The Canadian at Christmas

We depart from London Heathrow for Toronto, arriving late afternoon for a 2-night stay. Toronto is a multicultural melting-pot with an inviting, laid-back atmosphere. The city looks out across mesmerising Lake Ontario from its position on the northern shore, and is overlooked by the CN Tower, one of the tallest structures in the world.

• Scheduled flights

A visit to Niagara Falls is one of the highlights of any holiday to Canada, and we embark upon a full-day excursion to the magnificent natural wonder today. We enjoy lunch in the Falls View Restaurant of the Sheraton Hotel whilst admiring the views over the falls. Niagara Falls are all the more dramatic in winter, when thick snow covers the ground and the water freezes into giant icicles.

After a relaxed morning at leisure in Toronto, we transfer to Union Station and board the The Canadian, beginning our unforgettable journey through the majestic Rockies to Vancouver.

Day 4 is our first full day on board, and is spent crossing the Canadian Shield - a wild land of frozen lakes, snow covered trees and isolated communities. Sit back and relax as the incredible panoramas of Canada pass by your window, keeping a watchful eye on the passing scenery for a possible glimpse at the captivating local wildlife, including bear, moose, eagles and elk.

Arrive in Winnipeg on Christmas Day, where we pause, with time to enjoy a festive stroll. Back on board, we relax with Christmas dinner as we continue westwards, crossing the prairies on our way to the province of Saskatchewan.

This morning we stop briefly in Jasper, a quaint mountain town at the edge of the wilderness in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The town is surrounded by tree-covered mountains, and blanketed in snow creating a fabulous winter setting. As you wander through the streets, past pretty houses and small shops, it isn't unusual to see a family of elk crossing the road.

Later, we continue our journey on board The Canadian and climb further into the Rockies, travelling through some truly spectacular scenery. Relax and enjoy the journey as we pass glaciers, lakes, plunging canyons, frozen waterfalls and soaring snow-covered peaks. The Rockies are not just a line of mountains, but the edge of the Western Cordillera, a complex array of plateaus and folded rock layers that stretch all the way to the Pacific Coast.

On the morning of Day 7, we enjoy breakfast on our final leg on board The Canadian before reaching the city of Vancouver. Here, we take a trip to Grouse Mountain for an exhilarating excursion to the peak, travelling on the mountain cable car. At the top, we enjoy a fantastically festive experience, as we board a sleigh for a journey around the snow-covered forests of the mountaintop. We continue to our hotel in the heart of Vancouver.

We explore Vancouver today on a fascinating sightseeing tour that includes Gastown, named after 'Gassy' Jack Deighton, a Yorkshire seaman who settled here in 1867. Today, Gastown is a popular downtown area, full of cafés, and contemporary fashion shops, galleries and more. We then move on to Chinatown which remains a popular tourist attraction and is one of the largest Chinatown's in North America.

Finally, we visit Stanley Park, Vancouver's first and largest park at 400 hectares, which is famous for its totem poles. Spend the afternoon exploring Vancouver at your own pace before a fabulous dinner together at the 'Top of Vancouver', a revolving restaurant in a rooftop location offering superb views of the city.

You have a free day in Vancouver. The city enjoys a fabulous natural setting, with beautiful snow-covered mountains and deep fjords providing a dramatic backdrop to the urban landscape of modern skyscrapers. Take some time to explore, perhaps visiting one of its many excellent museums, art galleries, shops, or beautiful parks.

• Scheduled flights

You are free until the early evening when we transfer to Vancouver airport for our overnight flight to London Heathrow, arriving on Day 11.