Canadian Tours
Rail ToursDEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
April 23, 2027 – 17 Days
Vancouver Island
April 22, 2027 – 18 Days
BC Interior
April 22, 2027 – 18 Days
Activity Level 2
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
Travel across Canada by VIA Rail from Vancouver to Halifax
The railway helped build Canada, linking distant regions and bringing a young nation together. When the last spike was driven at Craigellachie in 1885, a vision that stretched from coast to coast became reality. Now, you can experience that legacy on an epic rail journey from Vancouver on the Pacific Coast to Halifax on the Atlantic. Along the way, watch the Rocky Mountains give way to the sweeping prairies, discover vibrant cities and diverse cultures, marvel at the thundering power of Niagara Falls from Skylon Tower, and explore the maritime charm of Atlantic Canada, including iconic Peggy’s Cove. This is an active journey featuring full days of sightseeing, guided walks, and the unique experience of living aboard the train as it crosses the country. Travelling aboard Canada’s national railway offers a perspective on the landscapes, history, and people that few travellers ever experience. Join Wells Gray Tours for an unforgettable coast to coast adventure.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Meals
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31 meals
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30 meals
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29 meals
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Transportation
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Accommodation
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Guides & Gratuities
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Knowledgeable Wells Gray tour director
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Tour Highlights (Included)
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TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | Cabin for Two | Cabin for One | Prestige Cabin (Waitlist Only) |
|---|---|---|---|
$11,795$15,165 |
$13,895 |
$14,945$22,360 |
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$11,970$15,340 |
$14,070 |
$15,120$22,535 |
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$11,635$14,920 |
$13,650 |
$14,785$22,115 |
- Please add 5% GST.
- There is an additional cost to join this tour from Nanaimo or Comox.
- Prestige class is currently unavailable. Please add your name to our waitlist if you are interested.
DEPARTURE POINTS & DATES
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Level
Moderate activity: As a traveller you like a variety of activities and walking up to 2 km with breaks such as a guided walking tour is very doable for you without assistance. You must be able to walk 600 metres (sometimes uphill or downhill) such as to The Forks in Winnipeg or the Niagara Falls cruise vessel. You may have to walk through up to 5 cars on a moving train to access the dining car. If booking a single bedroom, be aware that at night the toilet is under your murphy bed or you can go down the hall into the next car. Double bedrooms have upper and lower berths, so one person must be able to get into the upper berth using a ladder. Steps on and off the train may be awkward for those with mobility challenges.
Due to narrow train corridors, this tour is not appropriate for people who require the use of a walker. The coaches cannot carry a scooter or motorized wheelchair. You may bring a cane or walking poles if needed. There can be longer walks in airports while flying home and you must handle your own luggage to the check-in area. The tour director and coach drivers have many responsibilities, so please do not expect them, or your fellow travellers, to provide ongoing assistance. If you are not capable of keeping up with the group or require frequent assistance, the tour director may stop you from participating in some activities or some days of the tour. In extreme situations, you may be required to leave the tour and travel home at your own expense; travel insurance will probably not cover you.
Tour Size
This tour can accommodate 40 participants.
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NOTES ABOUT THE TRAINS:
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VANCOUVER TO TORONTO: You are reserved in Sleeper Plus Class on The Canadian. Sleeping accommodation is in private bedrooms, either double with upper and lower berths or single with lower berth only. Amenities include seats by day and beds at night, electrical outlet, toilet, sink, and mirror. Shower facilities are located nearby. There will be opportunities to visit the Park Car with its excellent views and the Bullet Lounge. All meals are included in the elegant dining car which offers exclusive service for first-class travellers. Wander over to one of the two Skyline Dome Cars which has books, games, lectures on local topics, and refreshments.
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Prestige Class: Currently, there are no Prestige Class Cabins available, but we will be gathering a waitlist for clients who are interested. Features include a personal concierge, private washroom with shower, flat screen TV with movie selection, gourmet meals, and complimentary beverages. Please indicate your interest at the time of booking.
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TORONTO TO NIAGARA FALLS: All seats are in Economy Class for this two-hour journey.
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TORONTO TO MONTRÉAL: Enjoy the luxury of Business Class on this 5½ hour fast train with large comfortable seats, Wi-Fi, and a three-course gourmet lunch with wine. Travel at speeds up to 160 kph.
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MONTRÉAL TO HALIFAX: You are booked in Sleeper Plus Class on The Ocean with breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Sleeping accommodation is in private cabins, either double with upper and lower berths or single with lower berth only. Amenities include toilet, handbasin, and couch(es) that convert into bed(s).
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LUGGAGE: While on the trains, your suitcase is stored in the baggage car. Large suitcases are not permitted in private rooms for overnight stays, so bring a smaller carry-on bag with the things you need for the train journeys. Niagara Falls is a day trip, so your luggage stays in your hotel room.
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GRATUITIES: The customary gratuities for train room attendants are not included in your tour fare due to the challenges of distribution on board, so please budget $5 per person per day. Gratuities are included for the dining car train staff, all included meals off the train, local guides, museum docents, boat crew, and coach drivers (outside of BC). Gratuities to the Wells Gray tour director and BC coach driver are not included and are left to your discretion.
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SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THE TRAIN SCHEDULE: When you travel by train in Canada, it is essential that you are flexible and patient about the schedule, especially arrival and departure times. Expect delays, sometimes many hours! The times mentioned in the itinerary are from VIA Rail’s published timetable. Wells Gray Tours cannot be held responsible for additional costs due to a late train. If an extra hotel night is needed (such as in Winnipeg if the April 28 train is late), we will make those arrangements for you and the hotel will bill you directly. There is no refund for missed hotel nights or attractions as these are prepaid. Freight trains have priority over passenger trains, so sometimes the train is hours late into Winnipeg or Toronto, but other times it arrives early! The off-train break is in Winnipeg in 2027 as that fits best into the schedule and there are many activities offered during these three days between trains.
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Please book early: Travelling by train across Canada is very popular and the first-class service that we use is in high demand. VIA Rail and many hotels have strict policies about our commitment to the number of rooms needed and will cancel rooms from our original reservation if they can sell the rooms to other visitors. If this happens, we have to consider the tour full, even though seats are available on the motorcoach. This tour is limited to 40 travellers and it usually goes full every year. Therefore, waiting too long to book generally means “Sorry, wait until next year.”
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Flight seating: We are unable to take requests for window or aisle seating on the planes in any class. The airline will not accept them, as group seating is assigned as a block. If this is important to you, we suggest you take the “No Flight” option with a fare reduction of $425 and book your own flight which allows seat selection. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information on taking the “No Flight” option.
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Flight upgrades: Please enquire about current prices for upgrades on the flight from Halifax to home cities. Premium economy may be available.
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Flight delays or cancellations: In the event flights are delayed or cancelled by airlines due to weather or other reasons, there may be additional costs to you. Wells Gray Tours will not pay for hotel rooms and meals during the delay. Most travel insurance policies cover expenses incurred for weather delays.
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Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. The trains may not be able to satisfy all food allergies. An allergy causes medical distress, a preference does not. For some allergies, please consider bringing your own snacks or food items so you are not dependent on what restaurants are able to serve.
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Show cancellation: It rarely happens, but actors occasionally get sick, or some mishap causes the cancellation of a show. This can occur even shortly before the performance begins. We know that this would be disappointing for our customers, but the only refund we would be able to obtain for you would be the actual ticket price of the show. The trains, hotels, motorcoaches, and other tour services are all prepaid and are non-refundable at short notice.
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Payments: A deposit of $1,000 per person is requested at the time of booking and balance is due January 12, 2027. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms & Conditions, Activity Level and Cancellation Policy outlined. Payments can be made by online banking or cheque (3% discount on tour fare), or by Visa or Mastercard.
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Cancellation Policy: Up to December 11, 2026, the cancellation charge is $100 per person. From December 12, 2026 to January 12, 2027, the cancellation charge is $400 per person. From January 13 to February 12, the cancellation charge is 50% of the tour fare. From February 13 to March 12, the cancellation charge is 80% of the tour fare. After March 12, there is no refund.
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Itinerary and Fare Changes: Our many suppliers may notify us about changes to the itinerary prior to departure and sometimes during the tour. We do our best to substitute a similar service if something cancels, but occasionally the only alternative is to provide a refund for the missed activity. Please note that if we are forced to cancel a tour component due to an issue beyond our control, the current penalties still apply if you choose to cancel the entire tour. Fuel surcharges and changes to taxes or other tour costs can occur at any time, therefore Wells Gray Tours reserves the right to increase fares due to such changes up to departure. Please read the information in “Special Note about the Train Schedule.”
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Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Insurance policy is available through Wells Gray Tours and coverage is provided by Travel Guard until September 8, 2026 and Battleface after that. Policies purchased at deposit include a waiver of the pre-existing condition clause for medical and cancellation claims, otherwise policies can be purchased no later than at final payment. This tour stays in Canada, but medical costs can vary a lot from one province to another. While your BC Services Card may partly cover you for a medical issue that arises during the tour, you will probably benefit from trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage in case of illness or a mishap before or during the tour. Many other benefits such as luggage insurance are included. Medical questionnaire is not needed. Please contact us for details. If you have your own travel insurance, please read the policy carefully to be sure that you are adequately covered for medical, cancellation, interruption, and luggage.
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Photo Credits: Tour director Rhonda (Toronto Skyline), Tourism Nova Scotia (Lunenburg), Rachel Komori (Peggy's Cove), Pixabay (Niagara Falls), VIA Rail (all others).
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Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 285 e-points. Each time you travel on a Wells Gray tour, you earn e-points that are added to your account after the tour returns. One e-point equals $1. Redeem your earned points on select tours or accumulate enough points to earn a free tour! Redemptions offered until January 12, 2027.
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Consumer Protection BC Licences: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842