Capitals & Eastern Canada

6 Night Rail Tour circle trip Toronto/Toronto. Includes overnight stays in Ottawa, Montreal & Quebec City.

Capitals & Eastern Canada

Day 1 Toronto to Ottawa (Rail)

Enjoy the facilities of the Business Class Lounge while waiting for boarding instructions. Complimentary newspapers and non alcoholic beverages are available in the lounge. Follow the shores of Lake O ntario, one of the five Great Lakes of North America, to Trenton Junction, where the St. Lawrence River flows from the lake. From Trenton Junction to O ttawa, the landscape is dotted with small villages, surrounded by maple forests and rich pasture land. The journey is approximately four hours. O ttawa was named as the capital of Canada in 1867 with the signing of Confederation by the then Canadian Provinces, establishing an independent Canada. The VIA Rail station in Ottawa is a short taxi ride to downtown O ttawa hotels.(lunch is included today)

Day 2 Ottawa (Free Day)

Ottawa is not just the capital of the Canadian government, O ttawa is also one of the most diverse cities in the world, offering everything from world-class sporting events and shopping adventure to museum and family activities. O ttawa has it all. Situated on the O ttawa River about 200 km (125 miles) west of Montreal, O ttawa is a unique mix of old and new, history and technology, excitement and relaxation. Among the many historic sights in O ttawa are the Canadian War Museum, Parliament Hill, Museum of Civilization, Rideau Hall, RCMP Museum and Stables, National Aviation Museum, Royal Canadian Mint, National Gallery, Byward Market, Rideau Canal, Dow’s Lake, Experimental Farm, Museum of Nature. Today is a free day to explore

Day 3 Ottawa to Montreal (Rail)

Enjoy the facilities of the Business class lounge while waiting for boarding instructions. Complimentary news papers and non alcoholic beverages are available in the lounge. Your rail journey to Montreal this morning is under four hours, and takes you into rural O ntario, with maple forests and pasturelands, crossing into Quebec at Coteau where the rail line joins the Toronto-Montreal line. Cross the O ttawa River to Dorval Station where a short stop is made before proceeding to Central Station in downtown Montreal. Central Station is located two floors below the Queen Elizabeth Hotel lobby. (breakfast is included today)

Day 4 Montreal City Sightseeing

Montreal offers a number of unique attractions. From some of North America’s oldest and most spectacular architecture to professional sports and botanical treasures. Enjoy a 3 hour tour of the city, taking in more than 200 points of interest, including a stop at the Notre Dame Basilica, residential and financial districts, O ld Montreal, French Quarter, outside view of O lympic Site, McGill University and a panoramic view from an observation point on top of Mt. Royal. The balance of the day is yours to enjoy Montreal.

Day 5 Montreal to Quebec (Rail)

Enjoy the facilities of the Business Class Lounge while waiting for boarding instructions. Complimentary newspapers and non alcoholic beverages are available in the lounge. Following the St. Lawrence River, pass from city suburbs to the rural landscapes of forests and rich pastures, dotted with tiny villages that extend to Quebec City. For the first hour, you will note the rugged Monteregian Hills that seem to loom up from nowhere. These huge volcanic mounds were formed over 120 million years ago. There are seven of these hills in a row, including Mont Royal in Montreal, ending with Monte Rouge near the tiny village of Boloeil. Many of the trees you view are maple trees, producing the great Canadian staple, maple syrup. Your rail journey is just over two hours to Quebec, the oldest walled city in North America and heart of the French Canadian culture of Canada. In Quebec, arrive at Gare du Palais, located near the harbour in old town, Quebec. Steeped in history, Quebec is the most charming city in Canada, almost four hundred years old and most of the original architecture and buildings have been lovingly preserved. (lunch is included today).

Day 6 Quebec City Sightseeing

Québec City is the heart of French Canada. Nowhere else in North America is the appearance and atmosphere of an old-world city so complete. Québec City looks and feels very European; perhaps that is why the entire old section of the town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 Today qualified guides will help you discover the enchanting sights which are part of Quebec City’s history. During the tour several stops are suggested. Should you wish to visit different sites, you may wish to get off and board at your convenience. This tour option offers you great flexibility.

Day 7 Quebec to Toronto (Rail)

Enjoy the facilities of the Business Class Lounge while waiting for boarding instructions. Complimentary newspapers and non alcoholic beverages are available in the lounge. Departing Quebec from Gare du Palais, cross the mighty St. Lawrence River to the south shore, which the rail line follows for almost the entire journey to Toronto. The landscape is dotted with tiny villages, all with church spires, maple forests and rich pasture land. This fertile land stretches most f the way to Montreal. After the small city of Saint-Hyacinthe, there is a dramatic change in the landscape, as the Monteregian Hills seem to appear out of nowhere. These huge volcanic mounds were formed over 120 million years ago and there are seven of these large hills in a row, including Mont Royal in Montreal. Arriving in Montreal at Central station, change trains and board VIA Rail’s Toronto service. The change is seamless, in the same station, with a short connection wait. Departing Montreal, a brief stop is made at Dorval. From Dorval, the train route crosses the O ttawa River, a major tributary of the St. Lawrence River. In the distance to the north, you may view the Laurentian Highlands. Less than an hour out of Montreal, the train passes from the Province of Quebec into the Province of O ntario. Following the St. Lawrence, pass through the small cities and villages, including Kingston, the first capital of the “Province of Canada” from 1841 to 1867, when the capital was moved to O ttawa. Passing through Trenton Junction, the St. Lawrence widens into Lake O ntario. The rail line follows the shore of this “Great Lake“ into Toronto, where you disembark at Union Station in downtown Toronto to end your rail journey. (breakfast & lunch included today)