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