Quebec & Ontario Explorer: Self-Launched
9 days · Quebec & Ontario, Canada
G Adventures charges £2,450
No-markup version: ~£1,090 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day Quebec and Ontario Explorer — Montreal to Toronto via a sugar shack, Ottawa, two nights in the Algonquin lakes, Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country. Instead of a private van and CEO you'll use VIA Rail, Ontario Northland/Parkbus coaches, GO Transit and local shuttles, staying in well-located hostels and budget guesthouses. You'll book the canoe hire, guided Algonquin hike, Maid of the Mist and winery tasting yourself via GetYourGuide/Viator or direct. Costs are approximate per person in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Montreal — Old Port at dusk
Montreal, Quebec
Land at YUL and take the 747 airport bus (CAD $11, ~£6.50, 24h unlimited rides on the STM network) to René-Lévesque/Drummond, a short walk from the downtown hostels. Check into a hostel dorm or private room in the Plateau/Milton Park area. Spend the evening wandering Old Montreal's cobbled streets and the Old Port waterfront, then grab a cheap poutine or bagel dinner on St-Laurent. Pick up a rechargeable transit card and set up your Algonquin and Niagara bookings tonight.
🚌747 airport bus CAD $11 (~£6.50); walking
🛏HI Montreal or M Montreal hostel (dorm bed ~£28/night, private ~£60)
- →Old Montreal & Old Port evening walk
- →St-Laurent Boulevard food crawl
Montreal — Old Town, Mont Royal & museums
Montreal, Quebec
Free self-launched walking day. Start with the Notre-Dame Basilica exterior and Place Jacques-Cartier, then walk up to Mont Royal lookout (free, ~40 min up) for the classic skyline view. Afternoon options: Pointe-à-Callière archaeology museum (CAD $25, ~£15), the Biodôme (CAD $23, ~£13) or a BIXI bike-share pass (CAD $15/24h, ~£9). In the evening head to Mile End for bagels, craft beer and live music. Book your VIA Rail Montreal–Ottawa ticket tonight if not already done.
🚌Walking + BIXI bike share ~£9
🛏HI Montreal or M Montreal hostel (dorm bed ~£28/night)
- →Mont Royal hike & lookout (free)
- →Pointe-à-Callière Museum or Biodôme (~£13-15)
- →Mile End evening food & music
Montreal → Ottawa via a sugar shack
Ottawa, Ontario
Take a morning VIA Rail train from Montreal's Gare Centrale to Ottawa (~2h, book 2-3 weeks ahead for CAD $40-55, ~£25-33). For the maple syrup experience, book a half-day cabane à sucre tour from Montreal the day before departure (GetYourGuide/Viator, ~£45-60 incl. lunch and tastings) OR — if travelling on a weekend in season — catch a local shuttle to a sugar shack outside Ottawa (e.g. Proulx Farm, Cumberland) and taxi/rideshare back. Arrive Ottawa, check in, then do your own Parliament Hill orientation walk (free; book Question Period or a free guided tour of Centre Block in advance) and browse the ByWard Market — BeaverTails are obligatory.
🚌VIA Rail Montreal–Ottawa ~£28; local bus/taxi ~£10
🛏HI Ottawa Jail Hostel or Ottawa Backpackers Inn (dorm ~£26/night, private ~£55)
- →Sugar shack visit with lunch & maple syrup tasting (~£50)
- →Parliament Hill walk (free guided tour if booked)
- →ByWard Market browse
Ottawa → Algonquin Provincial Park (lakeside cottage)
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Get to Algonquin independently: Parkbus runs weekend/holiday-season services from Toronto and Ottawa to Algonquin's west gate and Canoe Lake (~£35-40 return, book online — dates limited, check early). Alternatively take a Greyhound/Ontario Northland coach to Huntsville (~2.5h, ~£25) and a local taxi to your cottage. Check into a lakeside cottage or lodge near Canoe Lake or Oxtongue Lake (2 nights). Afternoon: rent a canoe from the outfitter (CAD $55-70/day, ~£32-40) and paddle out for a loon-and-moose-spotting evening. Campfire and self-catered dinner.
🚌Parkbus Ottawa–Algonquin return ~£38 or coach to Huntsville ~£25 + taxi £15
🛏Algonquin lakeside cottage/lodge near Canoe Lake (~£55/night sharing)
- →Canoe hire on Canoe Lake (~£35)
- →Campfire & wildlife watching (free)
Algonquin — guided hike, canoeing & lakes
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Book an Algonquin guided hike or 'Discover Algonquin' interpretive walk through the park's own Friends of Algonquin programs or a local outfitter (~£20-30) — or self-guide the Mizzy Lake Trail (11 km, 5-6h) which is the best route for moose, beaver and the chance of a black bear. Afternoon: swim off the dock, rent a canoe again if you want (buy a 1-day Ontario fishing licence online if you plan to fish, ~CAD $12, ~£7). Charge devices and download offline maps tonight — there's no cell service in the park. Bug spray is essential May–June.
🚌Walking / canoe; park day-use permit per vehicle (~£10 split)
🛏Algonquin lakeside cottage/lodge (~£55/night sharing)
- →Guided or self-guided hike (Mizzy Lake Trail)
- →Canoeing & swimming
- →Optional fishing licence ~£7
Algonquin → Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Long travel day. Catch the Parkbus back toward Toronto (or the Huntsville coach), then transfer by GO Transit train/bus from Toronto to Niagara Falls (GO Lakeshore West + bus, ~£15, ~3.5h). Check into a hostel or motel within walking distance of the falls. In the evening walk the free Fallsview promenade to see the illuminated falls — the lights come on after dark, and in summer there are fireworks on select nights. This is a good night to do laundry at the hostel.
🚌Parkbus ~£20 + GO Transit Toronto–Niagara Falls ~£15
🛏Niagara Falls backpacker hostel or budget motel (~£42/night)
- →Illuminated falls evening walk (free)
Niagara Falls & Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tasting
Niagara-on-the-Lake / Niagara Falls, Ontario
Morning: ride the Maid of the Mist (CAD $32, ~£19 — book online to skip the queue) or the cheaper Journey Behind the Falls. Late morning, take the WEGO bus or a local 2-hour wine shuttle to Niagara-on-the-Lake (~£15) and do a winery tour and tasting — book direct with a winery like Peller Estates, Inniskillin or Château des Charmes (~£18-25 self-guided with 3-4 pours) or a GetYourGuide wine tour with transport (~£55). Wander the prettiest town in Ontario, then return to the falls for free time or the casino.
🚌WEGO bus + winery shuttle ~£18
🛏Niagara Falls backpacker hostel or budget motel (~£42/night)
- →Maid of the Mist boat (~£19)
- →Niagara-on-the-Lake winery tour & tasting (~£22)
Niagara Falls → Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Take the GO Transit bus/train back to Toronto (~£15, ~2.5-3h). Check into a hostel in Kensington Market or downtown, then self-orientate: Union Station, the waterfront, the Distillery District and Kensington Market's street art and food stalls. Afternoon options: CN Tower (CAD $43, ~£25 if booked online), a harbour cruise (~£22), or free entry at the Art Gallery of Ontario on certain evenings. Wrap up with dinner in Chinatown or Kensington Market.
🚌GO Transit Niagara Falls–Toronto ~£15; TTC day pass ~£7
🛏HI Toronto or Planet Traveler hostel (dorm ~£32/night)
- →Self-guided downtown orientation walk (free)
- →CN Tower (~£25) or harbour cruise (~£22)
- →Distillery District & Kensington Market
Toronto — depart
Toronto, Ontario
Final morning for a Queen Street West coffee run or the St. Lawrence Market food hall. Take the UP Express train from Union Station to Pearson Airport (~25 min, ~£7) for your flight home. If your flight is late, drop your bag at the hostel and use the extra time for the Toronto Islands ferry (CAD $9, ~£5.50) — the best free skyline view in the city.
🚌UP Express to Pearson ~£7; TTC ~£3
🛏None (departure day)
- →St. Lawrence Market or Queen West
- →Optional Toronto Islands ferry (~£5.50)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,090 | £2,450 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,360 per person (56%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,090
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Quebec & Ontario Explorer: Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,090 per person for 9 days in Quebec & Ontario, Canada. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,090 — a saving of roughly £1,360 (56%) per person.
How long is the Quebec & Ontario, Canada trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Quebec & Ontario, Canada.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a city-breaks, culture, foodie trip through Quebec & Ontario, Canada, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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