Québec, Niagara, NYC and Washington

In the morning, guided tour of Old Montreal, with its narrow cobbled lanes and the most beautiful church in North America. 

Head to Mount Royal Park and its lake, with an exceptional view over the St. Lawrence and the mountains. Then: Dominion Square, Place Royale, St Joseph's Oratory, the Underground City and the Olympic Stadium. 

Departure for Québec City, the first French city in North America. Lunch in a Sugar Shack.

In the afternoon, a guided tour takes you through the historic sites of this beautiful fortified city. Learn about its architecture, major events and the local stories of Québec. 

You will admire sites such as Château Frontenac, the Citadel of Québec, Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica, the fortifications, the Old Port, Place Royale, Petit-Champlain… Dinner at leisure in Old Québec. 

Overnight in Québec City, in an out-of-town hotel.

In the morning, a short stop in Magog, well known for majestic Lake Memphrémagog, Mount Orford and the unique charm of its downtown. 

Then cross the US border into the green state of Vermont, the “American Switzerland”. Lunch at leisure en route.

In the afternoon, cross New Hampshire through the magnificent White Mountains region, with lush forests, rivers, lakes and mountains (the highest is Mt Washington, 1,917m). 

Continue to Boston, a key city in the United States' independence process. It's young and student-oriented (Harvard and MIT are nearby), and likely one of the most European cities on the East Coast. JFK and Benjamin Franklin were born here. Dinner.

Overnight in Boston, in an out-of-town hotel.

In the morning, guided visit of Boston, including the Freedom Trail, linking the city's main historic buildings founded by the Puritans. Discover Back Bay, the twisting cobbled streets of Beacon Hill, still lit by gas lamps and lined with magnificent 18th-century houses, then Newbury Street and the North End, where History and Culture meet. Lunch at leisure at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

In the afternoon, drive through Rhode Island and Connecticut toward New York. Nicknamed the “Big Apple”, it is now the country's largest urban area and probably the world's most iconic city. It is certainly the most cosmopolitan of American cities. 

All communities are represented across the five boroughs. NYC is also home to the United Nations headquarters. Dinner in Times Square.

Overnight in New Jersey.

In the morning, guided tour of Manhattan, including (among other things) Times Square and its giant billboards, Broadway and its theaters, 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, the iconic Empire State Building (Art Deco, built in 1931), and the neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy. 

Typical lunch in Chinatown.

In the afternoon, board the Staten Island Ferry, which passes near the Statue of Liberty, symbol of a new life for thousands of immigrants seeking fortune in the New World. Return to Battery Park and stroll through Lower Manhattan, the city's cradle, at the mouth of the Hudson River and the East River. 

This is where you'll find the memorial to the 9/11 victims, with the new World Trade Center and the impressive “Oculus” subway station replacing the former one destroyed in the attacks. Late afternoon and dinner at leisure. 

Overnight in New Jersey.

In the morning, depart for Philadelphia, birthplace of American independence. A walking tour lets you discover more than a dozen key sites and attractions in US history, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Cheesesteak lunch, a local specialty.

In the afternoon, drive to Washington, the federal capital of the United States, designed in 1791 by a French engineer at the request of George Washington, the father of the nation. 

Guided tour including the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson and Martin Luther King Memorials and the Washington Monument, all along the famous National Mall, home to the museums of the Smithsonian Institution. Pass by the Capitol (seat of Congress), then the Supreme Court and the White House. 

You'll cross Georgetown and Arlington Cemetery, where JFK is buried. Dinner at leisure in Georgetown. 

Overnight in an out-of-town hotel.

In the morning, visit the superb Air and Space Museum, featuring original historic aircraft and impressive spacecraft and machines. 

Lunch at leisure.

In the afternoon, drive through the bucolic countryside of Pennsylvania to reach Amish country. 

For centuries, the Amish have adhered to a simple and traditional way of life, rejecting modernity.

Even today, community members still travel by horse-drawn vehicles, farm with a plow and wear very plain clothing. Visit a farm and an Amish house to immerse yourself in the traditions of this fascinating community. Short drive to Harrisburg, capital of Pennsylvania. Dinner. 

Overnight in an out-of-town hotel.

In the morning, depart for Niagara, passing through Corning, the world's first glass-innovation hub. 

Along the way, admire the Appalachian Mountains. 

Lunch en route.

In the afternoon, cross the Canadian border into Ontario. On arrival, board a boat that takes you to the foot of the falls on the Canadian side. Yes, it's touristy—but the spectacle is worth it (warning: you'll get wet).

Option: helicopter flight over the falls (not included: to arrange on site with your guide).

Free time to stroll along the falls and listen to the endless roar! Dinner at leisure. 

Overnight in Niagara.

In the morning, depart and make a first stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a charming little town on the shores of massive Lake Ontario, on the Canadian side. 

Drive to Toronto, capital of Ontario and Canada's largest city. Orientation tour: the impressive skyscrapers of the financial district and the very “British” charm of Parliament. The Skydome is the main stadium. You'll see the impressive CN Tower (553m), then the city's Chinatown. Lunch at leisure.

In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful 1000 Islands region. Classified as a National Park, the Thousand Islands form an archipelago on the St. Lawrence River. 

It's a rich and fascinating ecosystem. Board a short cruise among the islands to fully enjoy these little paradises, home to majestic Victorian mansions as well as simple wooden cottages. Dinner.

Overnight in Gananoque.

In the morning, depart for Ottawa, the federal capital of Canada. It's a green, human-scale city. 

During the orientation tour, discover Wellington Street and its official buildings, the neo-Gothic Canadian Parliament, topped by the Peace Tower.

Along Sussex Drive are the official residences of the Prime Minister and the Governor General, many embassies, and major national museums. Pass through the lively ByWard Market area and the Rideau Canal, which gracefully runs through the city center. Lunch at leisure.

In the afternoon, drive to Montreal and enjoy free time depending on arrival time.

Smoked Meat dinner.

Overnight in Montreal, in an out-of-town hotel.

Free time to discover hidden Montreal, a 33 km-long underground labyrinth linking downtown buildings. 

It is the largest underground city in the world, and a paradise for shopping. If the weather is nice, why not take one last walk along the quays of the Old Port?

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and flight back to Europe (arrival in Europe the next day).