It’s All About The Trains

12 Days & 11 Nights

12 Days & 11 Nights

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12 days & 11 nights

Day 1 – Arrive Toronto

Welcome to Toronto – “A World Within A City”. Your package provides a voucher for the airport shuttle bus. The bus will take you to your hotel. Our choice of the Fairmont Royal York puts you in the heart of Toronto and 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 enjoy 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 – Toronto

Day 2 – Toronto Sightseeing/VIA Rail Toronto to Jasper

With VIA Rail's schedule, you have all day to enjoy this cosmopolitan city. Plan to have dinner before the train departs at 10:00pm at a nearby restaurant. 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” accommodation. 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 Silver & Blue Class passenger, your fare includes all meals, use of any of the lounges and access to the domed skyline car 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 are available in the lounge area throughout the day and evening. Overnight – VIA Rail Sleeper Car

Days 3 & 4 – VIA Enroute to Jasper

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

Day 5 – Arrive Jasper

You will arrive into Jasper at 1:00PM. The long summer days will give you time to explore Jasper and enjoy the mountain scenery. Transportation to either the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Sawridge Inn is included. The Fairmont Park Lodge is a resort unto itself; in the middle of the wilderness. The Sawridge Inn is located in the town of Jasper, convenient to the rail station and shopping. Overnight – Jasper

Day 6 – Discover Jasper Tour

Jasper, fascinating in beauty and history, is set amid some of the most rugged peaks in the Rockies. This four hour excursion encompasses the area’s outstanding features – Medicine Lake and Maligne Canyon. The canyon has a narrow gorge and limestone walls falling 50 metres to the floor below. From June 5 thru Sep 27, we highly recommend that you add the Maligne Lake Cruise. Overnight – Jasper

Day 7 - Jasper/Columbia Icefields tour

Today's excursion follows the famous Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield Centre. You will view scenic rocky mountain vistas and local wildlife along the way, with a photo stop at Athabasca Falls and Stutfield Glacier. Upon arrival at the Columbia Icefield, you will ride an Ice Explorer onto the glacier. You will also have time to visit the gift shops or museum before your return back to Jasper.
Overnight - Jasper

Day 8 – Jasper to Quesnel

Rocky Mountaineer’s Jasper to Quesnel route is a two-day, breathtaking journey through the diverse beauty of Canada’s West. Your train departs at 7:10AM, as you begin to travel through Yellowhead pass continuing to Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Entering the Rocky Mountain Trench, you are surrounded by the steeply-rising Rocky Mountains to the north and the Cariboo Mountains to the south. Travel through the forests of British Columbia into Prince George and then follow the Fraser River into Quesnel, known for its gold mining. Scheduled arrival time is 6:30PM, and you will be taken to your hotel from the station. Overnight – Quesnel

Day 9 – Quesnel to Whistler

All aboard at 7:10AM for day two of your journey! Following the Fraser River out of town, your highlights include: Deep Creek Bridge – one of the highest railway bridges in the world, sweeping views of Fraser Canyon, glacial-fed Seton Lake, and the shorelines of Anderson Lake. You will pass through the rolling hills and vast ranchlands of the Cariboo Plateau, the desert-like conditions of Fraser Canyon, and the lush farmland of the Pemberton Valley all before your scheduled arrival into Whistler at 7:30PM. You will need to take a quick taxi to either the Fairmont Chateau Whistler or the Hilton Whistler Resort. The elegant Fairmont Chateau Whistler sits at the base of Blackcomb Mountain and the Hilton Whistler Resort is nestled in the village at the base of Whistler Mountain. Both hotels offer incredible views. Overnight – Whistler

Day 10 – Whistler to Vancouver

Your morning is free to take in the quaint village and the beauty of the area before departing Whistler. The Sea to Sky train departs at 2:30PM for the scenic train trip to North Vancouver. Cross over the pinnacle of Brandywine Falls before descending a steep grade through the Cheakamus Canyon, where the river below tumbles to a craggy gorge. Pass through the town of Squamish, BC, home to the West Coast Rail Association and the Royal Hudson steam train, and look out for the spectacular dome peak of Mount Garibaldi, rising 2,678 meters (8787 feet). Continuing south, pass the impressive cascade of Shannon Falls, as the train hugs the eastern shores of Howe Sound with the British Columbia Coast Mountains rising sharply to the left and stunning views of ocean and mountain to the right. As you approach the end of the rail tour, you will enjoy views of downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park from the scenic waterfront of West Vancouver’s exclusive residential area, before passing under the Lions Gate Bridge and arriving at North Vancouver Rail Station. You will be transferred to your choice of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside, or the Marriott Pinnacle. The beautiful Fairmont Hotel Vancouver puts you right in center of the city, with everything right at your doorstep. The Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside and the Marriott Pinnacle are lovely hotels, centrally located in the heart of Vancouver. Overnight - Vancouver

Day 11 – Vancouver

Your hop on/off trolley tour gives you a wonderful overview of Vancouver and allows you to make stops along the way at your leisure. 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 – Vancouver

Day 12 – Vancouver Home

Enclosed with your travel documents is a transfer voucher from your hotel to the airport. The staff of your 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. Thank you for choosing Cartan Tours!

 

12 days & 11 nights

• Package starts on select Wednesdays
• A senior discount is available if you are 60+
• Rates are in US Dollars, per person, double occupancy
• Airfare from most US cities is available, please ask our staff for assistance

Staying at - Fairmont Royal York, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Goldleaf Service/Glacier Dome aboard Rocky Mountaineer

May 5, 12, 19, 2010	$4,999
May 26, 2010	$5,349
June 2 & 16, 2010	$6,189
June 30 - September 8, 2010	$6,329

A baggage & housekeeping charge of $40 per person must be added to the rates shown above.

 

Staying at - Fairmont Royal York, Sawridge Inn, Hilton Whistler, Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside/Marriott Pinnacle, RedLeaf Service/Classic Coach aboard Rocky Mountaineer

Selected Dates	Land Only
May 5, 12, 19, 2010	$3,539
May 26, 2010	$3,759
June 2, 2010	$4,389
June 16 & 29, 2010	$4,439
July 7, 14, 21, August 4, 11, 25, 2010	$4,559
September 1 & 8, 2010	$4,589

A baggage & housekeeping charge of $20 per person must be added to the rates shown above.