The 8 Best Tours and Excursions From Montreal

This guided, full-day sightseeing tour of Quebec City and its environs takes you on a coach to visit the city’s top attractions, including the Unesco-listed Old Quebec, Place Royale and the Plains of Abraham, before venturing into the charming countryside to see Montmorency Falls. Your guide will provide commentary along the way, discussing the fascinating French-Canadian history of the city and the historical significance of sites you pass on your journey.

Taste the best that Quebec City has to offer as you eat like a local on this small-group walking tour. Over more than 2.5 hours, you will visit several venues and tuck into some of the region’s delicious specialty foods. Indulge your taste buds as you sample a range of French-Canadian classics with a guide, including wine, crêpes, chocolates, savory snacks and more. Stop at a range of purveyors located in the city’s top eating neighborhoods such as charming Old Quebec, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Save the trouble of renting a car and let this day tour whisk you into the grandeur of the Laurentian Mountains. This is a small-group tour, so your guide is able to customize the day and give you a personalized experience. En route, you’ll learn about the history of Mont Tremblant resort town and tips to help you make the most of your visit. This is the best of both worlds, allowing you all the perks of a guided tour while still letting you explore the town at your own pace.

Discover southern Quebec’s awe-inspiring Laurentian Mountains, which lie within easy reach of Montreal. Traveling along narrow country roads, you’ll have the chance to admire views of the breathtaking mountain range. The tour will also stop in delightful towns like Saint-Sauveur, Saint-Adolphe-d’Howard and Mont-Tremblant, where you’ll have free time to shop, explore the local food scene and wander around these quaint, French-style villages. You’ll then head out onto Lac des Sables for a scenic cruise. This idyllic day is the perfect way to take a break from fast-paced city life.

Allow more time for sightseeing through the windows by letting someone else take the wheel on this picturesque drive down to Parc Omega – a safari park that allows visitors to tour by car. On this private tour, you’ll have your guide’s full attention. The park is a wild animal paradise, where it’s possible to get up close and personal with a range of animals such as moose, bison, elks and and wolves in their natural habitat – you’ll also have the opportunity to feed some of them from inside the car as they approach the windows. Be sure to stop at neighboring Le Château Montebello – the world’s largest log cabin and a Fairmont hotel – on the way back to explore a truly unique piece of architecture.

Helping you gain insight into present-day life in Ottawa as well its history, this is an educational sightseeing trip that packs in a huge amount. Your bike tour will start with a ride along the magical Rideau Canal Western Pathway to one of Ottawa’s most-popular neighborhoods, the Glebe. Continuing along the canal, which connects Ottawa to the city of Kingston, you’ll visit Hog’s Back Falls, Carleton University, the Dominion Arboretum, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, the Central Experimental Farm and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. Along the way, your guide will keep you informed about each stop and its significance to the city.

Soak up the summer landscapes along the St Lawrence River on this three-hour sea kayaking tour. Departing from Quebec City or the Parc maritime de Saint-Laurent, this tour is suitable for both beginners and experts – your guides will make sure you’re up to speed with all the skills you need before heading out. Take in magnificent views of Orléans Island and learn about its history as you paddle along. This is a small group tour, limited to just eight people, so you’ll have your guide’s close attention the whole way.

A regular destination for in-the-know Montreal residents, the best way to see Thousand Islands is from the water. This 3-hour long cruise will show you the best of the area, taking you past elaborate 19th-century mansions and through winding waterways bordered by verdant miniature islands. Your guide will narrate the history of the area and point out notable sites as you go, as well as native flora and fauna. Cap off a wonderful day with a visit to the Aquatarium, a wonderfully informative place to learn about the local ecosystem.