via rail tours eastern canada

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Eastern Canada Train Trips

Connecting the alluring French culture of Montreal with the roaring Niagara Falls in Ontario, Eastern Canada train trips with VIA Rail feel worlds away from the west.

The maritimes are bursting with unique history and succulent seafood, while the streets of quebec city hold some of the oldest stories in the country., packed with a plethora of experiences from one stop to the next, a rail journey through the eastern provinces will undoubtedly reveal canada’s quirkier side., these packages are perfect for those seeking an authentic train trip in eastern canada, filled with stunning scenery and eclectic culture..

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Explore Eastern Canada and the Maritimes

Discover why a train vacation is the best way to explore this unique region.

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Trips in eastern Canada and the Maritimes

The cosmopolitan cities of Toronto and Montreal are on every traveller’s must-see list, but there are so many more places to visit 
in eastern Canada. Our Canadian Insiders know some of the more famous, like Niagara Falls in Ontario and all of the not-so-famous hidden gems, like the charming fishing towns of the Maritimes. There’s a lot to discover in eastern Canada.

Highlights of the region

Discover french culture in Quebec

Outside of Quebec’s main cities you’ll discover the scenic and foodie charms of La Belle Province. Lush forests give way to green pastures in the Eastern Townships , a collection of villages east of Montreal.

Stroll through charming towns

Iconic lighthouses, pastoral farmland and historic harbours — there’s so much to love about Atlantic Canada . It’s a seafarer’s dream and an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with a fascinating history and unique sights.

Discover East Coast Highlights

Canada’s coastal landscapes are breathtaking, and the best way to be at one with the sea where it meets the sand (or ice!) is in a kayak. Dip your paddle and propel your craft along the shore past cliffs, hopefully in the company of a sea lion or whale.

You can never have enough lobster

Engage your senses and discover new culinary delights on a food tour. The Martimes are famous for their seafood, so now is your chance to try everything from a rich lobster roll to a truly spectacular serving of fish and chips.

Join in the Celtic maritimes energy

Discover the unique Celtic feeling that still runs deep in Atlantic Canada and the maritimes. You may even find yourself dancing the night away at a local cèilidh.

Make memories with iconic experiences

Though many people know the Niagara area for the famous waterfalls that straddle the Canada-U.S. border, it’s also a region rich in history and culinary culture . Let us introduce you to the magic that makes the Niagara Peninsula so much more than the falls.

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The insider difference.

Our Canadian Insiders talk with you to match what you love and what you want to experience with the best of Canada – from all those can’t miss sights to the hidden gems you can only discover from someone who really knows the region.

We plan and book your entire trip so you can just enjoy, after all, it’s your adventure. And, if you need any advice or assistance during your trip, we’re only a phone call away and always more than happy to help.

The 11 Best Buildings In Canada

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CANADA VIA RAIL TOURS

What is it about trains that make them such a unique way to travel? First, consider the initial excitement of searching for your car as the train enters the station. Then imagine you are boarding the car itself and making your way to your designated seat to settle in and get comfortable for the journey ahead. The final whistle blows and the train gradually pulls away from the station as it overcomes its own inertia. The train comes up to speed and the soothing rhythmic sway of the train welcomes you into its embrace. New sights unfold as you gaze out the window. Now it is all about enjoying the journey. Could there be a more enchanting means of travel?

Canada truly came together as a nation when the ceremonial last spike was driven into the track to mark the completion of the transcontinental railway in 1885. That legacy lives on today with VIA Rail trains. Connecting the west coast of Vancouver, British Columbia to Halifax, Nova Scotia on the east coast (and multiple stops in-between), travellers can sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery of this vast and awe-inspiring land from the comfort of premium seating. Are you in sleeper class for a longer journey? At night, service attendants are on hand to turn down your seats and transform your quarters into cozy bunks or a private bedroom. As Ralph Waldo Emerson quipped, “The journey is the destination”, and train travel captures the essence of that quote. After all, the Canadian landscape offers a rich variety of magnificent vistas – from snow-covered mountains to golden-hued prairies to the rocky shores of the Great Lakes and beyond – a sweeping panorama that gradually unfurls before you.

Anderson Vacations has partnered with VIA Rail to offer inspiring itineraries that combine the magic of rail travel with the highlight sights of iconic Canadian destinations. The superlative rugged scenery of the Atlantic Coast unfolds before your eyes on the Maritime Way, connecting the European-style charm of Quebec City to historic Halifax. Ride the rails between the urban juggernauts of cosmopolitan Toronto and magical Montreal in the urban heartlands of Ontario and Quebec. The Great Western Way traverses the great expanse of western Canada linking Ontario to British Columbia via boreal forest, rolling prairie, and towering alpine scenery to inspire nature lovers along the way.

Our wide range of Canadian tour itineraries offer plenty of opportunities to experience the magic of rail travel. Anderson Vacations and VIA Rail await. All aboard!

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CLASSIC TOURS

• Expert Tour Leader
• Maximum 24 passengers
• 3-4 stars comfortable accommodation (when available)
• Coach transportation
• Breakfast Included Daily
• Lunch or Dinner Included on Select Days
• Most Gratuities included

TOURS OF DISTINCTION

• Maximum 18 passengers
• Variety of 'off the beaten path' experiences
• Stays at Unique Inns and Boutique Hotel (when available)
• Mini Coach and Comfortable Local Transportation
• Lunch or Dinner Included Daily
• Unique Local Restaurant Experiences
• Most Gratuities Included

INDEPENDENT TRAVEL

• Private trip on a date of your choice
• Incorporates all modes of travel (coach, RV, car, VIA Rail, Rocky Mountaineer train)
• All Attractions, Activities and Events are Customizable
• Offers levels of accommodation from budget 3-star hotels, boutique lodges, to luxury properties
• Itineraries available in all 10 Canadian Provinces and the 3 Northern Territories and Alaska
• Itineraries also available in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
• Itineraries cover all seasons and all travel styles
• Detailed crafted itineraries designed to agent/client specifications for content and budget

CUSTOM GROUPS

• Option for Expert Tour Leader to lead group at destination
• All Attractions, Activities, and Events are Customizable
• Offers levels of accomodation from budget 3-star hotels, boutique lodges, to luxury properties
• Daily breakfasts included

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Canada Rail Vacations

Be guided by local experts, we live and breathe Canada.

Best Canadian Train Tours and Rail Vacations

With over 24 years of local insight, our team is here to craft your dream Canadian Train Tours! Enjoy cozy accommodation, glass-domed viewing cars and gourmet meals created by an actual chef in the onboard kitchen while carving through mountainous terrain, rushing rivers and the very best of Canada’s landscapes. Whether aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper or VIA Rail to Toronto with overnight accommodations rolling along at a leisurely pace, allow yourself to sink into the rhythm of relaxation and experience rail travel at its best, as our experts will ensure every detail is taken care of for your unforgettable journey.

Discover the Majestic Glacial Waters of Maligne Lake

Cruise the crystal-clear waters of Maligne Lake and immerse yourself in awe-inspiring natural beauty, surrounded by towering peaks and pristine wilderness.

Your Opportunity to Step on Millennium Old Glaciers

Prepare for an exhilarating journey on the Athabasca Glacier aboard the Ice Explorer. Walk on the glacier, feel the ice, and even drink some of its pure, melted water.

Take To The Skies for an Epic Rocky Mountain Adventure

To get off your feet and see it all from above, we highly recommend booking a Heli tour. See gorgeous scenery like ancient glaciers, deep crevasses, and cascading waterfalls.

Soar to Scenic Splendor with the Banff Gondola

Maximize views of Banff National Park with minimal exertion on a round-trip gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. There is plenty to do at the top!

Feel The Mist on Your Face and Witness Nature's Power

Witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Niagara Falls. Feel the mist on your face and embrace the mesmerizing cascades of the famous Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

Get Lost in The Charming Landscape of Nova Scotia

Explore the charm of Peggy's Cove and Mahone Bay, where picturesque lighthouses, quaint fishing villages, and fascinating seafaring heritage await!

Why Choose Canada By Design?

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All Time Favourites

Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Rockies Train Tour

Canadian Trails Rail Across Canada | Vancouver to Toronto

Jewels of the Canadian Rockies by Rail | Rocky Mountaineer

Majestic Canada Rail Vacation through the Rockies | VIA Rail

Montreal & Quebec City by Rail | Splendors of Eastern Canada

Winter Snow Train to the Canadian Rockies | VIA Rail

7 canadian train trips to book for a summer vacation.

Embrace the beauty of a Canadian adventure with Canada's leading rail specialist and save up to $3,000 per couple on your Canadian Rail Vacations (Limited Time Offer).

What Our Fellow Travelers Have to Say

From start to finish jennifer was very polite and easy-going as well as professional. she offered suggestions when needed and and was on top of all itinerary adjustments and refunds..

I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer Balicha on an itinerary for Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria, Canada. From start to finish Jennifer was very polite and easy-going as well as professional. Read more

Pennsylvania, United States

Everything that you and the team at Canada by Design organised for us was top class

Everything that you and the team at Canada by Design organised for us was top class. From day one we felt comfortable that everything was going to be special. Read more

My husband and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Eastern Canada.

My husband and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Eastern Canada. We travelled from Toronto (visiting Niagara Falls) to Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. Read more

Carol Cevolani

Petaluma, United States

We will be recommending you to others and will use you again when we return for more adventure.

We are leaving Calgary today to return to Vancouver after our week trip that you organized for us. Just want to thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Read more

Paulina organized an awesome trip for us which included Vancouver Island and the Rockies.

Paulina organized an awesome trip for us which included Vancouver Island and the Rockies. The tours with Discover Banff were great.. Read more

When we go back in future to Canada we will contact you again. Will recommend your company!

We are back again from a wonderful trip in the Rockies. Everything was great! The Fairmont hotels we loved it. Read more

Netherlands

Thanks again for a well planned and hassle free vacation. We will look forward to future vacations with Discover Holidays.

We wanted to thank Jasmine Wong and Discover Holidays Inc. for our great fly and self-drive vacation traveling to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Edmonton & Drumhiller AB from July 24th to August 1st 2018. Read more

Ontario, Canada

One of our best vacations. Perfectly planned and all went off without a hitch.

Canada by Design planned our trip to the Canadian Rockies including travel on the Rocky Mountaineer and visit to Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, and Calgary. One of our best vacations. Read more

Joel Yellin

Rochester , United States

I don't know how I will ever thank you all at Canada by Design for everything you did for us and making a trip of a life time surpass our wildest expectations!

We LOVED Canada and look forward to coming back and doing the same route in the spring or autumn. In fact we would even consider doing it again in winter as it was so stunningly beautiful. Read more

A Bucket List dream come true!

We did the "Rail & Drive Across Canada" with you & it was wonderful. All accommodations were top notch, tours were above our expectations & the train ride was neat. Read more

Illinois, United States

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Two nights, three provinces, and 1,600 miles. A sleeper train through Maritime Canada is slow travel at its best.

Via rail’s sleepy eastern route brings travelers through rural villages and towns in quebec, new brunswick, and nova scotia..

C HARLO, New Brunswick — I woke up with the sun peeking through the curtains of my sleeper car, and I couldn’t wait to see what was happening on the other side. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning, a kid with noticeable flecks of gray hair in his bedhead, but a kid just the same. I sat up, wrapped myself in the bed’s comforter like a burrito, and yanked back the drapes.

I was suddenly looking at a sunny snowscape in northern New Brunswick. This was a thrill because when I boarded the Via Rail train at Montreal Central Station the day before, there was no snow, and the sky was the color of dishwater. Having experienced little to no winter in Boston, seeing this Bing Crosby landscape was a refreshing change of pace.

While I slowly woke up, the train rumbled along the tracks, and I watched the broad blue expanse of Chaleur Bay slowly pass by. Across the water, the hills and cliffs of the Gaspé and Acadian peninsulas were visible. It was as if the entire scene had been timed perfectly for the morning entertainment of the train’s passengers.

I was traveling Via Rail Canada’s Ocean route from Montreal to Halifax. The train wasn’t as glamorous as the Rocky Mountaineer, nor was the scenery as grand as the Winnipeg to Churchill trip. But Via Rail’s 22-hour route is a lovely travel throwback with gorgeous scenery. Thanks to the strength of the US dollar against the Canadian dollar, I was able to score a sleeper car with a private bathroom (complete with a shower) for $400 a night. It also helped that I was traveling during mud season. Rates go up during the summer and into foliage season.

The fare included all meals, which were served in the dining car on actual plates with actual flatware. I reasoned that I was getting a room, all meals, and the constant entertainment of the ever-changing landscape for $400 a night. That seemed like a decent deal. I decided to book my return to Montreal on the train as well. That would give me a solid 44 hours on board.

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The train departed Montreal at 7 p.m. on Friday and was scheduled to arrive in Halifax at 5:51 p.m on Saturday. I was curious to see how Via Rail, Canada’s national rail company, compared with Amtrak, particularly its sleeper cars. As I cased out my room, I watched the Farine Five Roses sign and the rest of the Montreal skyline disappear behind us. My cabin was designed for two people, but I wanted a room with an en suite bath and shower. The cabin was about 30 square feet (not including the bathroom). It had a sofa that folded down to a bed, with a bunk bed that folded down above it. There was a narrow closet, and in the bathroom, there were towels, a bottle of shampoo, and a bar of soap.

It wasn’t the Ritz, but it was clean and cozy. These cars were built for the canceled European Nightstar train service in the late 1990s. The trains would have used the Chunnel to take passengers from London to cities in mainland Europe. When the project failed to materialize, Via Rail bought the cars and shipped them to Canada in 2000. Despite being in service for nearly 25 years, the train was in good shape.

After inspecting and unpacking, it was dinner time. We were well on our way to Quebec City by the time I sat down and perused the menu. I opted for leek-crusted chicken with wild rice pilaf and roasted butternut squash. This was better than any meal I had ever consumed on an Amtrak train . I was seated with a retired sports editor (pure coincidence) from New York. He had taken most of the Amtrak overnight trains in the United States and now wanted to sample Canada’s offerings.

He agreed with me that the food was better than Amtrak, and the train cars were generally in better condition, but he pointed out something I hadn’t noticed: The staff was much friendlier than the staff on Amtrak, and it made a huge difference. One of my chief complaints, particularly on Amtrak’s Silver Meteor, is that the staff often seemed surly.

By the time I finished dinner and returned to my room, the attendant had made up the bed. I decided I would try sleeping in the bunk, but I quickly soured on the idea when I realized the only way in and out was a narrow ladder. The bunk seemed a bit high for my liking. I folded it back and slept on the lower bed. The bed is 6 feet long and about 2½ feet wide, so it may not be ideal for taller passengers. The mattress was comfortable, and the comforter was wonderfully thick. Each cabin has individual temperature controls, so even though the temperature was in the single digits outside, I was tucked away comfortably for the night. I’m a light sleeper, but I dozed off quickly.

The next morning, it was time to test the shower. To my shock and delight, the water was hot enough, and the pressure wasn’t bad. I went to the dining car and tried the breakfast poutine. I concluded that poutine is a perfect all-day meal. I wrote “open 24-hour poutine restaurant” in my notebook and watched as the train gradually made its way inland. My breakfast companion was a retired teacher from Montreal who was going to visit her grandchildren in Halifax.

“Don’t you dare write anything bad about this train,” she sternly warned me as only a teacher could. “It’s my favorite way to get to Nova Scotia. If it shuts down I’ll blame you.”

The scenery out the window was always changing. When I left Montreal, it was gray. Coastal New Brunswick was snowy and bright, and as the train descended south, the snow disappeared, and the sky darkened. By the time we neared the Bay of Fundy, it was snowing, and then it was raining, and then the sun started peaking out.

The biggest frustration was that the train was running two hours behind schedule. I had made dinner reservations in Halifax for Saturday night but missed them because of the delay. I had one night in the city before getting back on the train the next day and lost precious time.

Another frustration I faced was that the train’s observation car was no longer used. One of the best parts of taking a scenic train is, well, watching the scenery. I could still see the countryside from my room, the lounge, or the restaurant, but the glass-domed observation car on the Ocean route was removed two years ago because of a track change in Halifax. Having that car would have made the experience even more special.

I got back on the train Sunday afternoon, settled into my new room, which was identical to the previous one, and headed back to the cafe car for lunch. All of this investigative reporting was really adding inches to my waistline. I tried the gnocchi pomodoro and decided to treat myself to a glass of local wine. Unlike Amtrak, alcohol is not free in Via Rail’s sleeper class. Again, I was impressed with the menu options, service, and food.

I watched the small towns blur past from the lounge car, one of the few places on the train where the internet was available. Even so, it was usually empty. The pace of train travel, devoid of the internet, is a rare treat. Eventually, a pair of sisters came into the lounge car and asked me if I wanted to play cards with them. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I played cards, so I put down my camera and began a game of rummy. I can imagine that this was what travel was like before planes or even cars. Without screens, I was actually looking up, talking to people, and playing a game that wasn’t on my phone.

That night, before I went to bed, I opened my laptop and started scrolling through the photos I’d taken throughout the trip. I frantically scrolled up and down, looking for a big “wow” photo. I needed a picture with pizazz. Then I stopped scrolling and looked at the pictures together. This trip wasn’t about flashy sites or Instagrammable moments. It was a long weekend of fluffy waffles, snow banks, blue rivers, and expansive brown fields.

Mostly, however, it was about taking a moment to slow down and breathe.

Christopher Muther can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him @Chris_Muther and Instagram @chris_muther.

April 29, 2024

VIA RAIL ENHANCES SERVICES BETWEEN OTTAWA AND TORONTO

• The new 641 early-morning frequency will be launched Monday to Thursday between Ottawa and Toronto, for passengers wishing to arrive in Toronto before 9 a.m.
• Train 644, currently offering 3 departures a week between Toronto and Ottawa, will now be offered every day.

MONTRÉAL, April 29, 2024 – VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA Rail) is pleased to announce the enhancement of services between Ottawa and Toronto with the introduction of several new departures.

An Eagerly Awaited Early Departure

As of May 27, 2024, the new 641 early-morning frequency will be introduced, operating between Ottawa and Toronto from Monday to Thursday. Train 641 will be leaving Ottawa at 4:19 a.m. for arrival in Toronto at 8:48 a.m., with stops in Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg and Port Hope.

“In recent months, stakeholders and frequent passengers from Eastern Ontario have emphasized the significance of early-morning VIA Rail services for their communities, and we took great care to listen and act on this feedback,” said Mario Péloquin, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This is why we are looking forward to offering this option for passengers who wish to travel to Toronto before 9 a.m., whether for business or leisure. We hope, and are confident, that they will answer the call and help us make this new frequency a success.”

You can find the complete 641 timetable below:

It is important to note that over the coming months, VIA Rail will be closely monitoring the public response to this new early-morning departure and will implement adjustments as necessary, based on ridership and actual use.

More Midday Flexibility

In addition, train 644, which previously operated from Friday to Sunday, will now run every day, also as of May 27, to offer passengers more midday travel options and therefore greater flexibility.

Passengers can start booking their trips on these new departures as soon as April 29, 2024.

VIA Rail remains committed to always finding the balance between meeting our passengers’ travel needs and deploying our limited equipment and staff to provide service to the highest number of Canadians.