OVERVIEW
Check off all the highlights of Eastern Canada, from the laid back Atlantic Coast to the buzz of Toronto. Start in the harbour city of Halifax and then dip into Peggy’s Cove to catch sight of its dreamy seaside views. Continue travelling from east to west and say “Bonjour!” to the French province of Quebec and take a step back in time touring its capital city before following the St. Lawrence River south to Montreal. Cross the border into Ontario and see the Gothic Parliament buildings of Ottawa before wrapping up your travels in Toronto, where the city’s over 140 cultures embody the essence of Canada.
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Travel Planners: With 15 years of luxury travel planning services under our belt and deep local knowledge, our travel planners have the know-how to craft unforgettable adventures. -
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Authentic Experiences: We go beyond the booking of tours; we connect you with our local friends who take you behind the curtain with culturally rich and in-depth events.
EXPERIENCE
This is a sample itinerary curated and designed to offer the highest value and experience. Keep in mind that each one is customizable — we love to personalize the experience for every operator and traveller!
The Itinerary
With a population of just over 300,000 people, Halifax is eastern Canada’s largest city yet still maintains a small-town feel. The waterfront is the place to be and home to many of the city’s top sights like the Seaport Farmers Market, the oldest continuously running market in North America, and museums such as the Canadian Museum of Immigration. For more history and culture, be sure to check out the Citadel National Historic Site for a deeper understanding of the city’s roots.
Seated on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay in rural Halifax, the village of Peggy’s Cove perfectly embodies the maritime spirit. Colourful homes and fishing huts sit atop rocky outcrops along the Lighthouse Route, which guides the way to the cove’s iconic white-and-red lighthouse. Depending on the Atlantic’s mood, it can be the ideal spot to soak up the seaside calm or feel the rush of the crashing waves against the shore.
After a few days in Quebec City, you may start to believe you’ve ended up in France. But don’t be fooled: this is the heart and soul of the French Canadian identity. One of North America’s oldest settlements and bearing official UNESCO World Heritage status, a wander amid its 17th-century houses and ramparts feel like a step back in time. Heighten the atmosphere with a meal and café at a street-side bistro before a visit to the must-see Chateau Frontenac in the Old Town.
The capital of Canada’s only fully-French province, Montreal injects European charm into a cosmopolitan North American metropolis. Seated on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River and anchored by the mountain that lends the city its name (Mont-Royal), you’ll never find yourself too far from nature. Hike up the Mont-Royal to a lookout point for epic views over the city or hit up the beach at Parc Jean Drapeau. Foodies can delight their palette at the Atwater Market or a with a stroll through Little Italy. Feel transported to another century as you stroll the cobblestoned streets of the Old Port and gawk at Neo-gothic Notre-Dame Basilica.
As the nation’s capital, Ottawa’s most emblematic image is undoubtedly the massive Gothic-style parliament buildings that watch over the Ottawa River. But Ottawa is much more than a city of government bureaucracies. Choose from seven great museums that offer something for every interest; be it science, history, war, fine art, nature or aviation. Grab lunch at the ByWard Market before a stroll or bike ride along the Rideau Canal, which, in winter, freezes into a pathway for ice skating!
Canada’s economic core and largest city, Toronto gives you the kind of buzz that only a big city can. If you can dream it, you can find it here. Want to spend the day on the beach? Hop in a water taxi and head to the island for a day on its sandy shores with incredible views of the skyline. Craving nature? The Evergreen Brickworks offers a leafy respite within the city or head a bit further east to the Scarborough Bluffs for a trek along clay cliffs lining the waters of Lake Ontario. Depending on the season, sports fans can hit up a game (NBA, NHL or MLB—take your pick), art lovers should stop by the AGO and the ROM, and food-and-drink enthusiasts can indulge their senses through Kensington Market or St. Lawrence Market—voted by National Geographic as the best market in the world!
Niagara is home to both a natural wonder of the world and is Canada’s top wine region—all just two hours from Toronto’s downtown core. The booming Niagara Falls, known on the Canadian side as the Horseshoe Falls, is truly a magnificent sight, which you can experience up close on a cruise through its misty offshoots. The nearby region of Niagara-on-the-Lake offers a calmer side of things with a charming old town and elevated restaurants, where you can sample some of the region’s top wines (in particular, don’t miss trying Ice Wine—a Niagara specialty!).
GALLERY
