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We gather at London Heathrow this afternoon with the Tour Manager to board a direct flight to Canada, arriving in Halifax in the early evening local time. Checking in to our hotel in this attractive city on the Atlantic coast, the rest of the evening is yours to relax or explore.

One of the most important Canadian commercial ports on the Atlantic seaboard, Halifax retains many of its historic seafaring traditions. Today, it's a cultural centre of the Maritimes, with plenty of scenic parks, ocean views and a vibrant food and drink scene.

You might choose to visit Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks, where you can see street performances and try delicious food, or head downtown to visit one of Halifax's many acclaimed restaurants.

With an expert local guide, we explore Nova Scotia, a historic land of fishing villages and coves dappled with small bobbing boats and wooded islands. Our first stop is Peggy's Cove, a tiny settlement of colourful buildings on a headland dotted with wave-battered boulders. Keeping seafarers safe for more than a century, Peggy's Point Lighthouse still stands on a granite outcropping facing the wild Atlantic. While exploring the coast, look out for traditional inukshuks, age-old rock structures used by the native Inuit to navigate the frozen north.

Later, a scenic drive takes us to picturesque Mahone Bay, a village adorned with rustic Gothic revival buildings. Next, we visit the UNESCO-listed harbour town of Lunenburg, where the bright colours of the waterfront houses along Bluenose Drive are reflected in the waters.

Tonight, we dine independently in Halifax, where you might try a local speciality like chowder or the famed Digby scallops.

After our last morning in Halifax, we transfer to the station this afternoon. Boarding VIA Rail's Ocean service, we settle into private sleeper cabins for an overnight journey to Québec City.

Soak up the scenery streaming past your window as our train makes its way towards Moncton before crossing the Miramichi River amidst dense spruce forests. In the dining car, enjoy a three-course lunch and dinner accompanied by local Canadian wines.

During the night, we continue to Chaleur Bay and cross into New Brunswick before making our way along the widening mouth of the St Lawrence River.

• Lunch, Dinner

We wake up this morning in Québec City and transfer to our hotel, the elegant five-star Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Built in 1893 and considered the most photographed hotel in the world, the Frontenac was the first of the iconic castle-like hotels constructed to attract tourists to the trans-Canadian railways.

Next, we take a guided sightseeing tour. Our guide introduces us to the local history, including the conflicts between France, Great Britain and the United States that led to Canada's founding in 1867. The British gained control of Québec City in 1759 after the French surrender at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Constructed between 1820 and 1850 on early French fortifications, the star-shaped citadel of this city protected British North America.

After visiting the battlefield overlooking the St Lawrence River, we transfer by coach to an authentic 1920s sugar shack where maple syrup is produced. Surrounded by a maple forest, we learn the history of the syrup on short tour followed by a tasting of this Canadian staple. Afterwards, we sit down for a three-course lunch of traditional, maple syrup-inspired food. In the afternoon, we return to the hotel, and the rest of the day is free to explore the city.

• Lunch

Today, we board VIA Rail's train service to Montreal. Following the course of the St Lawrence River and the shores of Lake Ontario, we arrive in this UNESCO City of Design in the early evening and continue to Toronto.

We arrive in Toronto's Union Station, Canada's largest and most elegant train station. The monumental Great Hall has a two-storey-high vaulted ceiling while its resplendent limestone exterior is dominated by Romanesque columns. Built in 1927, this glorious Beaux-Arts structure is the third incarnation of the station, a testament to the importance of railways in connecting Canada.

We transfer to our historic Downtown hotel, which has housed numerous luminaries, including Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, the Beatles and Louis Armstrong. In the evening, you could spend your free time unwinding or exploring Canada's most populous city.

One of the many highlights of our grand trans-Canadian journey awaits today as an expert local guide joins us on a coach for a full-day trip to Niagara Falls. Connecting the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara River plunges down three astonishing waterfalls.

On arrival, we set sail on a cruise to get closer to one of the world's most impressive natural sights. Sporting our protective ponchos, we marvel at the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the iconic Horseshoe Falls amid clouds of spray and the thunderous roar of the water.

Back on shore, we lunch independently in one of Niagara's restaurants before viewing the falls from above at Table Rock. Continuing our exploration, we reach the whirlpool where the river bursts out of the Niagara Gorge. We conclude our excursion at the pretty town of Niagara on the Lake, where we have leisure time to stroll its quaint streets. Returning to Toronto, you can relive the day's dramatic sights while dining independently. Choose from a range of international cuisines or enjoy a fine dining experience in one of the city's acclaimed restaurants.

Waking up to our first full day on the Canadian, we are welcomed to Winnipeg, considered the geographical centre of Canada. We enjoy breakfast on board as we cross into Manitoba, a province with more than 100,000 lakes stretching all the way up to the shores of Hudson Bay.

Later, we travel through the southern plains of Saskatchewan, a province aptly called Canada's 'Land of the Living Skies'. This region's wide-open grasslands reveal Canada's skies at their liveliest, showcasing beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and the spectacular Northern Lights in winter. With nearly half of its 1.2 million residents living in its largest city, Saskatchewan's wild plains are home to deer, eagles and, occasionally, antelope, moose and bison.

With the endless grasslands of the Great Plains stretching as far as the eye can see, look out for small towns and farms passing by our windows as the Canadian rolls on. Lunch and dinner are also served on board.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, the scenery of remote settlements and serene lakes dotting the landscape transforms into views of glaciers, plunging canyons, soaring mountains and endless pine forests. Watch the Athabasca River flow beside the train as we travel towards the Rocky Mountains.

As the train approaches the region's capital of Edmonton, we see vast forests and distant mountains, contrasting with the previous day's prairie views. From the panoramic Park car, enjoy all-encompassing views of the Alberta countryside.

Enjoy a three-course lunch and dinner on board.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On our final morning aboard VIA Rail's Canadian, we arrive in Jasper, a traditional mountain town nestled in the Canadian Rockies. Established in 1813, Jasper began as a fur trade outpost, evolving into a railway town and finally a tourist destination at the heart of Canada's largest Rocky Mountain park.

We check into the luxury Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resort, set in 700 acres of parkland overlooking the serene Beauvert Lake and majestic mountains in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

Later, you have time to wander around Jasper. Despite being one of the most important towns for miles and a popular destination for visitors to the Rockies, it retains a calm, small-town feel. You might stop by Two Brothers Totem Pole, a towering 44-feet-high cultural icon on the main road. Watch out for statues of Jasper the Bear, the town's friendly mascot.

Today is free to explore the charming town of Jasper and the beautiful national park.

In this UNESCO World Heritage site, you can enjoy breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, glacial rivers and expansive forests. Admire the Maligne Canyon, a deep limestone gorge, and Maligne Lake, the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region. If you're lucky, you may spot some of the park's wildlife. Jasper is home to a wide range of species, including grey wolves, hoary marmot, caribou and moose.

You might also choose to explore downtown Jasper, a lovely area with a small community and a laid-back atmosphere. Explore the many shops, restaurants and historical sites at leisure. Enjoy dinner tonight at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Jasper this morning, we journey by coach along the famous Icefields Parkway, a 144-mile road between Jasper and Banff that passes through breathtaking scenery.

After a brief stop at the Athabasca Falls, we continue towards the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre to gather for an included excursion on the giant, all-terrain bus known as the Ice Explorer. On this iconic Canadian Rockies experience, we ride across the ice field to the otherworldly Athabasca Glacier, where we disembark and step onto the ancient ice, before taking a shuttle to the glass-floored Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Alternatively, you might like to explore the area or enjoy lunch independently at one of the Discovery Centre's restaurants.

Later, we travel by coach towards Peyto Lake, passing rugged mountains and a blanket of pine forests, before admiring the stunning turquoise waters of the lake. Finally, we journey through the Canadian Rockies, past many of its highest and most formidable peaks. On arrival in Banff, we check in to the beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs, one of the most historic properties in this charming mountain town, built in eye-catching Scottish Baronial style.

• Breakfast

In the morning, we explore this sensational part of the world by coach. Our first destination is the glacial Emerald Lake. Looking out at the pristine turquoise waters, it's easy to see why the lake was given its name.

Next, we travel to Lake Louise, another stunning body of water and one of the most photographed sites in the Canadian Rockies. Now a symbol for the region, Lake Louise is even more incredible in person.

Another highlight of today's coach journey is observing the famous Spiral Tunnels, where trains curve through the mountains in loops. Our route takes us within view of this engineering marvel in Kicking Horse Pass, once a foreboding environment for 19th-century pioneers. On returning to the hotel, we enjoy dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today brings one of this holiday's highlights - a daylight journey on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops. We travel in GoldLeaf Service, enjoying stunning panoramic views from glass-domed cars on the upper level and delicious gourmet meals featuring local produce in the dedicated dining room. As we relax in our spacious seats, we can enjoy the award-winning service provided by dedicated hosts who tell stories about passing landmarks, announce wildlife sightings and top up our glasses of wine.

Soak up the pristine landscapes as our train winds through Banff National Park, with its towering peaks and glittering lakes, before crossing the Continental Divide. Look out for Castle Mountain, a towering outcropping named for its resemblance to an early medieval castle. For a closer look at the scenery, you might step out onto your exclusive outdoor viewing platform.

Along the shore of sprawling Shuswap Lake, look out for the mythical Shuswaggi, an eight-foot lake monster bearing a remarkable resemblance to Scotland's Nessie. In Kamloops, we disembark for an overnight stay.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Our luxurious Rocky Mountaineer journey continues this morning along one of the most dramatic stretches of the line. We pass through green forests and dramatic valleys, home to an abundance of Canadian wildlife, along the Thompson and Fraser canyons. Another beautiful spot is Rainbow Canyon, where myriad colours are reflected in the rocks. Look out for 'hoodoos', the tall, skinny spires of rock which protrude from the arid Thompson Plateau. Local mythology describes these as giants, turned to stone by the Great Spirit.

Our Rocky Mountaineer journey comes to an end as we arrive in Vancouver and check in to our elegant Fairmont hotel in the heart of Downtown, set amongst high-end boutiques and impressive art galleries. Known as the 'Castle in the City' due to its Châteauesque copper pitched roof, Hotel Vancouver is one of Canada's grand railway hotels.

In the evening, you have time at leisure to unwind or head out to try some of western Canada's finest cuisine, including top-class seafood like salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab, or delicious local versions of Asian and Mexican dishes.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we discover Vancouver's most characterful and historic districts with a local guide. One key destination is Gastown, a charming area named after talkative Hull-born sailor and barman 'Gassy' Jack Deighton. Redbrick Victorian buildings dot the tree-lined streets surrounding pretty Maple Tree Square. Many upmarket fashion boutiques, trendy coffee shops, art galleries and the famous Gastown Steam Clock can be found here.

Crossing East Hastings Street, we arrive in the largest Chinatown in Canada, where we relish the sights and sounds of the lively streets and tranquil squares. From leafy Stanley Park with its colourful totem poles celebrating local Native American history, we travel to Granville Island, a buzzing district boasting independent stores and mouthwatering food markets.

After the tour, the rest of the day is free to explore independently. You can spend time on Granville Island or return to our landmark city centre hotel. For dinner this evening, indulge at a restaurant nearby.

With a free morning and afternoon, you have the chance to explore Vancouver at leisure.

Thanks to its charming atmosphere and positioning amid the incredible setting of mountains and the Pacific coast, this sparkling city is regarded as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Blending the vibrancy and culture of a cosmopolitan city with spectacular scenery, Vancouver and its surroundings have impressed visitors for many years.

Departing the hotel early evening, we are transferred by coach to Vancouver International Airport to begin our journey home.

On this spectacular trip, we stayed in iconic Fairmont hotels and journeyed on the world-famous Rocky Mountaineer in premium GoldLeaf coaches, crossing the world's second-biggest country and witnessing many highlights.

From Halifax, where we viewed some of Nova Scotia's most attractive towns and a night in the famous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac to visiting an authentic sugar shack and the majestic Niagara Falls, the experiences we had are unforgettable. After time in Toronto, we travelled on board the VIA Rail's Canadian train for three nights. The beautiful national parks around Banff and Jasper were followed by awe-inspiring vistas on Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver.

As our plane touches down at London Heathrow this morning, the luxurious Canadian journey comes to an end.