Explore the diverse eastern provinces of Ontario and Quebec on this two-week self-drive holiday. From the thundering waterfalls of Niagara to the tranquil lakes of Algonquin Provincial Park, the cosmopolitan city of Toronto to the old-world charm of Quebec, via the 1000 Islands of St Lawrence River, this well-paced itinerary offers a wealth of contrasts, all uniquely Canadian.
The neighbouring provinces of Ontario and Quebec are the ideal setting for a self-drive holiday, with countless highlights showcasing Canada’s diverse culture, history, scenery and wildlife.
This comprehensive holiday package includes various excursions to maximise your experience, including a cruise of the 1000 Islands, a walking tour of Quebec City and admission to the CN Tower, Upper Canada Village and the Canadian Museum of History. No holiday to this region would be complete without a visit to the awesome Niagara Falls, and your package includes a memorable trip on the Hornblower cruise, a real highlight as you travel to the base of the 167-foot falls.
Itinerary
Travel along the shores of Lake Ontario, passing through the orchards and vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula, before arriving at Niagara-on-the-Lake, one of the best-preserved 19th Century towns in North America. Drive south along the Niagara Parkway to one of the world’s natural wonders, Niagara Falls. Here you will experience the thundering falls with your Niagara Falls Adventure Pass which gives you admission to three popular attractions.
Today’s drive takes you north, past Toronto and into Ontario’s “cottage country” bound for Algonquin Provincial Park. Take a detour en-route to highlights such as Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons near Midland, a historic site depicting a 17th century fortress and headquarters for the French Jesuit mission to the Huron nation and Ontario’s first European community (not included). Or perhaps take the scenic drive to visit the Muskokas Lake region, famed for its 1,600 fresh water lakes and striking granite outcroppings.
Explore this vast park at your leisure and enjoy the serenity of the Canadian wilderness. There are numerous hiking trails and canoes available from your lodge to immerse yourself in nature at its best. As you make your way through the forests and countless lakes, keep an eye out wildlife such as Moose, White-tailed deer and Black bears. A visit to the Algonquin logging museum and the visitor centre are also highly recommended.
Today you’ll exchange the wilderness of Algonquin for Canada’s charming capital city, Ottawa.
Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:
Ottawa River Cruise – a scenic boat trip offering spectacular views of the city and the natural beauty of the region.
Ottawa Express Bike Tour – enjoy a relaxed bike tour of Ottawa (approx. 12 kms) and explore many of downtown Ottawa’s major attractions along its beautiful and safe cycle paths.
Discover the Capital City Hop On/ Off Tour – experience Ottawa’s original and most comprehensive Hop-on-Hop-off City Tour aboard one of our London Style open top Double Deckers or turn of the century Trolleys.
Journey north east to the jewel of the Laurentians, Mont Tremblant, a European styled resort village. Make a stop in Montebllo to enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, horse riding, or a helicopter tour. Alternatively, if you missed the wildlife in the Algonquin Park, visit the Omega Park which features endemic wildlife or join a black bear observation tour in the Kenauk Reserve (not included).
Enjoy the pleasant scenery as you travel from Mont Tremblant to historic Trois Rivieres for a lunch stop. Then continue your drive along the Chemin du Roy road to Quebec City.
Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:
Rendezvous with History Quebec City Tour – offering a glimpse of modern Quebec City, explore sites including the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, Ramparts, world famous Château Frontenac, National Assembly, Basilica, City Hall, Place-Royale, Citadelle.
A Fabulous Country Tour – travel back in time to rural Quebec along the Chemin du Roy to SainteAnne- de-Beaupré. See the world-famous shrine and Montmorency Falls before visiting the Island of Orléans.
Foodie Walking Tour of Quebec City – discover the city’s gastronomic and culinary history by taking part in five exclusive tasting presentations, inspired by Amerindian, British and French cuisines.
Depart Quebec City and follow the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. The drive will take you past city suburbs and stunning rural landscapes of forests and rich pastures, dotted with tiny villages. In Drummondville you may wish to visit the village Quebecois d’Antan, a faithful reconstruction of a French colonial village.
Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:
Montreal Half Day Sightseeing Tour – explore areas such as Mont Royal, Old Montréal, and the city’s picturesque riverfront. Highlights of the tour include a visit to the Notre-Dame Basillica, taking in the 360-degree views from the Observatoire Place Ville Marie, and a scenic river cruise along the beautiful St. Lawrence River.
Walking Tour of Old Montreal
Beyond the Market Food Walking Tour, Montreal
Journey south to the city of Kingston or Gananoque. Stop en route to enjoy a visit to Upper Canada Village (included), where you will be transported back in time to 1860s. This reconstructed village features over 40 heritage buildings to explore including mills, trades shops and churches. Learn what life was like from friendly locals who showcase their historic trades. Continue your drive to Kingston and visit the Kingston Mills Lock station. This fascinating site is the southern entrance to the Rideau Canal System, where you can view the four locks raising boats fourteen metres. This afternoon enjoy an hour cruise of the Thousand Islands.
On your way back to the city today, you may wish to stop to witness the renowned Guard at the Fort Henry National Historic Site, where a unit of precision trained Canadian students perform daily 19th century infantry drills (admission not included). Or perhaps pause for a coffee break in Peterborough and view the world’s highest lift locks. Your adventure ends in Toronto.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Car hire including unlimited mileage, 2nd driver, loss damage waiver and third-party liability
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Hornblower Niagara Cruise
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Niagara Falls Adventure Pass
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Choice of excursion in Ottawa: River Cruise / Bike Tour / Hop On/Off Bus Tour
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Choice of excursion in Quebec City: Historical City Tour / Country Tour / Foodie Walking Tour
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Choice of excursion in Montreal: Half Day City Tour / Walking Tour of Old Montreal / Food Walking Tour
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Admission to Upper Canada Village
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1000 Islands Cruise
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £2151 Excluding Flights
11 Nights
May-Oct
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Make this trip yours
Every destination and itinerary you see here can be adapted to suit you – so reach for that bucket list and start imagining your next adventure here.
Rosie
3
Bear cubs spotted in the wild
7
Christmas days spent abroad
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
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Phoebe
Travel Specialist
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
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Darren
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
