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Main Program: May 30, 2024 – June 05, 2024
Pre-Tour: May 28, 2024 – May 30, 2024
Post-Tour: June 05, 2024 – June 07, 2024

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 3/28/2024.

Program Highlights

– Set out on a guided panoramic city tour of Vancouver.

– From your stateroom, or from seats in the domed observation car or Prestige Park lounge car, admire the vastness and diversity of Canada—starting in Vancouver, traversing across five provinces—through the Canadian Rockies and across expansive prairies—arriving at the shores of Lake Ontario.

– Enjoy the serenity of travel by rail as you spend four days unplugged from the outside world, with the beauty of the Canadian wilderness unfolding before you.

– Relax at leisure within your private Prestige Class stateroom—providing 50% more living space than other class cabins—featuring 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, flat-screen TV, and turndown service.

– Prestige Class amenities also include a small travel group size (26 guests max), dedicated concierge service, priority seating in the dining car, and complimentary snacks and beverages (including bar orders) in the Park Car 24-hours a day.

– Awake each day to majestic, panoramic views outside your cabin's picture window. Inside The Canadian, many amenities await you among the first-class, art deco style cars, with abundant leisure time to enjoy them all.

– Savor the best in Canadian cuisine with a selection of local and regional specialties prepared by onboard chefs and served on the dining car’s elegant china. Lunches and dinners are three-course meals featuring specialties like Veal Chop with Cajun Spices, Canadian Lake Trout, and Pan-Seared Duck, served with complimentary beer or wine.

– Learn about the landscape, history, and people of Canada's provinces through onboard lectures and presentations.

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, where you'll relax while traveling through ever-changing scenery of the Pacific Northwest, the Canadian Rockies, and prairies
  • 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners (snacks and bar orders are included while aboard The Canadian)
  • Special welcome and farewell receptions
  • Full guiding services of an Orbridge Travel Director as well as expert onboard guides
  • Admission to all activities and tours as described in the 7-day itinerary
  • Private motor coach transportation for the sightseeing tour
  • Gratuities for Orbridge Travel Director, onboard guides, 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, like other passenger railways in North America, operates on tracks owned by freight companies. 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 Vancouver, delayed arrival into Toronto, 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 and any changes to the schedule will be communicated and updated as the journey continues.

Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, May 30, 2024
After settling into your hotel, venture out to capture the sights and sounds of this bustling metropolis. Or perhaps indulge in the luxurious amenities at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

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
Friday, May 31, 2024
Join your Orbridge Travel Director for a guided city tour plus free time on Granville Island. You'll have the opportunity to shop local and eat local with the best Vancouver has to offer. Later, transfer to Pacific Central Station to board The Canadian. Celebrate your departure from Vancouver with a champagne toast and light canapés as you settle into your cozy Prestige Class cabin.
Overnight: The Canadian (B,D)

Day 3: Kamloops | Jasper, Alberta | Edmonton
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Today includes planned, but brief  stops in Kamloops, Jasper, and Edmonton. Keep in mind that arrivals, departures, and time off the train will be unpredictable. All are contingent on how timing operates as The Canadian rolls along. Pack your sense of flexibility and ease into a relaxed mode of "cruise control" while an attentive staff caters to your needs and keeps you informed. Admire the dramatic and ever-changing landscape as the train navigates the Canadian Rockies—rugged peaks, steep cliffs, and the extraordinary panoramic views they provide.

Marvel at the scenery along the Fraser River and the incredible obstacles overcome to build a railway here. One of today's highlights will include Hell's Gate, the most slender part of the Fraser River. It is aptly named for its narrow cliff walls that create a funnel for hundreds of millions of liters of water rushing through every minute. For perspective, consider the volume of Niagara Falls—Hell's Gate is double that. Capture the soaring cliffs and churning waters of the mighty river with your camera during this memorable experience.

Combine the passing views with equally outstanding cuisine in the train's dining car, prepared by onboard chefs using specially sourced, local ingredients of the regions through which you will pass.
Overnight: The Canadian (B,L,D)

Day 4: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sunday, June 2, 2024
Enjoy the scenes of boundless prairies as the train continues through Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.

Visit one of the beautiful observation cars to witness the passing landscape, stop into the Prestige Park Car to taste some of Canada's top-tier varietals with freshly made hors d’œuvres, or grab a pal and a window seat for a friendly game of cards. 
Overnight: The Canadian (B,L,D)

Day 5: Hornepayne, Ontario
Monday, June 3, 2024
Wake to the steady sound of the rails, and open your blinds to greet the morning's lovely panoramic views. While The Canadian travels across Ontario, venture into the Prestige Park car to embrace the constantly changing scenery and capture endless photo opportunities from the upper-level dome.
Overnight: The Canadian (B,L,D)

Day 6: Toronto
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
After arriving in Toronto, savor a tasty brunch before disembarking from The Canadian and transfer to your hotel.  It is conveniently located across the street from your arrival point at Union Station. 

This evening, dinner is at leisure. Choose from dozens of restaurant options located near the hotel. Then rejoin fellow travelers for a special farewell wine and dessert reception to toast to a grand finale of this wonderful journey.
Overnight: Fairmont Royal York (B,L,R)

Day 7: Toronto | Depart for U.S.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
After 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

Easy

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 and some unexpected movement may occur. Guests who enjoy the relaxed pace of train travel will delight in spending much of the program's time on the railway. At brief train stop locations, ground may be uneven and covered in loose gravel, with no sidewalks. 

Accommodations

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

May 30

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

May 31 - June 3

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

June 4

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 stunning, 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
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
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
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
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
Thursday, May 30, 2024
After 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

Moderate

It is our expectation that guests on this program are able to walk a mile at a moderate pace, get in and out of a motor coach, board a water vessel, and walk up a flight of stairs without assistance.

Accommodations

Fairmont Empress

May 28 - May 29

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 and contemporary; of vintage and cutting-edge. Guests can 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 accommodations 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
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
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 
Thursday, June 6, 2024
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.
Friday, June 7, 2024
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

Moderate

It is our expectation that guests on this program are able to walk a mile at a moderate pace (sometimes on steep or slippery surfaces), get in and out of a motor coach, board a water vessel, and walk up a flight of stairs without assistance.

Accommodations

Fairmont Royal York—Toronto

June 5 - June 6

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 stunning, 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 accommodations at the Fairmont Royal York or similar, with breakfast each morning
  • Guided city tour of Toronto
  • Access to all stops included on the city tour
  • Private transportation to/from Niagara Falls
  • Niagara Falls boat tour, including lunch featuring spectacular views
  • Gratuities to local guide and driver

Terms and Conditions