Canadian Discovery

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

This morning we embark on a morning city tour of Toronto. Experience the sights and sounds of this cosmopolitan city as you explore the downtown area and residential areas. Highlights include the Eaton Centre, old and new City Halls, Casa Loma, Yorkville and the University of Toronto. Afterwards, we depart for Niagara Falls and the lush fruit-growing district of the Niagara Peninsula. The historic Niagara on- the-Lake reflects the region’s picturesque colonial past while the vast entertainment complex surrounding the thundering water of Niagara Falls creates a sense of wonder for all visitors. While in Niagara, you may do an optional helicopter excursion. Return to Toronto late in the afternoon. Overnight in Toronto. Breakfast included.

Departing early, we proceed along the north shore of Lake Ontario, passing endless tracts of rolling farmland as we cross the provincial border. We follow the path of the mighty St. Lawrence R iver – the massive waterway that played a major role in the development of Canada. We arrive in Montreal and tour the downtown area, featuring views of the Olympic Complex, charming Old Montreal, McGill University, the residential streets of Mount R oyal and bustling shopping streets.. The remainder of the day is free to explore this francophone city that celebrates modernity and the arts. Overnight in Montreal. Breakfast included.

Today we head inland to the provincial border through the townships of western Quebec en route to the Canada’s capitol. The interior of Quebec maintains strong tie with their agricultural past, evident by the many farms that can be seen along the route, but also is experiencing dramatic modernization as communities and towns expand outward from Montreal and Ottawa. Arriving in Ottawa, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Ottawa. Continental breakfast included.

Today we take a tour of Ottawa and discovery the wonders of Canada’s capitol. On our tour, we view the Parliament Buildings, residences of the Prime Minister and the Governor General, the R ideau Canal (designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site), and much more. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Ottawa. Continental breakfast included.

Our journey west from Ottawa features sparkling lakes, rushing streams, deep forests and charming northern towns. The trip will be highlighted by a visit to the Algonquin Provincial Park Visitor Centre and Logging Museum, exploring the history of the park and the lumber industry before the lands were designated as a park. This immense wildlife and forest preserve is a favourite destination for camping expeditions during the summer months. We continue through the cottage communities of the region on our way to Huntsville. Overnight at Comfort Inn Huntsville. Breakfast included.

Today we travel through some of the most popular and coveted summer vacation areas in Ontario, dotted with lakes, rivers and forests set amongst the rocky outcroppings of the Canadian Shield. We cross the deep waters of Georgian Bay to Manitoulin Island and embark on a First Nations experience on the Great Spirit Circle Trail with aboriginal hosts. Afterwards, we arrive in Little Current where the rest of the day is free to explore the local surroundings before dinner with your touring group. Overnight in Little Current at Manitoulin Island Hotel & Conference Centre. Breakfast and dinner included.

We proceed farther west along the indented shoreline of Georgian Bay as it feeds out into the wide waters of Lake Huron. Arriving in Sault Ste. Marie, we check into our hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure until dinner with your touring group. Once one of the largest hubs of the steel and lumber industries of Ontario, the city has reinvented itself as a centre for outdoor tourism and environmental responsibility, housing one of the largest solar farms in the country. Tonight enjoy dinner with your touring group. Overnight in Sault Ste. Marie. Breakfast and dinner included.

As we depart on our journey west, the scenic beauty of Northern Ontario is revealed on the scenic roads following the north shore of Lake Superior to Thunder Bay, the most westerly port of Canada’s incredible Great Lakes inland water system. The north shore is one of the most painted and photographed landscapes in Ontario, made famous by the Group of Seven artists in the early 20th century. Arriving in Thunder Bay, the day is at leisure to independently explore one of the largest cities in northern Ontario before dinner with your touring group. Overnight in Thunder Bay. Breakfast and dinner included.

Today’s drive leads us through the scenic Kenora Lakes district, across the Manitoba provincial border, and on to Winnipeg, Manitoba’s capital city and the western headquarters for the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways. The remainder of the day is free until dinner with your touring group in the evening. Overnight in Winnipeg. Breakfast and dinner included.

Today we begin our rail adventure! We board VIA Rail’s The Canadian and depart on our overnight journey to Jasper. Passing into the rolling fields of the prairies, we travel and comfort and style to the rock and sway of the train that reminds one of an older, more refined method of long distance travel. Comfortable berths are our home for the night as we continue on our trek to the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Overnight on board VIA Rail’s The Canadian. Breakfast at the hotel and all on-board meals included.

In the morning we continue our rail journey towards the foothills of the mountains, arriving in Jasper in the afternoon. Checking in at our hotel, you are free to discover what makes this small mountain village one of the most picturesque in the Rocky Mountains. As a hub for outdoor adventure, walking and hiking trails surround the town along with ancient forests and towering mountains on the horizon. Overnight in Jasper. Continental breakfast included.

Today’s journey through Jasper and Banff National Parks promises to be a highlight of our Canadian Trail programme. Shortly after leaving Jasper, we travel through a rugged wilderness flanked by dramatic vistas to the Columbia Icefield and board a specially constructed Ice Explorer to ride on the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. Afterwards, we continue on to the tree-lined streets of Banff where the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Banff. Canadian breakfast included.

Today we will enjoy a tour of the region around 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 part in an optional Gondola Ride up spectacular Sulphur Mountain. Don’t forget to take your camera with you for either one of the excursions! 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. Continental breakfast included.

Today we set out on our journey west through the Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho National Park and over mighty Rogers Pass , through Mount Revelstoke National Park to Three valley Gap. We continue on throughout the day to arrive at the famous Okanagan Valley, the centre of the province’s fruit-growing and wine industries. Overnight in Kelowna. Breakfast included.1

Today, we begin the last segment of our tour to the west coast. We leave the Okanagan Valley and mountains behind, passing through the Lower Mainland, and arrive at the Pacific coast and the gleaming towers of Vancouver. The remainder of the day is free to visit one of the many restaurants in the downtown area that combine Asian influences with western delicacies. Overnight in Vancouver. Continental breakfast included.

This morning features a tour of Vancouver, Canada’s western gateway. Highlights include: Stanley Park, English Bay, Gastown, Chinatown and much more. In the afternoon, you may view an optional flightseeing simulation, featuring a film of low level flight over some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery. Alternatively, the afternoon is free for independent exploration around the Vancouver area. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner. Overnight in Vancouver. Canadian breakfast and dinner included.

A time for last-minute shopping and farewells. Individual transfer to Vancouver International Airport in time to check in for your return flight. Breakfast included (American breakfast for 2017; Canadian breakfast for 2018).