For a chance to see the “real” Canada, or experience the country’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts, travel by train to Prince Rupert and Nova Scotia with one of VIA Rail’s vacation packages.
Prince Rupert is where Canada’s wilderness begins. Experience the outdoors or Northwest Coastal history and culture with VIA Rail’s two western tour packages: Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle, and Cartan Tours.
John Steel Rail Tours and VIA Rail offer the Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle package. This eight-night outdoor trip departs from Vancouver, BC and ends in Jasper, Alberta. Travellers will ride aboard Via Rail’s The Canadian and The Jasper-Prince Rupert with a stopover in the Canadian Rockies in Jasper. The trip continues to Prince Rupert, BC, the City of Rainbows, with an ocean cruise along the Inside Passage to Port Hardy, on Vancouver Island. Package starts at $2,144.
The Cartan Tours package is an eight-night city touring trip offered by Scenic Rail Journeys and Via Rail. Travellers departs from Vancouver aboard The Canadian in Sleeper Touring class with a private bedroom, meals on board and access to domed viewing cars. The train follows a route from Vancouver to Jasper. From Jasper the train crosses the interior of British Columbia where it follows the Skeena River to Prince Rupert on the Pacific Ocean. Hotel accommodations are arranged for an overnight in Prince George before visitors continue with a full day of rail travel to Prince Rupert. There, they will stay at the Crest Hotel. Package starts at $3,107.
VIA Rail also offers the Coast Discovery-The Maritimes and the Quebec to the Maritimes packages to visitors who want to discover the Nova Scotia and the offerings of the eastern coastal region.
The Coast Discovery - The Maritimes package is a five-night rail/drive tour of Nova Scotia. The package includes round trip transportation from Montréal to Halifax on VIA Rail’s Ocean train in a private double bedroom. Once in Halifax, travelers have a three-day Compact car rental with AVIS, allowing them to explore the Cabot Trail and coastal towns while using the Delta Halifax as their home base for three nights. Package includes all train and hotel taxes and starts at $1,117.
The Quebec to the Maritimes package is a six night adventure package. Passengers ride aboard VIA Rail’s Ocean train from Montréal to Halifax. This vacation includes day excursions, a romantic overnight rail journey, and plenty of unstructured time to check out beaches, lighthouses and miles of rugged shoreline. Package starts at $1,417.74.
VIA Rail also offers deals and discounts for visitors traveling with children, senior citizen, travellers between the ages of 12 and 25, or people traveling in groups.
Visit: www.viarail.ca.
