Rocky Mountains Rail Adventure
Friday 26th September to Saturday 11th October 2008
Travelling into the very heart of Canada this is a truly magnificent journey through the Rocky Mountains providing views of some of Canada’s most breathtaking scenery. We travel on Train No.1, The Canadian, in silver and blue class from Toronto to Jasper. Here we stay awhile before boarding the Skeena which runs through a wilderness of mountains, lakes and rivers to the Pacific Ocean at Prince George. Undoubtedly the star of the show will be our steam locomotive, the Hudson 4-6-4 number 2816 named Empress which hauls our train from the coast at Vancouver through the Rockies to the cowboy town of Calgary, a fantastic steam hauled journey spread over six days.
Friday 26th September
Fly to Toronto
We leave London Heathrow late morning on a scheduled flight to Toronto arriving mid-afternoon. We transfer to the four-star Fairmont Royal York Hotel for one night.
Saturday 27th September
The Canadian
We board Canada’s premier train The Canadian for departure at 09.00. We travel silver and blue class, which offers the highest quality accommodation including comfortable bedrooms, superb meals and impeccable service. From the comfort of our armchairs, we can admire huge forests, sparkling lakes and prairies that stretch as far as the eye can see as we travel through French speaking Ontario. (B L D)
Sunday 28th September
Winnipeg
Our train continues across vast prairies, undulating plains that span the three provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. We call at Winnipeg, capital of Manitoba, for an hour giving the chance to stretch our legs. (B L D)
Monday 29th September
The Rockies
Heading west, we leave Edmonton and climb into the Canadian Rockies to enjoy spectacular landscapes of forested valleys, snow capped peaks, rugged escarpments, glaciers, pine forests and turquoise lakes. We are due to arrive in Jasper early afternoon, where a coach will transfer us to our hotel for overnight accommodation. (B L)
Tuesday 30th September
Jasper Park
Today we can either relax or take a coach trip on a Rocky Mountain adventure through Jasper Park, the wildest of the mountain parks, and we will see the world famous Columbia Icefields with its many glaciers. It has eight major glaciers including the Dome and Stutfield Glaciers, and we should be able to stand on the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. The park is internationally-renowned for wildlife viewing, and is home to some of North America’s rare wildlife including eagles, grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. (B)
Wednesday 1st October
The Skeena
The transfer to Jasper station is late morning where we board the Skeena for a fantastic 725 mile journey over two days. We leave the Jasper National Park and begin to claw our way through the Rockies, eating on board the train. We arrive at Prince George and transfer to our hotel. (B L)
Thursday 2nd October
The Pacific Ocean at Prince Rupert
We depart Prince George in the morning.
Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served on board the train. During the journey the scenery gets better and better. We cross the mighty Fraser River, run alongside the Skeena River known as the river of mists, down to the rainforests.
From the train we may see eagles, moose, black bears and other wildlife. At about 20:00 we arrive at the Pacific Ocean in the fishing port of Prince Rupert and transfer to our hotel. (B L D)
Friday 3rd October
Fly to Vancouver
After breakfast we join a late morning flight to Vancouver where we transfer to the Fairmont Waterside Hotel for two nights. In the afternoon we will have a city tour including Stanley Park with its woodlands of cedar and fir. We should see swans, ducks and Canada geese. The tour includes the world’s only steam clock, the famous Gastown Steam Clock, built in 1977 based on an original 1875 design. We visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge, stretched 230 feet high above the river below, and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s classical Chinese garden, the only full-sized one outside China. (B)
Saturday 4th October
Whistler Mountains
The Whistler Explorer will be waiting for us at North Vancouver station. We depart and enjoy lovely views over Howe Sound, as we wind alongside this scenic ocean inlet. Later we cross over the Cheakamus Canyon Bridge giving incredible views over the white water rapids.
The jagged snow-capped peaks of the Tantulus Mountains come into view. On arrival at Whistler a coach connection will take us into the pretty town of Whistler, around three hours is available to explore. On the return journey a light meal will be served. (B D)
Sunday 5th October
Departure from Vancouver
Our steam train should be waiting for us at Vancouver’s Granville Street Station.
(For operational reasons the departure may be from Coquitlam, Canadian Pacific’s main yard, about twenty miles away in Vancouver’s suburbs.) Throughout the day our steam locomotive will haul us past the changing scenery of lush greenery, rugged mountains, barren lands and shady maple and alder trees. On arrival we will have a steam private charter on the Spirit of Kamloops train in the early evening. We have dinner and stay overnight in the Executive Inn.
(B L D)
Monday 6th October
Into the Rockies
We depart for Revelstoke continuing on to the important junction of Golden, which is nestled in the stunning Columbia Valley and at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers. It is surrounded by three different mountain ranges and five National Parks.
We have dinner and stay overnight in Golden, at the Prestige Rocky Mountainside Resort. (B L D)
Tuesday 7th October
Through the high Rockies
From Golden the train diverges from the Canadian Pacific Railway main line and takes the former Kootenay Railway, south along the Columbia River Valley. We stay overnight in Cranbrook at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort. We have dinner and period entertainment in the reconstructed Alexandra Hall, the fabulous original dining room from the hotel of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Winnipeg. (B L D)
Wednesday 8th October
The Crowsnest Pass
In the morning we have a private visit to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel that houses complete trains from previous eras, before taking the spectacular line through the Crowsnest Pass at over 4,000 feet, where we cross the continental divide. There is an optional visit (at additional cost) to the excellent Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. This buffalo jump was used for 5,500 years by aboriginal peoples of the plains to kill buffalo, by driving them off the ten metre high cliff. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, it celebrates native American culture and customs. We have dinner and spend the night in the new Lethbridge Holiday Inn. (B L D)
Thursday 9th October
To Calgary
This morning we have the opportunity to photograph our train on the spectacular 1 mile long and 314 feet high Lethbridge Trestle.
The largest in North America, this amazing steel structure was completed in 1909 to replace the original wooden bridge. We then continue our journey through the prairies to Calgary, arriving mid afternoon into the Pavilion station.
The Pavilion is attached to the five-star Fairmont Palliser Hotel, where we will stay overnight and have our farewell dinner. (B L D)
Friday 10th October
Calgary
After breakfast there will be time before our flight to explore this city. Although very modern, Calgary still retains much of its traditional culture of saloons and western bars. A drink in one of these bars is a great way to soak up the atmosphere. There are many other attractions including the Calgary Tower with its glass observation deck, which provides terrific views of the city skyline, Devonian Gardens, one of the largest urban indoor gardens in the world, and Calgary’s Heritage Park, which recreates nineteenth century life. Our flight departs in the early evening for return to London. (B)
Saturday 11th October
Arriving London
Our flight arrives London Heathrow mid morning.
Accommodation on the Canadian
All of our accommodation is in bedrooms, not sleepers, giving more space and privacy.
Double bedrooms have comfortable armchairs by day and cosy upper and lower berths by night. Each room has its own washbasin, WC and clothes hanging space.
Single bedroom: as above, with single bed. There are showers in each car.
Fly to Toronto
We leave London Heathrow late morning on a scheduled flight to Toronto arriving mid-afternoon. We transfer to the four-star Fairmont Royal York Hotel for one night.
Saturday 27th September
The Canadian
We board Canada’s premier train The Canadian for departure at 09.00. We travel silver and blue class, which offers the highest quality accommodation including comfortable bedrooms, superb meals and impeccable service. From the comfort of our armchairs, we can admire huge forests, sparkling lakes and prairies that stretch as far as the eye can see as we travel through French speaking Ontario. (B L D)
Sunday 28th September
Winnipeg
Our train continues across vast prairies, undulating plains that span the three provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. We call at Winnipeg, capital of Manitoba, for an hour giving the chance to stretch our legs. (B L D)
Monday 29th September
The Rockies
Heading west, we leave Edmonton and climb into the Canadian Rockies to enjoy spectacular landscapes of forested valleys, snow capped peaks, rugged escarpments, glaciers, pine forests and turquoise lakes. We are due to arrive in Jasper early afternoon, where a coach will transfer us to our hotel for overnight accommodation. (B L)
Tuesday 30th September
Jasper Park
Today we can either relax or take a coach trip on a Rocky Mountain adventure through Jasper Park, the wildest of the mountain parks, and we will see the world famous Columbia Icefields with its many glaciers. It has eight major glaciers including the Dome and Stutfield Glaciers, and we should be able to stand on the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. The park is internationally-renowned for wildlife viewing, and is home to some of North America’s rare wildlife including eagles, grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. (B)
Wednesday 1st October
The Skeena
The transfer to Jasper station is late morning where we board the Skeena for a fantastic 725 mile journey over two days. We leave the Jasper National Park and begin to claw our way through the Rockies, eating on board the train. We arrive at Prince George and transfer to our hotel. (B L)
Thursday 2nd October
The Pacific Ocean at Prince Rupert
We depart Prince George in the morning.
Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served on board the train. During the journey the scenery gets better and better. We cross the mighty Fraser River, run alongside the Skeena River known as the river of mists, down to the rainforests.
From the train we may see eagles, moose, black bears and other wildlife. At about 20:00 we arrive at the Pacific Ocean in the fishing port of Prince Rupert and transfer to our hotel. (B L D)
Friday 3rd October
Fly to Vancouver
After breakfast we join a late morning flight to Vancouver where we transfer to the Fairmont Waterside Hotel for two nights. In the afternoon we will have a city tour including Stanley Park with its woodlands of cedar and fir. We should see swans, ducks and Canada geese. The tour includes the world’s only steam clock, the famous Gastown Steam Clock, built in 1977 based on an original 1875 design. We visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge, stretched 230 feet high above the river below, and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s classical Chinese garden, the only full-sized one outside China. (B)
Saturday 4th October
Whistler Mountains
The Whistler Explorer will be waiting for us at North Vancouver station. We depart and enjoy lovely views over Howe Sound, as we wind alongside this scenic ocean inlet. Later we cross over the Cheakamus Canyon Bridge giving incredible views over the white water rapids.
The jagged snow-capped peaks of the Tantulus Mountains come into view. On arrival at Whistler a coach connection will take us into the pretty town of Whistler, around three hours is available to explore. On the return journey a light meal will be served. (B D)
Sunday 5th October
Departure from Vancouver
Our steam train should be waiting for us at Vancouver’s Granville Street Station.
(For operational reasons the departure may be from Coquitlam, Canadian Pacific’s main yard, about twenty miles away in Vancouver’s suburbs.) Throughout the day our steam locomotive will haul us past the changing scenery of lush greenery, rugged mountains, barren lands and shady maple and alder trees. On arrival we will have a steam private charter on the Spirit of Kamloops train in the early evening. We have dinner and stay overnight in the Executive Inn.
(B L D)
Monday 6th October
Into the Rockies
We depart for Revelstoke continuing on to the important junction of Golden, which is nestled in the stunning Columbia Valley and at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers. It is surrounded by three different mountain ranges and five National Parks.
We have dinner and stay overnight in Golden, at the Prestige Rocky Mountainside Resort. (B L D)
Tuesday 7th October
Through the high Rockies
From Golden the train diverges from the Canadian Pacific Railway main line and takes the former Kootenay Railway, south along the Columbia River Valley. We stay overnight in Cranbrook at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort. We have dinner and period entertainment in the reconstructed Alexandra Hall, the fabulous original dining room from the hotel of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Winnipeg. (B L D)
Wednesday 8th October
The Crowsnest Pass
In the morning we have a private visit to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel that houses complete trains from previous eras, before taking the spectacular line through the Crowsnest Pass at over 4,000 feet, where we cross the continental divide. There is an optional visit (at additional cost) to the excellent Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. This buffalo jump was used for 5,500 years by aboriginal peoples of the plains to kill buffalo, by driving them off the ten metre high cliff. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, it celebrates native American culture and customs. We have dinner and spend the night in the new Lethbridge Holiday Inn. (B L D)
Thursday 9th October
To Calgary
This morning we have the opportunity to photograph our train on the spectacular 1 mile long and 314 feet high Lethbridge Trestle.
The largest in North America, this amazing steel structure was completed in 1909 to replace the original wooden bridge. We then continue our journey through the prairies to Calgary, arriving mid afternoon into the Pavilion station.
The Pavilion is attached to the five-star Fairmont Palliser Hotel, where we will stay overnight and have our farewell dinner. (B L D)
Friday 10th October
Calgary
After breakfast there will be time before our flight to explore this city. Although very modern, Calgary still retains much of its traditional culture of saloons and western bars. A drink in one of these bars is a great way to soak up the atmosphere. There are many other attractions including the Calgary Tower with its glass observation deck, which provides terrific views of the city skyline, Devonian Gardens, one of the largest urban indoor gardens in the world, and Calgary’s Heritage Park, which recreates nineteenth century life. Our flight departs in the early evening for return to London. (B)
Saturday 11th October
Arriving London
Our flight arrives London Heathrow mid morning.
Accommodation on the Canadian
All of our accommodation is in bedrooms, not sleepers, giving more space and privacy.
Double bedrooms have comfortable armchairs by day and cosy upper and lower berths by night. Each room has its own washbasin, WC and clothes hanging space.
Single bedroom: as above, with single bed. There are showers in each car.
 |
 |
Price
| Price per person | £3995 |
| Single supplement | £495 |
Price includes:
- Scheduled direct flight London Heathrow to Toronto
- Flight Prince Rupert to Vancouver
- Return flight Calgary to London Heathrow
- 3 days and 2 nights on the Canadian in silver and blue class (full board)
- 12 nights accommodation and breakfast in good hotels
- Totem class on the Skeena with all meals included
- All transfers during the tour
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner