EASTERN CANADA – SUMMER 2025

Meeting at the airport and flight to Toronto. Built on the northern shore of Lake Ontario (the smallest of the Great Lakes) and in the southernmost part of the homonymous state, Toronto is the most dynamic and "lively" urban center in the country. Particularly friendly to residents and visitors, it is the financial, commercial and industrial center of Canada and combines the charm and glamour of a modern metropolis with an excellent quality of life and very low crime rates. Arrival, transfer and check-in at our hotel. Walking through the center of Toronto (downtown), your attention will immediately be drawn to the harmonious coexistence of different architectural structures. Skyscrapers made of cement and glass and modern shopping malls next to old Victorian-era buildings and small, well-maintained homes make up the urban map of downtown, reflecting the Canadian vision for more humane and welcoming cities. For the evening, we recommend the Greek neighborhood on Danforth Avenue, the "Mecca" for Greeks in Ontario.

Morning tour of Toronto during which we will see the 553.33-meter-high CN Tower (1973-1976, which held the record for the tallest building in the world for 31 years, but in 2007 the Burj Khalifa "stole" its first place), the famous Rogers Center stadium-hotel complex (formerly SkyDome), City Hall (old and new), the Eaton Mall with more than 300 stores, the modern buildings in the city center, the Harbourfront Center that "overlooks" the islands in Lake Ontario, etc. You will discover the multicultural character of Toronto away from the city center, in its neighborhoods, each of which is "dominated" by a specific ethnicity. The heart of the Greek Quarter (Greektown) beats strongly on Danforth Street, the Indians have founded their own district (Little India), the Chinese element is found in five suburbs of the city, the Italians have created Little Italy, the Portuguese, the Koreans, the Poles… Each district of Toronto is a miniature of the homeland of its inhabitants. For the evening, we suggest you watch a theatrical performance or dine at the revolving restaurant of the CN Tower (360 degrees every 72 minutes) and admire the illuminated Toronto from a height of 351 meters.

Morning departure for Niagara Falls. We will see the "Horseshoe" and admire the American side from the Canadian side. The sight of the power and momentum of the water, the roar of the precipitation and the play of the rainbow and fog, take the breath away of tourists, who bow before this magnificence of nature. Then we see the Minolta, Skylon and Clifton Hill towers. Weather permitting, we will board the Hornblower/Maid of the Mist boat to see the spectacular waterfall as close as possible. But our day doesn't end here: with a wonderful journey along the river, through beautiful landscapes, vineyards and historic forts, we arrive at the picturesque British town of "Niagara-on-the-Lake", to literally be transported to another era, somewhere in the 1800s, when Newark was the capital of Upper Canada. Since we will spend the night in Niagara Falls, we will have the opportunity to see the unique Phantasmagorical Show with its magnificent nighttime illuminations. Every evening, when the sun sets, the nighttime sights of Niagara Falls come alive, as the three waterfalls are transformed into an incredible, colorful masterpiece of water and light. Hundreds of LED lights scattered in different locations in the canyon create an array of colors and, together with the amazing fireworks show, offer a spectacle of unimaginable beauty that will remain forever etched in your memory!

Morning departure for the capital of Canada, Ottawa. On our way we will pass by Lake Ontario, the beautiful Kingston and Thousand Islands area on the Canada-USA border and the Saint Lawrence River. For a considerable distance the riverbed widens greatly, resulting in the creation of the "Lake of the Thousand Islands". The Indians called the area "Manatoana", which means "Garden of the Great Spirit". Arrival in Ottawa, the green small city of Ontario, at the confluence of three rivers: Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau (in winter it freezes and becomes the largest natural ice rink, 7.8 kilometers long). Check in to the hotel and walk through the renovated ByWard Market shopping area, which is full of shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants and nightclubs

During our morning tour we will see, among other things, the famous Rideau Canal, the Parliament of Canada, the Library, the Federation Hall, the Supreme Court, the Central Bank of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Stables of the famous Canadian Mounted Police (the well-known Mounties), the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Memorial to the Fallen, the Chateau Laurier Hotel, etc. After our tour, we will depart for Montreal, the second most populous city in Canada and an important port of the country. Montreal has it all in the superlative degree. It is an amazing city. The locals call it "Joie de vivre" - "joy of life" and that is what they express. With its obvious English and French culture influencing its character, Montreal is the most cosmopolitan city in Canada. Arrival, check into the hotel and take a walk with the tour guide for a first introduction to the city.

The fantastic atmosphere of this city and the unique temperament of its inhabitants result from a mixture of North American dynamism and European politeness. Strange… they say that in Montreal the sun rises in the South. We will find out “why” on the spot! The fur trade has a tradition here. New Orleans jazz, but also local music equally attract you to stop at every corner, while it is difficult to resist the shops and elegant restaurants that refer to… Paris! Montreal is considered the most important cultural center of the country. It has universities, museums, art galleries, libraries, academies, theaters and a botanical garden. The city center is located near Mont Royal, while the districts and factories are located in the suburbs. In the historic center with its narrow cobblestone streets - Old Montreal - there is the largest concentration of buildings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries in the entire North American continent. During our tour we will see the most interesting sights of the city, such as the Cathedral (Notre Dame) with its exquisite wooden decoration and magnificent stained glass windows, the beautiful City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), from the balcony of which in 1969 De Gaulle uttered the famous "Vive le Québec libre" ("Long live free Quebec"), igniting the separatist movement of Quebec and the tense relations with Canada for many years, the beautiful Bonsecours Market (Marchée Bonsecours), the Place Jacques Cartier, the Olympic complex and the University. Other attractions in the city include the Church of Christ, the Ethnological Museum (McCord Museum of National History), the Museum of Fine Arts, the Botanical Garden, as well as the 32-kilometer-long Underground City - the largest in the world (known as RESO, a homophone of the French word "Réseau" meaning network).

Today we will depart for Quebec, the most picturesque city in Canada, in the "heart" of French-Canadian culture. In 1985, UNESCO declared Quebec City a World Heritage Site. It is the only city in Canada, and in all of North America, that has preserved its fortifications in its historic part unchanged. It literally "balances" on the Cap Diamant rock, next to the St. Lawrence River, towards its mouth, opposite the charming island of Il d' Orleans. Upon arrival, we will see the Place des Arms, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Quebec, the imposing Chateaux Frontenac (Chateau Frontenac, today a hotel) with the Terrasse Dufferin, the boardwalk, the Quartier Petit Champlain and the old port (with cable car). In the evening, one can get to know the old city by following the narrow cobblestone streets. Its most central points are also the most touristy, with folk art shops, souvenirs, antiques and everything you can imagine. Scattered cafes, bistros, restaurants are also found in almost every alley and serve all the traditional dishes of the local cuisine. Overnight.

The village of Tadoussac is located east of Quebec, at the confluence of the Saguenay and Saint Lawrence rivers. The natives called it Totouskak, which means "chest", probably because of the two round, sandy hills located on the west side of the village or, according to other interpretations, "place of lobsters" or "place where the ice is broken". This morning we will depart for the port of Tadoussac, from where we will board a boat and try to see and photograph (if we are lucky) whales, seals, elephant seals, dolphins, but also icebergs - an exciting experience, which will remain forever etched in our memory! Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Transfer to the airport and boarding the flight to Athens. Arrival the next day.