Union Hotel

Ontario Explorer

Family Classic + 2 more + 3 more

Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara Falls & scenic roadtripping through Ontario’s countryside.

11 days

from £3,490 pp

Mountains, Wine & Wildlife

Wildlife & Nature Foodie + 1 more + 2 more

Bears, wines & turquoise lakes in Canada’s great outdoors.

14 days

from £3,990 pp

The Cultures of Québec

Wildlife & Nature Culture & History + 1 more + 2 more

Whales & riverside towns from Montréal to Saguenay.

12 days

from £3,495 pp

Canada's Maritime Magic

Wildlife & Nature Culture & History + 1 more + 2 more

Big skies, coastal charm & Canadian hospitality.

18 days

from £3,990 pp

Rocky Mountain Express

Classic Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

Canada’s mountains, glaciers & iconic railways.

8 days

from £4,990 pp

Canada Fall Colours Road Trip

Romantic Wildlife & Nature + 1 more + 2 more

Autumn colours, scenic drives and coastal charm in eastern Canada.

14 days

from £2,995 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Canada

The Canadian

The Canadian is VIA Rail’s flagship train, offering an epic journey from Toronto to Vancouver (or vice versa) that traverses some of Canada’s most iconic landscapes. The route passes through the northern Ontario lakelands, the vast Saskatchewan prairies, the dramatic Canadian Rockies, and the river valleys of interior British Columbia. The entire journey takes five days and is best suited for dedicated train enthusiasts—while some sections offer breathtaking scenery, others see little change, and there are faster ways to cross these immense distances. For those who prefer a shorter and equally scenic experience, the section between Jasper and Vancouver is a fantastic way to enjoy VIA Rail’s excellent service. This leg of the journey, taking around 20 hours, offers an incredible alternative to the Rocky Mountaineer, showcasing diverse and spectacular landscapes as you travel from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast. Sleeper Class provides travellers with a private cabin featuring comfortable seating during the day that converts into upper and lower berth beds overnight. Each cabin includes a washroom and toilet, while shared shower facilities are available in each sleeper carriage. Travellers in Sleeper Class also enjoy access to the Park and Skyline carriages, which feature a glass-domed roof for stunning panoramic views. All freshly prepared meals are included, offering a truly relaxing and comfortable way to travel. For families, larger cabins accommodating up to four passengers are available.

Toronto - Ideas for Free Time

To soak up the ambience of Toronto and sample some of its best foods, start at St. Lawrence Market, where you will find a vast variety of local products and merchants who are passionate about what they sell and who are always happy to recommend something to try. Alternatively, the Distillery District is home to numerous funky galleries, cafés, and restaurants housed within the heritage buildings of an old distillery and is a great place to soak up the ambience of the city. The magnificent Royal Ontario Museum houses hundreds of artefacts and pieces of artwork from all over the world and is considered to have one of the most comprehensive natural and cultural history collections in the world. It’s worth taking a stroll along the scenic waterfront, where you can wander along the lively promenade past numerous cafés and enjoy views out over the lake. From here, it’s a short ferry ride over to Toronto Islands, where you can explore the historic sites and scenic beaches on foot or by bicycle. If you are a sports fan, then you might like to consider visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame or even getting tickets for a baseball game if the teams are playing at the Rogers Centre – you can often pick up cheaper tickets on the day. Finally, the CN Tower watches proudly over the city, and it’s well worth taking a trip up to its 342-metre-high observation gallery for fantastic views for miles around. Images courtesy of Destination Toronto

Toronto Islands Twilight Bicycle Tour

Toronto Islands is a chain of small, car-free islands just a short ferry ride away from the main city. With beautiful beaches and expanses of parkland it is a refreshing place to spend some time and exploring by bike is the best way to get around. At the end of the day it is particularly beguiling here, as the daytime visitors head back across the water and dusk descends casting a magical light. On this tour you will visit some of the neighbourhoods on the island, pass historic sites such as Gibraltar Point Lighthouse and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, stop for desert at one of the island’s cafes, and just enjoy the tranquillity of Lake Ontario as it gently laps at the shoreline. From here there are also fantastic views of the Toronto city skyline as it lights up for the evening. This tour is suitable for both beginners and advanced riders; it moves at an easy pace and there are plenty of stops to talk and take in the sights. The islands are well lit and perfectly safe at night.