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Highlights
Discover the beauty of a Canadian winter on a road trip through Ontario and Quebec
Discover the icy beauty of Niagara Falls and explore the lively attractions on Clifton Hill.
Visit Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City to witness the magic the snow brings to these historic cities.
Enjoy the winter activities available in the Laurentian Mountains, including skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking.
Spend two nights enjoying the convivial atmosphere in the pedestrian village of the Mont Tremblant ski resort.
Instead of hibernating, the historic cities of Ontario and Quebec truly come alive during the winter months. The Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour is a 12-day self-drive adventure that combines your favourite winter sports with exploring the unique cities on your route.
This diverse itinerary includes downhill and xc skiing in the beautiful Laurentians, visiting the most powerful waterfall in the world, and sightseeing in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. You’ll love the contrast of exploring the beautiful snow-covered streets of these vibrant cities and then escaping to the wilderness. The self-drive itinerary covers from as far west as Niagara Falls to Mauricie in the east and includes all the delightful stops in between for a winter adventure you’ll never forget!
Instead of hibernating, the historic cities of Ontario and Quebec truly come alive during the winter months. The Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour is a 12-day self-drive adventure that combines your favourite winter sports with exploring the unique cities on your route.
This diverse itinerary includes downhill and xc skiing in the beautiful Laurentians, visiting the most powerful waterfall in the world, and sightseeing in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. You’ll love the contrast of exploring the beautiful snow-covered streets of these vibrant cities and then escaping to the wilderness. The self-drive itinerary covers from as far west as Niagara Falls to Mauricie in the east and includes all the delightful stops in between for a winter adventure you’ll never forget!
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Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Toronto
When you arrive at the airport in Toronto, you can pick-up your rental vehicle and drive downtown to check into your hotel.
Spend the afternoon exploring the city, visiting museums, and enjoying the many restaurants. You can choose to take an optional tour to the observation deck of the CN Tower.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Toronto
Meals: None
Day 2 Day Trip to Niagara Falls
Take the drive to Niagara Falls to visit the most powerful waterfall in the world. Take in the majestic Horseshoe Falls and then walk along the cliffs to see the American falls as well!
Spend the afternoon taking in the carnival-like atmosphere of shops, restaurants, and haunted houses at Clifton Hill, or take the boat ride to the base of the falls.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Toronto
Meals: None
Day 3 Explore the National Capital
Start your drive to Ottawa early so you can spend the whole day exploring this historic city. Rent some skates and see downtown and the beautiful parliament buildings from the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink. Visit the Bytown market or some of the amazing museums including the Canadian Museum of Civilizations.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ottawa
Meals: None
Day 4 Arrive in Mont Tremblant
In the morning you’ll drive into Quebec and the Laurentian Mountains. Enjoy the quiet drive to the ski resort village at Mont Tremblant. You’ll have a hard time deciding what to do during your stay, but this is a good thing! Choose between alpine or cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in the national park.
After a busy day, you can enjoy the lively atmosphere at one of the many restaurants and pubs in the pedestrian village.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Mont Tremblant
Meals: None
Day 5 Choose Your Own Adventure in Tremblant
You have a second day in Tremblant to ski, hike, and explore. You can also have a more relaxing day shopping or visit the outdoor pools at the Scandinavian-style spa. Take a stroll through the pedestrian streets of the charming ski village and see where it leads you!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Mont Tremblant
Meals: None
Day 6 Country Roads to Montreal
If you’re in a hurry you can take the highway to Montreal, but you’ll miss all the little villages and beautiful winter scenery along the backroads, so we recommend starting early and stopping often along the way.
Check into your Montreal hotel when you arrive, then go out to explore this metropolitan city.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Montreal
Meals: None
Day 7 Explore the Sights of Montreal
Enjoy your morning coffee in a local café and wander the cobbled streets of Old Montreal. Visit the Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal, or the shops on St Catherine Street.
End your day with dinner in one of Montreal’s many exceptional restaurants.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Montreal
Meals: None
Day 8 Discover the Mauricie Region
The road ahead leads to the beautiful Mauricie region and Saint-Alexis-des-Monts. The forests and lakes that surround you will be a sight to behold under their blanket of snow, and they are yours to explore.
The hotel offers many outdoor activities for you to choose from and a sauna to warm you up when you come in for the day.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Saint-Alexis-des Monts
Meals: None
Day 9 Another Day of Mauricie Adventures
Spend a second day enjoying all the activities from your hotel. Take out the cross-country skis to explore the beautiful forest trails, or go snowshoeing, hiking, skating, or even swimming in the indoor pool.
In the afternoon, you can book a visit to the kennels to meet a team of sled dogs and take an exciting dog sled ride out on the trails.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Saint-Alexis-des Monts
Meals: None
Day 10 Winter Drive Along the St Lawrence
Once again you’ll be leaving the tranquil forests as you drive towards the city. Enjoy the drive as you pass pristine frozen lakes and charming towns. You may want to stop for lunch in Deschambault to get a feel for an authentic French-Canadian village and its hearty cuisine.
Continue your drive along the St Lawrence River to the beautiful historic walls of Quebec City.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quebec City
Meals: None
Day 11 Enjoy Historic Quebec City
Allow yourself to be swept away by the romantic atmosphere of the snow-covered stone buildings and cobbled streets of Quebec City. Visit the historic battlegrounds at the Plains of Abraham or explore the shops and cafes in the Old Town district.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quebec City
Meals: None
Day 12 Tour Concludes
Your tour finishes when you return your rental vehicle to the airport. At the time of booking, you can choose to leave from Montreal or Quebec City and coordinate your rental to be returned with your flights.
Overnight Location: None
Meals: None
Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour Price and Dates
This self-guided tour of Ontario and Quebec is run as private tour for your group only, and the price per person depends on how many people are in your group.Prices below are per person:
- Self-guided groups of 2+: from CAD1995 per person*
Accommodation on the Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour
This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip are 3-star with comfortable rooms and great locations.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. Single rooms, including those for solo travellers, are by request and may incur an additional fee.
What’s Included in the Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour?
Meals
There are no meals included in this tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 11 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour in Toronto and after the tour in Quebec City or Montreal are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
This is a self-drive tour, so you’ll need to rent a vehicle for the duration of the itinerary.
Also Included
- Canadian taxes
- 24/7 access to helpline
- Snowmobile equipment, including helmet, cold weather gear, mittens, and boots
Not included
- Guide services
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Travel insurance
- Visas if required
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities
- Entrance fees to national parks
- Gratuities for tour guides or other staff if desired
- Ski equipment rental in Mont Tremblant and Mauricie
- Skate rentals
- Vehicle rental
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy
- Optional activities or excursions:
-
- Entrance to CN Tower in Toronto
- Admission to Canadian Museum of Civilization
- Dog sled excursion in Mauricie
- How hard is the Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Canada?
- Are meals included on the Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Toronto to start this tour?
- Is the Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour in English?
- Where does the Winter Highlights of Ontario and Quebec Self-Drive Tour end?
- Can I rent ski equipment and skates during the tour?
- Can I bring my own skis and skates?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Canada?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Canada?
- When is the best time to travel to Canada for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 1/5. This tour has a flexible itinerary that allows you to choose whichever activities you prefer so that you can tailor them to your fitness level.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
There are no meals included in this tour.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover all the activities you intend to do. Get your Travel Insurance.
Fly into Toronto Lester B Pearson International Airport (YYZ). You’ll pick up your rental vehicle at the airport.
This is a self-guided tour, and the route guide, maps, and programs will be supplied in English.
This tour ends in Quebec City at the Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB), however, you can request to return your car rental to the Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) if you prefer.
Yes, winter sports equipment will be available to rent. Ski rentals are available in Mont Tremblant and Mauricie, and you can rent skates at the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.
Yes, you can, but please make sure that your car rental is fit of carrying skiing equipment. You are welcome to bring your own skates, however, rentals will be available.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to Quebec and Ontario for a winter tour is between December and March when there’s enough snow to enjoy activities like skiing, dog sledding, and snowshoeing.
Customer Ratings
In the two decades since Toundra Voyages Inc. was founded in 1998, the company has become North America’s go-to travel agency in customized independent and group tourism.
Tounda takes a flexible, responsive approach to developing adventure travel tours. By listening to the wants and wishes of travellers, they’ve been able to create memorable, affordable tours complemented by impeccable service.
Toundra’s mission is to create and organize tailor-made travel. They select, adapt, and personalize travel experiences in North America for each and every guest, ensuring your adventure is one you’ll never forget.
Meeting your expectations is just the beginning of what Toundra aims to accomplish. Exceeding them by providing exceptional experiences in beautiful North America is their standard, and their track record of knockout customer service and customized tour planning speaks for itself.
