A magical Christmastime journey through the Canadian Rockies on
the iconic Canadian train, staying in luxurious Fairmont
hotels
Celebrate the festive season in the sensational snowscapes of
Canada on an unforgettable rail journey, experiencing the sights,
sounds and scents of Canada at Christmastime.
While staying in renowned, festively decorated Fairmont hotels,
we explore the city of Vancouver, travel overnight on the famous
Canadian train through the Rockies and enjoy the ultimate white
Christmas among Jasper's snow-clad mountains and picturesque wintry
landscapes before spending two nights in beautiful Banff.
Unforgettable experiences
Celebrating the festivities in Jasper
Spend Christmas Day in the relaxed town of Jasper, on the edge of the wilderness in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, enjoying local festivities and a Christmas Day dinner.
Journeying overnight on The Canadian
Enjoy an iconic rail journey into Canada's Rocky Mountains, from Vancouver to Jasper, waking to breathtaking sunrise views of soaring mountains, vast frozen lakes, snow-laden forests and unique wildlife.
Staying in three luxurious Fairmont hotels
These grand hotels in Vancouver, Jasper and Banff are renowned for their luxury, history, and exceptional service. Located in scenic settings, they offer world-class amenities, fine dining, and elegant accommodations.
Visiting Lake Louise
Experience the spectacular setting of Lake Louise in its winter finery when cross-country skiers glide across the deeply frozen lake framed by towering, snow-dusted peaks and frosty forests.
Sightseeing in Vancouver
Discover landmarks including the original settlement of Gastown, buzzing Chinatown and the remarkable, indigenous totem poles of Stanley Park on a fantastic guided tour.
What’s included on the tour?
Tour Manager
Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
Accommodation
7 nights’ 4-Star hotel accommodation
1 night in a Private cabin aboard VIA Rail's Canadian
Transportation
Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights
Flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver, Calgary to London Heathrow
Food & Drink
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Excursions & Entertainment
All guided tours and excursions
Not Included
Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour
Itinerary
London to Vancouver in a day
Your festive Canadian holiday starts at London Heathrow where we
meet the Tour Manager before our flight to Vancouver. On arrival,
we are transferred to our downtown hotel for a three-night stay in
this wonderful city, framed by mountains and encircled by
water.
This evening is free to relax or become acquainted with the
local neighbourhood. Our elegant Fairmont hotel is set amongst
high-end boutiques and impressive art galleries. Known as the
'Castle in the City' due to its châteauesque copper pitched roof,
the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was built in 1939 as one of Canada's
grand railway hotels. At this time of year, it is decked out with
spectacular Christmas decorations adding to the festive
atmosphere.
It is within walking distance of many Vancouver attractions,
including the city waterfront - an extension of Downtown - which
has a pedestrian walkway. There are several restaurants, cafés and
bars nearby, or you could choose to dine at our hotel.
Sightseeing in the beautiful city of Vancouver
We set out on a sightseeing tour of Vancouver today, first
making our way to Gastown, Vancouver's original settlement named
after 'Gassy' Jack Deighton, a Yorkshire seaman who arrived here in
1867. During the festive season, there are live performances around
the decorated streets creating a cheerful atmosphere amongst the
cafés, music bars, fashionable shops and galleries.
From here we continue to Chinatown, Canada's largest Chinese
district, established in the late 19th century. Once inside, you
may forget you are in North America. Here, we soak up the sights,
atmosphere and aromas of the colourful streets and food stalls. Our
last visit of the day is Stanley Park, Vancouver's wonderful open
parkland of 400 hectares where we see the city's fantastic,
world-renowned totem poles which pay tribute to Canada's Native
American heritage.
After our tour, the rest of the day is free to explore
independently. You could take the bus or a taxi to North Vancouver,
to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, which is illuminated with
Christmas lights at this time of year. Alternatively, a stroll
along the Seawalk trail in Vancouver Harbour is a popular choice,
overlooking the water with mountain views.
Morning at leisure, overnight journey to Jasper on The Canadian
Your day starts with a free morning in Vancouver. You can make
the most of our hotel's facilities, browse the Christmas markets or
enjoy a leisurely walk along the waterfront.
In the afternoon we transfer to Union Station. Here we board The
Canadian for an overnight journey through the majestic Rocky
Mountains to Jasper. The Canadian is an iconic train, transporting
us in restored stainless steel carriages through incredible winter
landscapes. Following dinner onboard, we settle into our private
cabins for an overnight journey into the foothills of the
Rockies.
Includes
Dinner
Arrival in the mountain town of Jasper
We wake to cinematic views of glaciers, lakes, plunging canyons,
frozen waterfalls and snow-covered peaks, all illuminated by the
sun's first rays of the day. After breakfast on The Canadian amid
this stunning scenery, we arrive into Jasper late morning - a
friendly, easy-going mountain town in the heart of the beautiful
Canadian Rockies. Bordered by soaring white mountains and frosted
Douglas firs, in winter the town is blanketed in snow.
On arrival, you have time to take an initial look around and
maybe enjoy some lunch downtown, before checking into our hotel for
two nights. The luxury Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resort is set on
700 acres of parkland overlooking the serene Beauvert Lake and
majestic mountains in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
The hotel site also has a wide choice of winter activities from
horseshoeing to skating on Mildred Lake. For a more relaxing
experience, you can take advantage of the spa and pool during our
stay.
Includes
Breakfast
Christmas Eve at Maligne Canyon, Jasper National Park
It's Christmas Eve and, from the pretty wintry setting of
Jasper, we head out to visit the geological wonder of Maligne
Canyon, one of Jasper National Park's most dramatic landmarks - the
deepest canyon in the park which is easy to access.
We admire the setting of giant frozen waterfalls, ice caves and
incredible ice sculptures. Jasper's National Park is a UNESCO World
Heritage site, home to wildlife such as grey wolves, hoary marmots,
caribou and moose - we may be fortunate to encounter some of these
creatures.
This afternoon we are transferred back to our hotel in Jasper
and you're free to relax at the hotel which is beautifully
decorated for Christmas and has a popular Gingerbread Village and
ice skating. Alternatively, you could continue exploring at your
own pace. For a small town, Jasper has a wide range of restaurants
to choose from for your Christmas Eve dinner.
Includes
Breakfast, Lunch
A white Christmas in the Canadian Rockies
Today is Christmas morning and we wake in the pretty wintry
setting of Jasper, where a peaceful hush sets over the town. We
enjoy a leisurely Christmas breakfast at our hotel.
After a relaxed morning, and possibly a peaceful walk on freshly
fallen snow, the rest of the afternoon is free. You could explore
locally or make the most of the hotel's facilities and festive
activities on offer such as wandering 'Candy Cane Lane' or
indulging in holiday-themed cocktails. This evening, we sit down to
a festive Christmas dinner as we celebrate the day.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Across the Icefields Parkway to Banff via Lake Louise
Leaving Jasper and its National Park behind on Boxing Day, we
begin the spectacular drive to Banff. Travelling along the
world-famous Icefields Parkway - one of the world's most scenic
highways we navigate the 144 miles that link Banff with Jasper.
Listed by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the top drives in the
world, we enter a picturesque valley of frozen lakes, travelling
between some of the highest and most rugged peaks in the Rockies.
Enroute we pass two other impressive landmarks, the Columbia
Icefields and the wondrous Athabasca Glacier.
Before reaching our destination we stop at Lake Louise in Banff
National Park. In winter it becomes a magical frozen arena, where
cross-country skiers glide across the deeply frozen lake, with a
backdrop of soaring peaks and snow-frosted forests of fir trees. We
take a beautifully scenic break here. You could enjoy lunch
independently, look around the shops or walk out to the
snow-covered shoreline.
On arrival in Banff this afternoon, we check into The Fairmont
Banff Springs for a three-night stay. The luxury hotel is located
in Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and known as
Canada's 'Castle in the Rockies'. There's time to relax and perhaps
to warm up at the hotel spa before dining independently at the
hotel or in the town centre.
Includes
Breakfast
Tour of Banff and its unique natural wonders
Waking up in the beautiful mountain setting of Banff, today's
excursion is a tour of the stunning National Park. Exploring this
breathtaking landscape with a local guide, we visit the glacial
Lake Minnewanka, the striking Two Jack Lake and its distinctive
mountain - Mount Rundle. We also see the Banff Hoodoos, a
fascinating cluster of needle-like sedimentary rocks. Surprise
Corner, as the name suggests, delivers spectacular and unexpected
views of the Spray Valley and the frozen wall of water formed by
the Bow Falls.
As part of our excursion, we also ride on the Banff Gondola, a
cable car that transports us to the summit of Sulphur Mountain.
Besides panoramic views of the surrounding winter landscape, at the
top of the mountain is a museum, an outdoor Observation Deck with a
dome tent - where you could sip a hot chocolate as you enjoy the
views - and two restaurants. There's also a long boardwalk to
wander along, taking in the spectacular mountain views.
We return to our hotel and you're at leisure to explore before
dinner at the hotel this evening.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Homeward bound, from Calgary
Saying a fond farewell to Banff, we check out of our hotel and
transfer to Calgary today by coach, a journey of around two hours.
As we travel, recall our time in the festive streets of Vancouver,
our overnight journey on the Canadian, exploring the wintry Maligne
Canyon on Christmas Eve and enjoying a festive Christmas Day in
Jasper. Arriving in Calgary, we board the flight back to London
Heathrow.
Includes
Breakfast
Arrival in London Heathrow
We land in London Heathrow this morning and your holiday draws
to a close. You can make your way home with memories of an amazing
Christmas in the Rockies.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature
the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown
above.
Landmark collection
Our Landmark range offers an unforgettable mix of incredible
experiences and First Class rail travel*, unique accommodation,
tours with smaller groups, and one-of-a-kind experiences that
you'll want to tell your friends about. Group sizes begin at 16
travellers, with an average of around 22 and a maximum of 30.
*where available
Departure times
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be
found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices
& Availability' button. We write to all booked customers
approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise
the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
Mobility information
Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.
On The Canadian, we experience an epic journey through Canada,
highlighting constantly changing landscapes and dramatic scenery.
The train ventures between coastal Vancouver, the stunning Rocky
Mountains and the modern city of Toronto on a 2,775-mile route,
providing travellers with up to four nights of classic overnight
rail travel.
• Upgrade your flight to Premium Economy from
£400 per person each way
London Hotels
Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a
difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the
capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager
the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West
End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your
return to London, you would like to break your journey with an
overnight stay before continuing home.
We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.
UK rail connections
Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business -
there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules
and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international
departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible
ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday
change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.
We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.
For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.
Reviews
4.0 / 5 · 3 reviews
5 stars
(1)
4 stars
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1 star
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Patricia
Submitted 03 Jan 2022
The whole trip was very good and special thanks must go to our tour manager Harriet Pearson who was brought in at very short notice but her experience as a tour manager enabled her to deal with both U.K. and USA Covid tests and form filling, which she dealt with exceptionally well.
The whole trip was most enjoyable.
The holiday was a realisation of a long-held ambition. Unfortunately because of covid restrictions it was not as enjoyable as I hoped. Our UK leader was unable to travel and we needed her expertise to enjoy the break