Arrive in Toronto on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), a private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Kenneth Park and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing at the hotel, followed by dinner.

(D)

Following a morning talk by Kenneth, walk to the Art Gallery of Ontario for a private, guided tour of one of the largest art museums in North America. The gallery encompasses Canadian and Indigenous art alongside significant European and modern collections. Highlights include works by artists such as Bernini, Rembrandt, Monet, Degas, Gauguin, Picasso, Matisse, Chagall and Giacometti, housed within the striking building substantially redesigned by Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry.

Following lunch, visit the Royal Ontario Museum, one of Canada’s foremost museums. On a private, guided tour, explore the museum’s collections of Indigenous art and culture, archaeology, decorative arts and world cultures, reflecting the richness and diversity of Canada’s cultural heritage. Afterwards, stop at the nearby Bata Shoe Museum to admire its distinctive postmodern building, designed by renowned Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon for an evening at leisure.

(BL)

Today, travel to the Niagara Falls, where the waters of the Niagara River plunge dramatically over the escarpment dividing Canada and the United States. Experience the scale and force of the falls on a cruise that travels into the mist at their base.

Venture into the Niagara wine region, Ontario’s largest and most acclaimed wine-growing region, for a tasting and lunch at a local estate. Then, follow the picturesque Niagara River Parkway to Niagara-on-the-Lake, an elegant historic town known for its leafy streets and well-preserved 19th-century architecture. Enjoy some time at leisure in the town before returning to Toronto in the late afternoon.

This evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Begin the day with a private, guided tour of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, the last surviving Edwardian stacked theatres in the world. Opened in 1913, the complex contains two historic theatres constructed one above the other: the richly decorated Elgin Theatre and the atmospheric Winter Garden Theatre, whose interior recreates the atmosphere of a garden beneath a starlit sky.

After lunch, continue to Casa Loma, the grand Gothic Revival residence built in the early 20th century for financier and soldier Sir Henry Pellatt. Explore its elaborate interiors, towers, concealed passageways and landscaped grounds, which reflect the ambitious vision and theatrical tastes of the original owner.

Return to the hotel in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

(BL)

After breakfast, depart Toronto and drive east towards Ottawa, with a talk by Kenneth en route.

Arrive in Ottawa, Canada’s purpose-built federal capital, in the late afternoon and check in to the hotel. Distinguished by grand Gothic Revival Parliament buildings, ceremonial boulevards and many of Canada’s leading national museums and galleries, the city provides a fascinating introduction to the country’s political history, cultural identity and aspirations as a modern nation.

This evening, enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant.

(BD)

Today, explore Ottawa’s monumental architecture and the city’s role in the formation of Canada’s national identity.

Walk to Parliament Hill and visit the Senate of Canada, temporarily housed in Ottawa’s former railway station. Continue through the ceremonial heart of the capital, taking in Parliament Hill, Confederation Square and the Rideau Canal.

After lunch, enjoy a private, guided tour of the National Gallery of Canada, whose outstanding collections encompass Canadian and Indigenous art alongside European, American and contemporary works. The gallery provides a compelling survey of Canada’s artistic development through iconic paintings by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, Jean Paul Riopelle and members of the Indigenous Group of Seven, complemented by European masterpieces by artists such as Courbet, Monet, Klimt and Picasso.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.

(BL)

This morning, visit the Canadian Museum of History, Canada’s national museum of human history. Gain insight into the histories and cultures of the peoples who have shaped the nation, from the rich traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to the development of modern Canada.

The afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore Ottawa at your own pace.

This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Today, check out of the hotel and drive to Montréal. Founded by French settlers in the 17th century, the city preserves a strong Francophone identity while embracing successive waves of immigration that have defined its architecture, cuisine and artistic life.

Arrive at the hotel in the mid-afternoon and enjoy some time at leisure.

This evening, walk to a local restaurant for dinner, introducing the diverse cultural influences that contribute to Montréal’s distinctive culinary character.

(BD)

Following a morning talk by Kenneth, explore Old Montréal on a private, guided walking tour. Discover the Ruelle des Fortifications and Place d’Armes, the historic square surrounded by some of the city’s most significant buildings. See the Vieux Séminaire de Saint-Sulpice and enter the richly decorated Notre-Dame Basilica, one of Montréal’s most celebrated landmarks. Continue through the historic district to Place Jacques-Cartier for some time for lunch at leisure.

In the afternoon, visit Château Ramezay, the former residence of Montréal’s governors, for an introduction to the city’s history and colonial development.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.

(B)

This morning, visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts for a private, guided tour. Founded in 1860, it is one of Canada’s oldest and most distinguished art museums, with an expansive collection that reflects Montréal’s role as a bridge between Europe and North America. Bringing together outstanding Québec and Canadian art with European old masters, Impressionist paintings, modern masterpieces and decorative arts, the museum houses works by artists such as Rembrandt, El Greco, Monet, Picasso, Matisse and Jean Paul Riopelle.

The afternoon is at leisure to relax or to further discover Montréal at your own pace.

This evening, dinner is at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Depart Montréal and drive towards Trois-Rivières, situated on the St Lawrence River. Here, discover one of Québec’s oldest settlements and enjoy some time for lunch at leisure.

Continue to Québec City, the cradle of French civilisation in North America, and stop at the Plains of Abraham, the site of the pivotal 1759 battle between British and French forces. The outcome of the battle profoundly altered the political future of New France and the wider North American continent.

Arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon and check in.

This evening, celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with a special dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Start the day exploring the historic centre of Québec City on a private, guided walking tour. Begin at Place d’Armes and continue through the atmospheric streets of Old Québec, seeing the Ursulines Convent and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

Continue to the Citadelle of Québec, the star-shaped fortress overlooking the St Lawrence River. Still an active military installation, the Citadelle reflects the city’s strategic importance and its long history of French and British defence. Enjoy a guided tour followed by a short visit to the Musée Royal 22e Régiment.

Travel to Wendake, home of the Huron-Wendat Nation, and enjoy lunch before visiting the Huron-Wendat Museum for a guided introduction to the history, culture and living traditions of the Huron-Wendat people.

Return to Québec City and visit the newly opened Espace Riopelle, a striking contemporary pavilion dedicated to the life and work of Jean Paul Riopelle and home to the world’s largest public collection of the artist’s works. The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Walk through Place Royale and descend by funicular to Québec City’s Lower Town. Here, enjoy a private, guided tour of the Museum of Civilisation, whose exhibitions depict the development of Québec society and the histories and cultures of the peoples who have shaped the province.

Return by funicular to the Upper Town and enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax or to further explore Québec City, perhaps visiting the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec or enjoying a drink at the celebrated Château Frontenac.

This evening, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Kenneth and fellow travellers.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

For those returning home today, make your way to Québec City Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private airport transfer, additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)