Trip Summary
Evoking the golden age of train travel, this seven-day rail expedition across Canada’s five provinces includes four unforgettable days and nights aboard The Canadian, VIA Rail’s legendary transcontinental train. Enjoy nostalgic ambiance in the reserved Prestige Class and stays at iconic five-star Fairmont properties in Toronto and Vancouver, which complement this adventure of a lifetime. Departing from Toronto, you’ll take in breathtaking views of the rolling prairies, rugged lake country and Rocky Mountains from the panoramic Prestige Class dome or your own well-appointed stateroom—featuring a large picture window and ensuite bathroom. You’ll also savor chef-prepared, three-course meals served in the elegant dining car with priority seating and dedicated concierge service throughout the journey. Whether you decide to unplug with a good book, participate in an on-board wine tasting or simply watch the scenic vistas go by, it’s a vintage rail experience like no other—bookended by sojourns in Toronto and Vancouver with time to explore these historic, yet cosmopolitan, cities at leisure.
Event Itinerary
Day 1: En Route from U.S. • Arrive in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Day 2: Toronto • Board VIA Rail's The Canadian • Hornepayne
Day 3: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Day 4: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan • Edmonton, Alberta
Day 5: Jasper • Kamloops, British Columbia
Day 6: Vancouver
Day 7: Vancouver • Depart for U.S.
Tour Highlights
– Unwind and unplug. Enjoy the serenity of traveling by rail with time to truly disconnect from the outside world.
– Relax in comfort. Your private Prestige Class stateroom provides 50% more living space compared to other cabin categories. Features include: a picture window that's 60% larger than standard cabin windows, a leather couch by day that transforms into a comfortable double bed with luxury linens by night, heated floors and walls, private en suite bathroom with shower, and nightly turndown service.
– Embrace the countryside. Crossing five provinces, admire the diverse and picturesque landscapes each creating a colorful changing tapestry day after day.
– Indulge on board. Three-course lunches and dinners are prepared by onboard chefs using a selection of local and regional ingredients. Prestige Class amenities also include priority seating in the dining car, dedicated concierge service and complimentary snacks and beverages in the Park Car 24-hours a day.
– Enjoy the atmosphere. Whether joining an onboard lecture or presentation, gathering for a wine tasting, playing board or card games, or simply watching the outside panoramas pass by, each day offers a variety of optional activities aimed to define the leisurely pace of the journey.
Meet Your Faculty Expert
Charles Wheelan '88 P'25
Charles Wheelan is the faculty director for Tuck’s Center for Business, Government & Society. Prior to joining the Tuck faculty, he was a senior lecturer and policy fellow at Dartmouth’s Rockefeller Center for Public Policy. He teaches courses related to business and public policy. Wheelan is the author of the “naked books”: Naked Money, Naked Statistics, and Naked Economics. In 2023, Naked Economics was named by Princeton finance professor Burton Malkiel in the Wall Street Journal as the best business book of all time. Wheelan is also the author of The Centrist Manifesto and the founder and chair of Unite America, a movement of Democrats, Republicans, and independents working to foster a more representative and functional government. Wheelan lives in Hanover, New Hampshire, with his wife, Leah Yegian Wheelan, who is also a 1988 Dartmouth graduate.