Canada Coast to Coast

We depart the UK on our flight from London Heathrow to Vancouver, where we transfer to our hotel for two nights on arrival. The city of Vancouver is one of the most desirable places to live in the world thanks to its fantastic atmosphere and incredible setting between coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

On Day 2 we take a guided sightseeing tour, visiting the old Gastown quarter - an area of trendy coffee shops, galleries, native art stores and home to the famous Gastown Steam Clock. We also experience the scents and sights of Chinatown before driving to leafy Stanley Park where we see the colourful totem poles that celebrate this region's Native American history. We finish our tour at Granville Island, which boasts a mouth-watering food market and many craft studios.

We leave Vancouver by coach, beginning the first leg of our trans-Canadian adventure. Our route takes us across the magnificent and mountainous Coquihalla Pass before stopping for lunch in Hope and continuing to Sun Peaks for the night.

We journey past Clearwater this morning, a stunning river valley in British Columbia. Dense forests, glittering lakes, snaking rivers and soaring, snow-capped peaks pass by our window as we travel towards our hotel in Jasper, home for the next two nights.

On Day 5, we enjoy a scenic excursion around Jasper National Park, discovering beautiful Maligne Canyon, a 164-foot deep gorge of sheer limestone walls, waterfalls, and rock formations. We also see the turquoise waters of Maligne Lake, the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region.

After a free morning, we board The Canadian, bound for Toronto. Settling into our berths, we begin our spectacular journey through the diverse, beautiful and rugged backdrops of central and eastern Canada. From the comfort of the glass-roofed panoramic observation car, sit back and watch the world go by as we travel through the towering Rockies, the central plains of the Prairies and across the scenic lakelands of northern Ontario.

Arriving in Toronto, our base for two nights, enjoy a free evening to begin exploring your new surroundings and settle in.

We take a guided coach excursion to Niagara Falls on Day 10, one of the most impressive natural wonders in the world. We enjoy a boat tour to the base of the falls, getting the full effect of the tumultuous waters as the three separate sections, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls, converge into one. Continuing to Table Rock, a national park on the edge of Canada's Blue Ridge Mountains, we also see the Niagara Whirlpool, a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the powerful force of the rapids, transferring to the small town of Niagara-on-the-Lake afterwards, a quaint area known for its wineries.

Making our way to Toronto's station, we board The Corridor service to Montreal, changing trains for the final leg of our journey to Québec.

We stay here overnight, enjoying a guided tour on Day 12 that includes the Citadel and the 'Plains of Abraham' - the site of a brutal battle between British and French forces during the Seven Years' War. Later, we transfer by coach to a local sugar shack where maple syrup is produced, enjoying a brief tour that teaches us about the history and importance of maple syrup in Canada, how it's made and a tasting. This is followed by a delicious three course lunch inspired by the sticky sweet treat. The rest of your afternoon is free. Take an atmospheric walk around the Old Town, which dates back to the 17th century and is home to a rich collection of historic landmarks and museums, before 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.

On Day 14, we explore the province's maritime treasures and coastal highlights on a sightseeing tour, visiting Peggy's Cove, a charming fishing village with a famous lighthouse, before continuing to UNESCO-listed Lunenburg, popular because of its quaint waterfront and colourful buildings.

With a free morning to look around, you could head to Point Pleasant Park, which lies on a rocky, 75-hectare peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, visit the historic Keith brewery for a locally-produced pint before sampling a local delicacy of lobster for lunch, or stop off at the maritime museum to learn about the area's important seafaring past. Later, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to London Heathrow, arriving on Day 16.