Highlights Of Eastern Canada Fly-Drive

Holiday overview

Canada’s eastern provinces – Ontario and Québec – are blessed with a unique rural beauty and a culture steeped in the intertwined histories of Europe and North America. And, this tailor-made loop takes in all of the regions’ highlights, departing from skyscraping Toronto, bound for the Gilded Age mansions of the Thousand Islands and luxury stays among the French beauty of Montréal and Québec City. Then, after contrasting Ottawa’s Gothic Revival architecture with Niagara to compare its headline-grabbing falls with its idyllic, wine-country surrounds.

Holiday itinerary

Day 1: UK/Toronto

Begin your trip in style with complimentary airport lounge access before departing on a daytime flight to Toronto. On arrival, make your way to handpicked accommodation; all of our options are sited in the city centre, ideally poised to explore. There’s something for every taste here, from the cutting-edge architecture of the Royal Ontario Museum and the Science Centre to the city’s superlative dining scene, predicated on its unique cultural mix. We particularly recommend taking the glass-fronted lifts to the top of the CN Tower for unrivalled views across the city.

Stay: The Chelsea (Standard), Hilton Toronto (Superior) or Fairmont Royal York (Deluxe)

Day 2: Niagara Falls

Today, enjoy a full-day tour to the Niagara Peninsula - Canada’s fruit belt and major wine-producing region and home of the spectacular Niagara Falls, one of the great wonders of the world. Inclusions include a Hornblower Cruises or Journey Behind the Falls, lunch overlooking Niagara Falls, free time in Niagara Falls and a winery tour including a wine tasting.

Stay: The Chelsea (Standard), Hilton Toronto (Superior) or Fairmont Royal York (Deluxe)

Days 3-4: Ottawa

This morning collect your rental car and travel to the nation's capital, Ottawa. You’ll have two days to explore the Canadian capital, taking in the Gothic-Revival grandeur of its parliament buildings as well as a host of excellent museums. The outstanding National Gallery is a special favourite, home to works by such artists as Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. To bring it all to life, contact your consultant about arranging an expert-led tour, bringing you right along the Rideau Canal – Ottawa’s pretty main waterway.

Stay: Delta Ottawa (Standard) or Fairmont Chateau Laurier (Superior) / (Deluxe)

Day 5: Ottawa to Mont Tremblent

Today head northeast to the jewel of the Laurentians, Mont Tremblant, a European styled all season resort village. Passing Montebello, you may want to visit Omega Park, which features endemic wildlife, or join a black bear observation tour in the Kenauk reserve (not included). The remainder of the day is free to discover the lively pedestrian village of Tremblant, its charming boutiques, fine restaurants, sports and cultural activities.

Stay: Fairmont Mont Tremblant (Standard, Superior & Deluxe)

Days 6-7: Québec City

Depart Mont Remblant to historic Trois Rivieres, before continuing along the Chemin du Roy road to Quebec City, Canada’s oldest and only remaining walled city and your base for the next two nights. With its winding flagstones, café scene and the imposing Chateau Frontenac as its centrepiece, the old city – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is a joy to explore on foot.

Stay: Auberge Saint Pierre (Standard), Hotel Manoir Victoria (Superior) or Fairmont Le Frontenac (Deluxe)

Days 8-9: Quebec City to Montreal

Following the St. Lawrence River, pass from city suburbs to the rural landscapes of forests and rich pastures, dotted with tiny villages that extend to Montreal. In Drummondville you may wish to visit the village Quebecois d’Antan - a faithful reconstruction of a French colonial village(not included).

Enjoy two nights in the city where you can discover hundreds of places of interest in Montreal including the Notre Dame Basilica - one of the masterpieces of religious architecture in North America located in Old Montreal, residential and financial districts, and the French Quarter. Get an outside view of Olympic Site, McGill University and a panoramic view from an observation point on top of Mt. Royal. Montreal offers a fascinating mix of both French and English cultures. Some of the finest shopping and dining in North America awaits you.

Stay: Delta Montreal (Standard), Le Saint-Sulpice (Superior) or Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth (Deluxe)

Day 10: Montreal to Kingston

Travel south to the city of Kingston. On the way visit Upper Canada Village (admission included) – a living-history site that depicts life in a rural English Canadian setting during the year 1866. You’ll meet loads of friendly folk from the past as you visit over 40 heritage buildings including mills, trades shops, farms, churches, homes, factories and even a one room schoolhouse. Stop at Gananoque to join an hour cruise of the 1000 islands (included). Continue to Kingston, a city noted for its handsome 19th century limestone architecture. Once the capital of Canada (1841 to 1843), Kingston is located at the point where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River, and at the southern end of the Rideau Canal.

Stay: Delta Kingston Waterfront (Standard, Superior & Deluxe)

Day 11: Kingston to Toronto

Take the time to visit Fort Henry National Historic Site near Kingston. The flash of scarlet uniforms, the beating of the drums and the sudden crack of musket fire echoing off the limestone battlements send visitors reeling back in time. A living museum of military life, Fort Henry was built between 1832 and 1834 to repel an American invasion that never came. The fort, once the largest military establishment in Upper Canada, now offers visitors a glimpse of the soldier’s life of those days - through guided tours, soldier’s parades and drills. You might also want to stop in the city of Peterborough, which boasts the world’s highest lift locks, literally lifting pleasure crafts, along with the water they float in, 20 metres straight up. Continue to Toronto.

Stay: The Chelsea (Standard), ...