Search

Cox & Kings · Tailor-Made Journey

Eastern Canada by Rail

12-day Eastern Canada rail journey through Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City

Illustration of Eastern Canada by Rail

Cox & Kings' Eastern Canada by Rail is a 12-day journey connecting Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City via VIA Rail Business Class travel. You stay in five-star Fairmont hotels throughout and enjoy guided tours of each city's landmarks: Niagara Falls' dramatic falls from the Hornblower boat, Ottawa's Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal, Montreal's Old Quarter and Mount Royal, and Quebec City's centuries-old fortified ramparts and Latin Quarter. The pace is leisurely, with free afternoons to explore on your own. International flights bookend the trip, making this an all-inclusive package suited to luxury seekers and repeat rail travellers who want Canada's eastern heritage and urban contrasts without the logistics of planning.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of GBP 4,565 (USD 6,097) covers the package; international flights are included but are scheduled flights, not private
  • Day 1 is arrival and settling in; the first full day of activities begins Day 2
  • The itinerary includes three days of unstructured free time (Days 2 afternoon, Day 8 in Montreal, Day 11 in Quebec City); guided experiences are not full-day

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Toronto (Fairmont Royal York)

    Arrive Toronto

    Arrive in Toronto, Canada's dynamic and cosmopolitan gateway city. After making your way to your downtown hotel by taxi or public transport, the remainder of the day is yours to unwind and explore at leisure.

  2. Day 2overnight: Toronto (Fairmont Royal York)

    Toronto

    Your first full day in Toronto begins with an optional included ticket to the CN Tower, boasting sweeping views that stretch across Lake Ontario and the city skyline. Beyond this landmark, the city offers countless contrasts: world-class galleries such as the Royal Ontario Museum, bohemian corners like Kensington Market, and stylish boutiques in Queen West.

  3. Day 3overnight: Toronto (Fairmont Royal York)

    Toronto

    Today brings one of the country's most iconic experiences as you join an included Niagara Falls Small Group Tour. At the falls themselves, bypass the queues with priority boarding for the Hornblower boat tour (also included).

  4. Day 4railovernight: Ottawa (Fairmont Chateau Laurier)

    Arrive Ottawa

    Settle into the comfort of Business Class rail travel today, beginning with access to the lounge where refreshments and newspapers await. As the train departs Toronto, the route traces the shores of Lake Ontario toward Trenton Junction, before giving way to the grandeur of the nation's capital.

  5. Day 5overnight: Ottawa (Fairmont Chateau Laurier)

    Ottawa

    Discover Ottawa's most iconic landmarks on an included guided walking tour and combined canal cruise. Parliament Hill rises above the river, the National War Memorial stands solemn in the city's heart, before the tempo slows aboard a serene Rideau Canal cruise.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Montreal (Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth)

    Arrive Montreal

    Board the morning train and watch the landscape shift as Ontario's pastoral fields give way to Quebec's undulating countryside. Soon you arrive in downtown Montréal, pulling directly beneath the lobby of the grand Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, your home for the next three nights.

  7. Day 7overnight: Montreal (Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth)

    Montreal

    Today, join an included guided Walking Tour of Old Montréal. Your guide leads you through the district's eastern and western quarters, weaving together landmarks such as the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica and the Old Port.

  8. Day 8overnight: Montreal (Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth)

    Montreal

    A full day unfolds at leisure to absorb Montréal's spirited blend of past and present. Begin in Old Montréal, later ascend Mount Royal by funicular for far-reaching vistas across the city's skyline.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Quebec City (Fairmont Le Château Frontenac)

    Arrive Quebec City

    Boarding Business Class rail, follow the course of the St. Lawrence River as the cityscape yields to forests, pastures and tiny villages. In just over two hours you arrive at Québec City, the country's oldest walled settlement.

  10. Day 10overnight: Quebec City (Fairmont Le Château Frontenac)

    Quebec City

    This morning, set out on an included Rendezvous with History tour, tracing the story of Québec through its grand boulevards and intimate quarters. Walk amid the atmospheric Latin Quarter, stand on the Plains of Abraham, and admire the fortified Ramparts.

  11. Day 11overnight: Quebec City (Fairmont Le Château Frontenac)

    Quebec City

    Your last full day is free to enjoy Québec as you please. You might drift along the St. Lawrence River on a leisurely cruise, or wander the historic Plains of Abraham.

  12. Day 12

    Fly home

    Today your adventure comes to a close. Check out of your hotel and take a taxi to Quebec City's airport to prepare for your overnight flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: Priority boarding on the Hornblower boat tour at Niagara Falls, bypassing queues
  • Day 4Day 4: VIA Rail Business Class departure from Toronto traces the shores of Lake Ontario toward Ottawa
  • Day 5Day 5: Serene guided cruise along the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal after touring Parliament Hill
  • Day 6Day 6: Train arrives beneath the lobby of Montreal's Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in downtown
  • Day 8Day 8: Ascend Mount Royal by funicular for sweeping vistas across Montreal's skyline

Included

  • Scheduled international flights
  • Luxury accommodation
  • Rail travel between cities on VIA Rail in Business Class
  • CN Tower Admission in Toronto
  • Niagara Falls Small Group Tour from Toronto
  • City Walking Tour & Rideau Canal Cruise in Ottawa
  • Walking Tour of Old Montreal
  • Rendezvous With History City Tour in Quebec City

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Cox & Kings includes all VIA Rail travel between cities in Business Class, plus access to lounges with refreshments and newspapers.
Which trains are used?
VIA Rail operates the connections: Toronto to Ottawa to Montreal to Quebec City, all in Business Class.
Are the hotels included?
Yes. You stay at five-star Fairmont hotels: Royal York in Toronto (3 nights), Chateau Laurier in Ottawa (2 nights), The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal (3 nights), and Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City (3 nights).
Is the tour escorted or independent?
It is a tailor-made journey with included guided city tours and activities in each destination. You have unstructured free time each day as well.
What is included beyond accommodation and rail?
International flights, CN Tower admission in Toronto, the Niagara Falls small-group tour with Hornblower boat priority boarding, walking tours in Ottawa and Montreal, a Rideau Canal cruise, and a Quebec City history tour.
When does this trip run?
Departures run May, June through August, and September, with pricing varying by season (May and September from GBP 4,565; June-August from GBP 4,915).

Similar journeys