This 8-day trip takes you along Canada’s freshest waterways, from the rushing rapids of Niagara Falls to the long stretches of the St Lawrence River. You’ll visit Quebec and Ontario’s largest cities on this escorted coach tour that includes moderate accommodations as you make stops in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.
Begin your trip on the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and financial centre. Toronto is renowned for its world-class international eats and neighbourhoods bursting with individual flavour in places like Greektown and Little India in the east and Chinatown and Little Italy in the west. For a unique perspective of the lake, you may consider an excursion to the Toronto Islands with its many bike trails, skyline views, and sandy beaches.
A day trip to Niagara Falls will heighten your senses as you experience the roar of 28 million litres of water pouring over the cliff every second, feeling cool mist settle on your skin even before the falls come into view. You may opt to get up close and personal with the waterfall on a Maid of the Mist boat ride, or perhaps you’d rather hike through the stunning Niagara gorge or stroll through a rose garden in the area surrounding this natural wonder.
In Ottawa, you’ll come face to face with the impressive architecture of Parliament Hill and many other Gothic-style buildings overlooking the Ottawa River. While its political reputation may eclipse the city’s other attractions, rest assured that Canada’s capital has plenty to do, whether it's skating on the Rideau Canal in the winter or exploring the National Gallery of Canada, home to the world’s finest collection of Indigenous and Canadian art.
Crossing the border into Quebec, allow the melodic notes of French to delight your ears as you wander the cobblestone streets of Quebec City. Ancient history lies in every corner of this walled city, which you’ll learn about on a tour of key locations like the Citadel, Plains of Abraham, Lower Town, and more. After walking all day, try out some French-Canadian cuisine with some classics like poutine, tourtière, or pouding chomêur, a Quebecois maple syrup take on bread pudding. Gaze out at the waterways of the St Lawrence River, where you may opt for a day of whale watching on an excursion to Tadoussac. Montmorency Falls is another option, whose heights stretch 30m taller than Niagara Falls in a verdant environment.
History and culture blend in Montreal, Quebec’s most cosmopolitan city renowned for its culinary and artistic traditions, featuring arts and music festivals year-round. Old English and French traditions merge with flavours of more recent immigration, with lots of influences from Italian, Haitian, and Jewish cultures accumulating in a unique city spirit that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. You can’t visit Montreal without grabbing a bagel (or six) at one of its many iconic bagel shops, providing you with options for classic cream cheese or lox and capers.
Before returning to Toronto, you’ll stop in Rockport at the gateway to the beautiful 1000 Islands, an area consisting of more than 1800 islands in the St Lawrence River that is popular amongst outdoors enthusiasts and cottage-goers in the warmer months. Enjoy a cruise on its calm waters to gaze at sprawling island mansions or hike on the many trails through the wild woods that stand stoically on the shores.
Your trip comes to an end in Toronto, where you can transfer to the airport for your flight home unless you’d like to continue exploring Canada’s vast expanse of wild landscapes and cultural hubs.
