Canadian Contrasts - 15 days / 14 nights
Eastern Journey - 8 days / 7 nights
Western Journey - 8 days / 7 nights

A tour by motorcoach and air that captures Canada’s highlights from east to west. Visit the vibrant, cosmopolitan cities of Toronto and Montréal before flying to western Canada and breathing the pure mountain air of the Canadian Rockies, the spectacular scenery of Banff, through the interior of British Columbia, to the seaside city of Vancouver.

Eastern Journey and Western Journey
If you wish, it is possible on selected dates to take just the first part (Eastern Journey), or last part (Western journey) of this tour.

Day 1: Arrival in Toronto
Arrive independently at your downtown hotel. After a check-in with your tour director, the remainder of the day is free to explore the streets of this dynamic city. Discover the delights of Toronto’s colourful neighbourhoods, take a ride to the top of the CN Tower, experience the lively theatre district and indulge in one of the numerous restaurants. Stay 2 nights in Toronto.

Day 2: Toronto / Niagara Falls Excursions
We meet our fellow travellers at a ‘Welcome to Canada’ breakfast before setting out to discover this cosmopolitan city. After seeing the provincial parliament buildings, the waterfront, the imposing CN Tower and lively Chinatown, we leave the city and head for the Niagara Peninsula. We pass through the enchanting Victorian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and follow the scenic Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls. Ample time is allocated to admire the falls and take part in some of Niagara Falls numerous activities.

Day 3: Toronto to Ottawa
Drive east along the shores of Lake Ontario to the former capital of Upper Canada, Kingston. Our route then winds through rolling farmland, following the rivers and lakes of the Rideau Waterway. Upon arrival in Ottawa, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the national capital. Defined by the Rideau Canal and the buildings on Parliament Hill, the city offers many great sights including the public gardens, the Byward Market and City Hall. Overnight in Ottawa.

Day 4: Ottawa to Québec City
We travel along the Ottawa River to the province of Québec. We skirt the magnificent Laurentians and follow the Chemin du Roy Highway. Today’s journey ends in Québec’s cultural heartland, Québec City. We tour within the walls of the old city and view the ornate city gates, Lower Town, the Citadel and Battlefields Park. Stay 2 nights in Québec City.

Day 5: Québec City
A day at your leisure. You can enjoy an optional full day excursion to Tadoussac including 3 hours of whalewatching on the St. Lawrence River at the mouth of the Saguenay River. Explore this historic French-Canadian city with narrow streets and unique boutiques.

Day 6: Québec City to Montréal
Departing from Québec City we drive along the St. Lawrence River in the footsteps of the early settlers. Upon arrival in Montréal, we tour the second-largest French-speaking city in the world. The dynamic city of Montréal encapsulates the two founding cultures of Canada and boasts a curious blend of history and modernity. Touring the downtown area we view the Olympic Complex, charming Old Montréal, McGill University, the residential streets of Mount Royal and the bustling shopping streets. Overnight in Montréal.

Day 7: Montréal to Toronto
Today’s route takes us back to the shores of Lake Ontario. En route we pass the historic towns of Cornwall and Morrisburg and the beautiful Thousand Island region. Soon the impressive Toronto skyline will appear on the horizon. You will have ample time to explore Toronto’s colourful neighbourhoods and to sample some of the city’s great restaurants and wonderful entertainment. Overnight in Toronto.

Day 8: Toronto
Eastern Journey ends when you check out of your Toronto hotel after breakfast.

Passengers combining both tours including trans Canada flight will be transferred to Toronto Pearson International Airport for a flight with Westjet Airlines* to Calgary and upon arrival will be transferred to their downtown hotel.

*Passengers booking other flight will have to arrange private transfers at both ends at their own cost.

Day 8: Calgary
Upon arrival in Calgary, we make our way to our downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Calgary.

Day 9: Calgary to Banff / Canmore
Set out early this morning to tour the sights of Calgary and admire such modern and historic landmarks as the Calgary Tower, Fort Calgary and the skyscrapers of the commercial district. Leaving Calgary behind we set our sights on the Rocky Mountains, which can already be seen, far off in the distance. Experience the majesty of the mountains as we first travel through the foothills and then enter Banff National Park. We tour the region around Banff amidst snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald green lakes and see landmark Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. Stay 2 nights in Canmore.

Day 10: Canmore / Banff
The entire day is at leisure to tour Banff and browse through the many boutiques and specialty shops along Banff Avenue.

An optional full-day tour is offered to the Columbia Icefield. The tour starts with a visit to the turquoise waters and spectacular glacier of Lake Louise, the jewel of the Rockies. From the unsurpassed beauty of Lake Louise we enter a rugged wilderness as we travel up the world famous Icefields Parkway. At every turn of the road, we encounter breathtaking vistas of dramatic mountain ranges, lush valleys and alpine meadows. At the spectacular Columbia Icefield we board a ’SnoCoach‘ that will take us onto the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. We return to Banff late in the afternoon.

Day 11: Canmore to Kamloops
Our drive today is on the famed Trans-Canada Highway, following a route charted by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid 1800s. We continue our tour of the Canadian parks system as we cross the jagged Kicking Horse Pass into British Columbia’s Yoho National Park. From the highway, we are treated to a dazzling display of vast icefields, deep canyons, dense forests and glacier-fed streams. One awe-inspiring landscape follows another en route to Glacier National Park where we witness stunning vistas at Rogers Pass. We continue through the Monashee and Selkirk mountain ranges to the rugged interior town of Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops.

Day 13: Vancouver
South along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway through a dramatic landscape of jagged fjords and glaciated mountain peaks. We leave the countryside behind and explore the metropolis of Vancouver on a sightseeing tour. Highlights include Stanley Park, Prospect Point, English Bay, historic Gastown, bustling Chinatown and much more. The afternoon is free to discover more of this coastal gem. Stay 2 nights in Vancouver.

Day 14: Vancouver
The Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains form the backdrop to your day at leisure in Vancouver. You might want to do some shopping down on Robson Street, relax in Vancouver’s playground Stanley Park or stroll through the markets of Granville Island. If you prefer to explore the outdoors, take a gondola ride to the summit of Grouse Mountain. You can also go on an optional full-day tour to Victoria, the charming provincial capital that is proud of her maritime heritage. See the beautiful 19th century landmarks and enjoy its lively atmosphere. Before taking the ferry back to Vancouver, you will visit Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s great floral displays set in a reclaimed stone quarry.

Day 15: End of tour
Your tour arrangements end when you check out of your hotel after breakfast. The time has come for some last minute shopping and to say farewell to Canada.

• Daily continental breakfast
• Transfers between hotel and airport in Toronto and Calgary
• Toronto sightseeing tour
• Niagara Falls sightseeing tour
• Ottawa sightseeing tour
• Québec sightseeing tour
• Montréal sightseeing tour
• Toronto/Calgary flight (day 8) on Westjet Airlines including Canadian government air transportation tax*
• Calgary sightseeing tour
• Banff sightseeing tour
• Vancouver city tour
• Transportation by modern tour coach
• Experienced tour driver
• Tour director throughout
• Moderate accommodation
• Baggage handling (1 piece per person)
• Applicable taxes

*Applicable only to air-inclusive cost