2010 GREAT TRANS-CANADA RAIL TOUR    

Final 2010 departure:

September 30

Hosted land tour from $3514.00

For 2010, we again offer a comprehensive rail tour across Canada from Vancouver to Toronto. This includes fine sightseeing programs in Banff and Jasper. Included are two-night stays in Banff and Jasper and the wonderful train services of both the all-daylight ROCKY MOUNTAINEER and VIA Rail Canada’s CANADIAN domeliner. We offer this tour only in the eastbound direction, as this assures the best daylight running through the lovely scenery east of Jasper.

This is a “Hosted Tour”. Although fully narrated sightseeing, lodging, transportation and transfers are included, you will not necessarily have the same host/driver/narrator each day. All arrangements are fully prebooked/prepaid. You enjoy significant price savings on a Hosted Tour in contrast with a Fully Escorted trip, since you are not paying the travel cost of the same escort throughout.

Two classes of service are offered on the tour. In Popular accommodations, hotels are equivalent to a two or three diamond AAA standard with private baths in all rooms. On VIA Rail Canada, Pullman Section accommodations are included with optional Roomette or Bedroom upgrades possible at a higher cost, as noted under Tour Pricing. In Deluxe accommodations, participants enjoy four and five diamond hotel rooms with private bath and Roomette (single) or Bedroom (double) Pullman accommodations on VIA Rail Canada. For each hotel stay, we note examples of hotels for both price categories. Actual hotel assignments are made when the booking is confirmed.

All participants travel in “Red Leaf Class” coaches on the ROCKY MOUNTAINEER. A limited number of “Gold Leaf Dome” seats are available for the surcharge noted under Tour Pricing below. Details follow. All aboard!

Day One, Tuesdays or Sundays Arrival into Vancouver; airport transfers; hotel night. Independent arrivals today into Vancouver. A transfer to your downtown hotel and overnight hotel room are included. Moderate: Pacific Palisades Hotel or similar. Deluxe: Sheraton Wall Centre or similar. Extra nights can be booked in Vancouver, as well as trips to Victoria. Ask us for rates and options.

Day Two, Wednesdays or Mondays (CB,L in “Red Leaf”; B,L,D in “Gold Leaf”) Rocky Mountaineer private train from Vancouver to Kamloops through the spectacular Canadian Rockies. A transfer is included this morning to board the ROCKY MOUNTAINEER. Reservations on this train for the next two days are in reclining seat “Red Leaf” coaches with at-seat meals and full on-board commentary service. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages also are included on the train. A limited number of upgraded seats are available in the “Gold Leaf” dome car, where passengers enjoy full table service meals and reserved dome car seating.

We depart eastbound on the superbly scenic mainlines of the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways. After crossing the fertile Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, we enter the 4,000-foot depths of the Fraser Canyon, passing the rapids and fish ladders of Hells Gate. Later we enter the more arid Thompson Canyon, passing the Jaws of Death Rapids and running along the northern shore of beautiful Kamloops Lake before arriving in Kamloops, where transfers and overnight accommodations are included at a number of hotels as assigned by the ROCKY MOUNTAINEER.

Day Three, Thursdays or Tuesdays (CB, L in “Red Leaf”; B,L in “Gold Leaf”) Rocky Mountaineer through Yoho and Banff National Parks and famous Spiral Tunnels; two nights in Banff. Canada’s “National Dream” railway, the Canadian Pacific, takes us east over the Rockies! In succession we traverse Mount Revelstoke, Canadian Glacier, Yoho (the Cree word for “amazing”) and Banff National Parks. We cross the mighty Columbia River twice, gape at soaring Stoney Creek Viaduct, and marvel at the ascent through Kicking Horse River Canyon. The legendary Spiral Tunnels take us to the Continental Divide over Kicking Horse Pass as we travel east from British Columbia into Banff National Park, Alberta. A great sweep of mountains rises above us as we follow the rapids of the Bow River to a late-day arrival at Banff. Lodging is included in Banff for two nights. Moderate: Mount Royal Hotel or similar. Deluxe: Banff Springs Hotel or similar.

Day Four, Fridays or Wednesdays Touring in Banff area; free time in Banff. The Discover Banff General Drive includes Tunnel Mountain Drive, Cave and Basin Hot Springs, a view of Lake Minnewanka, the unique Hoodoos, Bow River Falls, and the gondola lift up Sulphur Mountain. The afternoon is free to visit the hot springs or Natural History Museum, golf, shop, or just relax.

Day Five, Saturdays or Thursdays Motorcoach via Lake Louise, Columbia Icefields Parkway drive; SnoCoach ride on Athabasca Glacier; two-night stay in Jasper. This morning we follow possibly the most scenic highway in North America, the Columbia Icefields Parkway north to Jasper. Enroute we see the sublime lake and glacial vista at Lake Louise before heading north to cross passes into Jasper National Park. We climb rugged Peyto Summit past aquamarine Peyto Lake and cross the divide over Sunwapta Pass to the Columbia Icefields. Here we enjoy the unique experience of a SnoCoach journey onto the face of the mighty Athabasca Glacier. From this vast field of eternal ice rise rivers that flow to the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic Oceans! We pass thundering Athabasca River Falls en route to Jasper for a two-night stay. Moderate: Chateau Jasper or similar. Deluxe: Jasper Park Lodge or similar.

Day Six, Sundays or Fridays Tour in Jasper area; free time in Jasper. This morning we enjoy the Jasper General Drive to the shores of beautiful Pyramid and Patricia Lakes and Maligne Canyon. New is a stop to cruise on exquisite Maligne Lake, the locale of the Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy film “Rose Marie”. Please note that due to ice conditions on the lake, the Maligne Lake cruise is not available on the departure of September 30. On this date we tour Jasper, Pyramid and Patricia Lakes only. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day Seven, Mondays or Saturdays (D) Free morning in Jasper; board VIA Rail CANADIAN to ride through balance of the Rockies; overnight on train. The morning and early afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the grandeur of Jasper National Park. This afternoon we board VIA Rail Canada’s CANADIAN dome-liner. Accommodations for three nights are included in Pullman sleeping cars, with choice of the menu dining car meals and dome-car access during this rail journey. The great train rolls east on the Canadian National RY mainline through the glories of Jasper National Park, closely following the Athabasca River past thundering rapids and crystalline lakes. At the Gates of the Mountains, we come into the forested hills of northern Alberta, pausing at Edmonton in late evening.

Day Eight, Tuesdays or Sundays (B, L, D) Ride through Saskatchewan and Manitoba on VIA Rail; overnight on train. We leave Saskatoon this morning and begin a swift run across the forests, prairies and deep valleys of Saskatchewan. The “Park Car” (a beautiful vista-dome observation-lounge) provides an ideal venue to enjoy the great descent of the escarpment from Saskatchewan’s Q’uapelle Valley. We race by the wheat fields and grain elevators of Manitoba into Winnipeg. While the train is serviced, we can see the museum in this landmark depot and view its great rotunda/dome. This evening the plains transition into the lake country of the Canadian Shield.

Day Nine, Wednesdays or Mondays (B, L, D) VIA Rail through lakes and forests of Ontario’s Canadian Shield/Laurentides Region. The train spends the day traversing the roadless wilderness of the Canadian Shield, a vast sweep of fast-flowing rivers, uncounted glacial lakes and stony outcroppings. At several points, no paved road intersects our route for a hundred miles.

Day Ten, Thursdays or Tuesdays (B) Arrive Toronto; tour ends. We arrive in Toronto this morning, where the tour ends at the magnificent Toronto Union Station. We can arrange extensions here to tour Canada’s greatest metropolis and/or to view the spectacle of the nearby Niagara Falls. Ask us for rates and details. The legendary former Canadian Pacific Ry. Fairmont Royal York Hotel is literally across the street from Union Station. Connecting Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada trains depart from Union Station, and the Toronto (Pearson) International Airport easily can be reached by frequent Airporter bus service from the Royal York Hotel.

TOUR PRICES include all rail fares; all sightseeing as outlined above; luggage handling in hotels; transfers on arrival at the Vancouver airport and during the tour; and meals noted as included above. Red cap service is available in Toronto from the train to the Royal York Hotel but cannot be prepaid. The customary gratuity is $3.00 per bag handled by a VIA Red Cap. Connecting travel into Vancouver and out of Toronto, gratuities, other meals, alcoholic beverages and souvenirs are not included. Canadian Goods and Services Tax must be added to all prices at the rates outlined below.

On the ROCKY MOUNTAINEER train all passengers travel in “Red Leaf” reclining coach seats. A limited number of “Gold Leaf Dome” class seats are offered on this train at the surcharge noted below.

On VIA Rail Canada, the Moderate accommodations are in Sections (an upper and lower berth). These are the largest beds in any traditional Pullman accommodation. Sections provide a very spacious daytime feeling, as there is no wall closing you off from the aisle. A very heavy secured curtain encloses the area for nighttime privacy. The three Sections in the car share two dressing rooms with toilets, one for men and one for women.

Deluxe accommodations on VIA Rail Canada are in single occupancy Roomettes or double occupancy Bedrooms with an upper and lower berth. These have a toilet and sink in the room.

For an additional cost, those with Moderate accommodations can upgrade to single occupancy Roomettes or double occupancy Bedrooms on VIA. Please note three nights are spent on this train. For all passengers, each VIA sleeping car contains a locking single occupancy shower room with towels and soap provided on-board.

POPULAR ACCOMMODATIONS

Main Season (May 27-August 19)

$3579.00 per person, double occupancy in Sections on VIA

$4416.00 single occupancy in a Section Lower Berth on VIA

$3947.00 per person, double occupancy using two Roomettes or a Bedroom on VIA

$4784.00 single occupancy using a Roomette on VIA

High Season (August 26-September 16)

$3894.00 per person, double occupancy in Sections on VIA

$4731.00 single occupancy in a Section Lower Berth on VIA

$4354.00 per person, double occupancy using two Roomettes or a Bedroom on VIA

$5191.00 single occupancy using a Roomette on VIA

Special Late Date (September 30 only)

$3514.00 per person, double occupancy in Sections on VIA

$4239.00 single occupancy in a Section Lower Berth on VIA

$3974.00 per person, double occupancy using two Roomettes or a Bedroom on VIA

$4699.00 single occupancy using a Roomette on VIA

DELUXE ACCOMMODATIONS

Main Season (May 27-August 19)

$4424.00 per person, double occupancy using two Roomettes or a Bedroom on VIA

$5680.00 single occupancy using a Roomette on VIA

High Season (August 26-September 16)

$4828.00 per person, double occupancy using two Roomettes or a Bedroom on VIA

$6083.00 single occupancy using a Roomette on VIA

Special Late date (September 30 only)

$4078.00 per person, double occupancy using two Roomettes or a Bedroom on VIA

$4866.00 single occupancy using a Roomette on VIA

OPTIONAL GOLD-LEAF DOME UPGRADE ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

$880.00 per person, single or double occupancy, for all departures

MANDATORY CANADIAN GOODS AND SERVICES TAX

A 2.5% Canadian Goods and Services Tax must be added to all rates above and is not subject to rebate under Canadian law.

Conditions and Booking Information (the fine print)

Call Toll-Free: 800-458-5394

Website created and maintained by Glenn Spiegel, Effective Websites.

Last modified: August 16, 2010