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Fall Colors of New England, Quebec & Montreal

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4.5 stars(88 reviews)
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Scenic rail excursions, superb hotels, and vibrant autumn foliage are the hallmarks of this 11-day escorted tour through the fall colors in New England and French Canada.

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
202320242025
11 days From $3,795 per person
Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

2023 Tour code: EC-FQMA-23

About the tour

Get swept away by the vibrant hues of autumn in New England and Eastern Canada this fall. A natural finale before winter overcomes the landscape, the changing leaves are as colorful as they are varied by region. Discover their beauty for yourself as you join this 11-day tour featuring acclaimed rail excursions, stays in grand hotels, and, of course, brilliant autumn scenery. Soak up the history of Boston, the starting point of your fall foliage adventure, before traveling to New Hampshire for some of the best leaf-peeping in the East. Enjoy the colors reflected upon the lake as you ride the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad and look upon fiery foliage from the winding bends of the world-renowned Kancamagus Highway. You will also ride high above the treetops aboard the steepest train in North America, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. Enjoy another hallmark of the region, maple syrup, as we drive from New Hampshire and through the quaint Vermont countryside en route to Montreal, Canada.

We split our time in Canada between Montreal and Quebec City, cities brimming with historical sights and cultural gems. Immerse yourself in their offerings on guided sightseeing tours and delve deeper while exploring independently. One of Eastern Canada's most picturesque roadways, the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway, paves the course back across the border to coastal Maine - another fantastic place to experience autumn, with its lush forests and sweeping ocean scenes. Soak in the easy seaside ambiance of Bar Harbor. Keep your camera ready for amazing views as we explore Acadia National Park. A coastal drive presents yet another chance to experience the kaleidoscope of leaves against the rocky coastline, lighthouses, and charming beach towns. From atop mountains and in the heart of colorful forests, lose yourself in the wonders of nature this fall.

Reminder: A valid passport is required to cross the U.S./Canada border.

Highlights

Activity level Natural Explorer

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You don’t mind spending the day on your feet. You enjoy sightseeing that includes walking, standing or stair climbing. You’re okay with longer days that are more active, such as multiple sightseeing stops, longer motorcoach journeys and getting on and off ships and trains.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – Boston

Arrive in Boston and transfer on your own to your hotel. Meet your Tour Manager and fellow travelers for a brief meeting followed by dinner on your own at the hotel, or venture to a Boston restaurant for dinner. Overnight Boston, MA.

Day 2 – Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad/Kancamagus Highway

After breakfast at the hotel this morning, we'll board our deluxe motorcoach and travel to Meredith, NH for a fall foliage train excursion aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. Sit back and relax as the train travels along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee with the vibrant colors of the surrounding foliage the perfect backdrop for the day's journey. Following our train ride, we will enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant.

Next, we board our motorcoach and make the scenic drive to Bretton Woods. We will go along the Kancamagus Highway, a scenic 34-mile highway known as one of the best fall foliage drives in the country. Overnight Bretton Woods, NH.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Mt. Washington Cog Railway

We begin with an early morning excursion aboard the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. You'll learn about the area's history and travel to the highest peak in the northeast on North America's steepest train. At the 6,288-foot summit of Mt. Washington you'll have plenty of time for photographs of the panoramic view that span the mountains of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and beyond. Enjoy lunch at the base of Mount Washington before returning to the Mount Washington Resort for an afternoon at leisure to participate in the resort's activities. Overnight Bretton Woods, NH. 

Includes
  • Lunch
Day 4 – Vermont/Montreal

Following breakfast in the elegant main dining room of the Historic Mount Washington Hotel, our day continues by motorcoach through New Hampshire and then into Vermont. We will stop at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, a 200-year-old family farm, where you will learn about maple syrup and even taste a few varieties. Our day's journey concludes as we cross the border into the Province of Quebec and check into our hotel. Overnight Montreal, QC.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 – Montreal Sightseeing

This morning we depart on a sightseeing tour of Montreal, which includes must-see sights such as the Notre Dame Basilica, historic Old Montreal and Mont Royal. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to shop in the city's fashionable boutiques, explore the colorful neighborhoods, and indulge in some culinary delights. Overnight Montreal, QC.

Day 6 – Train to Quebec City

After breakfast, we'll board a VIA Rail train for Quebec City, the capital of Quebec Province and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy an included lunch upon arrival, followed by a guided tour of Quebec City. This evening explore the city and enjoy one of the area's restaurants. Overnight Quebec City, QC. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 – Quebec City

You'll have the entire day to explore Old Quebec City and its surroundings. Have breakfast at one of the many French cafes before walking through the historic streets and along the fortified wall. There is so much to see in a city that showcases its well-preserved past-dating back to 1608-alongside its modern day achievements. Overnight Quebec City, QC.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 8 – Quebec City to Bar Harbor, ME

After breakfast, we travel the Old Canadian Scenic Byway as we make our way across the border and into the lovely state of Maine. We will enjoy an included lunch before making our way to Bar Harbor, the gateway to Acadia National Park. Upon arrival, the evening is yours to enjoy Bar Harbor's shopping and dining scene, which is famous for local lobster. Overnight Bar Harbor, ME.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 – Acadia National Park

This morning we visit the oldest national park east of the Mississippi River, Acadia National Park. This seaside park takes in Mount Desert Island and surrounding smaller islands. During our guided tour, we'll travel to the top of Cadillac Mountain for fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean. We'll return to Bar Harbor this afternoon with the remainder of the day at leisure to explore the town's shops and harbor views. This evening we'll enjoy a traditional New England Lobster Bake. Overnight Bar Harbor, ME. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 – Coastal Drive

After breakfast, we make our way to Portland's waterfront district for some free time and included lunch before continuing to Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse in York, ME.  Overnight Gloucester, MA. 

*September 28 will stay in Boston

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 – Tour Conclusion

Our tour concludes this morning. A group transfer to Boston South Station or Boston Logan Airport will accommodate trains and planes departing after 1:00 p.m.

*September 28 will stay in Boston. A complimentary shuttle is provided by the hotel to Logan International Airport. 

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel

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Boston Park Plaza

Boston Park Plaza

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Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods

Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods

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Ocean House, Gloucester

Ocean House, Gloucester

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Hotel Omni Mont-Royal, Montreal

Hotel Omni Mont-Royal, Montreal

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Hotel Manoir Victoria, Quebec

Hotel Manoir Victoria, Quebec City

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Trains

The Mount Washington Cog Railway
VIA Rail's Corridor Services
Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

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Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 88 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (52)
  2. 4 stars
    (32)
  3. 3 stars
    (3)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

TERESA ENNIS

5 stars

Submitted 02 Nov 2022

Best trip ever! Our tour guide, Tina Oberbaugh, was absolutely someone who we would travel with again. So much experience and knowledge of every stop we made! A #1!

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Jan

5 stars

Submitted 27 Oct 2022

You lose one star for the miserable bus we traveled in. You lose another star for hotels that food was not available or you chose not to provide it for us. This caused a shopping trip to a grocer in Lincoln, NH. Not only that, rooms did not have refrigerators, microwaves, or even coffee makers that actually worked in most of the places we stayed. The hotels were nice but to have to provide your own breakfast (i.e. Omni Mt. Washington) was not expected.

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Marilyn Roline

4 stars

Submitted 24 Oct 2022

This was a great quick overview of New Hampshire, Vermont, Montreal, Quebec City, and Bar Harbor. We had beautiful weather and the timing for leaf-peeping with amazing colors was perfect. The hotels were lovely, and the included meals were incredible. We very much enjoyed the trip.

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KATHLEEN ANNE LEE

4 stars

Submitted 23 Oct 2022

Overall, it was a great trip. The hotels were very nice with large rooms and the meals were excellent. We saw beautiful sights and I really enjoyed the train rides. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and experienced, although this was her first trip with VBR. That may be the reason that there was some confusion in the early days - emails that didn't get sent, long wait to check into first hotel, last-minute stop at grocery store when meals wouldn't be provided. But the kinks got ironed out and things went smoothly thereafter.

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BARBARA MILLER

5 stars

Submitted 23 Oct 2022

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. There is a lot packed into the trip and all of it was interesting and beautiful to see. Two of the meals and one of the hotels were not up to expectations, but they did detract from an overall great experience.

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DEBORAH LOU RINEY

4 stars

Submitted 23 Oct 2022

The seating in the bus was cramped. The tour itself was great, though at some stops the time was a little short.The driver and tour guide were great. The hotels were great

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