Canada Coast to Coast

We depart the UK on our flight from London Heathrow to Vancouver, where we transfer to our hotel for three nights on arrival.

The city of Vancouver is one of the world's most desirable places to live, thanks to its fantastic atmosphere and incredible setting between coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Today we take a guided tour of its attractions. We begin at the old Gastown quarter - an area of trendy coffee shops, galleries, native art stores and the Gastown Steam Clock - before experiencing the scents and sights of Chinatown and driving to leafy Stanley Park. Here, we see the colourful totem poles which celebrate the region's Native American history. We finish our tour at Granville Island, which boasts a mouth-watering food market and many craft studios. Your after-noon and evening is free with plenty to explore at your own pace.

Our explorations begin early in the morning as we make our way by coach to Tsawwassen for the ferry to Schwartz Bay, on Vancouver Island. On arrival, we transfer to the wonderful Butchart Gardens, designed in the early 20th century. The gardens feature a Japanese style garden, a rose garden and beautiful sunken garden. We return to the capital city of British Columbia, Victoria by coach. A picturesque city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, you have some free time to explore Victoria independently - you may like to visit the Inner Harbour or the Royal BC Museum, or wander through Chinatown, before we board the return ferry to Vancouver.

We leave Vancouver by coach, beginning the first leg of our trans-Canadian adventure. We stop for lunch in a town called Hope, before climbing the scenic high mountain pass, the Coquihalla, to its summit. Our route continues to Kamloops for the night.

We journey from Kamloops stopping in Clearwater, a stunning river valley in British Columbia, where's there's free time for lunch. We continue to scenic Mount Robson where you have a little time to look around and maybe take some photos. Dense forests, glittering lakes, snaking rivers and soaring, snow-capped peaks pass by our window as we travel towards our hotel in Jasper, where we spend the next two nights.

After a morning at leisure we set out on a scenic excursion to the World Heritage Site of Jasper National Park. Among the attractions here are the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, stunning lakes, mountains, waterfalls and hot springs. The most impressive natural features of the park though, have to be Maligne Canyon, a deep gorge of sheer limestone walls, and Maligne Lake - the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region. This part of the world is also the habitat of rare wildlife, including grey wolves, hoary marmot, caribou and moose.

After a free morning in the lovely town of Jasper, we begin our epic journey aboard The Canadian, travelling to Toronto over the next three days and nights. We settle into our berths for the journey through the foothills of the Rockies, passing pine forests, glaciers, plunging canyons and soaring peaks.

Today is our first full day on the train. From the comfort of the glass-roofed panoramic observation car, sit back and watch the world go by as we travel eastwards, crossing the prairies into the province of Saskatchewan. You may glimpse local wildlife, including bear, moose, eagles and elk. We arrive in Winnipeg tonight, a fascinating city, home to over 50 different ethnic communities.

Today is spent crossing the Canadian Shield - a wild land of glacial lakes, ancient trees and isolated communities. Our journey continues through the scenic lakelands of northern Ontario as we travel overnight towards Toronto.

Arriving in Toronto, our base for two nights, enjoy a free evening to settle in to your surroundings. Our hotel is in the heart of downtown Toronto, close to a number of restaurants and within easy walking distance from Old Town, one of the city's most vibrant districts.

We take a guided coach excursion to Niagara Falls, one of the most impressive natural wonders in the world. We enjoy a boat tour to the base of the falls, feeling the full effect of the three separate falls - American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls - as they converge into one. We continue to Table Rock, a national park on the edge of Canada's Blue Ridge Mountains. We also see the Niagara Whirlpool, caused by the powerful force of the rapids. We continue to visit the small town of Niagara-on-the-Lake where there's free time to look around.

This morning we transfer to Toronto's station for the rail service to Montreal, then change trains to continue our journey to Québec City, the only walled city in North America. We arrive in the beautiful, historical city this evening and spend the night in a central hotel.

Today we explore the city on a guided, seeing the Citadel and the 'Plains of Abraham' - the site of the historic battle between British and French forces which led to the French surrender of Quebec. Later, we transfer by coach to a sugar shack where maple syrup is produced. We have a short tour, learning about the history of maple syrup in Canada, and a tasting, followed by a three course lunch inspired by the syrup. The rest of your afternoon is free. Québec has a fascinating history and some wonderful architecture, including the Basilica Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec and the beautiful Château Frontenac. The Old City is a joy to explore, with pedestrianised streets, galleries, bistros and shops. Also worth a visit is Dufferin Terrace, a popular viewing site. This evening we board The Ocean for our overnight rail journey to Nova Scotia.

During the night, The Ocean travels alongside the St Lawrence River to Chaleur Bay. The train then heads across New Brunswick and into Nova Scotia itself, arriving at Halifax, where we stay for two nights.

We explore Nova Scotia's maritime treasures and coast on a sightseeing tour today, visiting Peggy's Cove - a charming fishing village with a lighthouse and a number of traditional inukshuks - age-old rock structures used to navigate the frozen north. Legend says the community got its name from the sole survivor of a schooner shipwreck. We continue to Lunenburg, whose quaint waterfront houses with colourful wooden façades, have earned the town World Heritage status.

With a free morning at leisure, you could head to Point Pleasant Park, in Halifax's south end peninsula. This wooded 75-hectare park is popular with locals and offers several walking trails. Alternatively, maybe visit the historic Keith brewery, sample the local lobster at a waterside diner, or spend some time in the maritime museum. Later, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to London Heathrow.

We arrive in London, and you're free to continue your journey home.