15 Day Canadian Contrasts

On arrival in Toronto, you’ll make your way to your hotel and meet your Tour Director. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city. You could browse the stalls of St. Lawrence Market, hop on a ferry to discover the Toronto Islands, or go to the top of the CN Tower to see the city from above.  

Today, you’ll meet your fellow travellers at breakfast and then hop onboard the coach for a whistle-stop tour of Toronto’s major sights, like the provincial parliament buildings and the waterfront. Then, your coach will head out of the city towards the Niagara Peninsula, driving along the edge of vast Lake Ontario. When you reach Niagara Falls, you’ll find all sorts of options available. You could ride a boat to the base of the thundering falls, visit the observation deck, or hop in one of the elevators to go behind the falls themselves. Afterwards, you’ll return to Toronto for the night.

Day three sees your coach leave Toronto and head east to Ottawa. It’s a scenic journey, as the roads to Canada’s capital city wind through rolling farmland and follow the rivers of the Rideau Waterway. Once the coach reaches Ottawa, you’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of the capital, which is defined by the government buildings on Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has plenty to see, including the public gardens, Byward Market and City Hall.

You’ll hit the road again today, but this time it’s towards the French-speaking province of Quebec. Your route follows the scenic Ottawa River, skirts the magnificent Laurentians, and then goes along the historic Chemin du Roy road, which passes Quebecois villages and historic shrines. Your final destination is charming Quebec City, where you can take a tour within the walls of the Old City to see the ornate city gates, Lower Town, the Citadelle and Battlefields Park.

You can spend today exploring Quebec City at your own pace – or, if you’d prefer, you can add an optional excursion. During this daytrip, you’ll visit the village of Tadoussac which sits on the St. Lawrence River, where you can enjoy a three-hour whale-watching trip. You’ll also visit the spectacular Montmorency Falls, which is 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls. 

This morning, you’ll say goodbye to Quebec City and drive to Montreal. When you arrive, you’ll take a tour of the city. As the world’s second-largest French-speaking city – after Paris – this place has a curious blend of history and modernity. Your tour showcases the top sights from the Olympic Complex and the charming streets of Old Montreal, to McGill University and the residential roads of Mount Royal.

You’ll return to Toronto today, although not before a stop in Rockport. Here, you can enjoy a relaxing cruise through the Thousand Islands, which straddle the Canadian- US border. Look out for majestic castles, luxury cottages and vast estates, dotted among the islands’ lush landscape.

In the morning, your tour group will head to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport for your flight to Calgary. Upon arrival, you’ll transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you wish.

You’ll have an early start this morning, as there’s a lot to pack in today. Kick off with a city tour of Calgary’s landmarks, including the Calgary Tower and Fort Calgary. You’ll then leave the city behind and head for the incredible Rocky Mountains. And it won’t be long until you can spot them, as the peaks can be seen from Calgary on a clear day.

As your coach enters Banff National Park, you’ll be able admire the snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald lakes. And, of course, you’ll see the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs, Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. You’ll spend the night in Canmore.

Today is yours to explore beautiful Banff. You could go solo, or do a full-day tour to the Columbia Icefields. The tour starts by taking you to the clear waters of Lake Louise, before carrying on to the rugged wilderness of the Icefield Parkway and the Columbia Icefield. Here, a dedicated Ice Explorer will take you on to the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. This daytrip returns to Canmore late-afternoon.

Prepare for lovely views today, as you travel along the Trans-Canada Highway. As the tour continues through the Canadian Parks system, you’ll cross the jagged Kicking Horse Pass into British Columbia’s Yoho National Park. This diverse place is home to glittering ice fields, deep canyons, dense forests, and glacier-fed streams. Later, you’ll pass through the Monashee and Selkirk mountain ranges, before immerging in the rustic town of Kamloops.

The dramatic scenery continues today, as you drive through the ranch lands and head for the coastal mountains. Whistler is your final stop today. In this beautiful town, you can spend the afternoon at your leisure, or take an optional tour on a seaplane over Garibaldi Park, giving you stunning views over the volcanic peaks, alpine lakes and meadows.

Leaving the countryside behind, you’ll drive south along the Sea-to-Sky Highway alongside jagged fjords and glaciated mountains towards your final stop, Vancouver. On arrival, you’ll be able to see the highlights of this metropolitan city, including Stanley Park, Prospect Point, English Bay, historical Gastown and bustling Chinatown. You’ll then have the rest of the afternoon explore at your own pace.

On the final day of your Canadian Contrasts tour, you can explore however you wish. You could do some shopping on Robson Street, or fill up on foodie delights at Granville Islands. Stroll through Stanley Park, where you’ll find gardens, sculptures and First Nations’ totem poles. Or you could head to Grouse Mountain, and take a gondola ride for sweeping views. 

Alternatively, you can take an optional full-day tour to Victoria on Vancouver Island. As British Columbia’s capital, it has a proud maritime heritage, 19th-century landmarks, and the lovely Butchart Gardens.

You’ll transfer independently to Vancouver’s International Airport, where you’ll check in for your onward flight.