PACING: 5 provinces in 11 days with 2-night stays in three destinations (Vancouver, Banff, and Toronto) and a 1-night stay in Kamloops. Plus three days, three nights aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian and two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train (overnight at a Kamloops hotel).

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Most sightseeing on air-conditioned coaches with guides. Easy walking. Some areas have rocky terrain or require uphill walking, but easy paths or steps are available. Sno-Coach ride at Athabasca Glacier easy for all ages.

CULTURAL FOCUS: Focus is on Canada’s vast scenery, from city to mountaintop. Banff and Jasper National Parks are part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Includes nature and wildlife tours and lecture, and a Sno-Coach ride on a glacier.

SPECIAL FACTORS: Train travel is the best, most relaxing way to view much of the magnificent scenery encountered on this trip. Travellers do not overnight on the Rocky Mountaineer trip, but stay the night in Kamloops in accommodations arranged by the Rocky Mountaineer Company. Accommodations in Kamloops are very basic, motor-inn style.

For the three nights on VIA Rail, Vantage includes upgraded “Sleeper Touring Class” service. Double sleeping compartments on VIA Rail consist of an upper and lower bed. Single sleeping compartments are smaller and consist of a single lower bed. (See the “Train Accommodations” section for details.)

During your scenic train travel aboard the Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail’s The Canadian, there are no scheduled disembarkations, other than the overnight in Kamloops during the Rocky Mountaineer train trip. Some travellers may find it confining to be aboard the VIA Rail train for three days (3 nights), and should plan for the trip by bringing reading materials or other activities. Please note that with train travel, unexpected delays can occur due to the weather and train traffic.