Grand Tour of New England and Canada in the Fall

We board our flight from London Heathrow to Toronto, beginning our vivid Grand Tour of Canada and New England. We check into the Chelsea Hotel and have free time for dinner.

The following morning we explore Toronto, a multicultural melting-pot with an inviting, laid-back atmosphere. Our guided tour takes us to some of the city's most famous landmarks, ahead of an afternoon to explore at your own pace.

Our excursion today is to iconic Niagara Falls, truly one of the natural wonders of the world. Experience the awe-inspiring power of the cascading waterfall from the viewing area after our visit to a local ice wine vineyard. Delicious ice wine is produced using grapes that have frozen naturally on the vine in sub-zero temperatures. The grapes are then picked by hand and pressed before thawing to develop their unique taste. After lunch, we continue to Niagara-on-the-Lake before returning to Toronto.

Today we board the train to Montreal, arriving in the afternoon. Our hotel for the night is the Novotel Montreal. We embark on a guided tour of this charming island city, taking in the stunning Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica and the bustling Bonsecours Market, which is flanked by rows of autumnal-coloured trees.

This morning we transfer to the station for the train to Québec. On arrival, we check into the Hôtel Château Laurier and the rest of your day is at leisure.

On Day 6 we embark on a guided tour of this French-speaking city. Our tour, taking us past some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the elegant Château Frontenac. Perched on a promontory, the wonderful structure is truly staggering as it peaks above the vibrant carpet of orange and red treetops.

After a leisurely morning spent in Québec, we board a coach for the journey across the border into northern USA, arriving in Vermont for 2 nights in the quaint town of Stowe.

Today is truly the highlight of our wonderful holiday. This morning we are joined by a renowned local photographer, who gives us an absorbing digital exhibition on their work and offers a hands-on photography lesson on how to take fascinating and memorable pictures of all the landscapes we'll see. We then embark on a wonderful nature walk through Stowe and into the surrounding hills, accompanied by a local guide. The walk passes under a canopy of fierycoloured tree branches and the view across to Stowe is breathtaking.

Today we board a coach to North Conway, a year-round resort village on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. On the way, we stop off for lunch before taking a tour of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. We also have a tasting of the frozen treat, sampling any new flavours and enjoying some old favourites. On arrival in North Conway, we check into our hotel for a 2-night stay.

Today we enjoy a journey on board the charming Mount Washington Cog Railway* - the world's first cog railway system. Opened in 1869, it climbs an astonishing 6,228 feet up Mount Washington, the highest peak in the eastern states. We stop at the summit briefly to enjoy the fascinating panoramic views of the surrounding mountain range before descending by rail to the visitor's centre, where we enjoy an informative talk on the history of the line.

*Please note: steam-hauled where possible. On occasion the 3-mile trip is made by biodiesel locomotive.

We leave North Conway by coach today, bound for the bustling hub of Boston. During this scenic journey we stop in the historic town of Salem, a household name thanks to the infamous Salem Witch Trials, one of the darker periods of America's history. We learn more about the town's history at Salem Witch Museum on a guided tour, before we continue by coach to Boston. On arrival into Boston we check into the Revere Hotel for a 2-nights.

Today we embark on a guided sightseeing tour around the heart of Boston. We follow the ever-popular 'Freedom Trail', one of the most famous routes in the city that includes some of Boston's, and America's, most iconic landmarks such as Boston Common, Massachusetts State House and Old State House. Our tour concludes in Quincy Market, a great spot to find yourself some lunch, with a wealth of wonderful produce available. Your afternoon is at leisure in Boston.

On Day 13 there is free time before we transfer to the airport for our flight to London Heathrow, arriving on Day 14.