The Canadiana

Arrive at Pearson International Airport, Toronto. Individual transfer to your centrally located hotel. After checking in with your tour director, the remainder of the day is free. Overnight in Toronto.

We get better acquainted with our travelling companions at breakfast before heading out on a Toronto city tour for the morning.

Experience the sights and sounds of this cosmopolitan city as you explore the downtown and residential areas. Highlights include the Eaton Centre, old and new City Halls, Casa Loma, Yorkville, and the University of Toronto. You will pass by the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower and drive along the harbourfront for a complete impression of the city.

The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration. Overnight in Toronto.

Departing early, we enjoy a pleasant drive east. Following the north shore of Lake Ontario, we pass endless miles of rolling farmland.

Our first destination is the beautiful Thousand Islands resort region, where we embark upon a relaxing cruise. After taking in the sights and sounds of this river playground, we re-board our tour coach for the drive to Montreal. Overnight in Montreal.

This morning, we tour Montreal, the second-largest French-speaking city in the world. This dynamic metropolis encapsulates the two founding cultures of Canada and boasts a curious blend of history and modernity.

Touring the downtown area, we view the Olympic Complex, charming Old Montreal, McGill University, the residential streets of Mount Royal, and the bustling shopping streets.

The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight in Montreal.

This morning, we depart Montreal and partially follow the route of Canada’s first carriageway, the Chemin du Roy, deep into French Canada.

Winding our way through typical French-Canadian villages and towns, we experience true immersion in French culture. Upon arrival, we head out on a Quebec City tour, venturing within the walls of the old city before viewing Lower Town, the Citadel, Battlefields Park, and the ornate city gates. Overnight in Quebec City.

The day is at your leisure to further explore the sights of this charming World Heritage Site. You can enjoy an optional full-day excursion to Tadoussac, including a 3-hour whale-watching tour on the St. Lawrence River at the mouth of the Saguenay River. Step aboard a regular boat and go in search of the world’s largest mammals.

You will also visit the spectacular Montmorency Falls which are 30 metres higher than the world-famous Niagara Falls. Overnight in Quebec City.

Following the shore of St. Lawrence, this morning we travel west past Montreal, across the Ontario border, and on to Ottawa — the nation’s capital.

We stop for lunch along the way at the Sucrerie de la Montagne — an authentic sugar shack and pioneer-style restaurant.

Upon arrival in the capital city, we take a quick tour of Ottawa. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Ottawa.

In the morning we explore more of Canada’s capital on an Ottawa city tour. We view the Parliament Buildings, residences of the Prime Minister and the Governor General, the Rideau Canal (designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site), and much more.

The afternoon is free for independent exploration of Ottawa’s many museums and fine galleries, shopping at the Sparks Street Mall, or perhaps a boat cruise on one of the city’s many waterways. Overnight in Ottawa.

Our journey west from Ottawa features sparkling lakes, rushing streams, deep forests, and characteristic northern towns. This leg of our Canada vacation package features the highlight of a visit to Algonquin Provincial Park.

Here we will take a walk along the scenic trails. This immense wildlife and forest preserve is a favourite destination for camping expeditions during the summer months, and your walk will give you the opportunity to experience a little of it for yourself.

Soon after, we enter the Muskoka resort region, our destination for the night. Overnight in Midland.

This morning, upon arrival in Sainte-Marie among The Hurons, we have breakfast. This fascinating three-acre historic site is a detailed reconstruction of the first inland European community in Canada.

Next, we drive south past Toronto and then through the orchards and vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula with a final destination of Niagara Falls — a highlight of any Canada vacation package.

A thrilling boat ride on the Hornblower Niagara Cruises — Voyage to the Falls brings us to the foot of the thundering waterfalls for an unforgettable experience. We will take a ride to the top of the Skylon Tower providing a spectacular view of the falls and the surrounding district of Niagara.

Afterward, you can enjoy an optional Niagara Helicopter Tour or Niagara Skywheel, both of which give breathtaking views of the Niagara Falls region.

The evening is free for exploring North America’s “honeymoon capital”. Overnight in Niagara Falls.

We leave Niagara Falls this morning. Our drive follows the scenic Niagara Parkway through the historic village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, home of the Shaw Festival. Here we see a small but thriving community, proud to display a carefully-preserved nineteenth-century atmosphere.

We complete the first phase of this tour in the afternoon with a short drive back to Toronto. The evening features a special dinner at the CN Tower. Overnight in Toronto.

Today we transfer to Pearson International Airport in Toronto and check in for our flight to Calgary, Alberta. After crossing two thousand kilometres of Canadian wilderness and western wheatland, we arrive at Calgary International Airport and transfer to our hotel.

After check-in at the hotel, the remainder of the day is free to tour Calgary. Explore the Old West at the Glenbow Museum or Fort Calgary on your own, browse through the Eau Claire Market, ride up the Calgary Tower for a great view, and savour the great restaurants and dynamic nightlife. Overnight in Calgary.

The day begins with a tour of Calgary. We then leave the city and travel west on the Trans-Canada Highway into the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

The majestic peaks of the Canadian Rockies soon fill the horizon as we approach Banff National Park, the first of several stops in the Canadian national parks system. We soon arrive in the charming resort town of Banff. Overnight in Banff.

Today we will enjoy a tour of Banff. The area became Canada’s first national park in 1885 to protect its natural hot springs.

An optional Helicopter Sightseeing Tour will give you the chance to see the eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Alternatively, you can take an optional gondola ride to spectacular Sulphur Mountain. Bring your camera!

The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the surroundings of Banff, stroll along Banff Avenue, or relax and enjoy the scenery. Overnight in Banff.

oday’s journey through Banff and Jasper national parks promises to be a highlight of this Canada vacation package.

Shortly after leaving Banff, we visit the famous scenery of Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in Canada. Afterwards, we travel north on the famed Icefields Parkway through a rugged wilderness flanked by dramatic mountain ranges.

At the Columbia Icefield, we board a specially constructed Ice Explorer to ride on the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. Close to Jasper, you have the chance to go on an optional raft trip on the Athabasca River. Your experienced guide will point out the natural and human history as you raft through short rapids and stretches of calm waters. Overnight in Jasper.

efore leaving Jasper National Park this morning, you can take part in an optional Spirit Island Cruise on Maligne Lake, the most picturesque and largest glacier-fed lake in the park.

Alternatively, you may take an optional motorcycle tour of Jasper, riding in the comfortable sidecar with an unmatched view of the forests and mountains.

Then, we travel west along the Yellowhead Highway and into the heartland of British Columbia. Breathtaking, unspoiled vistas await visitors in every season of the year. The route takes us along the Thompson River through the picturesque Shuswap Highlands. Overnight in Kamloops.

We can expect a day of dramatic scenery changes when we drive through the ranch lands and head for the coastal mountains. A journey along the Duffey Lake Road exposes new vistas at every turn.

An optional Floatplane Sightseeing Tour over Garibaldi Park gives you an inspiring view of a natural preserve of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and meadows. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Whistler.

The Sea-to-Sky Highway leads us south through spectacular coastal scenery today. You will visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge suspended high above a magnificent canyon.

From Horseshoe Bay, we cruise by ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island and continue by coach to Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city and a former British enclave. Upon arrival, we embark on a Victoria city tour. Overnight in Victoria.

Proud of her maritime heritage, Victoria has a charming coastal vibe and many 19th-century landmarks to explore throughout the city.

Today, we treat ourselves to a tour of the world-famous Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s great floral displays, set in a reclaimed stone quarry. Time will be allocated here for browsing through the regal gardens.

You can take part in an optional Floatplane Sightseeing Tour over downtown Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

You can also go on an optional Whale watching Excursion aboard a Zodiac or a regular vessel. Watch for the magnificent orcas and the abundance of marine wildlife.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city’s delights. Overnight in Victoria.

We continue through the resort region of the Gulf Islands to the oceanside city of Vancouver. Upon arrival, we enjoy a fascinating Vancouver city tour, including famous locations like Stanley Park, English Bay, Gastown, Chinatown, and much more.

The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration or simple relaxation. This evening features our farewell dinner. Overnight in Vancouver.

A time for last-minute shopping and sad farewells. Individual transfer to Vancouver International Airport in time to check in for your return flight.