Canadian Tours
Rail ToursDEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
May 31, 2027 – 9 Days
Vancouver Island
May 30, 2027 – 9 Days
BC Interior
May 30, 2027 – 10 Days
Activity Level 2
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
Vancouver to Jasper to Prince Rupert on VIA Rail!
Experience some of British Columbia’s most spectacular landscapes by trains, ferry, and catamaran on this unforgettable circle tour. You will travel aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper in first-class Sleeper Plus accommodations, then continue on the scenic Skeena Train to Prince Rupert, where daylight reveals majestic mountains, rushing rivers, and remote wilderness. An exciting highlight is a catamaran excursion into the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Sanctuary, one of the best places in British Columbia to observe grizzly bears in their natural habitat. Your journey concludes aboard BC Ferries’ Northern Expedition, sailing through the breathtaking Inside Passage to Port Hardy. Combining iconic train journeys, remarkable wildlife, and unforgettable coastal scenery, this is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the natural beauty of British Columbia.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Meals
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12 total meals
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11 total meals
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Transportation
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Accommodation
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Guides, Gratuities & Fees
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Knowledgeable Wells Gray tour director
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Tour Highlights (Included)
Attractions are subject to change. Please see Tour Policies for more information. -
TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | Cabin for Two | Cabin for One | Prestige Cabin (Waitlist Only) |
|---|---|---|---|
$7,365$9,395 |
$8,370 |
$8,315$11,955 |
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$7,415$9,350 |
$8,320 |
$8,365$11,905 |
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$7,240$9,140 |
$8,110 |
$8,185$11,695 |
- Please add 5% GST.
- BC Seniors (65 & over): receive a $111 discount if you are travelling from the BC Interior or the Lower Mainland. $93 discount if you are travelling from Vancouver Island.
- Earn 184 Experience Points.
Early Booking Bonus!
$250 discount on first 12 seats; $125 on next 8.
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 can climb two flights of stairs without assistance. You may need to handle your own luggage at a hotel if luggage service is not available.
You may bring a cane or walking poles if needed. This tour is not appropriate for people who require the use of a walker. Some rooms in Jasper have a flight of stairs to the bedroom. The coach cannot carry a scooter or motorized wheelchair. The tour director and driver have many responsibilities, so please do notexpect 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.
On The Canadian: 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.
On all trains: Steps on and off the trains may be challenging for those with mobility restrictions. Due to narrow train corridors, most walkers with four wheels cannot be used on board.
Tour Size
This tour can accommodate 40 participants.
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NORTHERN EXPEDITION: BC Ferries’ Northern Expedition was specially designed for Inside Passage voyages. Launched in 2009, she is 150 metres long with a beam of 23 metres and a draft of 7½ metres. She carries 130 vehicles, 600 passengers, and 30 crew at a travelling speed of 20.3 knots. The ferry has three passenger decks and an outdoor sun deck. Facilities include the Canoe Café, gift shop, and Raven’s Lounge. A comfortable reserved seat in the private Aurora Lounge is included in your fare. The 500-kilometre journey from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert takes 15 hours, mostly in daylight to permit great viewing of the rugged coastline and abundant wildlife, marine life, and birdlife. Our motorcoach travels on the ferry, so luggage and other belongings can be stored there.
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TRAIN NOTES: Vancouver to Jasper – 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 is access after 4 pm to 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 the Skyline Dome Car which has books, games, lectures on local topics, and refreshments. Prestige Class – Please ask about availability for these cabins from Vancouver to Jasper and experience an unparalleled level of elegance, comfort, and privileged service. Features include a personal concierge, private washroom with shower, flat screen TV with movie selection, gourmet meals, and complimentary beverages. Jasper to Prince George – You are reserved in Economy Class on the Skeena Train which is the only class offered. There is usually a dome car with seating shared among all passengers. There is a snack bar with a limited selection of snacks and beverages, but Wells Gray arranges a box lunch from a Jasper restaurant. Prince George to Prince Rupert – It’s the same train which stays overnight in Prince George. Wells Gray arranges a box lunch from a Prince George restaurant and a box dinner from a Terrace restaurant. 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. 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 Jasper, Prince George or Prince Rupert, but other times it arrives early! If the train is very late arriving in Jasper, lunch is served to Sleeper Plus Class passengers. Motorcoach follows train – Our motorcoach travels between the cities that the trains serve and carries your checked luggage, so you do not have to carry it on and off the trains. A local bus provides the transfer from the Prince Rupert train station to the hotel, as the length of that day exceeds the coach driver’s allowed on-duty hours. Luggage – Large suitcases are not permitted in private rooms for the overnight train, so your luggage stays on our motorcoach. Bring a smaller carry-on bag with the things you need for the train journeys. Gratuities Vancouver to Jasper train – The customary gratuity for your room steward is not included in your tour fare due to the challenges of distribution on board, so $5 per person is recommended. Gratuities are included for the dining car train staff.
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TOUR NOTES: Please book early! Travelling by train in Canada is very popular and the first-class service from Vancouver to Jasper 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 sold out in 2026 with a waiting list, so it will probably sell out again. Therefore, waiting too long to book generally means “Sorry, wait till next year.”
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Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. The train may not be able to satisfy all food allergies. The box lunches for the Skeena train must be ordered long before departure. 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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Payments: A deposit of $300 per person is requested at the time of booking and balance is due March 24, 2027. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms and 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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Early Booking Bonus: Receive a $250 discount on the first 12 seats and $125 on the next 8 seats for booking early with deposit. The discount is not offered after March 24, 2027.
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BC Seniors (65 & over): $111 discount offered by BC Ferries and VIA Rail for passengers from the BC Interior and the Lower Mainland. $93 discount for passengers from Vancouver Island. Please bring your BC ID Card on the tour.
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Cancellation Policy: Up to February 24, 2027, the cancellation charge is $100 per person. From February 25 to March 24, the cancellation charge is $300 per person (your deposit). From March 25 to April 23, the cancellation charge is 70% of the tour fare. After April 23, there is no refund.
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Itinerary and Fare Changes: Please refer to Wells Gray Tours’ Terms and Conditions. Please read the information on page 6 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. Insurance premiums are not refundable whether or not you make a claim.
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Photo Credits: VIA Rail (VIA Rail between Jasper & Prince Rupert, Dome Car on The Canadian), Wikimedia (Northern Expedition), and Prince Rupert Adventures (Grizzly Bears).
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Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 184 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 March 24, 2027.
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Consumer Protection BC Licences: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842