Compare Discover the Canadian Rockies - Eastbound by G Adventures vs Canada's Capital Cities plus Niagara Falls 2021 by Tauck
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 12 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 4,504 | $ 4,690 |
| Price Per Day | $ 375 | $ 469 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | 11 breakfasts, 1 dinner | N/A |
| Description |
Discover the awe-inspiring scenery and legendary wildlife of western Canada on a voyage across the craggy Rocky Mountains. Explore historic Banff and Whistler, marvel at the astonishing natural beauty of Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier, take the ferry to Vancouver Island, and breathe in fresh mountain air while soaking in hot mineral springs and hiking in Jasper National Park. Along the way, gain fascinating insights from knowledgeable local experts and First Nations people. |
Travel through the capital cities of Eastern Canada – Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, and the national capital, Ottawa - featuring guided cultural exploration, special experiences, cruises and stays at fabulous Fairmont hotels. |
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.
Day 1 Arrive Toronto
Tour begins: 5:30 PM at The Fairmont Royal York. A transfer from Toronto International Airport to The Fairmont Royal York upon arrival is included. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the amazing Royal Ontario Museum, a special experience for Tauck guests only!
MEALS : D
LODGING : Fairmont Royal York
PORTOFCALL : Toronto, Canada
Day 2 The Power of Niagara Falls
Journey to thundering Niagara Falls this morning for a cruise near the plunging waters and misty spray of the waterfalls, raincoats on. Have lunch as you please amidst the Victorian charms of Niagara-on-the-Lake, before returning to Toronto for an afternoon spent as you wish. Enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight in the hotel.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Fairmont Royal York
PORTOFCALL : Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Day 3 Boating Among a Thousand Islands
En route through Ontario to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa today, stop at Rockport and embark on a cruise along the St. Lawrence River through the scenic Thousand Islands. Lunch is provided as you cruise past the region's postcard-perfect island escapes, from charming cottages to mansions. Disembark in Rockport and continue overland to the heart of Ottawa; your historic Fairmont hotel is reminiscent of a French château. Dine at the hotel at your leisure this evening with views of Canada's Parliament and the Rideau Canal Locks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Fairmont Château Laurier
PORTOFCALL : Ottawa, Canada
Day 4 The elegance of 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.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Fairmont Château Laurier
PORTOFCALL : Ottawa, Canada
Day 5 Meet a Royal Mountie & Montreal
Today it’s off to French-speaking Montreal! Along the way, stop for lunch at the privately owned Château Vaudreuil, set in sumptuous gardens on the shores of the Lake of Two Mountains. On arrival in Montreal, a local guide joins you to offer an introduction to life in the Province of Quebec. Your recently renovated landmark hotel is set in the heart of this remarkable multicultural, bilingual city.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
PORTOFCALL : Montreal, Canada
Day 6 A Taste of Old Montreal
Join us for a walking and tasting tour in the oldest part of the city; find cobblestone streets lit by gas lamps and city squares graced with 18th- and 19th-century buildings that will remind you of the history and romance of “Old World” Europe; you’ll also sample epicurean delights for which Vieux-Montréal is famous. Pursue your own special interests this afternoon. There are outdoor plazas, museums and historic churches to explore and a revitalized waterfront that’s perfect for strolling. Dinner tonight is at a popular restaurant in Old Montreal. Bon appétit!
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
PORTOFCALL : Montreal, Canada
Day 7 From a Sugar Shack to a Château
Leave Montreal this morning for Quebec City, following the mighty St. Lawrence River to Trois-Rivières; stop for lunch and a maple sugar demonstration at a traditional Québecois sugar shack; in springtime, these cabanes à sucre collect the natural bounty of local trees to produce pure maple syrup, adding nuances of caramel, wood and smoke to achieve mouth-watering flavors. Continue on to majestic Montmorency Falls for a guided tour and a gondola ride; it’s 98 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Montmorency is not far from Quebec City, your home for the next three nights. Your hotel, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, sits up high on a bluff above the St. Lawrence River; below lies historic, walled Old Quebec City. Dinner is at the hotel tonight at your leisure.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
PORTOFCALL : Québec City, Canada
Day 8 Farms of Île d’Orléans
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; the remainder of the day and evening are free.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
PORTOFCALL : Québec City, Canada
Day 9 In Quebec City, a Day Your Way
If you wish, you may join your local guide this morning for an included, private tour of your historic hotel, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Otherwise, the entire day is yours to enjoy Quebec City’s enchanting setting on the St. Lawrence River, its rich architectural legacy and its colorful past. The only fortified city north of Mexico, historic Quebec was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Explore the cobblestoned 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. We invite you to join us tonight for a farewell reception with entertainment and dinner at your landmark hotel.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
PORTOFCALL : Québec City, Canada
Day 10 Journey home
Tour ends: Quebec City. A transfer is included from Fairmont Le Château Frontenac to Quebec City International Airport. You should allow three hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Québec City, Canada
