Self-Guided Canada Rail Trip: Coast-to-Coast with Activities

Your small-group sightseeing adventure begins with a pick-up directly from your hotel in downtown Halifax, before heading out towards iconic Peggy’s Cove lighthouse. Along the way, your friendly and informative guide will share facts and tips about the area. You’ll have the opportunity to take photos with the most photographed lighthouse in Canada and free time is included here to explore the picturesque fishing village of Peggy’s Cove, which is built on the granite rocks and offers stunning ocean views.  

 

After your visit to Peggy’s Cove, you return to Halifax and pay a visit to historic Citadel Hill. Here, you learn about the military history of the hill and see the Highlander re-enactment interpreters dressed in traditional uniforms from the 1800s. Following this, your guide will take you in a narrated driving tour of downtown Halifax, where you pass by some of the city’s most notable points of interest including: the Titanic cemetery (Fairview Lawn Cemetery), City Gardens, Pier 21, Halifax Farmers Market and Point Pleasant Park. Note: Citadel Hill availability may be affected by private functions or weather.

 

Discover the key historical and cultural sites, urban culture, green spaces and distinct districts of Montreal on this 3 hour bike tour. This immersive guided exploration includes an introduction to the Old-Port, Latin Quarter, La Fontaine Park, Plateau, Mont-Royal Park (entrance), McGill University campus, Business district and Old Montreal. You will cycle approx. 10 km and can keep the bike for the rest of the day.

Discover the flavours of Old Montréal on this guided 2-hour food tour featuring iconic local bites and historic landmarks. Begin outside Brewsky’s Pub with a sweet-and-savoury maple bacon jerky tasting, before passing by Montréal’s impressive City Hall en-route to your second tasting, a warm, creamy French onion soup. Continue through the charming streets of Old Montréal, taking in the Gothic Revival beauty of Notre-Dame Basilica, before enjoying a classic Canadian favourite, poutine, topped with rich gravy and cheese curds. Finish your tour with a decadent chocolate dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. With a maximum of 10 guests, this small-group experience offers an intimate, delicious introduction to Montréal’s culinary and cultural highlights.

Enjoy an independent exploration of Toronto with the convenience and freedom of a Hop-on, Hop-off tour pass aboard open-top double-decker buses. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours and takes you to the famous tourist sites of Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, The Distillery Historic District, Toronto's Harbourfront, Eaton Centre, St. Lawrence Market, Bata Shoe Museum and more. Your pass also includes a free ticket for the Harbour and Islands Tour (seasonal).

Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on the 2-hour narrated drive to Niagara Falls in a climate controlled coach. Upon arrival at Niagara Falls, you'll have to opportunity to take photos of this incredible waterfall, before embarking on a memorable and up-close boat encounter to the base of the falls. Enjoy the thunderous roar, immense power and refreshing mists of this natural wonder on your cruise, with a complimentary recyclable mist poncho provided for your comfort. On your way back to Toronto, you drive through Niagara-on-the Lake, a town known for its heritage architecture, boutique shops, and lakeside beauty.

A relaxed, 3 to 3.5-hour guided van-based excursion through Jasper National Park, timed at dusk to maximise wildlife spotting opportunities. With a knowledgeable guide behind the wheel you’ll travel through scenic valleys, keeping a look out for elk, moose, deer, black bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes and wolves. Along the way, you'll learn all about history and geology of the area, and discover how these animals contribute to the rich diversity of the National Park. The experience combines comfort, natural beauty and the chance to observe wild animals in their natural habitat.

Enjoy an unforgettable journey on the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier, a 10,000 year old sheet of ice, 5 km long and 1 km wide. Your specially designed, all-terrain vehicle will traverse the glacier, while the driver/ guide explains glacier formation and highlights unique geological features. At the icefall below the glacier headwall, you can step out and walk along the ice, and even take the opportunity to fill your water bottle with fresh glacier water. After the ice explorer ride, you get to experience the Skywalk's glass-floored platform, suspended 280 metres above a dramatic valley shaped by glaciers and cascading waterfalls. Included in your tour is a hot buffet lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre.

Embark on a breath-taking 14-kilometer journey across Maligne Lake, surrounded by towering peaks and ancient glaciers, en-route to the iconic Spirit Island. Sit back and relax as expert onboard guides share captivating stories about the lake’s rich history, its early explorers, and the fascinating geology, glaciology, and wildlife of the region. Upon reaching Spirit Island, guests have the opportunity to step ashore and follow a short nature trail to a scenic viewing platform, offering one of the most spectacular vistas in the Canadian Rockies.

Take in the highlights of Vancouver on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour, an ideal way to experience the city’s diverse attractions, landmarks and stunning natural scenery at your own pace. This convenient and flexible bus tour takes you through iconic spots like Stanley Park, Granville Island, Yaletown, Chinatown and Gastown. Engaging on-board commentary offers interesting insights into Vancouver’s rich history and culture, and two self-guided walking tours are also available through a complimentary downloadable App.

 

Explore the stunning beauty and rich history of Stanley Park on a guided bike tour that weaves you across the Park's pristine forest trails. Enjoy breath-taking views of downtown Vancouver, the North Shore mountains, the Lion’s Gate Bridge, as well as English Bay and the Westend. Perfect for nature lovers and history enthusiasts, this tour offers an unforgettable way to experience one of the world’s most beautiful urban parks.