Eastern Canada Self-Launched: Toronto to Quebec & Ottawa in 10 Days
10 days · Ontario & Quebec, Eastern Canada
Oasis Travel charges £2,110
No-markup version: ~£790 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent do-it-yourself version of Oasis Travel's 10-day Ontario & Quebec coach tour — same big-hitters (Niagara Falls, Toronto, the 1,000 Islands, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Algonquin Park) but built on Canada's superb public transport, hostel and budget-hotel stays, and self-bookable day tours. Highlights: Hornblower-style Niagara boat cruise booked directly, day trip to the 1,000 Islands, walking the old walls and Montmorency Falls in Quebec City, Old Montreal with Notre-Dame Basilica entry, the capital's Rideau Canal in Ottawa, and a canoe-and-moose-watch day in Algonquin. Costs are backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights, which the original tour also excluded.
Day-by-day
Arrive Toronto — settle in and explore downtown
Toronto
Land at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and take the UP Express train into Union Station (~CAD 12.35, ~£7) rather than a taxi. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the Old Town / Kensington Market area. Spend the afternoon walking the free downtown circuit: Nathan Phillips Square, St. Lawrence Market (free to browse, cheap peameal bacon sandwich ~£5) and the waterfront. Pick up a Presto transit card (~£4 deposit + top-up) — Toronto's streetcars and subway will cover the next two days. Tonight, plan tomorrow's Niagara trip and book the boat cruise online.
🚌UP Express airport train ~£7; walkable downtown; Presto card ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm in Old Town/Kensington Market (~£28-40/night) or budget hotel double (~£70-90)
- →Self-guided walk: Nathan Phillips Square, St. Lawrence Market
- →Waterfront and Distillery District stroll (free)
- →Buy Presto transit card
Niagara Falls & Niagara-on-the-Lake by day tour or train
Niagara Falls / Niagara-on-the-Lake
Cheapest independent option: GO Train from Toronto Union to Niagara Falls (weekend service, ~CAD 20 return equivalent, ~£12). More convenient: a small-group day tour from Toronto via Viator/GetYourGuide (~£50-70) covering Lake Ontario's shore, Niagara-on-the-Lake's flower clock and the Hydro works — exactly the stops the coach tour includes. Book the Hornblower Niagara Cruises 'Voyage to the Falls' boat directly online (~CAD 32, ~£19) or its cheaper rival, the classic Maid of the Mist. Bring a waterproof layer — the mist soaks everyone.
🚌GO Train Toronto–Niagara Falls ~£12 return, or share a small-group day tour ~£50-70
🛏Return to same Toronto hostel/hotel
- →Hornblower/Maid of the Mist boat cruise ~£19 (book direct)
- →Niagara-on-the-Lake stroll and Flower Clock
- →Niagara Parks riverside walk (free)
Toronto city sights + 1,000 Islands boat tour, overnight Brockville
Toronto → Brockville
Morning self-guided Toronto walking route mirroring the coach tour: CN Tower exterior and Rogers Centre, Casa Loma grounds (garden ticket ~£10 if you want inside), Queen's Quay and the harbourfront. Optional CN Tower observation deck (~CAD 45 online, ~£26) — book ahead for a timed slot. Midday take the VIA Rail train from Toronto to Brockville (~3 hrs, from ~CAD 45 booked early, ~£26). In Brockville, join the evening or next-morning 1,000 Islands boat cruise from the town dock (Rockport/Brockville departures, ~CAD 40-50, ~£25-30) through the granite islands and cottages.
🚌VIA Rail Toronto–Brockville ~£26 (book early for cheap fares); local boat cruise
🛏Brockville hostel/guesthouse or budget motel (~£45-60/night)
- →CN Tower exterior / optional observation deck ~£26
- →Casa Loma grounds ~£10
- →1,000 Islands boat tour ~£25-30
Brockville to Quebec City — transfer day into French Canada
Brockville → Quebec City
A long transfer day, done independently and cheaply: VIA Rail Brockville to Montreal (~2 hrs, ~£25-35) then Montreal to Quebec City (~3 hrs, ~£30-40), or a direct coach with Megabus/Orléans Express (~£35-45 and simpler). Arrive into Quebec City's Gare du Palais, a few minutes' walk from the old town. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Old Quebec / Saint-Roch (dorms from ~£30). Evening: walk the illuminated walls and Dufferin Terrace boardwalk with a poutine or a cheap casse-croûte dinner (~£10).
🚌VIA Rail or Megabus/Orléans Express, Brockville–Montreal–Quebec City, ~£60-75 total
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Old Quebec / Saint-Roch (~£30-55/night)
- →Evening walk on the walls of Old Quebec and Dufferin Terrace (free)
- →Budget poutine dinner ~£10
Quebec City on foot + Montmorency Falls
Quebec City
All the coach tour's highlights are free or cheap on foot: Place d'Armes, Château Frontenac exterior, the Citadel ramparts, Parliament Hill, Place Royale and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. Add a free guided tour of the Citadel or a self-guided walk of the Plains of Abraham. In the afternoon take local bus 800 (or the seasonal shuttle) out to Montmorency Falls (~£3-4 each way); the cable car up is ~CAD 18 (~£10) or walk the stairs for free. Evening: Saint-Roch bar strip or a cheap bistro table d'hôte (~£15).
🚌Local bus 800 to Montmorency Falls ~£7 return
🛏Same Quebec City hostel/guesthouse
- →Self-guided walking tour of Old Quebec (free)
- →Citadel ramparts and Plains of Abraham (free)
- →Montmorency Falls + optional cable car ~£10
Quebec City to Montreal — Old Montreal & Notre-Dame
Quebec City → Montreal
Morning ORBUS/Megabus or VIA Rail to Montreal (~3 hrs, ~£25-35). Drop bags at a hostel in the Plateau or Old Montreal. Afternoon self-guided route: Old Montreal's cobbled streets, Place Jacques-Cartier, the underground RESO city, and Notre-Dame Basilica entry (~CAD 15, ~£9 — book a timed slot online; the AURA light show is extra). Climb Mont-Royal for the free sunset lookout and finish with a smoked-meat sandwich or bagels in Mile End (~£10).
🚌Megabus/VIA Rail Quebec City–Montreal ~£25-35; metro day pass ~£6
🛏Montreal hostel dorm (~£28-40/night) or budget hotel (~£65-85)
- →Old Montreal and Place Jacques-Cartier walk (free)
- →Notre-Dame Basilica admission ~£9
- →Mont-Royal lookout (free)
Montreal to Ottawa — capital highlights
Montreal → Ottawa
Take the VIA Rail or Megabus Montreal–Ottawa (~2 hrs, ~£20-25). Ottawa's sights are wonderfully free: Parliament Hill (free guided tours if booked ahead; the Changing of the Guard in summer), Rideau Hall and Laurier House exteriors, the Rideau Canal locks and skateway, and Sparks Street. Add one museum if you want — the National Gallery of Canada (~CAD 20, ~£12) or the Canadian Museum of History across the river in Gatineau (~CAD 21). Stay in a hostel or budget hotel near ByWard Market.
🚌VIA Rail/Megabus Montreal–Ottawa ~£20-25; walkable downtown
🛏Ottawa hostel or budget hotel near ByWard Market (~£35-70/night)
- →Parliament Hill (free; book tour online)
- →Rideau Canal and locks walk (free)
- →Optional National Gallery of Canada ~£12
Ottawa to Algonquin Park — canoe and wildlife day
Ottawa → Huntsville / Algonquin Park
No car needed: Ontario Northland coach from Ottawa to Huntsville (~3.5 hrs, ~£30-40), the gateway town to Algonquin. Base yourself at a Huntsville hostel/motel or a park campground. Book an afternoon guided canoe or wildlife-watch tour with an Algonquin outfitter in Huntsville (half-day ~CAD 60-90, ~£35-55) — far cheaper than a private transfer and it gets you onto the lakes where moose and beavers actually are. Park day-use permit is included with most outfitter trips, otherwise ~CAD 21 (~£12).
🚌Ontario Northland coach Ottawa–Huntsville ~£30-40; outfitter pickup
🛏Huntsville hostel/motel (~£40-65) or Algonquin campground pitch (~£15-20)
- →Guided canoe/wildlife tour ~£35-55
- →Algonquin Park trails and lookouts
- →Evening lakeside walk
Huntsville to Toronto via Lake Simcoe
Huntsville → Toronto
Morning walk along the Muskoka River or a short park trail, then take the Ontario Northland/GO connection back south to Toronto via Barrie and Lake Simcoe (~4-5 hrs, ~£35-45). Arrive in Toronto for a final evening: Kensington Market street food (~£10-12), a rooftop view, or a cheap Blue Jays ballgame ticket if the season suits. Last chance for souvenirs at St. Lawrence Market.
🚌Ontario Northland/GO coach Huntsville–Toronto via Barrie ~£35-45
🛏Toronto hostel dorm or budget hotel (~£28-45 / £70-90)
- →Muskoka River / Lion's Lookout walk (free)
- →Kensington Market food crawl ~£12
Departure from Toronto
Toronto
Final morning: a free self-guided walk through the Distillery District or along the Toronto Islands ferry (~CAD 9 return, ~£5) if your flight is late, then UP Express back to Pearson (~£7). The original tour's Day 10 is the flight home to Germany — here you simply fly out of YYZ independently, with international flights booked separately (as they were on the coach tour too).
🚌UP Express to Pearson ~£7
🛏None (departure day)
- →Toronto Islands ferry (optional, ~£5)
- →Distillery District walk (free)
Self-launched vs. Oasis Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Oasis Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£790 | £2,110 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,320 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Oasis Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£790
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 Eastern Canada Self-Launched: Toronto to Quebec & Ottawa in 10 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £790 per person for 10 days in Ontario & Quebec, Eastern 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 Oasis Travel?+
Yes — Oasis Travel charges around £2,110 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £790 — a saving of roughly £1,320 (63%) per person.
How long is the Ontario & Quebec, Eastern Canada trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Ontario & Quebec, Eastern 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 culture, city-breaks, backpacker trip through Ontario & Quebec, Eastern 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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