Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to The West special departure

You will stay in hotels such as the Bond Place Hotel in Toronto, the Hotel Maritime in Montreal, the Sandman Downtown in Calgary, Irwins Mountain Inn in Banff, the Prestige Inn in Golden, the Best Western in Kelowna, the Best Western Carlton Plaza in Victoria, and the Best Western Downtown in Vancouver. All rooms feature private facilities, TV and telephone. Hotels usually have a bar and restaurant, and often other facilities such as a swimming pool and shop. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Your Trains: All VIA Rail trains are fully air-conditioned and well furnished with courteous and friendly on-board staff. For your journey from Toronto to Montreal a comfortable reclining seat has been reserved in the spacious economy class carriage. There is ample space to move about. The carriages have large panoramic windows from which you can view the spectacular scenery.

You will spend two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in Red Leaf Class from Banff to Vancouver. You will relax in RedLeaf comfort, with a roomy reclining seat, plus there will be commentary and service from your on-board attendant. Breakfast and lunch will be served at your seat with a choice of beer, wine or soft drinks as you admire the passing views through the large picture windows.

Day 1: Toronto

Depart on your scheduled flight to Toronto. On arrival transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 2: Niagara Falls

Toronto is Canada’s premier city, with superb shopping and fine restaurants. The 1,815ft high CN Tower dominates the skyline. A short sightseeing tour of Toronto is included. Then you visit the world-famous Niagara Falls, situated some 80 miles south-east of Toronto. They are divided into two parts - the Canadian and American Falls. The Canadian Falls are the larger, 180ft high with a crest of 2,200ft forming a horseshoe-shaped curve. For the most dramatic close up view, join our optional excursion and don waterproof clothing for a ride on the ‘Maid of the Mist’ close to the thundering waters (operates mid-May to mid-October).

Day 3: Montreal

Morning transfer to the railway station for the train to Montreal in the French speaking province of Quebec. Canada’s second city, Montreal boasts a wealth of historic sites amidst its 17th century buildings, beautiful gardens and parks. There are many fine restaurants, and French influence is still evident in the open air cafés and street markets.

On arrival, we have included a short sightseeing tour of the city which takes in the St. Lawrence River, the Mount Royal and the Old Town with its beautiful Notre Dame Basilica. Later, continue to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 4: Quebec

Optional full-day guided tour to Quebec City. It is the only walled city in North America, and it stands proudly on the mighty St. Lawrence River. Quebec City has winding cobbled streets, ancient churches, stone buildings, public squares and horsedrawn calèches. You will see the old town, the Cathedral, Château Frontenac, the Basilica, the giant star shaped Citadelle and Plains of Abraham. You can view the Laurentian Hills, Mont St-Anne and the mighty St. Lawrence from the Dufferin Terrace situated 200ft above the river.

Day 5: Calgary

Transfer to Montreal Airport for your flight to Calgary in Alberta. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Banff

Enjoy a short sightseeing tour of Calgary including Fort Calgary and the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Following the sightseeing tour, drive to Banff for a three night stay.

Day 7: Banff

Free in Banff. In the Banff National Park you can gaze in awe at mighty snow-capped peaks, crystal clear lakes and sparkling streams; drive through rugged canyons with crashing waterfalls; and marvel at a vast wilderness of huge pine forests where black and grizzly bears still roam free. An interesting programme of optional excursions will be available to ensure that you see as much as possible of the spectacular Rockies scenery. You can take a cable car up Sulphur Mountain for a panoramic view of the magnificent peaks or take a helicopter ride over the Rockies for a bird’s eye view.

Day 8: Banff

Drive to Lake Louise, described by many writers as the most beautiful place in Canada – a glacial, jade-green lake high in the mountains, surrounded on all sides by towering peaks. Following a visit to the lake, transfer to your hotel in Golden for an overnight stay.

Day 9: Rocky Mountaineer

Board the Rocky Mountaineer in Banff to begin your journey along the world-famous First Passage to the West, formerly called the Kicking Horse Route. Staying overnight in Kamloops.

Day 10: Kamloops/Okanagan Valley

Re-board the train and travel along the Thompson River and through the rugged canyons of the Fraser River. We then journey along the fjord of Burrard Inlet to Vancouver.

Day 11: Victoria

Transfer to the ferry terminal to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. Drive to Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia, for a two-night stay.

Day 12: Victoria

A morning sightseeing tour of Victoria and the famous Butchart Gardens has been included. Victoria, situated across the Strait of Georgia on Vancouver Island, resembles an old English town with narrow streets and grand 19th century buildings, including the fabled Empress Hotel overlooking the picturesque inland harbour. The afternoon is free to explore Victoria further. Alternatively join an optional whale watching excursion.

Day 13: Vancouver

Return by ferry to the mainland and travel to Vancouver. Upon arrival there will be an included sightseeing tour visiting Chinatown, Gas Town and Stanley Park with its famous totem poles, and the beautiful harbour. Transfer to your hotel for two nights.

Day 14: Vancouver

Free in Vancouver with the chance for further sightseeing. An optional half-day excursion will be available on Vancouver’s Northshore featuring the spectacular Capilano suspension bridge and a cable car ride up Grouse Mountain for breathtaking views of the city and the snow-capped mountains of Washington State (America) and Vancouver Island.

Day 15: Vancouver

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 16: UK

Arrival in the UK.