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Vancouver to Toronto by Rail

Embark upon a once-in-a-lifetime rail odyssey across Canada's five provinces, gliding through rolling prairies, rugged lake country and the snowy peaks of the magnificent Rockies. This five-star journey features hotel stays at luxurious, historic rail properties bookending four amazing days and nights in Prestige Class aboard VIA Rail's The Canadian. This nostalgic rail experience harkens the golden age of train travel.


NOTE: Tour information is current as of 12/10/2024.

Program Highlights

– Unwind and unplug. Enjoy the serenity of traveling by rail with time to truly disconnect from the outside world.

– Relax in comfort. Your private Prestige Class stateroom provides 50% more living space compared to other cabin categories. Features include: a picture window that's 60% larger than standard cabin windows, a leather couch by day that transforms into a comfortable double bed with luxury linens by night, heated floors and walls, private en suite bathroom with shower, and nightly turndown service.

– Embrace the countryside. Crossing five provinces, admire the diverse and picturesque landscapes each creating a colorful changing tapestry day after day.

– Indulge on board. Three-course lunches and dinners are prepared by onboard chefs using a selection of local and regional ingredients. Prestige Class amenities also include priority seating in the dining car, dedicated concierge service and complimentary snacks and beverages in the Park Car 24-hours a day.

– Enjoy the atmosphere. Whether joining an onboard lecture or presentation, gathering for a wine tasting, playing board or card games, or simply watching the outside panoramas pass by, each day offers a variety of optional activities aimed to define the leisurely pace of the journey.

What's Included

  • 1 night at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and 1 night at Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, both famous, luxury Canadian Railway hotels
  • 4 nights accommodations in Prestige Class onboard VIA Rail's The Canadian
  • 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners (snacks and bar orders are included while aboard The Canadian)
  • Special welcome and farewell receptions
  • Admission to all activities and tours as described in the 7-day itinerary
  • Full guiding services of an Orbridge Travel Director
  • Onboard concierge services
  • Private motor coach transportation for the Vancouver sightseeing tour
  • Gratuities for Orbridge Travel Director, drivers, porters, VIA Rail attendants and wait staff for included meals
  • Airport transfers for guests arriving and departing during the suggested times

Itinerary

VIA Rail Canada operates on tracks owned by freight companies, like other passenger railways in North America. While VIA Rail strives for on-time departures and arrivals, increased freight traffic on the railway will often cause delays. These delays could result in delayed departure from Toronto, delayed arrival in to Vancouver, and shortened / limited time off of the train. The majority of your time on this tour will be spent aboard the train. Simply unplug and embrace the journey. Onboard services are guaranteed. Any changes to the schedule will be communicated and updated throughout the journey.

Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Upon arrival to Vancouver International Airport an Orbridge representative will be waiting to assist with your transfer to the hotel.

As with many Fairmont properties, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver carries a rich historical legacy, having welcomed dignitaries and celebrities since its opening in 1939.

After settling into your room enjoy leisure time to capture the sights and sounds of this bustling metropolis or perhaps indulge in the luxurious amenities at the hotel.

This evening relax and mingle with fellow travelers during a special welcome reception.
Overnight: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (R)

Day 2: Vancouver | Board VIA Rail’s The Canadian
After breakfast set off on a guided city tour including free time to explore Granville Island.

Later transfer to Pacific Central Station to embark upon The Canadian. Celebrate the departure with a mimosa or orange juice, and toast to the exciting week ahead.

Venture into the Prestige Park car to marvel at the rugged beauty of Eastern Ontario unfolding beyond the windows. Dense forests and pristine lakes provide for endless photography opportunities.

Settle into your luxurious Prestige Class accommodations—a category that redefines train travel through private cabins, panoramic windows and personalized service.

On board, fine dining is a priority. Delight in gourmet meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients served in an elegant dining car.

As you retire for the evening let the rhythmic sound of the rails welcome you to a comfortable night's sleep.
Overnight: The Canadian (B,D)

Day 3: Kamloops | Jasper, Alberta | Edmonton
Navigating through the Canadian Rockies marvel at the scenery along the Fraser River and the incredible obstacles overcome to build a railway here.

One of today's viewing highlights and photography opportunities is Hell's Gate, the most narrow (and very treacherous) part of the Fraser River. An impressive display of power, its narrow cliff walls create a funnel for hundreds of millions of liters of water rushing through every minute—double the volume of Niagara Falls.

Later today perhaps gather for a game of cards in the Prestige Park car or admire the scenery from a comfortable chair in the Skyline car.
Overnight: The Canadian (B,L,D)

Day 4: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Winnipeg, Manitoba
Observe the shift in topography as you glide between the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Ideally by this point in the journey you have reached a restful feeling of true relaxation—being able to disconnect from devices allowing for more opportunity to connect with each other. Memorable conversations are shared over meals and conviviality abounds in the train's social atmosphere.
Overnight: The Canadian (B,L,D)

Day 5: Hornepayne, Ontario
This morning wake to boundless landscapes as the journey continues to Ontario. Spot for wildlife during breakfast and take advantage of informative discussions led by your Orbridge Travel Director and the on-board staff.

There will be ample time today for introspection, getting lost in a great book or gathering in the Prestige Park car to sample some of Canada's top-tier varietals and freshly made hors d’œuvres.
Overnight: The Canadian (B,L,D)

Day 6: Toronto
Today enjoy lunch on board before disembarking in Toronto. Your hotel accommodations are conveniently located across the street from Union Station. The afternoon is yours for city sightseeing or relaxing at the property.

After dinner at leisure rejoin fellow travel companions for a special farewell dessert reception to celebrate this epic cross-country adventure.
Overnight: Fairmont Royal York (B,L,R)

Day 7: Toronto | Depart for U.S.
Following breakfast guests departing during the suggested times take the complimentary transfer to Toronto Pearson International Airport for flights home.

Guests continuing on the optional post-tour will set out for a city tour of Toronto. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, R = Reception

(Itinerary subject to change.)

Activity Level: 1

Easy

Tour days tend to be shorter in length, flow at a leisurely pace and include opportunities for time at leisure. Expect standing and little to no walking for short periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures. Depending on the itinerary details, guests will need to be prepared to board a plane, bus, boat, ferry or ship. There will be some walking to rooms, cabins or restaurants and general points of interest. Walking may also include occasional stairs or some steps during transfers and stops where elevators are not always available.

• Guests should be comfortable boarding and disembarking trains without assistance, walking and moving between cars while the train is in motion, and navigating steep, narrow stairs to the upper level of the observation car.

• All hallways are narrow and have handrails, but train travel can be unpredictable as some unexpected movement may occur.

• At brief train stop locations, the ground may be uneven and covered in loose gravel with no sidewalks.

Your Guide(s)

Orbridge Travel Director

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Every departure is accompanied by one of our premier Travel Directors, all of whom have extensive knowledge and experience as guides.

Enriched by their accompaniment and enthusiasm, enjoy the cultures and locations you explore with added confidence, understanding, and appreciation.

Accommodations

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Opened in 1939 in a partnership between the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways—and just in time for a visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth—this opulent gem, known as the "Castle in the City," quickly became a landmark in Vancouver. The hotel has hosted many famous entertainment acts and was once even home to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The recently renovated hotel features distinguished restaurants and lounges, a gym and a spa.

Room Amenities: Individual climate control, pillow top bed, flat-screen HDTV, Wi-Fi (additional fee), coffee and tea maker, minibar, bathrobes, iron and ironing board, and en suite bathroom with sundries and hair dryer.

VIA Rail’s The Canadian

VIA Rail continually renovates and redesigns its fleet—originally built in the 1950s—to retain a vintage, historical feel while providing modern, comfortable and stylish accommodations.

Aboard The Canadian, you'll experience an inviting blend of modern amenities with a sense of nostalgia offering the perfect way to unplug and enjoy nature's beauty at a slower pace.

The Canadian offers comfortable accommodations, thoughtful service, beautiful views from the domed Prestige Park Car and gourmet cuisine made by onboard chefs using locally sourced ingredients.

Prestige Class provides an elegantly appointed cabin, including an oversized picture window with blinds, flat-screen TV, modular leather L-shaped couch seating by day and comfortable double bed with luxurious bedding at night, and private en suite bathroom featuring a shower, deluxe amenities and hair dryer. Guests in Prestige Class also enjoy priority boarding, private concierge service with in-cabin cocktails and canapés, turndown service and privileged access to the Park Car.

All cabin beds are doubles. Due to cabin size and layout, separate twin beds are not possible in Prestige Class.

NOTE: Due to lack of a reliable signal along much of the route, Wi-Fi is not available on board. However, connecting to Wi-Fi may be possible at these stations: Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper, and Vancouver. Cellular phone service may be available in some areas.

Fairmont Royal York—Toronto

Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1929, it was the tallest building in Canada at the time—and featured magnificent architecture and luxury, including more than 1,000 en suite guest rooms, a glass-enclosed roof garden and a concert hall with a 50-ton pipe organ. It has recently undergone a five-year, multimillion-dollar renovation to combine stunningly redesigned guest rooms with carefully preserved historic elements.

Located directly across from VIA Rail's Union Station, this elegant downtown property is minutes away from the city's best attractions and features five restaurants, four lounges and an indoor pool, gym, spa and business center. Underneath the hotel begins a 19-mile underground network of shopping and malls, featuring more than 1,200 stores, accessible by the direct entrance from the hotel lobby.

Room Amenities: Individual climate control, pillow top bed, flat-screen HDTV, Wi-Fi (additional fee), coffee and tea maker, minibar, and en suite bathroom with hair dryer.

(Accommodations subject to change.)

Optional Pre-Tour

Victoria


Enjoy two nights in delightful Victoria—British Columbia’s picture-perfect capital. This colorful pedestrian-friendly city is an ideal spot for whale watching, biking, shopping, and sampling from the wide variety of cafés and restaurants that line bustling Government Street.

Itinerary

Day +1: Arrive in Victoria, British Columbia
Settle into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Explore some of Victoria's most beautiful downtown sites, including: Christ Church Cathedral, with its gothic stone architecture, magnificent stained glass windows and Helmuth Wolff organ; Craigdarroch Castle, a stunning Victorian mansion; Bastion Square, site of the original Fort Victoria, with its spectacular views of the local harbor; or the renowned Royal British Columbia.
Overnight: Fairmont Empress 

Day +2: Victoria
Join your guide for an easy half-day walking tour of Victoria, featuring samplings of delicious local foods while learning about important sites along the way.

The afternoon is open for additional opportunities to explore more of this charming city. Enjoy a walking tour of the downtown to appreciate its history and culture or a whale-watching cruise to see the wildlife-filled waters off the coast. Take time for a carriage ride, English-style high tea, or a stroll through some of Beacon Hill Park's 200 acres. There is an endless array of ways to fill your day. You may even choose to end the day with a renowned haunted Victoria tour or a visit to one of the many craft breweries in town. Your local guide or hotel concierge can help set up a day perfect for you.
Overnight: Fairmont Empress (B)

Day +3: Victoria | Vancouver | Main Program Begins
Following breakfast explore world-famous Butchart Gardens—a national historic site of Canada replete with lush greens and colorful blooms. Blossoming for more than 100 years, it offers 55 acres of gardens with 900 bedding plant varieties, 26 greenhouses, and 50 full-time gardeners who create a wonderland of beauty everywhere you look.

Afterward take a 20-minute ride to the ferry terminal to cruise over to mainland Vancouver—a passage providing unlimited scenery with the likelihood of spotting various marine wildlife. 

After arriving in Vancouver for the main program join fellow travelers at the hotel for a welcome reception. (B)

B = Breakfast

Pre-tour space is limited. We recommend reserving early for best availability.

This pre-tour is not escorted by an Orbridge Travel Director. Included sightseeing is accompanied by a local guide.

(Itinerary subject to change.)

Activity Level: 2

Relaxed

Tour days typically flow at a relaxed pace. Some activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for moderate periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain, including cobblestones or unpaved pathways. Guests should be able to walk up or down slight slopes as elevators are not always available at stops and accommodations. There also may be variations in altitude and/or temperature. Guests should be able to board transportation and climb a few flights of stairs, occasionally without handrails or assistance.

Accommodations

Fairmont Empress

Welcome to Canada's "Castle on the Coast." Located on Victoria's Inner Harbour, this luxury hotel offers unparalleled hospitality and comfort. The Fairmont Empress has been named a Condé Nast Readers' Choice and Gold List hotel and honored by Travel+Leisure as a top Canadian hotel. Also a National Historic Site, the Empress is an alluring blend of classic, contemporary, vintage and cutting-edge. Enjoy the various on-site amenities including a full spa, fully equipped gym and indoor heated pool. Or perhaps experience Tea at the Empress—a daily tradition since 1908.

Room Amenities: Individual climate control, cable TV, high-speed internet and Wi-Fi (additional fee), coffee and tea maker, bathrobes, safe, and en suite bathroom with hair dryer.

(Accommodations subject to change.)

What's Included

  • 2 nights at the Fairmont Empress (or similar) with breakfast each morning
  • Guided panoramic city tour
  • Admission to Butchart Gardens
  • A 1.5 hour ferry cruise from Victoria to Vancouver across the Strait of Georgia
  • Gratuities to local guide
  • Airport transfer for guests arriving during the suggested times

Optional Post-Tour

Niagara Falls & Toronto


Discover the wonders of Niagara Falls and Toronto. With the guidance of a skilled captain, get up-close and personal with Canadian Horseshoe Falls and breathtaking Great Gorge, experiencing the roar, power and mist they create. Additionally, enjoy a guided city tour through Toronto to explore a majestic castle, a vibrant farmers market and 360º views from the CN Tower.

Itinerary

Day 7: Toronto
Get ready to discover Toronto during a guided tour.

Marvel at the grandeur and elegance of a bygone era as you explore the exterior and grounds of Casa Loma, a historic castle built atop Davenport Hill overlooking downtown Toronto. Once the residence of Sir Henry Pellatt, a wealthy and eccentric Canadian financier, this grand mansion required 300 men, three years and $3.5 million to build. If interested, discover more of Casa Loma's fascinating past along with fabulous and fanciful gothic architecture.

Next prepare your tastebuds for lunch at St. Lawrence Market—hailed by National Geographic as one of the top food markets in the world.

Afterward visit the CN Tower—a celebrated icon of Toronto's skyline at more than 1,815 feet high and one of the "Seven Modern Wonders of the World." Soar to the sky in one of the glass elevators to 1,122 feet for the outdoor observation deck to feel the breeze. On a clear day gaze at astounding views of the city and lake, Niagara Falls off in the distance and sometimes, even helicopters flying below you.
Overnight: Fairmont Royal York

Day 8: Toronto | Niagara Falls 
Today embark upon what many consider to be Canada's most memorable experience: a cruise around majestic Niagara Falls. Witness Mother Nature's power during a thrilling Hornblower boat tour led by passionate guides who entertain with legendary stories, history and fascinating facts about the Niagara region. Niagara Falls started forming around 12,000 years ago from glacier activity and consists of three waterfalls—the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Learn how the combined water flow of the cataract falls results in enough hydroelectric power to fuel the entire area.

Next enjoy lunch overlooking the falls followed by leisure time in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This picturesque town epitomizes old charm with clapboard houses, tree-lined streets and lovely gardens—some dating from the early 19th century. Delight in Niagara-on-the-Lake's character and history by strolling around and viewing landmarks, such as the Memorial Clock Tower, Niagara District Court House and St. Vincent de Paul Church. There is much to see on quaint and unhurried Main Street, with its unique shops, beautiful flower beds and historical buildings. Satisfy your sweet tooth by sampling locally produced "chimney cakes," ice cream, gelato, jams and marmalades.
Overnight: Fairmont Royal York (B,L)

Day 9: Toronto | Depart for U.S.
After breakfast make your own way to Union Station to board the UP Express train headed for Toronto Pearson International Airport for flights home. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch

Post-tour space is limited. We recommend reserving early for best availability.

This post-tour is not escorted by an Orbridge Travel Director. Included sightseeing is accompanied by a local guide.

(Itinerary subject to change.)

Activity Level: 2

Relaxed

Tour days typically flow at a relaxed pace. Some activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for moderate periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain, including cobblestones or unpaved pathways. Guests should be able to walk up or down slight slopes as elevators are not always available at stops and accommodations. There also may be variations in altitude and/or temperature. Guests should be able to board transportation and climb a few flights of stairs, occasionally without handrails or assistance.

Accommodations

Fairmont Royal York—Toronto

Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1929, it was the tallest building in Canada at the time—and featured magnificent architecture and luxury, including more than 1,000 en suite guest rooms, a glass-enclosed roof garden and a concert hall with a 50-ton pipe organ. It has recently undergone a five-year, multimillion-dollar renovation to combine stunningly redesigned guest rooms with carefully preserved historic elements.

Located directly across from VIA Rail's Union Station, this elegant downtown property is minutes away from the city's best attractions and features five restaurants, four lounges and an indoor pool, gym, spa and business center. Underneath the hotel begins a 19-mile underground network of shopping and malls, featuring more than 1,200 stores, accessible by the direct entrance from the hotel lobby.

Room Amenities: Individual climate control, pillow top bed, flat-screen HDTV, Wi-Fi (additional fee), coffee and tea maker, minibar, and en suite bathroom with hair dryer.

(Accommodations subject to change.)

What's Included

  • 2 nights at the Fairmont Royal York (or similar)
  • 2 breakfasts and 1 lunch
  • Guided city tour of Toronto
  • Access to all stops included on the city tour
  • Private transportation to/from Niagara Falls
  • Niagara Falls boat tour
  • Gratuities to local guide and driver

Terms and Conditions