Canadian Contrasts: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver & More

Arrive at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and transfer independently to your downtown hotel. After checking in with your tour director, the remainder of the day is free. Depending on your time of arrival, you can explore one of the city’s many unique neighbourhoods such as the Entertainment District, Kensington Market or even Toronto Island. Alternatively, you might simply wish to sample Toronto’s outstanding culinary scene or vibrant nightlife. Overnight Toronto

In the morning you have the first opportunity to meet your fellow travellers at breakfast before joining a tour to discover Canada’s most cosmopolitan city. After seeing the provincial parliament buildings, the waterfront, the imposing CN Tower, and lively Chinatown, you leave the city and head for the Niagara Peninsula. You pass through many interesting communities and towns as you travel along the shores of Lake Ontario en route to Niagara Falls. Time is allocated to admire the falls or take part in the numerous activities available before returning to Toronto. Canadian breakfast included. Overnight Toronto.

Leaving the Toronto skyline behind, today’s drive takes you east towards Ottawa, winding through rolling farmland and following the rivers and lakes of the Rideau Waterway. Upon arrival in Ottawa, you can enjoy a sightseeing tour of the national capital. Defined by the Rideau Canal (designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site) and the government buildings on Parliament Hill, the city offers many great sights including the public gardens, the Byward Market and City Hall. Canadian breakfast included. Overnight Ottawa. 

This morning you travel along the scenic Ottawa River to the French-speaking province of Québec, skirting the magnificent Laurentians. As you follow the Chemin du Roy past Québecois villages and historic shrines, today’s journey ends in Québec’s cultural heartland, and its capital Québec City. You tour within the walls of the old city and view the ornate city gates, Lower Town, the Citadel and Battlefields Park. Continental breakfast included. Overnight in the region of Québec City. 

The day is at leisure to further explore the sights of this captivating World Heritage Site on your own. Alternatively, you might enjoy an optional full day excursion to Tadoussac including 3-hours of whale watching on the St. Lawrence River at the mouth of the Saguenay River. The spectacular Montmorency Falls, 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls, are another consideration. Continental Breakfast included. Overnight in the region of Québec City

Departing from Quebec City you drive along the St.-Lawrence River in the footsteps of the early settlers. Upon arrival in Montréal, you can enjoy a tour of the second largest French-speaking city in the world. The vibrant city of Montréal is a fascinating mix of the founding cultures of Canada and boasts an intriguing blend of history and modernity. Touring the downtown area you can view the Olympic Complex, charming Old Montréal, McGill University, the residential streets of Mount Royal and the bustling shopping of St. Catherine Street and St. Laurent Boulevard.   Continental Breakfast included. Overnight Montréal

Today’s journey takes you back to Toronto. Rockport is a key stop en route and you have an option to enjoy an entertaining and relaxing cruise through the beautiful 1000 Islands. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Toronto

Join a transfer to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport for a flight over the prairie grainfields of central Canada to Calgary. Upon arrival in Calgary, you make your way to your downtown hotel. The Afternoon is at leisure, and you might visit Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada’s largest living history museum or go up the Calgary Tower’s observation deck which offers a spectacular 360° view across the bustling city, the majestic Rocky Mountains, rolling foothills, and expansive prairie landscape. Alternatively, you can always browse the boutique shops and other attractions of the downtown area. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Calgary.

You set out early this morning to tour the sights of Calgary, admiring such modern and historic landmarks as the Calgary Tower, Fort Calgary, and the skyscrapers of the commercial district. Leaving Calgary behind you can set your sights on the Rocky Mountains, which can already be seen, far off in the distance. Experience the majesty of the mountains as you first travel through the foothills and then enter Banff National Park. Touring the region around Banff amidst its snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald green lakes is a fantastic experience, as are landmarks like the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. Canadian breakfast included. Overnight Canmore 

The entire day is at leisure to tour the Banff area or browse through the many boutiques and specialty shops along Banff Avenue. An optional full-day tour is offered to the Columbia Icefield. The tour starts with a visit to the turquoise waters and spectacular glacier of Lake Louise, the jewel of the Rockies. From the unsurpassed beauty of Lake Louise, you enter a rugged wilderness as you travel up the world-famous Icefields Parkway. At the spectacular Columbia Icefield, you board an Ice Explorer that takes you onto the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier, returning late in the afternoon. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Canmore 

Today’s drive is on the famed Trans-Canada Highway, following a route charted by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid-1800s. The tour of the Canadian parks system continues as you cross the jagged Kicking Horse Pass into British Columbia’s Yoho National Park. From the highway, you are treated to a dazzling display of vast icefields, deep canyons, dense forests, and glacier-fed streams. One awe-inspiring landscape follows another en route to Glacier National Park as you continue through the Monashee and Selkirk Mountain ranges to the rugged interior town of Kamloops. Continental breakfast included. Overnight in Kamloops. 

You can expect a day of dramatic changes of scenery when you drive through the ranch lands and head for the coastal mountains. 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. Continental breakfast included. Overnight in Whistler. 

Driving south along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway takes you through a dramatic landscape of jagged fjords and glaciated mountain peaks. Arriving in Vancouver, the countryside is left behind to explore the metropolis of Vancouver on a sightseeing tour. Highlights include Stanley Park, Prospect Point, English Bay, historic Gastown and bustling Chinatown. The afternoon is free to discover more of this coastal gem on your own. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Vancouver. 

Make your way to Vancouver International Airport on your own to check-in for your flight home unless you plan to extend your stay in the area. Canadian breakfast is included.