the wonders of Lake Louise and Yoho National Park during this full-day sightseeing tour. Walk along the deep walls of Johnston Canyon, and duck through a cave to view a waterfall that plummets into the canyon. Photograph the emerald waters of Lake Louise backed by Mount Victoria and the Victoria Glacier. Stand in awe of Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s highest waterfalls. Enjoy the serene setting of Moraine Lake and Emerald Lake. Enjoy a quiet evening in the wilderness setting of Lake Louise.

Day 6 – Lake Louise to Jasper
An epic day of sights and photo opportunities begins with the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Travel through mountain corridors surrounded by rocky peaks, sparkling streams, and hanging glaciers. Step out onto the Athabasca Glacier and enjoy an interpretive journey in an all-terrain Ice Explorer. Gaze out over the Sunwapta Valley from a glass platform suspended high above the valley floor at the Glacier Skywalk. Continue along the Icefields Parkway with a final photo stop at Athabasca Falls. Arrive in the resort town of Jasper for an evening at leisure. This mountain town is full of character and colourful local mountaineers and skiers.

Day 7 – VIA Rail to Toronto
Board a VIA Rail train and resume your journey east towards Toronto, with many amenities onboard to make you feel at home. The panorama viewing car offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, the lounge car offers tasty beverages and socializing, and the dining car serves up first-class cuisine for every meal. Overnight aboard the train.

Day 8 & 9 – VIA Rail to Toronto
Continue your journey aboard VIA Rail towards Ontario, and the culturally rich city of Toronto. Travel through the Great Central Plains of Canada to the rugged forests and freshwater lakes of the Canadian Shield. All meals are served aboard the train each day.

Day 10 – Toronto Arrival
Arrive at Union Station in downtown Toronto, and enjoy an evening in this metropolitan city. The downtown core offers a variety of interesting cultural venues and districts to explore from the Distillery District, to Little Italy, to the quirky Kensington Market neighborhood.

Day 11 – Niagara Falls Day Trip
Spend a day exploring the Niagara Falls region. Travel through the orchards of the Niagara Peninsula to the city of Niagara Falls. One of the wonders of the world, Niagara Falls is a large, horseshoe-shaped falls with the highest flow rate in the world. Enjoy a lunch buffet overlooking the falls, and a trip along the scenic River Road. Take a Hornblower Cruise to the centre of the action, and stand on a boat deck at the base of the falls. Travel through the peaceful Niagara-on-the-Lake region during the return trip to Toronto.

Day 12 – Toronto Departure
A morning checkout from your downtown hotel concludes this memorable rail adventure.
The Canadian Rail Adventure package is also available starting from Toronto.

Day 1: Welcome to the Rocky Mountains

Through the city of Edmonton, we reach our first destination. This is none other than the resort town of Jasper. It is home to the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Jasper National Park attracts those seeking vast wilderness, majestic peaks and lots of wildlife.

Note that if you cannot arrive at the Edmonton Airport by 2:00pm, you will need a ‘pre-tour’ day. You would sleep in Downtown Edmonton for that evening and would start our tour the following day. We would make all arrangements for you in the event you need to sleep in Edmonton.

Day 2: A Fantasy Boat Ride & Abundant Wildlife

As a daytrip from Jasper, we visit Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake as well as do a boat cruise from Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. Maligne Canyon contains waterfalls, underground stream outlets, birds and plant life. Wildlife is surprisingly abundant along Medicine Lake. Grizzly bear, black bear, mule deer, wolves, moose, mountain sheep and bald eagles are some of the animals which frequent the lake area during the summer season. The lake cruise is scenic and is arguably the highlight of the day.

Day 3: A Monster Bus on a Glacier & One of the Most Scenic Drives on Earth

Although we are relocating from Jasper to the resort town of Banff, a lot of important stops are made along the way: Athabasca Falls, Columbia Icefield (ride on the actual glacier with a specially designed, stretched out monster bus!), Weeping Wall Waterfalls, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier and Peyto Lake. Today is best described as one of the most scenic drives on Earth! Note that lunch is included on today’s tour.

Day 4: A Pilot’s View of Paradise & a Canyon Deservedly Displayed on Postcards

As a daytrip from Banff, our morning starts with a visit to the town of Canmore. It is from there we take a helicopter ride. The mountainous scenery is like no other. In the latter part of the day, after returning to Banff, we visit the nearby Johnston Canyon. Limestone rock eroding over thousands of years led to a picture-perfect creation combining sheer canyon walls, waterfalls, tunnels and natural pools.

Day 5: Instagram-Famous Photo Stops, a Lake Cruise & Thundering Waterfalls

As another daytrip from Banff, today we visit Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, Hoodoos Viewpoint, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. We also go on an enjoyable boat cruise at Lake Minnewanka. The evening ends with a ride on Banff Gondola. We ascend Sulphur Mountain (2,281 meters or 7,484 feet) and then follow the well-designed skywalk.

Day 6: The Ultimate Seaplane Tour & an Ice Bar

After relocating by both land and air from Banff to the resort town of Whistler, we go on a seaplane ride: rugged peaks, majestic glaciers, lush alpine meadows and turquoise glacial waters. After this flightseeing tour, we return to town. Over two million people visit Whistler annually. Its pedestrian village has won numerous design awards. Whistler has been voted among the top destinations in North America by major magazines since the mid-1990s.

We encourage you to end the day with a visit to the town’s most famous ice bar. It is fascinating even to those who do not drink.

Day 7: The Outdoor Adventurist’s Favorite Day of All

As excursions from Whistler, we go off-roading, whitewater rafting and ziplining. These are three of the very most popular activities in Whistler…and we are doing them all in one day! Even if we ignore the thrill aspect, the nature we see today gives enough reason why not to miss out.

Day 8: Walking a Suspension Bridge, Touching Peak to Peak by Cable Car & Nightlife

Before relocating by land to the city of Vancouver, we go on the so-called ‘Peak 2 Peak’ Gondola. Until 2017, it held the world record for the longest free span between ropeway towers. Adding to the overall experience is the ski lift ride and a 425-foot suspension bridge called Cloudraker Skybridge.

Once in Vancouver, we head to another suspension bridge. It is called Capilano. It is 140 meters (460 feet) long and 70 meters (230 feet) above the river. Capilano draws over 1.2 million visitors per year. We recommend you end your evening in Downtown Vancouver, specifically in an area called Gastown. There you will find lots of restaurants, galleries, shops and places to party.

Day 9: Whales, Islands, Beaches & a Food Market

Before making a daytrip by seaplane to the village of Tofino, we visit Vancouver’s most famous public market. It is located on Granville Island. Established in 1979, Granville Island Public Market is located in an enclosed facility where customers can purchase fresh produce, meat, seafood, cheeses and other products, many of which are locally sourced. There are approximately 50 vendors in the market, some of which are food vendors. They sell a range of items from Mexican, Asian, Greek and deli food to candy and snacks. The market attracts both local residents and tourists.

The seaplane ride between Vancouver and Tofino is quite scenic. On a clear day, we can see whales as well as Clayoquot Sound. This is a body of water with many inlets and islands. While in Tofino, we have time to walk around town. A visit to Chesterman Beach is recommended for those who wish to swim.

Day 10: Our Tour Ends This Morning

Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport or port in Vancouver.