Premium Wonders of Canada and the Rocky Mountaineer

We meet our fellow travellers and Tour Manager at London Heathrow this afternoon to board a direct flight to Vancouver, arriving in the characterful city on Canada's west coast in the early evening local time.

Delightful Vancouver is regarded as one of the most desirable places to live in the world, thanks to its charming atmosphere and positioning between incredible mountains and the verdant Pacific coast. Cosmopolitan Vancouver effortlessly impressive its many visitors with a blend of culture and the spectacular surrounding scenery.

Our elegant Fairmont hotel is in the heart of Downtown, set amongst high-end boutiques and impressive art galleries. Constructed in the revivalist style based on French Renaissance architecture and boasting a copper pitched roof, the Hotel Vancouver was built in 1939 as one of the grand railway hotels of Canada and has become known as the 'Castle in the City'. After checking in there is a free evening to relax or stroll out to try some of the area's finest cuisine, including top-class seafood, such as salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab, or delicious Asian and Mexican dishes.

An enjoyable tour of Vancouver's most characterful and historic districts with a local guide awaits us on our first full day in Canada.

The rejuvenated area known as Gastown is Vancouver's original Downtown. Redbrick Victorian buildings dot the tree-lined streets surrounding pretty Maple Tree Square. Many upmarket fashion boutiques, trendy coffee shops, art galleries and the famous Gastown Steam Clock can be found in this vibrant area.

Crossing East Hastings Street, we arrive in Chinatown - the largest in Canada. A mix of zen squares and bustling streets with neon signs and dragon-topped streetlights, we savour the sights and sounds of this spirited quarter before moving on to the green oasis of Stanley Park. Here we view colourful, unique totem poles celebrating the native history of the region's indigenous Coast Salish people. Our tour concludes on Granville Island, a buzzing quarter boasting independent stores and mouthwatering food markets.

The rest of the day is free to explore independently. You can choose to stay on Granville Island or return to our landmark city centre hotel before dinner on your own this evening.

Early this morning, we head to the train station ready for a spectacular journey into the Rocky Mountains.

Enjoying breakfast on board the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf Class*, we wind our way through deep forests and fertile fields along the banks of the Fraser River before the scenery becomes even more impressive as the imposing peaks of the Coast Mountains close in. From the historic hamlet of Yale, we enter the impressive Fraser Canyon - formerly the focus of a gold rush from 1858. As well as majestic Canadian wildlife such as bears, elk and moose, keep your eyes open for the rushing waters of Hell's Gate as the Fraser River squeezes through a narrow gap.

After Lytton, our route follows the Thompson River and the scenery changes to an almost desert-like environment as arid mountains roll out before our windows. A three-course lunch is served at our seats as we admire wonderful views.

Disembarking in the early evening in Kamloops for a night at a local hotel, there is time to explore and dine independently.

*Upgrades to GoldLeaf Class are available. Please call us on 01904 734359.

The Canadian Rockies continue to inspire awe this morning as we continue eastwards on the Rocky Mountaineer. With breakfast and lunch served on board, we can sit back at marvel at the beautiful sights.

A foreboding environment for 19th-century pioneers, this evocative route oozes history and spectacular vistas. Nearly 3,000 miles of trans-Canadian railway were connected by the shores of the Eagle River in 1885 as the 'last spike' was driven into the track. This followed surveyor AB Rogers setting out in 1881 to locate an accessible route through the mountains. His name is remembered by the Rogers Pass under which the five-mile Connaught Tunnel runs.

Climbing the dramatic Kicking Horse Pass, we twist through the magnificent Spiral Tunnels, and pass the photogenic Morant's Curve and iconic Castle Mountain before arriving in Banff this evening.

Our hotel is the beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs, one of the most historic properties in this charming mountain town, built in eye-catching Scottish Baronial style. On arrival, the evening is free to explore or savour some delicious local cuisine in an appealing restaurant.

We head out by coach after breakfast at the hotel to explore this sensational part of the world. Our first destination is the glacial Emerald Lake, so-called due to its remarkable colour.

The first non-indigenous person to record seeing the lake was Tom Wilson in 1882, who was pursuing horses that had bolted. On encountering the lake, Wilson stopped to enjoy its beauty. A backcountry expert, Wilson was also the first non-indigenous person to view our next destination: Lake Louise, a turquoise glacial lake framed by towering snow-capped mountains. This famed picture-perfect lake has become intrinsically linked with the region but is equally impressive in person, and we have free time here to bask in this natural beauty.

Wilson also played a role in discovering a pass through the mountains for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Having travelled this remarkable route yesterday, we view the legendary Spiral Tunnels from the lookout point and marvel at this ingenious feat of engineering.

Returning to Banff this evening, we gather for dinner at our wonderful hotel.

A journey along the famous Icefields Parkway follows breakfast as we leave our elegant Banff hotel. This 144-mile road framed by astonishing mountain scenery links Banff and Jasper. Recognised as one of the most scenic drives in the world, there are more than 100 glaciers visible enroute.

On our way, we enjoy brief stops to soak up the views of crystalline lakes, rugged mountains and the blanket of pristine pine forests, before arriving at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. Here, we stop to marvel at the otherworldly Athabasca Glacier squeezing between the peaks. There is the option to enjoy lunch or a ride over the ice field by giant, all-terrain Snocoach (payable locally). Afterwards, we make a short stop at the Athabasca Falls, where thundering waters cascade their way through the idyllic mountain scenery.

On arrival in the charming town of Jasper, we check into the luxury Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resort, set in 700 acres of parkland overlooking the serene Beauvert Lake and majestic mountains in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Dinner this evening is at our hotel.

Today you are free to explore independently. You could opt for a scenic excursion deep into the UNESCO-listed Jasper National Park that surrounds the charming town. Heading into the sublime Maligne River valley, you will be greeted by a spectacular showcase of Canada's grandest landscapes, including craggy, snow-dusted mountains, plunging waterfalls, hot spring as crystalline lakes. The main attractions here are the otherworldly Maligne Canyon, a deep limestone gorge, and gorgeous Maligne Lake - the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region.

There's plenty of wildlife to watch out for such as grey wolves, hoary marmot, caribou and moose. Elk can also be found wandering through the town of Jasper and out on the mountains, while ospreys, eagles and other birds circle overhead.

This evening there is an included optional excursion to Jasper Planetarium for a telescope tour. Stargazing is a delight here in the Canadian Rockies, as the dark night sky is unpolluted by city lights.

There is time to enjoy the facilities at our serene hotel after breakfast, or explore Jasper, an important destination that retains an attractive small-town feel.

In the afternoon, we transfer to the railway station for one of an epic transcontinental train journey. Boarding the evocative steel carriages of the Canadian, we settle in for a three-night ride across Canada to Toronto. From our cosy private cabins, we can watch the Athabasca River flow beside the train as we wind down the Rocky Mountains into the verdant foothills. With lunch and dinner served on board, we can enjoy views of glaciers, plunging canyons, soaring mountains and endless pine forests.

As we cross further into Alberta, the scenery changes as remote settlements and serene lakes dot the landscape. Leaving Edmonton this evening, we can relax and look forward to a laid-back day as the Canadian continues its remarkable journey.

Saskatchewan's vast prairies welcome us as we awaken on our first full day aboard the Canadian. Enjoying breakfast, we can view the seemingly endless grasslands of the Great Plains stretch as far as the eye can see, with boundless farming communities passing by our windows as the Canadian rolls on.

With nearly half of its 1.2 million residents living in the province's largest city, Saskatoon, scarcely populated Saskatchewan is ideal for sitting back and watching the world go by. The ideal place to relax and observe the scenery is the glass-roofed panoramic observation car, either side of lunch. We travel through the southern plains of Saskatchewan, home to deer, eagles and, occasionally, antelope, moose and bison. Dinner is also served on board.

We later cross into Manitoba, a province with more than 100,000 lakes stretching all the way up to the shores of Hudson Bay. Its capital is Winnipeg, considered the geographical centre of Canada. Late this evening, the train pulls into this fascinating city, home to more than 50 ethnic communities before continuing eastwards overnight.

As we wake today, the VIA Rail Canadian rolls across the rocky ground of northwestern Ontario. Over breakfast, we can admire a wild landscape pocked with primordial lakes and thick, verdant forests of ancient trees.

For the isolated communities we pass through, the Canadian Pacific Railway has been a lifeline for decades. While Ontario might be the most populous of Canada's provinces, the remote areas we travel through today are raw Canadian wilderness, with moose, lynx and black bears prowling its dense woodlands.

After lunch on board, the Canadian changes direction, continuing its journey in a southeasterly direction towards the Great Lakes. Spend some time in the observation car or lounge as we travel through this evocative scenery before dinner is served. The Canadian continues its epic journey overnight towards its destination.

Our final morning onboard the Canadian begins with a continental breakfast as we travel south towards Toronto, arriving in the mid afternoon after brunch on the train.

Toronto's Union Station is Canada's largest and most elegant train station. Built in 1927, this glorious Beaux-Arts structure is actually the third incarnation of the station - a testament to the importance of railways in connecting Canada. Nearby is the iconic CN Tower built by the Canadian National Railway Company and the world's tallest free-standing structure from 1975 until 2007.

We transfer to our historic Downtown hotel that has housed numerous luminaries from Mark Twain to Ernest Hemingway and the Beatles to Louis Armstrong. The rest of the day is free to unwind or explore Canada's most populous city, stopping off at one of its fine restaurants near our hotel.

An incredible highlight of our grand trans-Canadian adventure awaits today as we are joined on a coach by an expert local guide for a full day trip to the incredible Niagara Falls.

Connecting the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara River plunges down three astonishing waterfalls. When we arrive, we set sail on a cruise to get closer to one of the world's most impressive natural sights - with protective ponchos supplied. Marvelling at the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the iconic Horseshoe Falls is an unforgettable experience as the clouds of spray and thunderous roar emphasise the awesome majesty of nature.

Back on shore, there is time for lunch independently in one of Niagara's restaurants before viewing the falls from above at Table Rock. Continuing our exploration, we reach the whirlpool where the river bursts out of the Niagara Gorge.

We conclude our excursion at the pretty town of Niagara on the Lake, where there is time to stroll its quaint streets. Returning to Toronto, you can relive the day's dramatic sights as you dine independently.

There is time at leisure today to enjoy this fantastic city and what better way to get to know a place than through its food? Canadian breakfasts range from light cereals and pancakes to the hearty peameal bacon sandwich, invented in Toronto.

You might opt to return to Union Station to admire the architecture of its historic Great Hall, which looks every bit a temple to the railroad, while its resplendent limestone exterior is dominated by 22 Romanesque columns.

Those with a head for heights might like to observe Toronto from the observation decks of the piercing CN Tower, where there is the option to experience the glass floor. However, perhaps you'd rather see this friendly city from ground level. One of the best ways to do so is by catching a ferry over to verdant Ward's Island or Toronto Island Park.

In mid-afternoon, we reconvene at our central hotel and transfer by coach to the airport for our overnight flight to London.

Our exceptional Canadian adventure concludes as we land at London Heathrow early this morning.

This spectacular expedition has seen us stay in luxurious Fairmont hotels in idyllic locations and journey on iconic trains from the Pacific coast to the Great Lakes, witnessing many highlights of the world's second largest country with new friends.

From the thriving cultural scene of Vancouver and the awe-inspiring views on the Rocky Mountaineer, we explored the national parks around Banff and Jasper on visits to Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway. Boarding the incredible Canadian train for three nights provided a front-row seat to the varied landscapes before we arrived in vibrant Toronto. The unforgettable experiences continued as we visited the majestic Niagara Falls on a fantastic cruise.

We say farewell to our fellow travellers and Tour Manager with whom we will share these wonderful memories for a long time to come.