Compare The Hudson Valley 2019 by Tauck vs Active West Coast Canada Discovery by G Adventures

Day 1 Arrive Montreal

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Le Westin Montreal. A transfer is included from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Le Westin Montreal, set in the heart of Old Montreal, just a short walk from world-class museums and shopping, vibrant nightlife and centuries-old historic sites. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel overlooking the city's historic district.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Le Westin Montreal

PORTOFCALL : Montreal, Quebec

Day 2 Montreal, gateway to the Adirondacks

From gleaming skyscrapers to the timeless charm of 17th-century cobblestone lanes, a city tour introduces highlights of this dynamic bilingual city, a medley of European and North American influences. View McGill University's downtown campus, which prides itself on its purposeful blend of university life with the real world, and Mont Royal, the iconic park that stands watch over the city. Take a guided stroll through Old Montreal, between the St. Lawrence River and downtown skyscrapers, with free time to explore Old Port Montreal before lunch. Depart the city on a drive through Québecois farmland to the U.S. border crossing and on through countryside that satiates with mountain views, foothill farms and orchards. A short stop for a walk at Ausable Chasm reveals nature's power in the roar of waterfalls set deep within towering cliffs. Your final destination, the village of Lake Placid, finds you checking into a classic Adirondack resort on the quiet shores of Mirror Lake; enjoy dinner on your own tonight.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa

PORTOFCALL : Lake Placid, New York

Day 3 Lake Placid cruise, an Olympic ski jump & John Brown's farm

The day begins serenely on a private boat cruise on Lake Placid, described as "a clear, cold jewel" in the Adirondack wilderness, and then steps up in pace at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. Watch the thrilling hurl-into-flight during a ski-jumping demonstration, and drink in the area's beauty over lunch. Afterward, visit the nearby John Brown Farm, the historic home and burial site of the abolitionist who led the ill-fated raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry in 1859, prior to the start of the Civil War. Return to your hotel for time at leisure; a leisurely walk along Mirror Lake, the views from an Adirondack chair, and the alpine village of Lake Placid are all at your disposal. Have dinner at the hotel tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa

PORTOFCALL : Lake Placid, New York

Day 4 Blue Mountain Lake, the Adirondack Museum and Lake George

Known as a year-round playground for outdoor enthusiasts, the Adirondack mountains and forests have also long been home to lakeside villages and quaint towns. A morning drive through the region ends at Blue Mountain Lake, home to the renowned Adirondack Museum, where modern galleries and historic buildings tell the unique story of the area's residents - how they have worked in logging, mining and on the railroads, and played, from hiking to rock climbing, skiing and snowshoeing. After lunch, stunning scenery continues on a drive to your accommodations, a gorgeous Adirondack-style lodge on the shores of a private island at Lake George.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : The Sagamore Resort

PORTOFCALL : Lake George, New York

Day 5 The hip Hudson Valley, Olana & Lake Mohonk

From Lake George, head south through rolling countryside that is home to small farms, wineries and villages, with a stop in the resort town of Saratoga Springs. Continue on to Olana State Historic Site in Greenport, the former riverside home of noted 19th-century Hudson River School landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church and his wife Isabel, for a Tauck Exclusive private visit including lunch in the Wagon House. Much of the estate, a National Historic Landmark, was designed by Church himself - including the eclectic Orientalist central villa, featuring a mix of Persian, Moorish and Victorian styles; and the sprawling, parklike grounds offering remarkable views of the Catskills, the Taconics and the Hudson Valley, as well as a working farm. Preserved much as it was during Church's lifetime, the estate displays many exotic objects collected by the Churches on their world travels, as well as some 40 paintings by the artist and his contemporaries. Your final destination is Mohonk Mountain House, a Victorian "castle" set on forested cliffs above Lake Mohonk - a resort once frequented by presidents, celebrities and turn-of-the-century industrialists, where you'll spend the next two nights.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Mohonk Mountain House

PORTOFCALL : Rhinebeck, New York

Day 6 FDR's Hyde Park and old Rhinebeck

Leave your views of Mohonk Lake behind for those of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains on a drive to the Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park on the Hudson, the lifelong home of Franklin D. Roosevelt. A guided visit to Springwood, the family mansion, offers a window into an American way of life modeled on an English country estate; learn the story of the home and staff and role they once played in the local community. Afterward, a stop in Rhinebeck on the bluffs of the Hudson River, leaves time for exploring on your own and a chance to wander through a town designated as a National Landmark District with an au courant reputation for arts and culture. Return to Mohonk Mountain House late afternoon; have dinner at the hotel.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Mohonk Mountain House

PORTOFCALL : Hyde Park, New York

Day 7 Boscobel Mansion to West Point and Tarrytown

This morning features an upscale 19th-century view of Hudson Valley life on a visit to critically acclaimed Boscobel Mansion. Completed in 1808, this elegant home was built by a gentleman farmer (and British loyalist) who furnished his home from the most fashionable shops in London. A century later, the house lingered in a state of neglect until local architects and citizens rallied efforts for its rescue in the late 1950s. A tour of the house brings with it a trove of Federal antiques, spectacular Hudson views and the story of its rescue. Next up, get an inside view of the US Military Academy at West Point on a guided tour that tells the story of its historic role in the Revolution, the contemporary experience of its cadets, and of those who have left their mark here - including George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Douglas MacArthur and Dwight Eisenhower. Your accommodations tonight are in the historic town of Tarrytown, where Washington Irving's Ichabod Crane first encountered the Headless Horseman; the author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Knickerbocker Tales did much to enlarge the myths, legends and Dutch history you'll find in this region.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown

PORTOFCALL : Tarrytown, New York

Day 8 Rockefeller's Kykuit to New York City's heart

Named after the Afrikaans word for "lookout," Kykuit was the name given by John D. Rockefeller to his six-story stone home which looks impressively out over the Hudson River and to the New York skyline in the distance. This morning's visit takes you through terraced gardens, where fountains, pavilions and sculptures include sculptures by Alexander Calder and Henry Moore, and through the main rooms of the home to four generations of the Rockefeller family. Hear the stories of their lives and their contributions to philanthropy, business and the arts. After time on your own in Main Street Tarrytown, depart for the final leg of your Hudson Valley experience: a two-night stay in the heart of Manhattan, steps from Fifth Avenue.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Parker New York

PORTOFCALL : Tarrytown, New York

Day 9 New York, New York... it's a glamorous town

Feel the energy of Manhattan on this morning's New York City tour, accompanied by a local expert who maps out landmark sights and the stories behind them. Head to Lower Manhattan to view St. Paul's Chapel and the 9/11 Memorial, honoring those who were lost - and expressing hope for the future; in a Tauck Exclusive, meet an NYPD detective who interprets the poignant events of September 11th and the subsequent recovery efforts. See Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and the Chrysler and Empire State buildings. Next up is an unobstructed view of the city's sensational man-made peaks and valleys, from 70 floors up; a visit to the Top of the Rock atop a Rockefeller Center skyscraper includes the story of its construction, which put thousands of people to work just after the 1929 stock market crash - an initiative credited to John D. Rockefeller. Tonight, please join us for a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Parker New York

PORTOFCALL : New York, New York

Day 10 Journey Home

Tour ends: New York City. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Le Parker Meridien to La Guardia, JFK or Newark International Airport. Please allow a minimum of two 2 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : New York, New York

Day 1 Vancouver/Sooke

Enjoy a morning welcome meeting with your CEO in Vancouver before catching the ferry to Sooke on Vancouver Island. Eat a picnic lunch upon arrival before setting off into East Sooke Regional Park for some hiking. There’s a wide range of trails that have different levels of difficulty, but all of them will offer great views of the dramatic, rocky coastline, and lush Pacific rainforest filled with moss and green ferns. In the evening set up camp, get settled, and have dinner around a fire with the group.

Day 2 Sooke

After fuelling up with a camp breakfast the group will travel to the Juan de Fuca Strait from Sooke to embark on a hike along a section of the impressive trail. You’ll traverse miles of dense coastal forest and walk over beautiful pebble beaches, past gurgling waterfalls, slippery suspension bridges (watch your step) and the occasional pit of mud, but the dramatic views along this hike are well worth the effort. Transfer back to Sooke in the evening to rest up at camp and have dinner as a group.

Day 3 Sooke

Today after breakfast at camp the day is yours to do as you wish. If you need a break from hiking consider one of the many optional activities available like, sea kayaking, whale watching, bicycle rentals, or a visit to the quaint town of Victoria for some people watching and cafe hopping.

Day 4 Sooke/Parksville

In the morning after breakfast the group will transfer to Cowichan Valley where you'll go out on canoes and kayaks in Cowichan Bay. In the afternoon the group will travel to Parksville and walk in Rathtrevor Park along the beach. Feel the sand beneath your feet, hear the waves crashing, see old growth forests along the shoreline, and look for wildlife in the tide pools. In the evening set up camp and relax in the outdoors.

Day 5 Parksville/Squamish

Leave Parksville behind and head to the ferry port in Nanaimo to hop on a ferry to Horseshoe Bay. Once across the water, the group will drive to Squamish and hike The Stawamus Chief trail. This trail is one of the region’s best hikes and will take you up a steep incline to one of its three peaks. The views of the area surrounding Squamish, with the Howe Sound and the Garibaldi Park to the north are incredible. Enjoy a picnic lunch during your hike and in the evening relax at camp and have dinner as a group, refuelling after the day’s adventure.

Day 6 Squamish

Another great day of hiking to discover captivating views and new heights (literally). Set out to trek the Elfin Lake trail in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Offering amazing views you’ll hike 11km to get to the lakes, but it’s certainly worth it. Go for a dip in the icy water, fill up your bottles in another pond reserved only for drinking water and have lunch as you admire those insane views. After hiking the 11km downhill you’ll be able to have dinner wherever you choose in Squamish before heading back to camp for the night.

Day 7 Squamish/Whistler

In the morning the group will travel from Squamish to Whistler to take the Whistler Gondola up to the peak and hike the High Note trail. This trail offers hikers with the most scenic views of Cheakamus Lake with its vibrant aquamarine waters. The hike begins at the top of Whistler Mountain and takes you around the backside with views of the surrounding mountains and a descent through an alpine area. After the hike you’ll have free time to enjoy Whistler. Consider checking out the ​​Squamish-Lil'wat Cultural Centre, the Cloudraker Skybridge, or find a cozy coffee shop in town. In the evening at camp you’ll have your final dinner as a group around the campfire.

Day 8 Whistler/Vancouver

Travel from Whistler to Vancouver. Tours ends on arrival in Vancouver.

Please book any departing flights no earlier than 4:00pm.