Canada: The Maple Leaf Trail

Toronto skyline seen from the Financial District, downtown ©Destination Toronto
Mount Royal Park in Montréal ©Ludovic Jacome - Tourisme Montréal
Fountain of Tourny and the Parliament of Quebec ©GouvQc, Photographer Cecile, Benoit
Rideau Canal waterway and Parliament ©Ottawa Tourism, Canada, ATI
Ottawa National War Memorial, Canada ©ATI

10 day tour

Prices available on request

Welcome to Canada

Canada is more than its hulking-mountain, craggy-coast good looks: it also cooks extraordinary meals, rocks cool culture and unfurls wild, moose-spotting road trips.

The Great Outdoors

The globe’s second-biggest country has an endless variety of landscapes. Furthermore, sky-high mountains, glinting glaciers, spectral rainforests and remote beaches are all here, spread across six times zones. It’s the backdrop for plenty of ah-inspiring moments – and, also, for a big cast of local characters. That’s big as in polar bears, grizzly bears, whales and, everyone’s favorite, moose. Additionally, the terrain also makes for a fantastic playground. Whether it’s snowboarding Whistler’s mountains, surfing Nova Scotia’s swells or kayaking the white-frothed South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories, adventures abound. There are gentler options, too, like strolling Vancouver’s Stanley Park or swimming off Prince Edward Island’s pink-sand beaches.

Captivating Cultures

Sip a café au lait and tear into a flaky croissant at a sidewalk bistro in Montréal; head to an Asian night market and slurp noodles in Vancouver; join a wild-fiddling Celtic party on Cape Breton Island; kayak between rainforest-cloaked Aboriginal villages on Haida Gwaii: Canada is incredibly diverse across its breadth and within its cities. You’ll hear it in the music, see it in the arts and taste it in the cuisine.

Foodie Fare

Canada is a local food smorgasbord. If you grazed from west to east across the country, you’d fill your plate like this: wild salmon and velvety scallops in British Columbia, poutine (golden fries topped with gravy and cheese curds) in Québec, and lobster with a dab of melted butter in the Maritime provinces. Tastemakers may not tout Canadian food the way they do, say, Italian or French fare, so let’s just call the distinctive seafood, piquant cheeses, and fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies our little secret. Ditto for the award-winning bold reds and crisp whites produced from the country’s vine-striped valleys.

Artistic Flair

The arts are an integral part of Canada’s cultural landscape. You’ll find it from the International Fringe Theater Festival (the world’s second-largest) in Edmonton to mega museums like Ottawa’s National Gallery. Likewise, Montreal’s Jazz Festival and Toronto’s star-studded Film Festival draw global crowds. Also, did you know Ontario’s Stratford Festival is the continent’s largest classical repertory theater? Even places you might not automatically think of – say, St John’s or Woody Point – put on renowned shindigs (an avant-garde ‘sound symposium’ and a big-name writers festival, respectively).

Maple Leaf Trail

Finally, This touring itinerary offers the opportunity to explore Eastern Canada’s sophisticated and exciting cities: Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and the nation’s capital, Ottawa. Furthermore, This stunningly scenic tour takes in the very best of Eastern Canada and the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls! Explore the Maple Leaf Trail!

For more Canada destinations, Click Here.

Dates

Dates on request

Suggested Itinerary by Air

Day 1-3

Fly from the UK, Toronto and Niagara Falls

Fly to Toronto. Enjoy an orientation tour including the Rogers Centre, the CN Tower, the Law Courts and the Ontario Parliament buildings. Travel to Niagara Falls with a cruise on the Maid in the Mist.

Day 4

Toronto to Montreal

Travel along the shore of Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence Valley with a short boat cruise through the 1,000 Islands of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Day 5-6

Montreal – Quebec City

A sightseeing tour of Montreal includes the St Joseph Oratory, Mont Royal, the old port, old Montreal and the Notre Dame Basilica. Afterwards, travel along the north shore of the St Lawrence Valley to reach the city of Quebec for a short city tour. Highlights include the Dufferin Terraces and the Quebec Parliament Buildings.

Day 7-8

Quebec City to Ottawa

Enjoy time at leisure in Quebec before departing for Ottawa. A tour of the city takes in Parliament Hill, the National Art Gallery, the Rideau Canal, Sussex Drive, Byward market, the Embassy district and the Canadian Mint.

Day 9

Ottawa to Huntsville

The journey takes you through Algonquin Park with a stop at the visitors centre to learn about the varied wildlife and also visits the logging museum which portrays one of the first industries in Canada.

Day 10

Huntsville to Toronto and return flight to the UK

Heading south, you will pass through the Muskoka region of rugged hills and lakes. There will be an optional visit to the Ste-Marie-among-the-Hurons, a historic fort built by the Jesuit Priests in the 17th century. Afterwards, you will continue to Toronto airport for your return flight home.

When To Go:

High Season (Jun–Aug): Sunshine and warm weather prevail; far northern regions briefly thaw. Accommodation prices peak (up 30% on average). December through March is equally busy and expensive in ski resort towns. Shoulder (May, Sep & Oct): Crowds and prices drop off. Temperatures are cool but comfortable. Attractions keep shorter hours. Fall foliage areas (eg Cape Breton, Québec) remain busy. Low Season (Nov–Apr): Places outside the big cities and ski resorts close. Darkness and cold take over. April and November are particularly good for bargains.

Things To Know:

Etiquette

Canadians are a fairly relaxed crowd and don’t offend easily; however, some rules of etiquette do apply.

Politeness Canadians value their please and thank-yous. Bumping into someone without apologizing or not thanking someone for holding the door will earned shocked looks.
Patriotism Commenting that Canadians and Americans aren’t much different is considered highly offensive.
Language In French-speaking areas, always attempt to speak French before English (regardless of how poor your French is).
Lining up While Canadians usually tut rather than speak out, jumping ahead in line is an exception and can cause a full-blown argument.

History

The human story of Canada begins around 15,000 years ago, when Aboriginal locals began carving thriving communities from the abundant wilderness. Everything changed, though, when the Europeans rolled in from the late 15th century onward, staking claims that triggered rumbling conflicts and eventually shaped a vast new nation. Much of this colorful heritage is accessible to visitors, with more than 950 national historic sites covering everything from forts to battlefields to famous homes.

Health and Insurance

Health Insurance

Canada offers some of the finest health care in the world. However, unless you are a Canadian citizen, it can be prohibitively expensive. It’s essential to purchase travel health insurance if your regular policy doesn’t cover you when you’re abroad. Check www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance for supplemental insurance information.

Bring medications you may need clearly labeled in their original containers. A signed, dated letter from your physician that describes your medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea.

Health Insurance; a policy covering medical expenses is highly recommended.

Vaccinations; No special vaccines are required or recommended for travel to Canada. All travelers should be up to date on routine immunizations.

Stats

Currency: Canadian dollar, Primary Language: English, French, Primary Religion: 43% Roman Catholic, Population: 34.6 million, Time Zone: see below.

Newfoundland Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus 3½ hours)

Atlantic Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus four hours)

Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus five hours)

Central Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus six hours)

Mountain Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus seven hours)

Pacific Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus eight hours)

Visa Requirements:

British citizens are required to apply for a Canada eTA visa to enter Canada on a short term basis (under 90 days) for general tourism, business, transit or medical purposes. … It is advised that British citizens complete their eTA application 72 hours prior to their departure date.

For more information please visit the link below:

Canada Visa Information

Tour will run with a minimum of 10 passengers. Greatdays Holidays Limited have an ATOL licence (4279). Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on our website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.

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