Self-Drive Lakes & Bays Of Ontario

Tour Information

Discover Muskoka – a region where Canadians of southern Ontario have enjoyed a gracious lifestyle, boundless recreation and the peaceful days of endless summer for generations. The pastoral vineyards of Niagara-on-the- Lake prepare you for your trip north into the Collingwood area and long, sandy beaches of Georgian Bay. Nature preserves and ancient caves will entice any naturalist as endless biking and hiking trails will challenge the adventurous of heart. Muskoka invites all to explore quaint country hamlets and magnificent resorts set amongst quiet, verdant forests. Gentle breezes and elegant boats cross the crystal waters of Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau, creating an idyllic setting perfect for water sports, a round of golf or a rejuvenating day at the resort spa. The lakeside estates of Rosseau sprout from the orange and red tinged rocky shoreline as swaying pines welcome visitors to an area immortalized by the famous Canadian painters known as the Group of Seven. Canoeing or kayaking on the deep indigo waters of the lakes will allow for peaceful reflection, and a cruise on a turn of the century river steamer to transport you to an age of aristocracy long gone.

Day 1

FLY TO TORONTO
Arrive at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Pick up your car rental and drive downtown to your hotel for the night. Pick up your Jonview Canada Roadbook at the front desk and check in. The remaining hours are yours to explore this cosmopolitan city. Enjoy the fine cuisine, varied nightlife and world-class shopping of Toronto.
Overnight: Soho Metropolitan

Day 2

TORONTO TO NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
Today’s route leads south along the shores of Lake Ontario and through the western suburban communities of Toronto. Home to much of the provinces’ heavy industry, the shoreline displays the
massive installations and shipyards associated with the steel and auto industries. Rounding the tip of the lake, you travel over the towering Burlington Skyway bridge – one of the largest in the province. The southern shore is home to the orchards and vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula. You will arrive at the historic village of Niagara-on-the-Lake proudly displaying its 19-century heritage. Take some time to browse through the quaint shops and boutiques after checking into your hotel.
Overnight: Queen’s Landing

Day 3

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
The Victorian charm of this wonderfully preserved and restored town will make for a pleasant day of exploration and relaxation. A wide variety of specialty shops that feature all manners of wares from Far East silks and pottery to local woodcarving and metalwork line the pedestrian-friendly streets. Restaurants, cafes and patios offer tantalizing refreshments and a place for a cool drink and quiet conversation. The neighbourhoods surrounding the centre of town boast beautifully restored Victorian homes with lush English gardens of pastel wildflowers that delight all visitors. You may wish to travel to Niagara Falls to view the Niagara River thunder over the precipice of the gorge, creating one of the great natural wonders of the world. The area around the falls has grown into an entertainment wonderland with jet boat tours, interactive museums, restaurants, a waterpark and a Las Vegas style casino.
Overnight: Queen’s Landing

Day 4

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE TO BLUE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Today depart the vineyards of southern Ontario and begin your journey northwest into the very heart of Ontario’s cottage country. Travelling through the city of Kitchener, you may see many of the street signs bearing German names, evidence of the large western European immigrant community that settled in the area at the turn of the century and still celebrate Oktoberfest every fall. Just to the north, the city of Guelph is home to Canada’s preeminent veterinary and agricultural science university and boasts a placid campus of historical buildings in of distinctive colonial style. You arrive in the village of Blue Mountain Resort – the largest ski and outdoor recreation centre in Ontario.
Overnight: West Trillium House Blue Mountain

Day 5

BLUE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Discover why this resort town is one of the most popular destinations for year-round excitement. You may decide to spend part of the day cooling off in the pristine waters along the shores of Georgian Bay. Public and private beaches offer a chance to relax under an umbrella in the cool breezes that blow off the ocean-like lake. For those that enjoy their water sports from the comfort of a vessel, the Dockside area of the village offers kayaks and paddleboats for rent to meander around the calm waters of the Millpond. A climbing wall will challenge those with mountaineering aspirations, or for the more leisurely-minded a walk on any of the trails around the mountain offer a quiet, reflective woodland experience.
Overnight: West Trillium House Blue Mountain

Day 6

BLUE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Today you may choose to explore the area around the mountain and its many attractions. The Scenic Caves Nature Preserve lies just outside of the town and features deep caves and fissures that create passageways through the rock strata. You may enjoy a day by the water after a short drive to Wasaga Beach – one of Ontario’s best known waterside recreation areas. A wide beach and clear lake waters along 14 km of Georgian Bay shoreline and a 350 hectare park create the perfect escape for sunbathing and picnics alike. We suggest a visit to the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre. This unique facility promotes and preserves the traditions of the steamship, boat building and resort era while continually educating the public about these fascinating times. The building features North America’s only in-water exhibit of working antique boats and a gift shop and gallery.
Overnight: West Trillium House Blue Mountain

Day 7

BLUE MOUNTAIN RESORT TO THE ROSSEAU J.W. MARRIOTT RESORT
Following the lower shoreline of Georgian Bay, today you travel through the small communities that are home to the majority of cottage owners in Ontario. You may choose to plan a stop at Wasaga, home to the largest freshwater beach in the world. The wide, white sands rival any oceanside beach as the fresh waters of the bay lap up in the gentle westerly breezes. The road turns north and carries you into the Port Severn area, revealing hundreds of freshwater lakes set in rock-lined and forested landscapes. The Trent-Severn Waterway system of locks controls the flow between the lakes, many observable from the roadside. You may wish to stop at the Big Chute marine railway – a large wheeled carriage that takes boats suspended on webbing up a railway and across a large dam. Later you arrive at the beautiful lakeside The Rosseau J.W. Marriott Resort and check in for your threenight stay.
Overnight at The Rosseau J.W. Marriott Resort.

Day 8

THE ROSSEAU J.W. MARRIOTT RESORT
Today you wake to the crisp, clean air rolling off Lake Rosseau as you prepare to embark on a 2-hour afternoon sightseeing cruise around Lake Muskoka. As one of the most exclusive and picturesque lakes in Ontario, this cruise will showcase the natural rock shorelines and sweeping pines that have made this area a haven for artists and aristocrats alike. You travel aboard one of three immaculately restored or recreated steam-driven riverboats that are both charming and
comfortable. The rest of the day is yours to take advantage of resort’s services and amenities to make your stay a perfect one. You may choose to take advantage of on site spa services, swim in the immense resort pool, or enjoy a morning on the private beach as the cool waters lap the sand. The adjacent 700 hectare conservation area gives nature enthusiasts a place to discover the flora and fauna of the region. The onsite tea room and restaurant will indulge every taste and palate.
Overnight at The Rosseau J.W. Marriott Resort.

Day 9

THE ROSSEAU J.W. MARRIOTT RESORT
Another day is yours to explore the local woodlands, or travel to any of the nearby small towns and
hamlets that cater to the seasonal cottage population. Restaurants and curiosity shoppes make for pleasant discoveries along the quiet rural highways. In the evening after the sun is set, venture out on to the elevated deck of the resort and be treated to a magical exploration of the northern night sky. A trained naturalist will be your guide as you peer through a high powered telescope at the indigo skies and identify the various stellar bodies and celestial events. On nights when there is an overcast of cloud, you will move inside for a fascinating, hands-on wildlife interpretation seminar. Using pelts, antlers and anatomical elements from deer, wolf, fox and other indigenous creatures, your naturalist conducts an interactive and fascinating presentation on the complex
ecosystem of the Muskoka region.
Overnight at The Rosseau J.W. Marriott Resort.

Day 10

THE ROSSEAU J.W. MARRIOTT RESORT TO TORONTO / END OF TOUR
Today you sadly depart the whispering pines of Muskoka and travel southbound to arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport to check in for your return flight.

Day 11

ARRIVE BACK IN THE UK

What's Included

• Return Flights
• Car hire with Fully Inclusive car insurance
• Accommodation for 9 nights
• Day 8, 2-hour sightseeing riverboat cruise on Lake Muskoka.
• Day 9, JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort and Spa - 1-hour stargazing or wildlife interpretive presentation
• A personalised Jonview Canada Roadbook, containing essential travel information featuring overview notes of the area of travel, local sightseeing and attractions, daily itinerary highlights, provincial maps with city guides, hotel vouchers and customised day-to-day routing maps.
• Provincial Taxes and Federal GST and/or HST, less tour package rebate

Optional Extra - Activity Package £60 per person
Day 3 Niagara-on-the-Lake 2.5-hour trolley winery tour
Day 5 Blue Mountain Resort Gondola ride
Day 6 Blue Mountain Resort Alpine Coaster ride
Daily departures: June 20 - September 1