Canada Coast to Coast

We depart the UK on our flight from London Heathrow to Vancouver, where we transfer to our hotel for three nights on arrival.

The city of Vancouver is one of the most desirable places to live in the world, thanks to its fantastic atmosphere and incredible setting between coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and today we take a guided sightseeing tour of its charming attractions. We begin by visiting the old Gastown quarter - an area of trendy coffee shops, galleries, native art stores and home to the famous Gastown Steam Clock - before experiencing the scents and sights of Chinatown and driving to leafy Stanley Park. Here, we see the colourful totem poles which celebrate the region's Native American history. We finish our tour at Granville Island, which boasts a mouth-watering food market and many craft studios.

Our explorations begin early in the morning as we make our way by coach to Tsawwassen for the ferry to Swartz Bay, on Vancouver Island. On arrival, we transfer to the marvellous Butchart Gardens, designed by horticulture expert Jennie Butchart in the early 20th century. A designated national historic site of Canada, the gardens stretch over 55 acres and feature a Japanese style garden, a rose garden and beautiful sunken garden. With free time to wander the landscaped paths at your own pace, this is a haven of cultivated nature set amid the wild landscapes of Victoria.

We leave Vancouver by coach, beginning the first leg of our trans-Canadian adventure. Our route takes us across the magnificent and mountainous Coquihalla Pass before we stop for lunch and continuing to Kamloops for the night.

We journey past Clearwater this morning, a stunning river valley in British Columbia. Dense forests, glittering lakes, snaking rivers and soaring, snow-capped peaks pass by our window as we travel towards our hotel in Jasper, home for the next two nights.

We set out for a scenic excursion to Jasper National Park. Among the attractions we see during our time here are the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, as well as many more stunning lakes, mountains, waterfalls and hot springs. The most impressive natural features of the park though, have to be Maligne Canyon, a 164-feet deep gorge of sheer limestone walls featuring a number of interesting karst rock formations, and Maligne Lake - the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region. This part of the world is also naturally home to plenty of rare wildlife, including grey wolves, hoary marmot, caribou and moose.

After a free morning, we board The Canadian, bound for Toronto. Settling into our berths, we begin our spectacular journey through the diverse, beautiful and rugged backdrops of central Canada. From the comfort of the glass-roofed panoramic observation car, sit back and watch the world go by as we travel eastwards, crossing the prairies and arriving in the province of Saskatchewan.

Today is our first full day on the train and is spent crossing the Canadian Shield - a wild land of glacial lakes, ancient trees and isolated communities. Keep a watchful eye on the passing scenery for a possible glimpse of the captivating local wildlife, including bear, moose, eagles and elk.

Our journey continues through the scenic lakelands of northern Ontario as we complete the final leg of our cross-country trip towards Toronto

Arriving in Toronto, our base for two nights, enjoy a free evening to begin exploring your new surroundings and settle in.

We take a guided coach excursion to Niagara Falls, one of the most impressive natural wonders in the world. We enjoy a boat tour to the base of the falls, getting the full effect of the tumultuous waters as the three separate sections, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls, converge into one. Continuing to Table Rock, a national park on the edge of Canada's Blue Ridge Mountains, we also see the Niagara Whirlpool, a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the powerful force of the rapids, transferring to the small town of Niagara-on-the-Lake afterwards, a quaint area known for its wineries.

Making our way to Toronto's station, we board The Corridor service to Montreal, changing trains for the approach to Québec, City where we stay overnight.

We enjoy a guided tour that includes the Citadel and the 'Plains of Abraham' - the site of a brutal battle between British and French forces during the Seven Years' War. Later, we transfer by coach to a local sugar shack where maple syrup is produced, enjoying a brief tour that teaches us about the history and importance of maple syrup in Canada, how it's made and a tasting. This is followed by a delicious three course lunch inspired by the sticky sweet treat. The rest of your afternoon is free. Take an atmospheric walk around the Old Town, which dates back to the 17th century and is home to a rich collection of historic landmarks and museums, before we board The Ocean for our overnight rail journey to Nova Scotia.

During the night, The Ocean travels alongside the St Lawrence River to Chaleur Bay. The train then heads across New Brunswick and into Nova Scotia itself, arriving at Halifax, where we stay for two nights.

We explore the Nova Scotia's maritime treasures and coastal highlights on a sightseeing tour today, visiting Peggy's Cove, a charming fishing village with a famous lighthouse and a number of traditional inukshuks - age-old rock structures used to navigate the frozen north. Legend has it that the community got its name from the sole survivor of schooner shipwreck before continuing to Lunenburg, whose quaint waterfront and original buildings, with their colourful wooden façades, have earned the town UNESCO World Heritage status.

With a free morning to look around, you could head to Point Pleasant Park, which lies on a rocky, 75-hectare peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, visit the historic Keith brewery for a locally-produced pint before sampling a local delicacy of lobster for lunch, or stop off at the maritime museum to learn about the area's important seafaring past. Later, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to London Heathrow.

We arrive in London, and you're free to continue your journey home.