| More vacationers every year are choosing to | | | | tour by bus of Banff townsite this morning. |
| take their holidays on a special train that provides | | | | Among the highlights are visits to Bow Falls, the |
| everything in one package; travel, accommodation | | | | Banff Gondola, the Cave and Basin Centre, |
| and fine dining. No where is this more evident than | | | | Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. The rest of the |
| in Canada where the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific | | | | day is free to spend at leisure in Banff. Overnight |
| and Atlantic Coasts and the magnificent scenery | | | | in Banff.Day 5. A half-day tour takes you into |
| in between has made scenic train tours a booming | | | | Yoho National Park. Among the attractions are the |
| industry.Rocky Mountaineer has started a number | | | | Spiral Tunnels (this time from the highway), |
| of rail tours, some of 3 nights/4 days duration | | | | Emerald Lake (it really is green) and a natural rock |
| into the Rocky Mountains, some two or three | | | | bridge that spans the Kicking Horse River. The |
| days longer to allow for better exploration of the | | | | tour ends at Lake Louise and your afternoon is at |
| mountain areas. All tour trains have dome cars | | | | leisure to enjoy this magnificent location. Overnight |
| with plenty of seating, day cars and dining cars. | | | | at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.Day 6. Free |
| On some portions of the tour there are sleeping | | | | day at Lake Louise. Take a stroll beside the lake |
| cars provided. Of special note for those who | | | | or an afternoon paddle in a canoe. Afternoon tea |
| remember the fine dining one used to experience | | | | in the lounge. Overnight at the Fairmont Chateau |
| on the rails, Rocky Mountaineer has ensured these | | | | Lake Louise.Day 7. A full day sightseeing tour of |
| folks will not be disappointed. White linen, heavy | | | | Banff and Jasper National Parks via the Icefields |
| silverware, uniformed waitpersons providing | | | | Parkway. Among the highlights are Bow Lake, the |
| seamless service and exceptional menus have all | | | | Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Falls. The Icefield |
| been re-instated to enhance the rail tour | | | | is one of the largest accumulations of ice south of |
| experience.The Trans Canada Rail Adventure is rail | | | | the Arctic Circle in addition to being one of the |
| enthusiasts' dreams come true! Rivaling any of the | | | | most accessible ones in North America. It is here |
| better known rail tours like the Orient Express, | | | | that you will ride on an Ice Explorer to the middle |
| this tour is longer and has some of the most | | | | of Athabasca Glacier to learn more about its |
| spectacular and diverse scenery anywhere in the | | | | geological features. Arrive in Jasper late this |
| world. The tour lasts 16 nights and 17 days, | | | | afternoon. Overnight in Jasper.Day 8, 9. This |
| starting in Vancouver on the Pacific Coast and | | | | afternoon begins your three-day journey with |
| ending in Halifax on the Atlantic Coast. There is of | | | | VIA Rail First Class from Jasper to Toronto |
| course the opposite west-bound route starting in | | | | across the Prairie Provinces and Northern Ontario. |
| Halifax and ending in Vancouver.Here is a brief | | | | Overnight on VIA Rail both nights.Day 10. Arrive in |
| rundown of the east-bound itinerary.Day 1. You | | | | Toronto on VIA Rail this evening. Overnight in |
| arrive in Vancouver, check into your hotel | | | | Toronto.Day 11. Enjoy a full day bus tour to |
| assigned by Rocky Mountaineer Tours and spend | | | | Niagara Falls, one of the great natural wonders of |
| time exploring the city on your own. Admission to | | | | the world. Included is a cruise on the Maid of the |
| the Observation Deck at Harbour Centre with | | | | Mist to the base of Horseshoe Falls (Imax |
| views of the city, mountains and ocean is | | | | Theatre show of "Journey Behind the Falls" is |
| included.Day 2. After a pleasant night's sleep, you | | | | substituted when Maid of the Mist is not |
| board the Rocky Mountaineer for the first leg of | | | | operating). Return to Toronto early this evening. |
| the journey, which will end in Kamloops in the | | | | Overnight in Toronto.Day 12. Travel by VIA Rail in |
| heart of British Columbia's interior. The scenery will | | | | VIA First Class from Toronto to Montreal. |
| change from the lush green fields of the lower | | | | Overnight in Montreal.Day 13. Montreal sightseeing |
| Fraser River Valley, through forests and winding | | | | with stops including Old Montreal, Notre-Dame |
| river canyons as you travel through the Coast | | | | Basilica, Olympic Park, Mount Royal and McGill |
| and Cascade Mountains. Highlights will include the | | | | University among others. The remainder of the |
| rushing waters of Hell's Gate, the narrowest strip | | | | day is at leisure to explore this vibrant city on |
| of the Fraser River. Slowly the scenery changes | | | | your own. Overnight in Montreal.Day 14. Spend |
| to the desert-like environment along the | | | | the day sightseeing independently in Montreal |
| Thompson River, where sage brush abounds, | | | | before taking the overnight VIA train to Halifax. |
| along with a few rattlesnakes. Then along the | | | | Dinner is served onboard. Overnight on VIA |
| shores of Kamloops Lake before easing into your | | | | Rail.Day 15. Enjoy the landscapes of Nova Scotia |
| overnight destination of Kamloops.Day 3. Your | | | | and New Brunswick as you arrive in Halifax this |
| journey continues eastward to the Canadian | | | | afternoon. Breakfast is served onboard. Spend |
| Rockies and the province of Alberta. Here again | | | | the rest of the day exploring this eastern |
| you will see a phenomenal range of scenery as | | | | seaboard city. Overnight in Halifax.Day 16. Visit the |
| you travel across ranchlands, along rocky | | | | picture postcard village of Peggy's Cove and the |
| lakeshores, then into high mountain passes and | | | | most photographed lighthouse in the world. There |
| through the remarkable tunnels that go through | | | | will be plenty of time at the cove for exploring |
| the mountains. Today's highlights include | | | | and shopping. Overnight in Halifax.Day 17. Halifax |
| Craigellachie where the last spike of the Canadian | | | | Departure. Your tour ends with check-out from |
| Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers | | | | your Halifax hotel.After sixteen nights and |
| Pass, the Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels | | | | seventeen days, you have a lifetime's supply of |
| - a remarkable feat of railroad engineering and of | | | | memories and visual images of the diverse |
| course the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of | | | | scenery and culture you have explored on your |
| the Canadian Rockies. Your journey today ends in | | | | journey of 6,400 kilometres (4000 miles) across |
| the resort town of Banff this evening. Overnight | | | | the world's second largest country. |
| in Banff. Day 4. Enjoy a three-hour sightseeing | | | | |