Canada: The Rockies by Rail

Attentive service in GoldLeaf Service ©Rocky Mountaineer
Friendly Rocky Mountaineer Host, SilverLeaf Service ©Rocky Mountaineer

11 day tour

Prices available on request

Welcome to Canada

Canada is more than its hulking-mountain, craggy-coast good looks: it also cooks extraordinary meals, rocks cool culture and unfurls wild, moose-spotting road trips.

The Great Outdoors

The globe’s second-biggest country has an endless variety of landscapes. Furthermore, sky-high mountains, glinting glaciers, spectral rainforests and remote beaches are all here, spread across six times zones. It’s the backdrop for plenty of ah-inspiring moments – and, also, for a big cast of local characters. That’s big as in polar bears, grizzly bears, whales and, everyone’s favorite, moose. Additionally, the terrain also makes for a fantastic playground. Whether it’s snowboarding Whistler’s mountains, surfing Nova Scotia’s swells or kayaking the white-frothed South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories, adventures abound. There are gentler options, too, like strolling Vancouver’s Stanley Park or swimming off Prince Edward Island’s pink-sand beaches.

Captivating Cultures

Sip a café au lait and tear into a flaky croissant at a sidewalk bistro in Montréal; head to an Asian night market and slurp noodles in Vancouver; join a wild-fiddling Celtic party on Cape Breton Island; kayak between rainforest-cloaked Aboriginal villages on Haida Gwaii: Canada is incredibly diverse across its breadth and within its cities. You’ll hear it in the music, see it in the arts and taste it in the cuisine.

Foodie Fare

Canada is a local food smorgasbord. If you grazed from west to east across the country, you’d fill your plate like this: wild salmon and velvety scallops in British Columbia, poutine (golden fries topped with gravy and cheese curds) in Québec, and lobster with a dab of melted butter in the Maritime provinces. Tastemakers may not tout Canadian food the way they do, say, Italian or French fare, so let’s just call the distinctive seafood, piquant cheeses, and fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies our little secret. Ditto for the award-winning bold reds and crisp whites produced from the country’s vine-striped valleys.

Artistic Flair

The arts are an integral part of Canada’s cultural landscape. You’ll find it from the International Fringe Theater Festival (the world’s second-largest) in Edmonton to mega museums like Ottawa’s National Gallery. Likewise, Montreal’s Jazz Festival and Toronto’s star-studded Film Festival draw global crowds. Also, did you know Ontario’s Stratford Festival is the continent’s largest classical repertory theater? Even places you might not automatically think of – say, St John’s or Woody Point – put on renowned shindigs (an avant-garde ‘sound symposium’ and a big-name writers festival, respectively).

Rocky Mountaineer

Hailed as ‘The Best Train Experience in the World’, the Rocky Mountaineer has carried passengers high into the heart of the Canadian Rockies, past lush landscapes, spectacular waterfalls, snow-capped glaciers, to lively, cosmopolitan cities and the villages that dot the Canadian landscape.

Train Experience

Finally, at every service level, Rocky Mountaineer Hosts will attend to your needs. Firstly, they will welcome you with a morning toast, serve up delicious meals and entertain you with interpretive storytelling. Decide which service level: GoldLeaf, SilverLeaf, or RedLeaf is right for you. Climb aboard GoldLeaf for unparalleled comfort in our bi-level glass-domed coach. Simply luxury is the hallmark of classic RedLeaf while SilverLeaf combines the best of both worlds.

Dates

Dates on request

Suggested Itinerary by Air

Days 1

Depart the UK

Fly to Vancouver and transfer to hotel.

Day 2

Tour Vancouver

Take an escorted sightseeing tour of scenic Vancouver which includes admission to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain. Hotel overnight in Vancouver.

Day 3

Vancouver to Whistler (Rocky Mountaineer)

Travelling from Vancouver to Whistler. Upon arrival, transfer to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre for a BBQ lunchand tour. Hotel overnight in Whistler.

Days 4-5

Whistler – Quesnel – Jasper (Rocky Mountaineer)

Depart Whistler to the shorelines of Anderson and Seton Lakes. The train follows the Fraser River into Quesnel. Hotel overnight in Quesnel. The next day, the Rocky Mountain trench gives way to the mountains which rise steeply to the north and south. Overnight in Jasper.

Day 6

Jasper

Jasper National Park is a World Heritage Site and the Canadian Rockies largest national park. Today you will enjoy a short scenic tour including the many natural attractions, rugged peaks, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of some of the many creatures that call this mountain park home. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore Jasper. Overnight in Jasper.

Days 7-8

Jasper – Kamloops – Vancouver (Rocky Mountaineer)

Leaving Jasper, pass the glittering Albreda Icefields and glorious Mount Robson. Rolling hills morph into snowy peaks and Pyramid Falls into the North Thopson River below. Overnight in Kamloops. The next day, departing Kamloops, we pass picturesque farmland before admiring the Coast Mountains and the fields of the Fraser Valley. Overnight in Vancouver.

Day 9

At Leisure in Vancouver

Surrounded by the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is often considered to be the most beautiful city in the world. Its sandy beaches, green spaces and mountain backdrop provide a playground for all ages. With glorious summers and mild winters, the locals like to say that you can golf in the morning and ski in the afternoon. And it just so happens that it’s true. The cosmopolitan city is also home to world-renowned restaurants, vibrant entertainment and culture, and exciting shopping.

Day 10-11

Return to the UK

Transfer from the hotel to the airport for your return overnight flight to the UK.

When To Go:

High Season (Jun–Aug): Sunshine and warm weather prevail; far northern regions briefly thaw. Accommodation prices peak (up 30% on average). December through March is equally busy and expensive in ski resort towns. Shoulder (May, Sep & Oct): Crowds and prices drop off. Temperatures are cool but comfortable. Attractions keep shorter hours. Fall foliage areas (eg Cape Breton, Québec) remain busy. Low Season (Nov–Apr): Places outside the big cities and ski resorts close. Darkness and cold take over. April and November are particularly good for bargains.

Things To Know:

Etiquette

Canadians are a fairly relaxed crowd and don’t offend easily; however, some rules of etiquette do apply.

Politeness Canadians value their please and thank-yous. Bumping into someone without apologizing or not thanking someone for holding the door will earned shocked looks.
Patriotism Commenting that Canadians and Americans aren’t much different is considered highly offensive.
Language In French-speaking areas, always attempt to speak French before English (regardless of how poor your French is).
Lining up While Canadians usually tut rather than speak out, jumping ahead in line is an exception and can cause a full-blown argument.

History

The human story of Canada begins around 15,000 years ago, when Aboriginal locals began carving thriving communities from the abundant wilderness. Everything changed, though, when the Europeans rolled in from the late 15th century onward, staking claims that triggered rumbling conflicts and eventually shaped a vast new nation. Much of this colorful heritage is accessible to visitors, with more than 950 national historic sites covering everything from forts to battlefields to famous homes.

Health and Insurance

Health Insurance

Canada offers some of the finest health care in the world. However, unless you are a Canadian citizen, it can be prohibitively expensive. It’s essential to purchase travel health insurance if your regular policy doesn’t cover you when you’re abroad. Check www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance for supplemental insurance information.

Bring medications you may need clearly labeled in their original containers. A signed, dated letter from your physician that describes your medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea.

Health Insurance; a policy covering medical expenses is highly recommended.

Vaccinations; No special vaccines are required or recommended for travel to Canada. All travelers should be up to date on routine immunizations.

Stats

Currency: Canadian dollar, Primary Language: English, French, Primary Religion: 43% Roman Catholic, Population: 34.6 million, Time Zone: see below.

Newfoundland Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus 3½ hours)

Atlantic Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus four hours)

Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus five hours)

Central Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus six hours)

Mountain Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus seven hours)

Pacific Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus eight hours)

Visa Requirements:

British citizens are required to apply for a Canada eTA visa to enter Canada on a short term basis (under 90 days) for general tourism, business, transit or medical purposes. … It is advised that British citizens complete their eTA application 72 hours prior to their departure date.

For more information please visit the link below:

Canada Visa Information

Tour will run with a minimum of 10 passengers. Greatdays Holidays Limited has an ATOL licence (4279) and many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

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A group is 10 persons or more. Smaller groups can be accommodated. Picture is for illustrative purposes only. Greatdays Holidays Limited has an ATOL licence (4279) and all of our air package tours are protected under this licence. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the Civil Aviation Authority will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any monies you have paid to us for an advance booking. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this email are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services)