Great Canadian Rail Journey
Great Canadian Rail Journey
Great Canadian Rail Journey
14 Days Starting in Toronto, Canada and ending in Vancouver, Canada
Visiting: Toronto, Niagara Falls, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Jasper, Banff, Kamloops, Victoria, Vancouver
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CZ-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
0-0
Special diets catered:
Please Advise Request
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the Great Canadian Rail Journey, an unforgettable adventure through the heart of Canada. Experience the majestic beauty of Niagara Falls on a thrilling sightseeing cruise, traverse the stunning landscapes of Jasper National Park on the Icefields Parkway, and ride the Ice Explorer on Athabasca Glacier. Enjoy scenic cruises to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake and explore the enchanting Butchart Gardens. This tour includes guided sightseeing in Toronto, Jasper, Banff, Kamloops, Victoria, and Vancouver, with comfortable accommodations and delicious meals throughout. Travel by coach and VIA Rail’s premier transcontinental train, The Canadian, and take a BC Ferry ride through the picturesque Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Toronto,Ontario
Location: Toronto
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.ARRIVE IN TORONTO, ONTARIO Welcome to Toronto! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
Day 2: Toronto. Excursion To Niagara Falls
Location: Niagara Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
TORONTO. EXCURSION TO NIAGARA FALLS 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.
Day 3: Toronto,Via Rail The Canadian,Ontario
Location: Toronto
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
TORONTO–VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN–ONTARIO All Aboard in Toronto! After breakfast, head to Union Station for departure on the Canadian, VIA Rail’s premier transcontinental train. (B,L,D) 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.
Day 4: Via Rail The Canadian,Ontario,Winnipeg,Manitoba
Location: Winnipeg
Accommodation Name: Rail train
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN–ONTARIO–WINNIPEG, MANITOBA Riding the Rails Your exciting travel on the VIA Rail train continues through Ontario and Manitoba. (B,L,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTEPIC 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.
Day 5: Via Rail The Canadian,Manitoba & Saskatchewan
Location: Saskatchewan
Accommodation Name: Rail train
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN–MANITOBA & SASKATCHEWAN Spectacular Saskatchewan Continue through the picturesque prairies and winding rivers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. (B,L,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTSCENIC 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.
Day 6: Via Rail The Canadian,Saskatchewan,Jasper,Alberta
Location: Jasper
Accommodation Name: Rail train
Meals Included: Breakfast
VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN–SASKATCHEWAN–JASPER, ALBERTA 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)ENHANCED FREE TIME 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.
Day 7: Jasper. Excursion To Maligne Lake
Location: Jasper
Accommodation Name: Chateau Jasper
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
JASPER. EXCURSION TO MALIGNE LAKE 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 HIGHLIGHTNATURAL 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.
Day 8: Jasper,Columbia Icefield,Lake Louise,Banff
Location: Banff
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Banff Park Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
JASPER–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–LAKE LOUISE–BANFF 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. Climb Sunwapta Pass to savor 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.
Day 9: Banff
Location: Banff
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Banff Park Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast
BANFF 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!
Day 10: Banff,Kamloops
Location: Kamloops
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: South Thompson Inn Guest Ranch & Conference Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
BANFF–KAMLOOPS 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 at the South Thompson Inn in Kamloops. Tonight, enjoy a [LF] riverside BBQ with S’mores. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITE 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.
Day 11: Kamloops,Victoria
Location: Victoria
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Inn At Laurel Point
Meals Included: Breakfast
KAMLOOPS–VICTORIA British Columbia Treasures Continue west and catch a BC Ferry to Vancouver Island. A city 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 harbor 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.
Day 12: Victoria
Location: Victoria
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Inn At Laurel Point
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
VICTORIA The Grandest of Gardens The morning and afternoon are 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 [LF] Butchart Gardens, followed by a special farewell dinner in the original, now restored, greenhouse. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITE 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.
Day 13: Victoria,Vancouver
Location: Vancouver
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Listel Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
VICTORIA–VANCOUVER 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. 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 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.
Day 14: Vancouver
Location: Vancouver
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.VANCOUVER Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
What's Included
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Accommodations
Stay in comfortable hotels throughout the journey, including Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Chateau Jasper, Banff Park Lodge, South Thompson Inn Guest Ranch & Conference Centre, Inn at Laurel Point, and The Listel Hotel Vancouver.
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Meals
Enjoy breakfast daily, 4 lunches, and 7 dinners, including special dinners and a riverside BBQ with S'mores.
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Transportation
Travel by coach and experience a scenic train ride on VIA Rail's premier transcontinental train, The Canadian, with accommodations provided.
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Sightseeing and Excursions
Guided sightseeing tours in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Jasper, Banff, Kamloops, Victoria, and Vancouver, including visits to major attractions and parks.
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Special Experiences
Enjoy a Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise, an Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier, a scenic cruise to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, and a visit to Butchart Gardens.
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Ferry Rides
Take the BC Ferry through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island and enjoy the scenic views.
What's Not Included
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers to ensure protection against unforeseen events.
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Airport Transfers
Airport transfers on arrival and departure days are not included unless specified.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, mini-bar, room service, and other discretionary spending are not included.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities and excursions not listed in the itinerary are available at an additional cost.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for tour director, drivers, and local guides are not included and are at your discretion.
Meals
Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 7 dinners
Notes
Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions. Favorable conditions usually exist from May to mid-October. When weather is unfavorable, 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.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 favorable weather conditions.
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select North America dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
UNESCO Sites
Banff National Park|Jasper National Park|Yoho National Park
Accommodation
Stay in comfortable hotels throughout the journey, including Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Chateau Jasper, Banff Park Lodge, South Thompson Inn Guest Ranch & Conference Centre, Inn at Laurel Point, and The Listel Hotel Vancouver.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodations are provided during the Great Canadian Rail Journey?
The tour includes stays in comfortable hotels such as Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Chateau Jasper, Banff Park Lodge, South Thompson Inn Guest Ranch & Conference Centre, Inn at Laurel Point, and The Listel Hotel Vancouver. Additionally, accommodations are provided on VIA Rail's premier transcontinental train, The Canadian.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour package includes breakfast daily, 4 lunches, and 7 dinners. Special dinners and a riverside BBQ with S'mores are also part of the package.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
Transportation includes travel by coach and a scenic train ride on VIA Rail's premier transcontinental train, The Canadian. Additionally, there are ferry rides, including a BC Ferry ride through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island.
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What special experiences are included in the tour?
Special experiences include a Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise, an Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier, a scenic cruise to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, and a visit to Butchart Gardens.
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Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional activities and excursions available at an additional cost. For example, on Day 9 in Banff, you can consider an optional flightseeing trip for a bird’s-eye view of the Rockies.
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What should I know about the train accommodations on VIA Rail's The Canadian?
During the day, your cabin for two offers armchairs, a toilet, and a picture window. By night, it transforms into upper and lower beds, with one guest required to climb a ladder to reach the upper berth. Single passengers have a cabin with couch-style seating, a toilet, and a sink, which transforms into a pull-down bed at night. Public restrooms are available on each coach. Train travel is subject to unforeseen delays.
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What are the highlights of the guided sightseeing tours included in the package?
Guided sightseeing tours are included in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Jasper, Banff, Kamloops, Victoria, and Vancouver. These tours cover major attractions and parks, such as Bow River and Falls in Banff, and the gardens of Beacon Hill Park in Victoria.
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Is travel insurance included in the tour package?
No, travel insurance is not included in the tour package. It is recommended for all travelers to ensure protection against unforeseen events.
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Are airport transfers included in the tour package?
Airport transfers on arrival and departure days are not included unless specified.
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What personal expenses are not covered by the tour package?
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, mini-bar, room service, and other discretionary spending are not included in the tour package.
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Are gratuities included in the tour package?
No, gratuities for the tour director, drivers, and local guides are not included and are at your discretion.
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What should I know about the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise?
The operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions, which usually exist from May to mid-October. When weather is unfavorable, a walking tour through the scenic tunnels will be substituted.
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What is the Small-Group Discovery option?
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select North America dates, limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. This option includes all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, with extra space between travelers and a focus on health and safety.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Globus requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of globus charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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