Canada in the Fall

Wednesday 1^st October

Today we depart for Montréal,  a charming and vibrant blend of old-world charm, French joie de vivre, and modern architecture, with many diverse cultural communities contributing to its rich tapestry of food, music, arts and landscape. Montréal’s history has left an indelible mark – it’s been in turn a French settlement, a British stronghold, and today, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city. It also boasts lush parks, flowering gardens, leafy trails, a huge and eclectic concentration of shops.

Arriving in the city we will check in to our hotel to start out four-night stay in this wonderful city.

Overnight in Montréal.

Thursday 2^nd October

After breakfast we’ll set out on foot to discover Montréal. A vibrant and beautiful city with a culinary heart and an exciting underground world! Our guided tour includes visiting Old Montreal – the historical centre that still preserves its charm and influences, with cobbled streets and fine alfresco restaurants – Mount Royal, Place d’Armes, Place Jacques Cartier and more. However, the tour not only explores above ground, but also the depths of the city through its ‘Reso’, or underground pedestrian network, situated in Downtown Montreal and particularly popular during Montreal’s long winters! Coming back to the surface we’ll spend time at the Jean Talon Market. A crossroads of flavours and cultures, the market offers a dazzling variety of fresh products, from exotic fruits to artisanal cheeses and aromatic herbs. The colorful stalls, lively interactions with vendors and friendly atmosphere make Jean-Talon Market an essential experience to discover the culinary richness and soul of the city. Here we’ll get to indulge in a tasting of freshly baked Montréal bagels – unique to the city these are handmade, boiled in honey water and wood-fired for extra flavour.

The rest of the day will be free for you to explore the city further in small groups or in your pairs. Perhaps a visit to the amazing Botanical Gardens, home to over 22,000 plant special, 20 themed gardens an extensive Arboretum and 10 exhibition greenhouses.  The Jardin Botanique de Montréal is one of the most revered and important botanical gardens in the world.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Montréal.

Friday 3^rd October

This morning, we head north for our day trip to the utterly charming City of Québec. On arrival, we’ll enjoy a traditional ‘Sugar Shack’ style lunch – a hearty French-Canadian feast celebrating one of their most famous exports which typically includes dishes like pea soup, maple-baked ham, sausages, baked beans, fried pork rinds (oreilles de crisse), omelettes, and pancakes… and all served with a generous helping of maple syrup!

This afternoon we will walk off some of our lunch with a fascinating tour of this historical city. We’ll wander through the narrow, cobblestoned streets of the UNESCO-listed Old City, exploring the artisan shops and fascinating boutiques, as well as visiting the numerous historical landmarks, such as the 17^th and 18th century Place Royale, the Citadel, and the famous turreted Château Frontenac Hotel. As the day draws to a close, we’ll return to Montreal for dinner at our leisure.

Breakfast and Lunch included. Overnight in Montréal.

Saturday 4^th October

We’ve left today free for you to further explore Montréal in your pairs. The city has so much to offer it will be hard to know what to choose. Perhaps your day will take you on a cruise along the St. Lawrence River, or you might want to test your penchant for heights with a ride on the giant wheel (La Grande Roue). Maybe you’ll sample some more of the culinary delights with a classic poutine (fries, cheese curds and gravy), or beavertail (flat fried doughnut with all sorts of toppings), or take a stroll in the autumnal wonderland of Mont Royal Park. There’s also the Biosphere of Montréal, the Science Centre and the beautiful neo-gothic Notre-Dame Basilica to discover – so much to see and do you’ll be spoiled for choice!

Breakfast included. Overnight in Montréal.

Sunday 5^th October

After breakfast, we will say goodbye to Montréal, and head to the nations’ capital, Ottawa. Here, we’ll enjoy a short tour of the highlights of this most European of North American cities, before having some free time to discover the city further.

Considered the most bilingual of Canada’s English-speaking cities, Ottawa, which resides on the magnificent south shore of the Ottawa River, is a contrast of parliamentarians, diplomats, historians and artists. Our tour will take us to Rideau Hall, the Byward Market, the Supreme Court and Canadian Parliament. After an included lunch, there’ll be some free time for some personal exploration in your pairs or small groups. Perhaps a wander along the banks of the Rideau Canal, or a visit to Parliament Hill… or maybe grab a cheeky selfie with a Mountie (the decoratively dressed Royal Canadian Mounted Police!), before returning to the coach to continue on to our next nights stop, Kingston.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kingston.

Monday 6^th October

We’ll start today with a highlights tour of Kingston which sits on the shores of Lake Ontario. Once a simple fur trading post in the 17^th century and then a strategic site in the hands of the English loyalists fighting the Americans, Kingston was once the capital of the United Province of Canada until Queen Victoria decided she preferred Ottawa! We’ll explore Kingston’s bustling heart and stroll along its appealing waterfront before embarking on a cruise to discover the Thousand Islands. A region known to the locals as the ‘Garden of the Great Spirit’ and still regarded by many as one of the most beautiful places on earth, we’ll sail through the crystal-clear waters of the St. Lawrence River, to discover wooded islands, historic mansions and fairytale castles, all whilst listening to captivating stories about the archipelago.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kingston.

Tuesday 7th October

Leaving Kingston behind today we journey onwards to Toronto. This multicultural metropolis is famed for its magnificent skyline, lovely lakeside waterfront and fine landmarks such as the CN Tower. On arrival in the city, we’ll have lunch together before our city highlight tour including the Bay Street area, the Financial District, City Hall, the Parliament of Ontario, the University of Toronto, Yonge Street and the Eaton Centre. The evening will be left free for you to enjoy some of the international (or local) cuisines this great city has to offer.

Breakfast and lunch included.  Overnight Toronto.

Wednesday 8^th October

Today has been left for personal exploration in your pairs or small groups. With Toronto’s bounty of theatre attractions, fine museums, art galleries, theme parks, markets and its very own islands, there’s plenty to intrigue and inspire here in Canada’s largest and most international city. In Toronto’s oldest districts, the culture of many European nations seems to have been replicated in miniature. There’s Little Italy, Little Greece, Little India, Little Portugal and so on, each conveying the distinctive flavours and ambience of its far-off homeland. Here’s a wonderful chance to invigorate your senses by exploring these areas and to find out how and why so many diverse cultural influences have contributed so richly to the quality of Toronto as a city of many attractions.

Alternatively, rekindle your sense of wonder and step back in time at Casa Loma, Toronto’s most romantic historic mansion with its elegantly decorated suites, secret passageways, stately towers, luxurious stables and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens, or visit Canada’s most recognisable and celebrated icon, the CN Tower, which defines the Toronto skyline and offers breathtaking views over the city.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Toronto.

Thursday 9^th October

Today we’ll be visiting one of the most celebrated natural wonders of the world, Niagara Falls. The sheer size and power of 6,810,000 litres of water per second driving into the river below cannot fail to impress. We will take to the water on an exciting Niagara Boat Cruise into the basin of the magnificent Canadian Horseshoe Falls and as close as possible to the breathtaking flow of the falls, feeling the mist on our face and hearing the incredible thunderous roar of the cascading water.

We’ll take lunch at a restaurant with a spectacular panoramic view overlooking the falls, before our afternoon visit to the wine regions of Ontario. Stopping off at a local producer, we’ll have a guided tour of the winery along with tastings of some of their wonderful wines, including the famous ‘Ice Wine’, whose production is only possible in areas with climatic conditions below zero.

Breakfast and lunch included. Overnight in Toronto.

Friday 10^th October

Our last full day in Toronto begins with a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum for a private guided tactile tour. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, it is the largest museum of art, world culture and history in Canada, and offers an impressive, diverse range of exhibitions – a collection of approximately 6 million objects – including Canada’s First Nations, ancient Egypt and dinosaurs. Here we will be shown around selected areas of the museum and have the unique opportunity of touching some exclusively selected objects from the collection.

Following our fascinating museum visit, we’ll have time to explore St. Lawrence Market, listed as number one in the National Geographic’s top ten street markets of the world! A perfect place to find a delicious lunch of your own choice. After a satisfactory meal, what better way to round off the day and our Canadian adventure, than in the distillery district with a guided tour of a local, small batch, brewery… and of course the chance to have a taste!

Breakfast included. Overnight in Toronto.

Saturday 11^th October

After breakfast, we’ll check out of our hotel, storing our luggage whilst we have one last wander around Toronto. Time to stock up on those souvenirs – perhaps some maple syrup goodies, a hockey jersey, or a packet of salmon jerky (!). In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the airport ready for our flight home.

Breakfast included. Overnight in flight.

Sunday 12^th October

This morning, we arrive back home with happy memories of our Canadian adventure.

UK passport holders will need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to travel to Canada.  These cost CAD$7 and are applied for online before travel: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply

Holders of passports from outside the UK should check the relevant embassy for requirements.