Toronto, VIA Rail Sleeper Touring Class (Toronto/Jasper/Vancouver)
Jasper, Vancouver
Departs on Monday and Wednesday

Welcome to Toronto, the starting point for your rail journey across Canada. Your package includes a transfer from the airport to your hotel. Our choice of the Fairmont Royal York puts you into one of Toronto’s most popular historic hotels. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Royal York opened in 1929, introducing visitors to the largest hotel in Canada and the tallest in the British Empire! The hotel has so many pleasing features, that you can amuse yourself without ever leaving the hotel. Enjoy the elegance of their gracious lobby, their beautiful pool and spa, delicious dining, and unique shops. However, do plan to go outside and explore the many famous sights and attractions only minutes from the hotel.
Overnight – Fairmont Royal York

Your train departs later this evening so you have all day to enjoy this cosmopolitan city. We have included a city tour that allows you to hop on and off at various attractions throughout the city. This will allow you to pick and choose what interests you the most. This evening we have included dinner at Joe Badali’s restaurant (fixed menu). The restaurant is close to the hotel and train station making it a perfect place to have a wonderful meal between the city tour and boarding the train. The train is scheduled to depart at 10:00pm.

Plan to be at the rail station one hour prior to boarding. The rail station is just across the street from the Fairmont Royal York. If you need assistance with your luggage, let the bell desk know that you will be departing on VIA Rail’s Canadian in Sleeper Touring Class. VIA Rail has a special check in area for Sleeper Touring Class passengers. Here you can present your tickets to the VIA staff and check the luggage that you want to travel in the baggage compartment.

Nothing shows you Canada like a trip on the train. Your bedroom is VIA Rail’s “top of the line” accommodations. Your sitting room by day converts to upper and lower berths at night. Once aboard the train, the staff will see that you are settled into your room. As a Sleeper Touring Class passenger, your fare includes all meals, use of any of the lounges and access to the domed skyline care for spectacular viewing. The VIA Rail staff will brief you on the dining schedule. Seating in the domed skyline cars is on a first come, first served basis. Hot tea and coffee is available in the lounge area throughout the day and evening.

Overnight – VIA Rail Sleeper Car

As you travel east to west, you will travel through five of Canada’s provinces. Starting in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, the train heads north through the Canadian Shield. This region of billion-year-old rock lies between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay. Here, ancient glaciers scoured thousands of lakes and filled them with remarkably clear water. On their rocky shores, outcroppings of granite, pink, grey, and black form rounded boulders that breathtakingly tower over the tracks. As you pass through this area of forests, lakes, and streams it is not unusual to see bear or moose. As the train crosses into Manitoba, you enter a land of forests and lakes. Many of the 200 lakes were formed by meteor craters. This wealth of trees and water make Winnipeg, located at the junction of the Red, Assiniboine, and Seine Rivers the capitol of Canada’s fur trade. Saskatchewan shows you the unique beauty of the prairie lands.
Overnights – VIA Rail

Cross into Alberta heading towards Edmonton, home of the world famous West Edmonton Mall. Midway between Edmonton and Jasper you have your first view of the Rockies and the promise of what is yet to come. The staff of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge will meet you at the train station welcoming you to Jasper and transfer you to the Lodge. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is wilderness luxury at its finest. The lodge overlooks Lac Beauvert and is dwarfed by Mt. Edith Cavell in the distance. There are many options here: canoeing, hiking, golfing, horseback riding, or spa treatments just to name a few.
Overnight – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Today we have confirmed the Discover Jasper tour for you. After picking you up at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge you will be given a tour of the surrounding area with narration about the beauty and history of the largest and most northern of the mountain parks. You will visit natural attractions such as: Maligne Canyon, Medicine and Maligne Lakes. You will also learn about the mystery of the disappearing lake. This tour also gives a fabulous opportunity to see wildlife in their natural surroundings. (From June 5 – September 27 an optional cruise on Maligne Lake is available at an additional cost. Ask our staff regarding this option.)
Overnight – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

You have the morning to relax and enjoy the beauty of Jasper. Your train departs this afternoon and we have arranged for the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge to take you to the station. Your VIA Rail attendant will see that you are settled into your room for your continuation of your trip overnight by train to Vancouver. This is an excellent time to get a seat in the domed viewing car. The scenery out of Jasper is breathtaking as you continue through what is considered the jewel in the crown of this wonderful rail trip, the Canadian Rockies. As you continue west the train crosses into British Columbia and the Rockies give way to fertile fields and eventually to the Pacific Ocean where Vancouver is perched.
Overnight – VIA Rail

You are scheduled to arrive into Vancouver at 9:30am. Transportation from the rail station in Vancouver to the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel is included. The Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside is a beautiful hotel centrally located in the heart of Vancouver. Due to your early arrival, your room may not be available for check in, so leave your bags at the hotel and set out to explore Vancouver. Visit Gastown, a lovely 19th century restoration offering a selection of excellent restaurants and shops. Other places to visit while in Vancouver are: Stanley Park, the Aquarium, Granville Island, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, colorful Chinatown, BC Place, the Sunken Gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory.
Overnight – Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel

Enclosed with your travel documents is a transfer voucher from your hotel to the airport. The staff of the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel will direct you to your pick up point. We hope you enjoyed your visit to Canada, and that it will be one of many return trips.