Day One
You are chauffeured from Vancouver International Airport to the luxurious Pan Pacific Hotel, in the heart of Canada's west coast ocean playground. Your free time in the afternoon will allow you to experience many marvelous sites nearby. Stroll the seawall that embraces Stanley Park or explore historic Gastown. You are at your leisure to enjoy dinner in a city known for its culinary excellence. Overnight in Vancouver.
Day Two
A private welcome breakfast in the Pan Pacific Hotel affords casual opportunity to meet your fellow travelers. The day's adventure begins with ground transfer to Coal Harbour to board a float plane for the short flight to Vancouver Island. Arriving at Butchart Gardens, you will enjoy this 55-acre National Historic Site, brilliant with floral displays.
From here, you board a motorcoach to British Columbia's capital city, Victoria. At the illustrious Fairmont Empress Hotel, linger over its worldfamous High Tea, before exploring this British-influenced city's downtown core. Re-board the float plane at Victoria Harbour, return to the mainland and dine in Vancouver. Overnight in the Pan Pacific Hotel.
Day Three
After continental breakfast in the hotel, board an executive motorcoach for transfer to your awaiting train. Welcome aboard the Royal Canadian Pacific. For the next 12 days, the luxury train that has hosted royalty, presidents and prime ministers will be your home. The train departs the West Coast for the lush green interior of British Columbia. Enjoy dinner and your first night onboard, as the train rests in Kamloops.
Day Four
Depart by motorcoach to British Columbia's wine region – the Okanagan Valley. Visit a selection of wineries nestled among the bountiful lakes that characterize this region. The culinary temptations continue during a gourmet lunch at Mission Hill Winery. Return to the train in Kamloops and depart for your next overnight stop at Revelstoke, doorstep to Rogers Pass.
Day Five
The Royal Canadian Pacific ascends into the Selkirk, Purcell and Rocky mountain ranges, winding through some of Canada's most rugged and beautiful mountain panoramas. Upon arrival in the town of Golden, enjoy the breathtaking mountain vistas as you are whisked by helicopter to an alpine meadow for a bird's eye view of the valley. Returning to the train, you cross the Continental Divide and witness the turbulent fury of the Kicking Horse River. After a brief stop at Field, British Columbia, experience Canadian Pacific's most historic engineering feat, as you wind through the world-famous Spiral Tunnels, dating back to 1908. Enjoy dinner and arrive at Lake Louise for the overnight stay.
Day Six
Explore the internationally-famous mountain idylls of Lake Louise and Banff, Alberta. The motorcoach will transfer you to the majestic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for a guided tour of the lake and chateau. A short train trip to Banff is followed by motorcoach to the "Castle in the Rockies," the late 1800s Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. After a tour laced with history, enjoy free time on main street Banff to visit the many unique shops of this internationally popular town. Returning to the train, you depart for Calgary to overnight on the Gold Floor of the historic Fairmont Palliser Hotel.
Day Seven
A deluxe continental breakfast is served in the Gold Lounge, and then the day is yours to explore this thriving city known as the "Heart of the New West." Calgary is the head-office capital of Canada, including the headquarters of Canadian Pacific. Rich in western heritage, Calgary invites you to enjoy the day shopping, exploring or participating in a guided tour. In the late afternoon, return to the hotel to reboard the train and continue the adventure east to your overnight location of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.
Day Eight
The day's travel takes you through the heart of the Canadian Prairies to curiously-named Moose Jaw, for a visit to the headquarters of the Canadian Snowbirds, demonstration flight team (431 Squadron) of the Canadian Armed Forces. In late afternoon the train departs for Regina, Saskatchewan, and a First Nations culinary experience. Overnight in Regina.
Day Nine
The highlight of the day is a visit to the imposing, new RCMP Heritage Centre, designed by renowned British Columbia architect, Arthur Erickson. Canada's well recognized, red-coated constabulary was instrumental in establishing law and order in the Northwest – suppressing the whisky trade, conducting fair and amicable relations with the native peoples, and ensuring the safety of settlers and rail workers. In the afternoon, the train departs for Winnipeg, Manitoba, for your overnight stay.
Day Ten
The day begins with an early start to visit the newly-opened Indian Residential School Museum of Canada, in Portage la Prairie. This provocative look into Canada's First Nations history offers an aboriginal perspective of the country's past. Returning to the train, travel to Kenora, Ontario, for an overnight stay, after a sunset Lake of the Woods cruise on the M.S. Kenora.
Day Eleven
Today allows for relaxation as the Royal Canadian Pacific travels from Kenora to Thunder Bay. Arrive in late afternoon for an interpretive tour of the Lakehead Region. Return to the train for dinner and an overnight in Thunder Bay.
Day Twelve
Enjoy a relaxing day and the scenery of the Canadian Great Lakes, as the train travels along Lake Superior. Largest of the Great Lakes, Superior has a rich and dramatic maritime history, made famous in song and narrative. Travel from Thunder Bay to Sudbury for an overnight pause.
Day Thirteen
An early morning departure from Sudbury takes you south to the Ontario wine region of Niagara. The afternoon is spent visiting Niagara Falls with an "Explore the Roar" cruise on Maid of the Mist. Then tour the wine region and end this spectacular day with a private tour and dinner at Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery. Return to the train at
Guelph Junction for your final night aboard.
Day Fourteen
After a leisurely morning, the train departs Guelph Junction and winds along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway, en route to your final destination of "la belle province" and its largest city, Montreal. Arriving after dinner at Windsor Station, you will be transferred to the Gold Floor at The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, marking the end of your journey on the Royal\ Canadian Pacific.
Day Fifteen
Breakfast is offered in the Fairmont's Gold Lounge, then enjoy the day with self-guided sightseeing or perhaps partake in the culinary delights of this cosmopolitan city. The irresistible charm of Old Montreal and Mount Royal Park are only two of the captivating features of this most European of Canadian locations. Your final overnight stay is at The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth.
Day Sixteen
Prior to departure, breakfast is again offered in the Fairmont's Gold Lounge. Bid "au revoir" to Montreal as the chauffeur transfers you to the Pierre Trudeau International Airport for your return home, concluding this extraordinary cross-Canada adventure.
Click here to go back to Accent on Travel USA's Royal Canadian Pacific page
