Should I Stay or Should I Go
28/05/2020 · By Guest Author
Although we might not be able to head off on our travels overseas just yet, why not use this time as the perfect excuse to bring your bucket list a little closer to home?
Read moreIf you have always wanted to visit Canada but were daunted by the wealth of environments, cities, and sights on offer, why not take advantage of one of Great Rail Journeys' touring holidays and leave the details to us? We know all the best routes to take, the friendliest hotels to stay in, and the most interesting sights to visit.
Ride along heritage routes in world-famous trains, such as the Rocky Mountaineer, The Canadian, and The Ocean, and visit the ice-covered prairies of Vancouver in winter. Rare wildlife, imposing peaks, sprawling forests; Canada is one of the most stunningly beautiful countries on Earth, offering visitors a uniquely visual experience.
Canada's enigmatic charm lies in its huge swathes of dense forests and tundra that remain snow-covered almost all year round. Spanning close to 4 million square miles, with a population of around 38 million, Canada is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Towering mountains, lakes with emerald and sapphire hues, diverse wildlife, and mega cities all come together to make Canada an absolute delight.
Explore the unscathed beauty of the wilderness; fjords surrounded by snow-kissed peaks, cities that take you back to Jack London's 'Call of the Wild', and glistering glaciers. Canada is also a haven for all things nature related. Whales, seals, bears, mink, and moose all make their home here while the Canadian Rockies and the magnanimity of the Niagara Falls are utterly breathtaking.
At Great Rail Journeys, we want our customers to enjoy the ultimate travel experience, which is why we make sure all of our Canadian rail holidays provide exceptional value for money.
Included in the price of your holiday are various excursions and sightseeing tours that demonstrate the highlights of each of the destinations you arrive at. Leisure time is built into many of our itineraries, meaning that you can book your own excursions, such as a boat trip to the foot of Niagara Falls or a helicopter flight over Toronto.
On some tour itineraries, you will get the chance to go to the top of the impressive CN Tower in Toronto (one of the tallest free-standing structures in the world) for breath-taking views of the city below. In other locations, such as Quebec, Halifax, and Vancouver, you can take advantage of guided sightseeing tours.
Fine dining is a feature of our Canada touring holidays, and gourmet food is prepared on board our trains by talented chefs, using only the freshest ingredients. Some of our holidays include a memorable dining experience at the Penthouse Restaurant of the Sheraton Hotel, overlooking the thundering Niagara Falls.
On other days, especially when visiting cities, you will be free to choose your own cafés and restaurants, and perhaps even sample some of the Canadian nightlife.
Every last detail of our Canada tours is taken care of on your behalf, and your professional Tour Manager will be on hand to help at all times, whether you have questions about the local area or simply want some pointers on where to visit. However, our Tour Managers are unobtrusive and will let you enjoy your holiday as you please.
At Great Rail Journeys, we make certain that accommodation is selected due to its convenient locality, great value, and range of facilities. The hotels you'll stay in when crossing Canada by train are hand-picked by us. We often choose family-run hotels so that customers benefit from a more friendly and personal atmosphere.
See the most beautiful scenery through panoramic observation carriages and unabridged domed windows; when you book one of our Canada touring holidays, you can expect to travel on stylish trains that bring some of the world's most breath-taking backdrops right to the comfort of your seat.
From The Canadian to The Rocky Mountaineer and The Ocean, there are several famous trains and railway lines that journey through Canada, connecting Toronto in the east to Vancouver in the west.
The Rocky Mountaineer is an exceptional example, taking in the sights of Banff National Park and Fraser Canyon on its way to Kamloops. Our Canada tours on this superb train occur strictly during the daytime, ensuring that you enjoy the best viewing conditions throughout your journey - all from the comfort of reclining seats.
Our customers with a love for trains will appreciate the romance of travelling in the carriages of the Canadian, which have been restored to their 1950s elegance. You can stay overnight on sleeper trains on some of our Canada railway holidays, waking up to a new destination each morning.
On the Ocean service and The Canadian, guests are provided with their own fully-serviced cabin, complete with WC and armchairs that convert to comfortable beds at night. All cabins are tastefully-decorated.
The staff on board our trains serve complimentary drinks and snacks to your seat, and also provide a commentary on the landscapes as you pass through. A newspaper is available on some of our trains, which lists much of the flora and fauna that can be seen on the journey, as well as detailing any places of interest.
North America's railways have come a long way since the days of the 'iron horses' that traversed the old Wild West. Modern, comfortable and fast railways create a network that reaches almost anywhere on the continent that a traveller might wish to visit.
As the second-largest country in the world (after Russia), Canada boasts a wealth of diverse landscapes, from the stark beauty of the glacier-hewn valleys to the lush forests surrounding Maligne Lake. Striking in any season, Canada's natural environment is immediately memorable - and best appreciated by rail.
Take a tour of Canada with us to Winnipeg, Edmonton, and the Jasper National Park; cross the Coastal Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and unearth some of the country's most picturesque gems along the way. On your journey, don't forget to keep an eye open for the country's iconic wildlife, such as the grizzly bear, beaver, wolf and moose.
Canada's combination of contemporary architecture, vibrant nightlife, and incredible scenery makes travelling through the country an irresistible prospect for many people. On our Canada railway holidays, you will be given the chance to learn about the rich history and diverse cultures that make the locals so proud of their heritage.
Explore Banff and Jasper National Parks and marvel at the impressive Icefields Parkway. The latter destination, a 140 mile road flanked by verdant trees and towering mountains, is one of the country's most treasured gems, and lies within the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are many ways to experience a tour of Canada with Great Rail Journeys. Join us on our epic Coast to Coast tour, which takes you on a memorable journey west from Vancouver to Halifax, some 6,000 miles. Alternatively, you may prefer to travel from Toronto to Vancouver at Christmas, when crisp snow blankets the land.
Experience an alternative perspective of this awe-inspiring country when you book a Rockies and Alaska cruise. This unique tour, which takes advantage of both sea and overland routes, offers a rewarding way to explore the glaciers, plunging fjords, and inlets on the west coast of North America.
Meet like-minded travellers and perhaps even make lifelong companions when you embark on one of our outstanding Canadian rail holidays.
Helping you plan your holiday to Canada
Call
Enquire