Canada with the Experts

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.

Canada is a great destination to visit year-round. Although temperatures can become extremely cold, winter offers a magical atmosphere. Spring brings fewer crowds, a mix of sunshine and snow, while summers are warm and bright. Autumn sees temperatures begin to fall, providing the best opportunity to spot moose and bears, while the vibrant autumn foliage rivals that of New England.

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.

Canada has two official languages: English and French. The majority of Canadians speak English, while almost all French-speakers live in the province of Quebec.

French speaking Canadians, known as French-Canadians or Francophones, speak a slightly different version of French than what is typically termed 'Parisian French'. The main differences tend to centre around French-Canadians' use of terms, pronunciations and grammar conventions that have been abandoned in modern France.

Canada's official currency is known as the Canadian Dollar and it is one of the world's highest-value currencies. As with the US Dollar, it is divided into 100 cents.

All major credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout Canada, and you will be able to withdraw Canadian Dollars from cash machines with your four digit pin-code. Withdrawals will be subject to an additional international withdrawal fee which is a flat rate, and a percentage currency conversion fee.

Canadian Dollar traveller's cheques can be cashed at all major banks, exchange bureaus and airports. You may also be able to use them at some shops providing that you also present your passport.

An additional 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is applied to most purchases and it is not included in the advertised price. This additional tax is also applied to food and beverages throughout the country. The majority of provices throughout Canada also charge a Provincial Sales Tax which is also added at the point of purchase and is not included in the advertised price. This tax can vary but is never more than 10%.

Canada spans several time zones, ranging from Pacific Standard Time (PST) in the west to Atlantic Standard Time (AST) in the east, which means that the country can be anywhere from 2 to 7 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), depending on the specific location.

Most British citizens do not require a visa for short visits to Canada. However, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) if arriving by air. This is quick to apply for online and is typically valid for up to five years or until your passport expires.

Great Rail Journeys is a market leader when it comes to small group tours. We're proud of being pioneers in our approach to group sizes and have become the leading operator for escorted holidays. Our group sizes vary between tours, but are our ranges are usually a good indicator of what to expect.

For our Discoveries range, you'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. If opting for our Classic collection, you'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. Our Landmark holidays are where you'll find our smallest group sizes, starting from as low as 16 travellers and an average of 22, to a maximum of 30.

*Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.