Grand Canada: Coast to Coast

Two weeks from Toronto to Vancouver: Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Quebec City, Banff, Whistler and Victoria.

Your route

1. 1 Toronto 3 nights
2. 2 Montreal 4 nights
3. 3 Calgary 3 nights
4. 4 Vancouver 4 nights

1. Day 1 Toronto

   Arrive, Harbourfront at leisure.

   Arrive in Toronto, Canada's largest and most multicultural city, on the shores of Lake Ontario. Our representative meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel. After check-in, spend the rest of the day at leisure. Walk along the lively Harbourfront, where locals gather by the lake, or explore the nearby cafes and shops. Toronto has a large Indian community and many excellent Indian restaurants, so finding familiar food is easy. Rest well after your long flight. Overnight in Toronto.

2. Day 2 Toronto

   CN Tower and city tour.

   After breakfast, join a city tour of Toronto. Visit the CN Tower, one of the tallest free-standing structures in the world, with views across the city and the lake. Drive past the Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena and the Harbourfront, and see the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Bata Shoe Museum. Continue through St Lawrence Market, the Entertainment District, the castle-like Casa Loma and the Eaton Centre shopping mall. Allow time for the glass floor at the top. Overnight in Toronto.

3. Day 3 Niagara

   Niagara Falls day trip, Maid of the Mist.

   A full-day excursion to Niagara Falls, about 130 km from Toronto. See the mighty Horseshoe Falls up close from Table Rock, where millions of litres of water thunder into the gorge every minute. Board the Maid of the Mist boat cruise, operating in season, for a thrilling close view of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. Visit the Floral Clock, lively Clifton Hill and the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, known for its wineries. Return to Toronto in the evening. Overnight in Toronto.

4. Day 4 Montreal

   Fly or train to Montreal.

   After breakfast, check out and travel to Montreal by flight or train; this intercity travel is not included, and we can book it for you. The train takes about five hours along Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River. Montreal, at the foot of Mount Royal, is the largest French-speaking city in the Americas, famous for its old churches, festivals and food. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and spend the evening exploring the cafes and streets. Overnight in Montreal.

5. Day 5 Montreal

   Old Montreal, Notre-Dame, Mount Royal.

   After breakfast, join a guided tour of Montreal. Walk the cobbled streets of Old Montreal, with buildings dating back to the seventeenth century, and visit the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica with its deep blue interior. See the Olympic Park, built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, and drive up Mount Royal for views over the city. Visit Saint Joseph's Oratory, the Old Port, Chinatown and Place Ville Marie. Try a Montreal bagel or poutine for lunch. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled streets. Overnight in Montreal.

6. Day 6 Ottawa

   Day trip to Ottawa.

   After breakfast, travel by coach to Ottawa, Canada's capital, for a full day of sightseeing. Visit the Gothic Revival Parliament Buildings on Parliament Hill, the political heart of the country, and see the Supreme Court and the National Arts Centre. Walk beside the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that becomes a skating rink in winter. Continue to Rockcliffe Lookout, Dow's Lake and the ByWard Market for local treats such as BeaverTails pastries. Return to Montreal in the evening. Overnight in Montreal.

7. Day 7 Quebec City

   Quebec City and Montmorency Falls.

   A full-day excursion to Quebec City, one of the oldest cities in North America and the only walled city north of Mexico. Explore Place Royale, the birthplace of French settlement in North America, the Plains of Abraham and Place d'Armes beside the grand Château Frontenac. Visit Montmorency Falls, which are about 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls. Continue to the peaceful Île d'Orléans, known for its farms, orchards and heritage villages. Return to Montreal in the evening. Overnight in Montreal.

8. Day 8 Calgary

   Fly or train to Calgary.

   After breakfast, check out and travel from Montreal to Calgary, in western Canada, by flight; this is not included, and we can book it for you. The flight takes about four and a half hours, and Calgary is two hours behind Montreal. Calgary sits near the foothills of the Canadian Rockies and combines a modern skyline with wide open spaces. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Pack a light jacket for the cool evenings in Calgary. Overnight in Calgary.

9. Day 9 Calgary

   Calgary city tour.

   After breakfast, discover Calgary on a guided city tour. Visit the Calgary Tower for views of the skyline and the Rockies on clear days. See Old City Hall, New City Hall, Olympic Plaza from the 1988 Winter Olympics, and Fort Calgary, where the city was founded in 1875. Continue through Chinatown, Eau Claire Market, Stephen Avenue and the indoor Devonian Gardens, and drive past Stampede Park and the Scotiabank Saddledome. The evening is free. Calgary is famous for its July Stampede rodeo festival. Overnight in Calgary.

10. Day 10 Banff

    Day trip to Banff, gondola ride.

    A full-day excursion into the majestic Canadian Rockies. Drive west through rolling foothills and ranch land into Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, founded in 1885. Explore the mountain town of Banff, surrounded by peaks and pine forest, and learn about its geology, wildlife and history. Ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for breathtaking views over six mountain ranges. Watch for elk and bighorn sheep along the road. Carry warm layers even in summer. Return to Calgary. Overnight in Calgary.

11. Day 11 Vancouver

    Fly or train to Vancouver.

    After breakfast, check out and travel to Vancouver by flight; this is not included, and we can book it for you. The flight takes about an hour and a half over the Rockies. Vancouver, set between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, is often ranked among the most liveable cities in the world. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps walking the seawall at Coal Harbour. Vancouver is one hour behind Calgary. Overnight in Vancouver.

12. Day 12 Vancouver

    City tour, Capilano, Grouse Mountain.

    After breakfast, join a full-day tour of Vancouver and the North Shore. See Stanley Park, Gastown with its steam clock, Chinatown, English Bay and Yaletown. Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge, swaying 70 metres above a forested canyon, with the Treetops Adventure and the Cliffwalk. Continue to Grouse Mountain on the Skyride gondola for views over the city and the Pacific. At the top, meet the resident grizzly bears and watch the Lumberjack Show. Wear comfortable shoes for the bridges and trails. Overnight in Vancouver.

13. Day 13 Victoria

    Ferry, Butchart Gardens, Victoria.

    A full-day excursion to Vancouver Island. Cruise through the Gulf Islands by ferry, watching for whales, sea lions and bald eagles. Visit Butchart Gardens, with over 55 acres of flowers, fountains and pathways, including the famous Sunken Garden and Rose Garden. Then tour Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, with its harbour, Parliament Buildings and grand Empress Hotel. Drive through Oak Bay, Uplands and Beacon Hill Park before returning to Vancouver by ferry. The ferry has cafes and outdoor decks. Overnight in Vancouver.

14. Day 14 Whistler

    Sea-to-Sky Highway, Whistler.

    After breakfast, travel along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, one of the most scenic coastal roads in Canada. Stop at Shannon Falls, which drops about 335 metres down granite cliffs. Continue to Whistler, the mountain resort that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, and enjoy free time in its village of shops and restaurants. In season, ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola or go up Whistler Mountain at your own cost for glacier views. Return to Vancouver along the coast. Overnight in Vancouver.

15. Day 15 Vancouver

    Departure.

    After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Depending on your flight, pick up maple syrup, ice wine, smoked salmon or Canadian chocolates as gifts. Our representative transfers you to Vancouver International Airport for your flight home. Please be at the airport three hours before an international departure. Keep your passport and tickets handy. Your two-week journey across Canada ends here, from Toronto's skyline and the roar of Niagara to the old streets of Quebec, the peaks of Banff and the Pacific coast of Vancouver.

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