Compare Discover the Canadian Rockies - Eastbound by G Adventures vs Maple Leaf Trail plus Niagara by Titan Travel
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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Duration | 12 days | 11 days |
Price From | $ 4,504 | $ 2,980 |
Price Per Day | $ 375 | $ 271 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
Activities |
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Meals Included | 11 breakfasts, 1 dinner | N/A |
Description |
Discover the awe-inspiring scenery and legendary wildlife of western Canada on a voyage across the craggy Rocky Mountains. Explore historic Banff and Whistler, marvel at the astonishing natural beauty of Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier, take the ferry to Vancouver Island, and breathe in fresh mountain air while soaking in hot mineral springs and hiking in Jasper National Park. Along the way, gain fascinating insights from knowledgeable local experts and First Nations people. |
Look out for the iconic symbol of Canada and proud emblem of national identity, the maple leaf, verdant in spring and summer, warming to red and gold in the fall. Begin with a visit to witness the extraordinary power and beauty of Niagara Falls, before a sedate journey through the great cities of the east - sophisticated Toronto, charming Québec City, stately Ottawa and chic Montréal - with time in each to really soak up their ambience. To complete the picture of an enthralling region, this superb tour also takes in the beauty and tranquillity of two of the area’s most significant rivers - St Lawrence and Ottawa - as they wend their way through these great cities and stunning countryside, including a cruise to really discover the Thousand Islands archipelago. |
Day 1 Vancouver
Arrive at any time.
Please make your own way to the joining hotel.
If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.
Day 2 Vancouver/Victoria
Head downtown to explore the lush gardens, beaches, woodlands, and miles of trails around Stanley Park, considered one of the world’s greatest city parks. Venture to historic Gastown, and stroll cobblestone streets past Victorian buildings that now house lively restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Then board the scenic ferry to Victoria.
Take a stroll around the city with your CEO to get familiar with your surroundings before you can enjoy the evening on your own.
Day 3 Victoria
Today is free to explore the charming city of Victoria. Wander along the waterfront and choose among an array of optional activities. Discover the stunning floral displays at the famous Butchart Gardens, peruse the Royal British Columbia Museum, or enjoy high tea at a historic hotel. Or opt to cruise the sea in a Zodiac boat in search of gray whales, sea lions, seals, orcas, and other marine creatures.
Day 4 Victoria/Whistler
Catch the ferry back to the mainland and drive the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the village of Whistler, host of some of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Enjoy a G for Good experience at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a showcase for First Nations customs, art, and music. Join an indigenous guide on an interpretive walk through the forest, hear how First Nations people lived off this land, and learn about local flora used for food and medicine. Then take part in a traditional tea ceremony to sample teas and bannock while listening to ancestral stories and legends. Continue to the mountain resort of Whistler, co-host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Day 5 Whistler
Spend today exploring Whistler and the surrounding parks on your own. Stroll through the village, and opt to ride the gondola up the mountain for 360-degree views. Or choose to hike one of the many beautiful trails in the area, go ziplining through the rain forest, or set out on an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip.
Whistler and its surrounding provincial parks are places you must discover. It is also a great place to try one of the many optional mountain activities.
Day 6 Whistler/Blue River
Pass through the Coastal Mountains into the Caribou Mountains on a route once marked by gold prospectors. Sit back and enjoy dramatic changes in your surroundings, the mountains to sweeping grasslands. Enjoy stops at Kamloops Lake, an oasis amid an arid landscape, and the turquoise Seton Lake, a freshwater fjord ringed by towering peaks. Arrive in the small community of Blue River.
Following this extraordinary route, once marked by the gold prospectors, we leave the Coastal Mountain Range and set foot into the arid and dry land of the Thompson Okanagan region. Aboriginal peoples led a semi-nomadic life moving between hunting and fishing grounds in the summer and settling into pit houses for the winter. Europeans came at first for fur trading and later on to establish cattle ranches, farms, and mining operations. The scenery changes dramatically and could even make you feel as if you were in a western movie.
Day 7 Blue River/Jasper National Park
Cross the Rockies into Jasper National Park and follow in the historic path of fur traders on a scenic float trip down the tranquil Athabasca River, encountering a few gentle rapids along the way. Look out for wildlife, which can include bears, moose, eagles, ospreys, and mountain sheep. Later, gaze up at the highest peak, Mount Robson, during a stop at the visitor centre.
Day 8 Jasper National Park
Spend the day at leisure enjoying Jasper’s friendly mountain hospitality. Choose your own adventure among an array of optional activities: Hike to Maligne Canyon, cruise glacially fed Maligne Lake, or rent a bike or canoe to explore on your own. This evening, rejoin your fellow travelers for an unforgettable soak in Miette Hot Springs, where spacious pools of hot mineral springs offer panoramic views of the spectacular Fiddle River Valley.
Jasper's friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful atmosphere, and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable.
Day 9 Jasper National Park/Lake Louise
Pass lush coniferous forests, soaring mountains, turquoise lakes, and epic glaciers as we travel the winding Icefields Parkway—considered one of the world’s most scenic drives—to Bow Lake, stopping along the way to enjoy photo opportunities and wildlife encounters. At the Columbia Icefield, step foot on the lower Athabasca Glacier with an expert guide for a firsthand experience of this active glacial landscape. Continue to magnificent Lake Louise, an alpine lake legendary for its emerald-blue waters.
Along the 300km (186.4 mi) ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, turquoise lakes, high-falling cascades, and humbling glaciers. Numerous stops will be planned along the way for photos, observation, and wildlife encounters.
Day 10 Lake Louise/Banff
Enjoy the morning at Lake Louise, taking in the scenery of the Victoria Glacier. Opt to join a hike to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House, following a forested trail past Mirror Lake and cascading waterfalls to the shores of Lake Agnes, where a remote tea house built in 1901 serves loose-leaf teas and other refreshments. Continue to Banff. Go on a walk back in time through this historic resort town alongside an expert from the Whyte Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the Canadian Rockies. As you explore local landmarks on foot, discover how the construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad served as a stepping stone towards opening up western Canada.
Day 11 Banff/Calgary
Spend the morning in Banff, then drive to Calgary for a day at leisure. Experience the city’s Western spirit at lively honky-tonk bars, go museum-hopping, or opt to visit the Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, where you can luge down the bobsledding track in a wheeled cart or soar through the sky on a zipline.
Famed for its entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population, Calgary prides itself on being the heart of the new west while honouring its cowboy heritage.
Day 12 Calgary
Depart at any time.
If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.
Day 1 London - Toronto
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a direct, scheduled Air Canada flight to Toronto where our coach will transfer you to the Chelsea Hotel (3T+). Be sure to explore vibrant Toronto with its sophisticated architecture, elegant shopping malls and plentiful choice of dining. A visit to the CN Tower is a must, with its observation deck, some 1,700ft high.
Day 2 Toronto - Niagara Falls - Toronto
Our coach takes us to Niagara in time for lunch and the great experience of the Horseshoe and the American Falls - appreciate their awesome power from the promenade. Early evening we return to Toronto and our hotel.
Day 3 Toronto - Ottawa
We depart Toronto and follow the north shore of Lake Ontario to Kingston, gateway to the Thousand Islands. Here we enjoy a relaxing cruise to discover this attractive archipelago varying from small outcroppings to much larger, inhabited islands. Later, we continue on our journey to the nation’s capital, Ottawa and, after a brief orientation tour we transfer to our hotel, the centrally located, historic Lord Elgin (4T) or Metcalfe Hotel (4T).
Day 4 Ottawa
Ottawa’s fine parliament buildings, picturesque parks and canals invite the stroller and today is free to explore this capital city at your leisure. Parliament Hill is home to Canada’s national government and worthy of a visit, or there are museums and galleries aplenty. Or follow the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it winds through downtown Ottawa until it reaches locks next to Parliament Hill, where it joins the Ottawa River.
Day 5 Ottawa - Québec City
Today’s destination is Québec City and we journey there following the St Lawrence River, making a stop for lunch at Chez Dany Sugar Shack. The lunch menu offers local cuisine, accompanied by live traditional music. We arrive later in Québec City and our hotel for three nights, the Delta Québec (4T).
Day 6 Québec City
This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Québec City with its fort, gates and cannons, narrow cobbled streets and ancient greystone houses. Later you are free to further discover the old walled city and visit the many interesting shops, enjoy fine French cuisine and maybe take a walk along the promenade overlooking the St Lawrence River. You may wish to take a horse-drawn carriage around the old city - a great way to become acquainted. Alternatively, take an optional excursion to Wendake, the Huron-Wendat Nation Reserve.
Day 7 Québec City
Today is at leisure. Alternatively join an optional excursion to Taddousac - travel along the Charlevoix Coastline, stopping at Chute Montmorency Falls, before boarding a ship in Baie-Sainte-Catherine to enjoy a whale-watching cruise. Whales, including fin, minke and beluga whales may be seen.
Day 8 Québec City - Montréal
We have an early start today to make the most of the Beauce region, an area enriched by the Chaudiere River that flows from just north of the American border into the St Lawrence River, and to enjoy the greatest concentration of maple groves in Québec. Shortly after crossing the St Lawrence River we stop at the Chaudiere Falls, an impressive waterfall and suspension bridge, named ‘asticou’ (boiler) by the Abenaki Indians because of the kettle-shaped basin at the foot of the cascades. The river was the scene of a gold rush in 1846 when a nugget the size of a pigeon’s egg was found. By the beginning of the 20th century over $1 million worth of gold had been extracted. Our route takes us along the tree-lined banks of the Chaudiere as we pass through the towns of Saint Marie, Valley Junction, Saint Joseph de Beauce and Beauceville. This afternoon we travel to Montréal and the Best Western Ville Marie (3T+), where we stay for two nights.
Day 9 Montréal
We enjoy a guided tour of this city, often rated as one of the ‘most liveable cities in the world’ and delightfully situated at the confluence of the St Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. The remainder of the day is at leisure for further exploration.
Day 10 Montréal - In flight
This morning is free for some sightseeing before we transfer to Montréal Airport and a direct, scheduled Air Canada flight to London.
Day 11 London
Arrival at London Heathrow Airport where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.