French Canada and Niagara Falls

Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Quebec City is a joy to photograph – but even more rewarding to wander through in person.

We’ll start with a guided walking tour to get our bearings and soak it all in. Quebec City may be compact, but it’s rich in character, with a distinctly French feel that somehow blends beautifully with a warm Canadian welcome. As we explore both Upper and Lower Town, we’ll uncover the stories behind its historic streets and buildings, and how this city came to be.

Afterwards, we’ll have some free time to explore. You might take a gentle stroll along Dufferin Terrace, the long wooden boardwalk beside Château Frontenac, where the views stretch out across the St Lawrence River. For a different perspective, you could head up to the Citadel for sweeping views over the city.

Or perhaps you’ll prefer to slow things down in Lower Town, where small shops, tucked-away corners and inviting places to eat make it easy to linger a little longer. However you choose to spend this time, it’s your chance to settle into the rhythm of the city and make it your own. 

This morning, we’ll visit Montmorency Falls – higher than Niagara, but far less crowded, so it still feels like a little slice of discovery. The water spills dramatically over the cliff face, often creating a fine mist that catches the light on sunnier days. There’s a footbridge spanning the top of the falls, and if you’re feeling up to it, you can walk across for a perspective that’s as close as it gets – hearing the rush of water beneath you and taking in the full scale from above. 

From here, we’ll head south towards Montreal, following part of the Chemin du Roy – Canada’s first carriageway, once linking Quebec City and Montreal. It’s a scenic, gently winding route that gives us a glimpse of rural Quebec: stretches of farmland, traditional houses set back from the road, and small villages that feel largely unchanged over time. It’s the kind of landscape best appreciated at a slower pace, where there’s always something to notice just beyond the window. 

Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch at an authentic sugar shack, where maple syrup isn’t just a souvenir but part of everyday life. A sugar shack is a rustic woodland cabin where maple syrup is produced each spring, and where meals celebrate the region’s culinary traditions. We’ll see how the sap is collected and boiled down into syrup before some traditional music and entertainment whilst tucking into a local lunch. 

We’ll arrive in Montreal later this afternoon. As the world’s second-largest French-speaking city, it has a different energy – livelier, more cosmopolitan, and distinctly its own.

The rest of the evening is yours. You might head out to explore the city’s neighbourhoods, find somewhere for dinner, or simply take a stroll and see where it leads. 

This morning, we’ll head out on a guided tour of Montreal, getting to know the city through the eyes of someone who knows it well. We’ll pass through its financial and shopping districts, before moving into the French Quarter and Old Montreal, where the city’s history feels closest to the surface.

We’ll also take in Mount Royal – a hilltop park at the centre of the city with views over Montreal –, see the 1976 Olympic site, and step inside Notre-Dame Basilica, its richly decorated interior a striking contrast to the quaint city streets.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You might choose to wander back to the Old Quarter, where cobbled streets are lined with independent shops and cafés, perfect for an easy afternoon. From here, it’s a short walk to the Old Port, where you can follow the edge of the St Lawrence River and watch the city unfold from a different angle.

Alternatively, you could explore one of Montreal’s many museums or galleries, each offering its own perspective on the city’s culture and history. However you spend your time, it’s a chance to explore a little further or simply settle into the atmosphere.

This morning, we’ll depart Montreal and make our way towards Ottawa, travelling through the Laurentians – a region known for its gently rolling mountains, dense forests and scattered lakes. During our journey, you’ll notice how the landscape shifts between wooded hills, open stretches and small villages, giving a real sense of rural Quebec.

Ottawa itself has come a long way from its early days as a centre for the lumber and railway industries. Today, it’s a modern capital with a quietly impressive collection of museums, galleries and national landmarks – a city that feels both grand and unhurried.

On arrival, we’ll head out on a walking tour to get our bearings. We’ll see Parliament Hill, the heart of Canada’s government, along with the official residences of the Prime Minister and Governor General, the King’s representative in Canada. We’ll also pass the National Arts Centre and explore the ByWard Market, one of the city’s liveliest areas, known for its mix of food stalls, shops and local character.

Today, we’ll leave Ottawa and travel south, following a route shaped by the waterways of the Rideau Canal system. As we go, the landscape opens out into rolling farmland, with rivers and lakes appearing alongside us – a quieter, more pastoral side of Canada. 

We’ll soon enter the Thousand Islands region, where we’ll board a boat for a relaxing cruise through this intricate stretch of the St. Lawrence River. What makes it so memorable is the sheer number of islands – over 1,800 in total – each officially required to stay above water year-round and support at least one living tree to qualify as an island. As we glide between them, you’ll notice the contrast: some are large and wooded, with grand houses tucked among the trees, while others are no more than rocky outcrops, just big enough for a single cottage. Along the way, we’ll hear the stories behind the islands and the people who’ve made them their own. 

After the cruise, we’ll take a short drive to Kingston, where we’ll have free time for lunch. You might choose a spot by the waterfront, or take a gentle stroll around the harbour, where the setting feels both relaxed and quietly historic.

Later, we’ll continue our journey to Toronto, travelling along the northern shore of Lake Ontario, the water never far from view as we make our way into the city.

This morning, we’ll set out on a guided tour of Toronto, getting a feel for the city’s different sides as we go.  

We’ll pass through the financial district and see both the Old and New City Halls, before moving into the entertainment district and the lively St Lawrence Market area.

Along the way, we’ll spot some of the city’s distinctive landmarks, from the Flatiron Building to Queen’s Park, home to the Ontario Legislative Buildings, as well as the University of Toronto’s historic campus and the colourful streets of Chinatown. We’ll also see Fort York and the Exhibition Grounds, with views of the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower rising above the skyline.

Our tour finishes at the CN Tower, where we’ll head up to the main observation deck. From here, you can take in sweeping views across the city and out over Lake Ontario – a great way to put everything we’ve seen into perspective.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You might choose to visit one of Toronto’s many museums or galleries, explore the shops at the Eaton Centre, or head down to the Harbourfront Centre for a walk along the lake.

This morning, we’ll leave Toronto behind and head south, passing through Oakville and Hamilton before the landscape softens into the orchards and vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula. It’s a gentler, more rural stretch, known as much for its produce as its views.

By mid-morning, we’ll arrive in Niagara-on-the-Lake – a town that feels almost too perfectly put together, resembling a Hallmark movie, with tree-lined streets, heritage buildings and an easy, unhurried pace. You’ll find cafés, bakeries, independent shops and galleries, along with a few more unexpected touches, including a Christmas shop that’s open year-round. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down and have a wander.

This region is also one of Canada’s leading wine areas, particularly known for its ice wine, made from grapes harvested in the depths of winter. We’ll visit a local winery for a tasting, giving you the chance to try a selection and get a sense of what makes this area so distinctive. 

In the afternoon, we’ll make the short journey to Niagara Falls, where we’ll check in for a two-night stay.

One of the highlights here is that we’ve included Fallsview rooms for our stay – something that’s often treated as an upgrade, but feels essential when you’re this close to such an iconic natural wonder. With floor-to-ceiling windows designed to frame the view, you’ll be able to watch the falls throughout the day, and again in the evening when they’re illuminated – a completely different experience after dark. 

Niagara Falls is made up of two main sections – the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls, also known as Bridal Veil Falls – each with its own character, but together creating one of the world’s most powerful natural spectacles.

Today, we’ll have the chance to explore the falls more fully, starting with an orientation tour to take in a range of viewpoints. One of the most striking spots is right where the Niagara River begins its drop – just a few metres from the edge – where you can see the sheer volume of water tipping over and feel the force behind it. And wherever you find yourself in the area, there’s a constant presence to the falls – a deep, steady rumble that carries through the town.

We’ll then take to the water on a boat cruise to the base of the falls, bringing you as close as possible to the action. As we approach Horseshoe Falls, you're immersed in the spectacle, with mist and spray rising all around you. Be prepared to get wet – it’s all part of the experience!  

We’ve also included entry to the Niagara Parks Power Station, now a museum that brings the history of hydroelectric power here to life. You can explore the original building before descending around 180 feet through a tunnel, leading to a viewing platform close to the base of the falls – an entirely different perspective from below.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy. You might choose to explore more of Niagara Falls’ attractions, find somewhere to eat, or simply soak in the views and make the most of your surroundings. 

This morning is yours to enjoy. If you’d like to experience the falls from a different perspective, there’s the option to take a helicopter flight. If you choose to go, the flight follows the course of the Niagara River, passing over features such as the swirling Whirlpool before revealing both the American and Horseshoe Falls from above. From this vantage point, you really start to appreciate the scale of the river and the full sweep of the falls – something that’s hard to grasp from ground level alone.

Alternatively, you might prefer to spend a little more time on foot, revisiting favourite viewpoints or simply soaking up the atmosphere one last time.

In the early afternoon, we’ll depart Niagara Falls and return to Toronto for our overnight flight home, bringing our wonderful journey to a close.