Canada's Capital Cities plus Niagara Falls

Tour begins: 5:30 PM at The Fairmont Royal York. A transfer from Toronto International Airport to The Fairmont Royal York upon arrival is included. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the amazing Royal Ontario Museum, a special experience for Tauck guests only! Stay Two Nights: Fairmont Royal York (D)

Journey to thundering Niagara Falls this morning for a cruise near the plunging waters and misty spray of the waterfalls, raincoats on. Have lunch as you please amidst the Victorian charms of Niagara-on-the-Lake, before returning to Toronto for an afternoon spent as you wish. Enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight in the hotel. (B/D)

En route through Ontario to Canada's capital city of Ottawa today, stop at Rockport and embark on a cruise along the St. Lawrence River through the scenic Thousand Islands. Lunch is provided as you cruise past the region's postcard-perfect island escapes, from charming cottages to mansions.

Disembark in Rockport and continue overland to the heart of Ottawa; your historic Fairmont hotel is reminiscent of a French château. Dine at the hotel at your leisure this evening with views of Canada's Parliament and the Rideau Canal Locks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stay Two Nights: Fairmont Château Laurier (B/L/D)

Sightseeing in Ottawa includes guided visits at the west block of the Gothic Revival Parliament buildings. Set on Parliament Hill overlooking the Ottawa River, vaulted ceilings, marble floors and stone walls with hundreds of gargoyles and reliefs create a grand feel. Next, delve into the stories of Canada and its people on a locally guided tour at the Canadian Museum of History. View authentic and artifact-rich exhibitions introducing Aboriginal and First Peoples cultures, Viking streetscapes, whaling ships, and more. The rest of the day is free to spend as you please. (B)

Depart for French-speaking Montreal this morning, located in the province of Quebec. Your introduction to Montreal is highlighted with a ride aboard the La Grande Roue De Montreal, the tallest observation wheel in Canada. Enjoy lunch, followed by a locally guided tour of city sights. Dinner tonight is at leisure at your landmark hotel, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Stay Two Nights: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (B/L/D)

A choice of excursions this morning offers you the opportunity to discover Montreal as you wish. On one, join us for a walking and tasting tour in the oldest part of the city; find cobblestone streets lit by gas lamps and city squares graced with 18th- and 19th-century buildings that will remind you of the history and romance of "Old World" Europe; you'll also sample epicurean delights for which Vieux-Montréal is famous. Your other choice offers you the chance to explore the city on your own.

Pursue your own special interests this afternoon. There are outdoor plazas, museums and historic churches to explore and a revitalized waterfront that's perfect for strolling. Dinner tonight is at a popular restaurant in Old Montreal. Bon appétit! (B/D)

Leave Montreal this morning for Quebec City, following the mighty St. Lawrence River to Trois-Rivières; stop for lunch and a maple sugar demonstration at a traditional Québecois sugar shack; in springtime, these cabanes à sucre collect the natural bounty of local trees to produce pure maple syrup, adding nuances of caramel, wood and smoke to achieve mouth-watering flavors.

Continue on to majestic Montmorency Falls for a guided tour; it's 98 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Montmorency is not far from Quebec City, your home for the next three nights. Your hotel, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, sits up high on a bluff above the St. Lawrence River; below lies historic, walled Old Quebec City. Dinner is at the hotel tonight at your leisure. Stay Three Nights: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (B/L/D)

On a Quebec City orientation tour, discover the many faces of one of the oldest cities in North America. Get an overview of sights like La Citadelle de Québec, the largest British fortress built in North America (overlooking the St. Lawrence River) and the adjacent Plains of Abraham. Venture outside of the city for a special visit to historic Île d'Orléans, a French inspired island of red-roofed farm houses and bountiful fields of agricultural produce, from vegetables to fruits. Savor lunch in a historic centuries-old French flour mill; the remainder of the day and evening are free. (B/L)

If you wish, you may join your local guide this morning for an included, private tour of your historic hotel, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Otherwise, the entire day is yours to enjoy Quebec City's enchanting setting on the St. Lawrence River, its rich architectural legacy and its colorful past. The only fortified city north of Mexico, historic Quebec was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Explore the cobblestoned streets of Old Quebec where the Upper and Lower towns welcome with ramparts, citadels and 17th- and 18th-century houses, or people-watch from European-inspired cafés. We invite you to join us tonight for a farewell reception with entertainment and dinner at your landmark hotel. (B/D)

Tour ends: Quebec City. A transfer is included from Fairmont Le Château Frontenac to Quebec City International Airport. You should allow three hours for flight check-in. (B)