Journey across Canada's winter wonderland by train

The frozen phenomenon of Niagara Falls in winter awaits today. You will be met at your hotel by your driver-guide and taken on a shared bus to Niagara Falls. The journey is about two hours each way. On arrival, see the falls held back by thick layers of ice, creating unique formations from the ‘Journey Behind the Falls’, and from above at Table Rock. A buffet lunch with views over the falls is included before journeying to the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake on the way back to Toronto.

This morning, make your own way to Toronto Union Station where you’ll check your bags and board The Canadian train bound for Winnipeg. You have a cabin for two with a private bathroom and shared shower included, or you can upgrade to the larger Prestige class with a double bed and private shower. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included onboard, and snacks and drinks are available for purchase. You’ll have a guide to talk you through the main sights along the way, and you can make yourself comfortable in the dome viewing car for the best viewpoint.

Your journey across Canada’s winter wonderland continues today as you pass through the southern edge of Ontario province into the southeast tip of Manitoba. Along the way, you’ll be travelling across the top of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, which are likely to be frozen over at this time of year. You arrive in Winnipeg this evening and make your own way to your hotel, which will be your base for the next three nights.

Mostly concentrated around the area north of the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, Winnipeg is a walkable city, even in the winter. To get out into the snowy wilderness, we recommend a visit to the snow maze at St Adolphe, just south of the city. Here you can also see snow sculptures and warm yourself by firepits while following the labyrinth of passageways. If you’re in Winnipeg at the end of January and the few weeks of February, you’ll catch the taste bud tingling RAW: almond festival, a 22-day fine dining festival hosted on the frozen rivers of the city in a unique pop-up structure.

You have another day at leisure exploring today. If you’re feeling the cold, we recommend stepping inside the Assiniboine Zoo, where you can enter a tunnel to see rescued polar bears swimming above you. There’s also a wide range of museums and galleries, including the Royal Canadian Mint, the year-round botanical gardens of The Leaf, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery for the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art. In the evening, we highly recommend feeling the adrenaline rush and thundering atmosphere of an ice hockey game at Canada Life Centre.

You have most of the day at leisure in Winnipeg today before your onward journey. We recommend ice skating at Winnipeg’s Arctic Glacier Winter Park, where you may even be able to skate on the frozen surfaces of the rivers. In the afternoon, make your own way back to the train station to pick up The Canadian train, this time heading all the way to Vancouver. Once again, you will have a cabin for two with onboard meals included.

Your journey continues across the province of Saskatchewan today. While known for being largely flat and prairie land, in winter, the landscape is transformed, and you’ll see vast expanses and rolling hills covered in sparkling snow. From the comfort of your cabin, enjoy a hot drink while gazing out as you pass through the larger city of Saskatoon on your way across the provincial border with Alberta toward Edmonton. During the night, you’ll continue your journey to Jasper. If you prefer, you can also stop in Jasper for three nights to see winter wildlife and take an expedition ice-climbing waterfalls before continuing.

Arriving in Jasper in the morning, your train then continues its route through central British Columbia. On your exit, you pass by the towering Mount Robson, the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies — we suggest being in the dome car to see this one. You’ll then continue through the arid farmlands and desert of BC’s interior. We also recommend listening for the announcement of Hell’s Gate Falls to see the thundering waterfall in the midst of the forest. You continue toward Vancouver overnight.

Depending on rail traffic, you arrive in Vancouver this morning and make your own way to your downtown hotel. You have the rest of the day to explore at your own leisure. With its coastal location, Vancouver enjoys a much milder climate than other Canadian cities in the winter. We recommend a walk through Stanley Park to see Beaver Lake and along the seawall, before visiting Granville Island for delicious market food, and handcrafted artisan products.

You have another day to explore Vancouver today. We have included admission to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which we recommend visiting later in the day to make the most of the light trail through the trees. You can take a guided nature walk through the rainforest, opt for the more adventurous ‘tree top adventure’ or simply stroll through the trees which are transformed into a glittering landscape. The rest of the day is yours to explore the many museums and galleries of the city.

This morning, make your way to the bus depot in downtown Vancouver to join a shared coach north to the mountain town of Whistler. Sit back and relax as you drive along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway with forested mountains on one side and the Gulf Islands and ocean on the other. The journey takes about 90 minutes to two hours. On arrival in Whistler, you can use the pedestrian zone to get to your hotel and explore the small town.

This morning you are free to explore Whistler at your leisure. In the winter the town comes alive with skiers and snowboarders, but there is still plenty to do if you don’t want to take to the slopes. We recommend snowshoeing in Lost Lake Park and the Callaghan Valley or relaxing in the silent Scandinave Spa. In the evening, you’ll get geared up with a helmet and goggles to take a snowmobile ride up the mountain to enjoy a fondue dinner at 6,000 ft (1,800 m). From the deck, you can admire a rich array of alpine colours and panoramic views of the Coast Mountain Range and the twinkling lights of Whistler village below.

It’s your final morning in Canada. We recommend getting a freshly baked good from one of the local bakeries and breathing in the fresh alpine air one more time. You’ll then take a shared coach back to Vancouver Airport for your onward flight. If you wish to extend your stay, we can recommend a flight to Whitehorse for three nights aurora viewing in the Yukon wilderness.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.