Champlain's Legacy: Wilderness and Culture in Onta

56 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
25 reviews  
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Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Journey through Ontario’s wilderness and along renowned rivers as you follow the historic path taken by French explorer Samuel de Champlain more than 400 years ago. This 6-day experience mixes education and adventure as you learn about Champlain’s history-defining voyage and experience first-hand some of the natural beauty he came across
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Overview

Trip type
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

What's this trip about?

    Journey through Ontario’s wilderness and along renowned rivers as you follow the historic path taken by French explorer Samuel de Champlain more than 400 years ago. This 6-day experience mixes education and adventure as you learn about Champlain’s history-defining voyage and experience first-hand some of the natural beauty he came across

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 1 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityOntario
End CityOntario

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 10

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 1

Trip includes

    • • This is a pre-designed itinerary. At Omega Tours, we are specialists in creating unique experiences in Canada, due to a personal and direct relationship with our local partners

Itinerary

Day 1: Begin your journey in Ottawa, the Nation’s Capital, at Madahoki Farm where you will be invited to participate in an immersive Indigenous experience. Next, you’ll head northwest, following along the Ottawa River as Champlain did during his voyages. Visit scenic Fitzroy Provincial Park before settling into your accommodations for the night. A riverside dinner and evening entertainment await. Day 2: Enjoy a delicious breakfast on the river to fuel your day of adventure. Today you’ll have a choice of adventure: either don a wetsuit and head out on a river paddling excursion with OWL Rafting or choose a culinary inland adventure. Active excursion: learn to paddle a raft through the world-renowned Rocher Fendu Rapids on the Ottawa River with expert guides by your side. This incredible 4-6 hour experience culminates with a leisurely pontoon boat cruise and meal as you enjoy the views along the river and have a chance to spot wildlife. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening enjoying water activities and a BBQ by the river. Cultural excursion: Walk along the edge of the churning Ottawa River to understand why Champlain chose to divert through an inland route at this point in his exploration. You’ll visit the site where legend says Champlain lost his astrolabe during a difficult portage. Enjoy lunch at the Whitewater Brewing Co, where you’ll also be treated to a tour and sampling. Following lunch, you’ll tour the Bonnechere Caves – underground caves a billion years in the making. End your day of culinary fun with a stop at Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch to delight in fresh blueberries. Day 3: This morning, get to know Pembroke on a walking or cycling tour of the town. Visit the Upper Ottawa Valley Heritage Centre to see a replica of Champlain’s astrolabe. Continue following the Ottawa River and stop for lunch at Driftwood Provincial Park before stopping in Mattawa, where the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers converge. This is the site where Indigenous people first met with Champlain. Explore the Mattawa Visitors Centre and take an interpretive tour in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park where you’ll get to participate in a traditional Voyageur canoe paddle. Day 4: After breakfast, head out to the beautiful Makawaska Kanu Centre to meet with an experienced guide from Waaseyaa Cultural Tours. Here you will learn about the craftsmanship, traditions and significance of the birch bark canoe to Indigenous cultures. Enjoy lunch at the centre and then head out on a fun-filled guided excursion along the Madawaska River – a 230 km long river that originates in Algonquin Park and drains into the Ottawa River. Day 5: Active Excursion: After breakfast, you will head to the Haliburton Highlands to participate in one of two extraordinary experiences: learn what life was life for an 18th Century fur trader or join a guided paddle through a series of lakes to discover the backcountry. Cultural Excursion: After breakfast, visit Maynooth’s General Store and Art Gallery, then continue south to explore the Bancroft area. Here you can visit the Bancroft Gem and Mineral Museum or enjoy the Old Hastings Mercantile and Gallery. After lunch, visit Petroglyphs Provincial Park to see the largest collection of Indigenous rock carvings or choose instead to meander along the Trent-Severn Waterway much as Champlain did in 1615. You’ll arrive at the Canadian Canoe Museum to tour the new facilities and enjoy waterfront activities. Gather at a lakeside resort for dinner and overnight accommodations. Day 6: Take an early morning paddle in a Voyageur canoe on Rice Lake if conditions permit. Then enjoy breakfast at the resort. On your final day of the trip, you can either take a Free Spirit Air Adventure by float plane or the Samuel de Champlain road rally route that follows the historic portage – called the Percy Portage – between Hastings and Meyersburg. Visit Ferris Provincial Park for grand views of the Trent River that flows to Lake Ontario before returning to the resort for lunch and transfer back to Perth, Ottawa or Toronto.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $0
Price per day$0
Last Updated: 1/23/2025

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Landsby.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • • Everything that is not mentioned in included

Accommodation

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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
landsby-1540

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