North America

Day 1 : Arrive Toronto

Tour begins: 5:30 PM at The Fairmont Royal York. A transfer is included from Toronto International Airport to your hotel. Your trip through Canada's capital cities gets off to a festive start this evening when you join us for a private welcome reception and dinner at the newly transformed Royal Ontario Museum, an after-hours sparkling event for Tauck guests only.

Day 2 : Thundering Niagara Falls & Toronto sights

Journey to thundering Niagara Falls this morning for a boat cruise near the plunging waters and misty spray of the waterfalls, raincoats on.  Have lunch amidst the Victorian charms of Niagara-on-the-Lake, before returning to Toronto for a visit to the CN Tower.  Enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight in the hotel.

Day 3 : On to Ottawa

 En route to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, enjoy a morning cruise on the St. Lawrence River through the scenic Thousand Islands, a region of postcard-perfect island escapes – from charming cottages to mansions. Disembark in Rockport and continue to the heart of Ottawa; your hotel is reminiscent of a French château. Dine here with views of Parliament and the Rideau Canal Locks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 4 : Canada's stately capital, Ottawa

Sightseeing in Ottawa includes guided visits at the city’s grand Parliament buildings, including the House of Commons. Vaulted ceilings, marble floors and stone walls with hundreds of gargoyles and reliefs create a grand feel. Next, delve into the stories of Canada and its people on a guided tour at the Canadian Museum of History. Dating back to 1856, it is one of Canada’s oldest public institutions and a showcase of Canadian history, archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies. Spend the remainder of the day enjoying city sights as you wish.

Day5 : From the Mounties to Montreal

Enjoy an informative presentation by a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the national police force of Canada; it is unique in the world as a national, federal, provincial and municipal police force. Depart for French-speaking Montreal, stopping for lunch at privately owned Château Vaudreuil en route. A guided city sightseeing tour upon your arrival in Montreal offers a great introduction to life in the Province of Quebec. Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the downtown area, making it easy for you to see the sights during your two-night stay.

Day 6 : An epicurean twist to Vieux-Montreal

Join us for a walking tour of Old Montreal, where gas-lamped cobblestone streets, lined with restored 18th- and 19th-century architecture, remind you of Old World Europe. In addition to evoking romance and history, Vieux-Montreal entices with an array of multicultural, epicurean delights. Sample a taste of local specialties as you explore. Spend the afternoon at leisure, discovering the sights on your own and make plans to join us for dinner tonight at a popular local restaurant.

Day 7 : A sugar shack, Montmorency Falls & Quebec

Leave Montreal this morning for Quebec City. Follow the mighty St. Lawrence River to Trois Rivières for a taste of locally produced maple products at a traditional Quebec sugar shack, or as they are locally known, a Québécois cabana à sucre. Continue on to majestic Montmorency Falls, 98 feet higher than Niagara Falls, where lunch gives you time to view this natural spectacle unhurried. Your arrival in Quebec City this afternoon is made even more memorable when you view the ramparts of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, one of the most iconic hotels in French Canada – and your home for the next two nights. A landmark of hospitality for more than a century, it is perched high on a bluff overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River, and the historic walled city below.

Day 8 : Quebec City sights & Ile d'Orleans

On a Quebec City orientation tour, discover the many faces of one of the oldest cities in North America. Get an overview of sights like La Citadelle de Québec, the largest British fortress built in North America (overlooking the St. Lawrence River) and the adjacent Plains of Abraham. Venture outside of the city for a special visit to historic Île d’Orléans, a French inspired island of red-roofed farm houses and bountiful fields of agricultural produce, from vegetables to fruits. Savor lunch in a historic centuries-old French flour mill and an afternoon cider tasting at a local farm. The remainder of the day is free.

Day 9 : Historic Quebec City, your way

The entire day is yours to enjoy Quebec City’s enchanting setting on the St. Lawrence River, its rich architectural legacy and its colourful past. The only fortified city north of Mexico, historic Quebec was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Explore the cobble stoned streets of Old Quebec where the Upper and Lower towns welcome with ramparts, citadels and 17th- and 18th-century houses or people watch from European inspired cafés. Join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner at your landmark hotel.

Day 10 : Journey Home

Tour ends: Quebec City, Quebec. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Fairmont Le Château Frontenac to Quebec City International Airport. 

This is the end of your tour, however your adventure doesn't have to end here. Perhaps you may want to extend your stay and visit the West Coast and experience the Rocky Mountains.

Call the travel specialists at Bon Voyage to discuss your ideal Canada's Capital Cities tour.