Cross Canada by Rail Adventure - Vancouver to Halifax

Located at Canada’s southwestern border, the city of Vancouver boasts majestic mountains, sparkling ocean, rainforests and beautiful foliage in all four seasons. A vast multicultural population, endless activities, and excellent infrastructure ensure Vancouver is welcoming to all. While the city has excellent public transportation, it is a great walking city - easily accessible, clean, green and safe. Vancouver caters to almost any interest throughout the year; visitors can enjoy world-class shopping, gourmet meals, outstanding live entertainment, sporting events, theatre, outdoor adventure, a huge array of watersports, and spectacular sights and attractions. The city is also known for its easy access to Whistler, the Canadian Rockies, Victoria, and Vancouver Island. Don’t miss the opportunity to traverse the thrilling, famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and its new related activities, including palpitation-inducing cliff walks and historical tribal sites.

Straddling the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers, the sunny city of Kamloops is a thriving cosmopolitan hub set in the heart of British Columbia’s Southern Interior. Rugged mountains, verdant valleys, sagebrush-covered hills and unspoilt lakes confine historic buildings, numerous shopping and dining facilities as well as ebullient festivities. Lovers of the outdoors can hike Sugarloaf Mountain, the Hoodoos, Dewdrop Range, Tranquille River, Gibraltar Rock and Kenna Cartwright Park. For a paddle on a kayak or a canoe, try the 100 lakes and streams within an hour’s drive of Kamloops. During the mild winter, traverse the snowy slopes on skis, snowshoes, ice skates, and snowmobiles. Other must-see sites include Riverside Park, Kamloops Museum and Archives, Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops Heritage Railway and the wineries and breweries at Thompson Valley.

Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, the resort town of Banff is the largest in the Banff National Park and is known for its breathtaking scenery, artsy and cosmopolitan atmosphere, and opportunities for skiing and outdoor activities. Three sublime ski areas are easily accessible from here, and the area famously boasts ‘Canada’s Best Snow’ making skiing, snowboarding, and all other snowsports a dream. The awe-inspiring Lake Louise and forested hillsides make for wonderful exploration in summer, with a massive network of excellent trails well suited to hiking, biking, and horse riding. Delve into the area’s unique heritage by visiting sites such as the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, or visit purely for views and culinary pursuits by bar and restaurant hopping.

Lake Louise town is situated in Alberta in Canada, within the extraordinary Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains. The lake's hamlet was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and is famous for its turquoise appearance, the Victoria Glacier, the soaring mountain backdrop, and enormous surrounding ski resorts. Hikers can enjoy a trek up to Lake Agnes Tea House for stunning panoramic views, rent canoes, or skate on the lake’s icy surface in winter. Other highlights include the Lake Louise Gondola, a cable car that crawls up the Whitehorn Mountain via an open ski lift or enclosed gondola, providing a better chance of spotting the area’s local grizzly bears. Several other viewpoints offer more magnificent spots to take in the sights.

Jasper, set at the heart of Canada’s Jasper National Park in the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies, retains its timeless appeal as a peaceful, unpretentious, and friendly former railway town. The landscapes here are majestic; numerous mirror lakes, dense and varied forests, breathtaking snowy slopes. A year-round gateway to the park’s pristine setting, Jasper is the perfect place to enjoy skiing, nature photography, a paddle through crystal clear waters, hiking (over 1200 km of trails await), spotting wildlife (including grizzly bears, moose, and elk), or simply enjoying the serenity of the area. Top itinerary items include lake tours; a soak in the warm, idyllic Miette Hot Springs; and a meander along the adrenaline-inducing Glacier Skywalk, where visitors are separated from a 280-metre drop by a glass floor - among others.

Toronto, the capital city of Ontario, is a vibrant, multi-cultural city that boasts an incredible range of attractions and events. Perhaps its best-known landmark is the world-famous CN Tower, a national icon and one of the world’s tallest buildings. Visitors rocket to the top at 15 mph in a dizzying, 58-second elevator ride then enjoy 360-degree city views from the fine dining restaurant at the pinnacle. Visitors to Toronto can enjoy discovering the artwork and all the action in the boutiques, galleries, theatres and cafés of the pedestrian-only Distillery District, or hit the high-end boutiques on Bloor Street and at the Eaton's Centre. Later they can take in world-class theatre, opera, symphony and more in the booming theatre district or head for the Beaches, the city’s popular lakefront neighbourhood where sidewalk cafés, trendy restaurants and pubs welcome everyone from bohemian artists to financiers.

Set on an island in the Saint Lawrence River, Montreal, the largest city in Canada’s Quebec Province, is famous for its arts, design, and fantastic cuisine. Visitors can discover the country’s history along the cobbled streets of Old Montreal, with show-off buildings like the Basilique Notre-Dame stupefying its guests with its intricate domes. Gourmands delight in sensational Canadian food as well as everything from irresistible patisseries, to old Jewish delis, to hipster bars serving spectacular flavours all night. Art and design adorn the city, from sensational raw street art to chic, modern galleries. Featuring around 250 theatre and dance companies and more than 90 festivals, Montreal overflows with the arts. Explore the city by climbing or taking a bus up Mount Royal to scan the horizon or cycling along the picturesque riverside pathways on a public bike.

The capital of the province by the same name, Quebec is an exciting, ever-growing city often compared to a European village, yet distinctly Canadian. The photogenic Old Town is the primary drawcard for many tourists - an incredible, UNESCO-listed living museum, filled with 17th- and 18th-century houses and decorated by pretty cobbled lanes and charming boutiques. A strong French-Canadian culture is well celebrated through a sublime culinary scene and wonderful festivals and carnivals. Architecture enthusiasts can visit extraordinary grand hotels (and an ice hotel), art lovers have a world to explore in the Le Quartier Petit-Champlain, filled with galleries, and hikers and photographers can head to stunning Montmorency Falls, or explore the breathtaking trails of the Jacques-Cartier National Park among glacial valleys.

Presided over by the spooky hilltop Halifax Citadel, Halifax Nova Scotia harbour town has long been a key trading port, but today is more popular for its fresh sea air and lively buzz. It is a mix of historical heritage and modern seaside chic, with quaint old buildings, arty boutiques and gourmet eateries. Encompassing four universities, it is also a vibrant student town with nightlife to match – there’s plenty of after-hours entertainment in the city’s profusion of bars, night clubs, live music venues and revamped waterfront area.

Baddeck is an attractive shire town conveniently located just 80 kilometres west of Sydney, on Cape Breton Island in Victoria County. It’s claim to fame is the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, a museum commemorating the work of this famous former resident. Explore the endless rolling hills, soak up the enchanting views, and stroll along the shoreline of this quaint Gaelic community. Travellers to this shire can look forward to an array of activities and wonderful sights to enjoy from 5-star accommodations, boutiques, galleries, spas, and fine dining; to sailing, camping, hiking, snowmobiling, golfing, and skiing. Don’t miss the world-renowned Cabot Trail, which starts and ends at this unique little town.

As previously described

Charlottetown is a flourishing area with a postcard-perfect setting on the south shore of Prince Edward Island. With its beautifully preserved old architecture, tidy streets and gardens, and hospitable locals, this welcoming town retains a strong sense of history and tradition. Wander its network of walking trails past cafes, art galleries, local markets and historic buildings, or watch an esteemed performance at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Charlottetown hosts festivals throughout the year, the most celebrated of which is the July 1st fireworks display – the largest pyrotechnic show east of Ottawa.