Compare Discover the Canadian Rockies - Eastbound by G Adventures vs Exploring the Jewels of Quebec, Canada by Premier Tours & Travel

Day 1 Vancouver

Arrive at any time.

Please make your own way to the joining hotel.

If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.

Day 2 Vancouver/Victoria

Head downtown to explore the lush gardens, beaches, woodlands, and miles of trails around Stanley Park, considered one of the world’s greatest city parks. Venture to historic Gastown, and stroll cobblestone streets past Victorian buildings that now house lively restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Then board the scenic ferry to Victoria.

Take a stroll around the city with your CEO to get familiar with your surroundings before you can enjoy the evening on your own.

Day 3 Victoria

Today is free to explore the charming city of Victoria. Wander along the waterfront and choose among an array of optional activities. Discover the stunning floral displays at the famous Butchart Gardens, peruse the Royal British Columbia Museum, or enjoy high tea at a historic hotel. Or opt to cruise the sea in a Zodiac boat in search of gray whales, sea lions, seals, orcas, and other marine creatures.

Day 4 Victoria/Whistler

Catch the ferry back to the mainland and drive the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the village of Whistler, host of some of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Enjoy a G for Good experience at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a showcase for First Nations customs, art, and music. Join an indigenous guide on an interpretive walk through the forest, hear how First Nations people lived off this land, and learn about local flora used for food and medicine. Then take part in a traditional tea ceremony to sample teas and bannock while listening to ancestral stories and legends. Continue to the mountain resort of Whistler, co-host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Day 5 Whistler

Spend today exploring Whistler and the surrounding parks on your own. Stroll through the village, and opt to ride the gondola up the mountain for 360-degree views. Or choose to hike one of the many beautiful trails in the area, go ziplining through the rain forest, or set out on an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip.

Whistler and its surrounding provincial parks are places you must discover. It is also a great place to try one of the many optional mountain activities.

Day 6 Whistler/Blue River

Pass through the Coastal Mountains into the Caribou Mountains on a route once marked by gold prospectors. Sit back and enjoy dramatic changes in your surroundings, the mountains to sweeping grasslands. Enjoy stops at Kamloops Lake, an oasis amid an arid landscape, and the turquoise Seton Lake, a freshwater fjord ringed by towering peaks. Arrive in the small community of Blue River.

Following this extraordinary route, once marked by the gold prospectors, we leave the Coastal Mountain Range and set foot into the arid and dry land of the Thompson Okanagan region. Aboriginal peoples led a semi-nomadic life moving between hunting and fishing grounds in the summer and settling into pit houses for the winter. Europeans came at first for fur trading and later on to establish cattle ranches, farms, and mining operations. The scenery changes dramatically and could even make you feel as if you were in a western movie.

Day 7 Blue River/Jasper National Park

Cross the Rockies into Jasper National Park and follow in the historic path of fur traders on a scenic float trip down the tranquil Athabasca River, encountering a few gentle rapids along the way. Look out for wildlife, which can include bears, moose, eagles, ospreys, and mountain sheep. Later, gaze up at the highest peak, Mount Robson, during a stop at the visitor centre.

Day 8 Jasper National Park

Spend the day at leisure enjoying Jasper’s friendly mountain hospitality. Choose your own adventure among an array of optional activities: Hike to Maligne Canyon, cruise glacially fed Maligne Lake, or rent a bike or canoe to explore on your own. This evening, rejoin your fellow travelers for an unforgettable soak in Miette Hot Springs, where spacious pools of hot mineral springs offer panoramic views of the spectacular Fiddle River Valley.

Jasper's friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful atmosphere, and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable.

Day 9 Jasper National Park/Lake Louise

Pass lush coniferous forests, soaring mountains, turquoise lakes, and epic glaciers as we travel the winding Icefields Parkway—considered one of the world’s most scenic drives—to Bow Lake, stopping along the way to enjoy photo opportunities and wildlife encounters. At the Columbia Icefield, step foot on the lower Athabasca Glacier with an expert guide for a firsthand experience of this active glacial landscape. Continue to magnificent Lake Louise, an alpine lake legendary for its emerald-blue waters.

Along the 300km (186.4 mi) ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, turquoise lakes, high-falling cascades, and humbling glaciers. Numerous stops will be planned along the way for photos, observation, and wildlife encounters.

Day 10 Lake Louise/Banff

Enjoy the morning at Lake Louise, taking in the scenery of the Victoria Glacier. Opt to join a hike to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House, following a forested trail past Mirror Lake and cascading waterfalls to the shores of Lake Agnes, where a remote tea house built in 1901 serves loose-leaf teas and other refreshments. Continue to Banff. Go on a walk back in time through this historic resort town alongside an expert from the Whyte Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the Canadian Rockies. As you explore local landmarks on foot, discover how the construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad served as a stepping stone towards opening up western Canada.

Day 11 Banff/Calgary

Spend the morning in Banff, then drive to Calgary for a day at leisure. Experience the city’s Western spirit at lively honky-tonk bars, go museum-hopping, or opt to visit the Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, where you can luge down the bobsledding track in a wheeled cart or soar through the sky on a zipline.

Famed for its entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population, Calgary prides itself on being the heart of the new west while honouring its cowboy heritage.

Day 12 Calgary

Depart at any time.

If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.

Highlights of Montreal

Day 1

Upon arrival in Montréal — the City of a Hundred Steeples, you will be greeted by your English-speaking guide to embark upon a private, guided panoramic tour of the city. You will have views of the diverse boroughs of the city in your private, roomy transport, before stopping for lunch in the bohemian Plateau neighborhood. You will then check into your boutique, 4* accommodations, Hôtel William Gray (or similar) and enjoy your evening at leisure.

Day 2

After breakfast, the group will be greeted by two tour guides to provide the most personal, private, informative walking tour of Vieux Montréal (Old Montréal) (10 people per guide). You will then board a roomy coach to embark on a foodie tour, which will highlight the diversity of the city in each bite. Before your day ends, you will have the opportunity to experience the spectacularly luminous show — Aura Basilica — at Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. Your dinner will be at leisure this evening.

Day 3

After a morning at leisure, you will be transported to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal (Museum of Fine Arts) — largest art museum in Canada by gallery space that is located on the historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street. You will have time to explore at your own pace and enjoy lunch at leisure at the museum café or a café nearby. You will then embark on a guided walking tour of the exciting street art peppered throughout the city — again enjoying very small groups of 10 with a dedicated, knowledgeable tour guide per group. Your evening will include walking to dinner at L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel (or similar), an historical institution and fine dining establishment renowned for its Quebec cuisine. The Auberge is also home to one of the trendiest spots in a city internationally renowned for its nightlife, and an elegant and welcoming for our small group.

Highlights of Québec City

Day 4

Today you will transfer to historic and enchanting Québec City via a luxury, spacious motor coach so you may experience the beauty of the region at a slower place. You will stop in Trois Rivières to experience a traditional sugar shack, Sugar Shack Chez Dany. A 20-year old tradition, Dany Néron’s sugar shack has been welcoming visitors for the last two decades. Chez Dany’s menu features copious, traditional meals. An accordionist, cellist and singer provide the musical ambience in this rustic building where you will learn all about how maple syrup and taffy is made. Upon your arrival in Québec City, your small group will be greeted by two local tour guides to provide a personal, guided walking tour of the city to get you acclimated to your home for the next two nights. After checking into Le Germain Québec (or similar), your 4* accommodations, you will have the evening to explore further at leisure.

Day 5

After a morning at leisure, you will be transported to Huron Wendat to learn about the culture and traditions of the First Nations Huron Wendat tribe with a private, guided tour (again with two guides in smaller groups of 10) of the Long House and museum, followed by lunch at Restaurant La Traite. Enjoy First Nations-inspired cuisine at this gourmet restaurant. Savor game, fish and the fruits of an abundant harvest. Blending history and culture, this charming eatery boasts a superb décor and delightful terrace on the banks of the Rivière Akiawenrahk. After this full day’s activities, you will have the evening at leisure back in Québec City.

Highlights of Charlevoix

Day 6

Today you will ride through the beautiful, northern Québec countryside by way of Orlèans Island and Montmorency Falls (with photo stops) en route to Baie-Saint-Paul and 4* Hôtel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix (or similar) — your accommodations for your final two nights in Canada. Upon arrival you will be greeted by our local tour guides to help get you acclimated to Baie-Saint-Paul, known for its art galleries, shopping, and restaurants. You will then enjoy a tour of La Maison d’Affinage Maurice Dufour, a highly respected cheesemaking farm where you will have lunch with local cider pairings. You will have the balance of the day and evening at leisure to immerse yourself in the delights of this special town in the Baie-Saint-Paul Valley.

Day 7

Québec is one of the few places on Earth where you can see a wide variety of cetaceans (whales) — 13 species in total. Since they are in Québec mainly from May to October, attracted by the abundance of food, and the depths of the Gulf and Estuary of St. Lawrence, you will be visiting at a perfect time. Therefore, you will be transported to Tadoussac where you will board your boat and go straight into the VIP lounge and partake in an exciting whale watching cruise. You will enjoy lunch at Café Coquard (or similar) and have leisure time before a final, Farewell Dinner at Le Germain in the hotel.

Day 8

On your final day, you will be transferred via private motor coach to the airport in Québec City.