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Dates & Pricing

Canada by Train 2011 - 2nd Departure
October 8-21 l 14 Days l $4950

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Guides: Debbie Zimel &
Sandy McNamara

As always, great walks and interesting companions with the usual bonding and camaraderie that seems to occur on all my excursions with WAI.
~ Kay E, Bedford, IN

Every tour I’ve taken has been well planned and the guides are terrific, looking out for each of us…I find that the people who I meet on these trips are interesting, fun, and I always learn something new.
~ Merle D, Sherman Oaks, CA

We have found them to be a quality experience. Good hotels, excellent locations and tours very well organized and orchestrated.
~ Jane & Craig W, Pittsburg, CA

This was my 1st time with WAI and with an organized group. Everything went so smoothly that I will definitely do more of them. You don’t waste time with this group. Incredible value for the money – worth every penny. We really got so much; treated 1st class all the way.

Canada by Train 2011 - 2nd Departure

Already Walked for 2011!

British Columbia • Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba

We're excited to offer a second departure of the 2011 edition of our Canada by Train Walking Adventure! Everyone seems to love the nostalgic grace of traveling by train. Certainly the Sleeper Touring first-class service offered by our Canadian friends promises an experience to enjoy in style and comfort, but it's the walking element of this Adventure, as always, that makes it unique!

Out of a total of 13 nights crossing Canada, we spend 5 on the train. The other 8 nights are spent in hotels that are strategically located to provide access to the essence of our neighbor to the North. In addition to viewing Canada’s expansive breadth of land from the train, we get off to walk and explore the delights of Vancouver; the wonders of Banff National Park, the highlights of Toronto, Canada's largest city, Montreal, the second largest French-speaking metropolis on the planet; and finally, the lively maritime atmosphere of Halifax, capital of Nova Scotia!

How to Register
To save yourself a spot on this Adventure, contact us to register with a $500 payment as soon as possible. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis!  Click here for more registration details.

First Departure vs. Second Departure

Canada by Train

DAY 1: OCT 8: EN ROUTE TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

The Adventure begins in Seattle, Washington, our jumping off point for an ocean-to-ocean train trip through Canada, our neighbor to the North. Because travelers are arriving throughout the day, our only group activity is a welcome reception at 7:30 pm this evening.
 
DAY 2: OCT 9: EN ROUTE FROM SEATTLE TO JASPER, ALBERTA: BY TRAIN (B)
Activities in Vancouver, B.C.
Stanley Park Walk - 10 km, rated 2

An early morning start takes us to the Amtrak train station for the trip north to Canada. Upon arrival in Vancouver, B.C. we are transported by bus to Stanley Park. Considered North America’s third largest urban park, Stanley Park has a Seawall Walk that encircles the peninsula and offers wonderful views of downtown Vancouver, the Burrard Inlet, Lion’s Gate Bridge, and English Bay. This evening we board VIA Rail’s Canadian train for an overnight passage to Jasper in the luxury Sleeper Touring class.
 
DAY 3: OCT 10: ARRIVE JASPER (BL)

After breakfast on board, you have the balance of the morning, and most of the afternoon, to explore the tranquil delights of train travel: take in Canadian Rocky Mountain splendors in the Observation Deck, relax with a book in the Bullet Lounge, or chat with friends in the welcoming armchairs of your sleeper car as the scenery rolls past the oversized picture windows. We arrive Jasper late this afternoon and check into our hotel. The evening is free to explore this quaint mountain village.

DAY 4: OCT 11: JASPER – BANFF BY MOTORCOACH (B)
Lake Louise Walk - 5 km, rated 1+

We drive south this morning along the rugged, spectacular beauty of the Icefields Parkway to Athabasca Glacier, where we have the unique opportunity to walk on the glacier after a fun ride on a Snocoach. Our route then continues to Lake Louise and a walk along the shoreline of this mountain gem set beneath Victoria Glacier, with postcard-perfect views of Chalet Lake Louise.

DAY 5: OCT 12: BANFF – JASPER TO TORONTO, ONTARIO: BY TRAIN (BD)
Banff National Park Walk - 12 km, rated 2

The morning is devoted to a walk from the charming mountain resort of Banff, offering an abundance of Rocky Mountain scenery, a plethora of trails, and a multitude of irresistible shops and galleries. Our interlude in Alberta finishes with a return trip along the Icefields Parkway with a last chance to drink in Rocky mountain magic. We have an evening date back in Jasper aboard the eastbound Canadian train.
 
DAY 6: OCT 13: RIDING ACROSS SASKATCHEWAN & MANITOBA: BY TRAIN (BLD)

Following a busy schedule in the Rockies, we spend a relaxing day aboard the Canadian train. At breakfast, your table will be surrounded by endless acres of fertile prairie farmland. Take afternoon tea amidst a panorama of expansive forests studded by sparkling lakes, and anticipate another night rocking to sleep in the haven of your quarters – after the on-board crew has transformed your room into a bed, with pillows fluffed and blankets turned down!

DAY 7: OCT 14: RIDING ACROSS MANITOBA AND ONTARIO: BY TRAIN (BLD)

We spend another day indulging in the relaxing rhythms of train travel as we roll across the prairies of Saskatchewan and into Manitoba. Our final full day aboard the Canadian takes us through the picturesque lakelands of northern Ontario en route to Toronto.

DAY 8: OCT 15: ARRIVING IN TORONTO: BY TRAIN (B)
Sights of Toronto Walk - 10 km, rated 1

Following a post-breakfast arrival in Toronto, we say “farewell” to the Canadian in anticipation of two full days of activities in the Toronto area. A morning motorcoach tour introduces us to Toronto’s distinctive ethnic neighborhoods, New City Hall, the theatre district, the financial district, and Parliament, as well as providing us with a chance to visit Casa Loma Castle. The afternoon is dedicated to a walk that takes us by many of Toronto’s other highlights, including the CN Tower (world’s tallest free-standing structure), the Art Gallery of Ontario, Lake Ontario, the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame, and several fascinating museums.
 
DAY 9: OCT 16: ACTIVITIES FROM TORONTO (B)
Niagara Falls Walk - 15 km, rated 1 (optional)

Today is free to enjoy more of the charms of Toronto, or consider joining us for an all-day optional excursion to Niagara Falls. One of North America’s most memorable sights is just a couple of hours away on the border with New York State. An excellent walk at Niagara Falls showcases both sides of this amazing cataract of water. We spend the bulk of the day enjoying the spectacle from all angles, including a boat ride into the liquid inferno on the Maid of the Mist cruise below the falls! Our day ends back at our hotel in Toronto after a stop for dinner en route. Estimated Price: $85

DAY 10: OCT 17: TORONTO TO HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA: BY TRAIN (BD)
Activities in Montréal, Québec
Montréal French Canadian Walk - 8 km, rated 2

We’re up early this morning to catch the first train bound for Montréal. Arriving before noon, we spend the middle of the day enjoying the sights of the world’s second largest French-speaking metropolis (after Paris). Along the route, we see Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Port, Old Montréal and the financial district, and Montréal’s fascinating and expansive Underground City lying just beneath the pavement. We board the Ocean train just in time for dinner this evening, ready for the final leg of our train odyssey across Canada.

DAY 11: OCT 18: ARRIVING IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA (BL)

Today’s route rolls through the Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We arrive in Halifax late this afternoon; the evening is free to get acquainted with the city on the sea.
 
DAY 12: OCT 19: ACTIVITIES IN HALIFAX (B)
Halifax Waterfront & Citadel Walk - 10 km, rated 2

Halifax is one of the oldest and most interesting towns in Eastern Canada. Settled by the English in the mid-18th century as a response to the French Fortress Louisbourg, Halifax’s excellent natural harbor and well-fortified, though never-attacked fortress brought prosperity to the young town, which became the region’s commercial and financial center. The entire day is free to explore the waterfront, do a little shopping, or visit some of the fascinating museums along an excellent walk route.

DAY 13: OCT 20: ACTIVITIES FROM HALIFAX (BD)
Wolfville Loyalist Walk – 5/10 km, rated 3+

We leave Halifax for Acadian country this morning. Our walk in the quiet Loyalist community (American colonists loyal to King George) introduces us to another face of the Maritimes story. These Loyalists displaced the French-speaking Acadian locals during the 18th century, setting the stage for a tragic deportation, and Longfellow’s epic poem, Evangeline. We learn more of this intriguing Canadian subplot this afternoon at the fascinating Grand-Pré National Historic Site, a combined memorial park and living history exhibition recounting this chapter of Nova Scotia’s past. Our final event together is a Farewell Dinner this evening at an airport hotel outside Halifax.

DAY 14: OCT 21: RETURN HOME FROM HALIFAX (B)

We say farewell to friends old and new, today, returning home with a new appreciation for the breadth of history, culture, and scenery offered by our neighbor to the North!

What's Included

Registration Details

Email us at fun@walkingadventures.com
Call us at 800-779-0353
PO BOX 871000 VANCOUVER WA 98687-1000 USA