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