Itinerary in brief:
- 4 nights Toronto
- 2 nights Ottawa
- 3 nights Montreal
- 3 nights Quebec
Day 1: UK to Toronto
Depart the UK from your chosen airport. This holiday includes business class flights, so you’ll have access to a comfortable lounge in the UK and should arrive feeling rested and ready to go exploring Toronto later that day. You’ll be met at the airport and driven into the city, where you’ll be dropped at your hotel and will check in for four nights.
Included: International flight, transfer, 4* hotel
Days 2 & 3: Toronto
You’ve got two full days to explore Toronto. Take a trip up the CN Tower where you can enjoy panoramic views over Lake Ontario – you can even walk on a glass floor above the city if you are feeling adventurous! Spend the afternoon wandering through Chinatown and Kensington Market. These colourful neighbourhoods reveal Toronto’s multicultural heritage as well as its independent roots – you won’t find any Starbucks or McDonald’s around here.
The city is also famous for its museums and galleries; the Art Gallery of Ontario, full of Canadian, American and European art, is a highlight of any trip to Toronto. Before you leave, be sure you try a bowl of ‘poutine’, a combination of chips, gravy and cheese curds: a true Canadian comfort food.
Included: 4* hotel
Day 4: Niagara Falls
Today, you’ll head off on a full-day tour to visit the mighty Niagara Falls. You’ll have plenty of time at the waterfall to take photos and admire the thundering waters. You’ll also get up close and personal on the Hornblower cruise, which will take you right into the spray for a unique view of Horseshoe Falls.
After a delicious lunch at the Fallsview restaurant, you’ll have some time to explore Niagara on the Lake, one of Canada’s prettiest towns. Heading back to Toronto, try heading up the CN Tower for a night-time view over the twinkling city and a drink at one of the quirky local bars.
Included: Day tour to Niagara Falls including lunch, 4* hotel
Day 5: Train to Ottawa
Today you’ll spend the morning in Toronto before heading to the train station to catch the train to Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. We've included business-class train tickets, meaning you can enjoy the 5-hour train journey in style. Depending on the time of day, you'll get a warm meal as well as access to the bar cart, which will offer you a selection of wines or maybe a G&T to enjoy as you sit in large, comfortable seats. You'll also have access to the business class lounge in Toronto, so you can await boarding in comfort. In Ottawa, check into your hotel for two nights and get straight out exploring – why not head to a classy French restaurant for dinner to celebrate the city’s bilingualism?
Included: 4* hotel, business class train ticket
Day 6: Ottawa
Ask people what the capital of Canada is, and most of them will say Vancouver or maybe Toronto. However, the correct answer is the historic city of Ottawa, where a tiny lumber town has grown into a cultural capital, with the gothic Parliament buildings forming the heart of downtown. We’ve included a walking tour with Urban Adventures, which will guide you around the impressive architecture of Ottawa, before heading over the river to discover how despite the close physical proximity, Quebec and Ontario are very different provinces.
After the tour, why not head towards the Sparks Street Mall and ByWard Market, an area populated with cafes, craft shops and farmers markets? Make sure you buy an Obama cookie, the maple leaf-shaped biscuit named when President Obama dropped by the bakery for a snack in 2009 – they’re famous and delicious!
Included: 4* hotel, walking tour
Day 7: Train to Montreal
Spend the morning in Ottawa before hopping back on the train to enjoy another business class journey heading to Montreal, a beautiful city in French Canada. On arrival, you’ll check into your hotel for three nights and head out into the city for a drink before exploring tomorrow, and perhaps drop into a late-night poutine joint to try this Canadian staple.
Included: 4* hotel, business class train ticket
Days 8 & 9: Montreal
In Montreal, you will find an intriguing mix of both French and British cultures. You’ll be faced with exciting dining and shopping options, plus some magnificent architecture in the shape of the Notre Dame Basilica. Take a wander through the French Quarter, take in the views from Mount Royal and see the Olympic site and the McGill University. The classic Montreal lunch is a smoked meat bagel, with plenty of mustard so drop by Schwartz’s at midday, before maybe checking out a hockey game, where you can join the locals in screaming ‘Go Habs Go!’.
Included: 4* hotel
Day 10: Train to Quebec
Hop onboard the train again for another business class journey north to Quebec City, the furthest north city on your trip. On arrival you’ll make your way to the hotel, check in for three nights and settle in for an exciting day tomorrow.
Included: 4* hotel, business class train ticket
Days 11 & 12: Quebec
On your first day here, you’ll leave the city behind and enjoy a day trip to the Charlevoix region, where you’ll go whale-watching from the small town of Tadoussac. This is a very special experience as during the summer you can see magical beluga whales in this rugged area of the coast, as well as minkes and finbacks. You’ll be on a boat specially designed for whale-watching and if you catch a glimpse of these otherworldly creatures, we’re sure it will be a highlight of the holiday!
On your second day, you can explore the city, visiting Place Royale, where Quebec was founded in 1608, as well as wandering amongst the pretty lanes and quaint streets of Petit-Champlain, where you can find local craft brewpubs and delicious farm-to-fork restaurants. To get the best views, you need to leave Quebec City and head over to neighbouring Levis on the ferry, sitting back and taking in the spectacular views of Château Frontenac and the Parliament Building.
Included: 4* hotel, whale watching tour on day 11
Day 13: Depart Canada
Your Eastern Canada train trip has come to an end. Today you’ll be driven back to the airport to catch your flight home. You’ll be flying business class again, meaning you can relax in comfort and sleep overnight.
Included: Transfers, international flights
Day 14: Arrive UK
