Great Lakes Tours & Trips

Best time to visit Great Lakes

• Fall / Autumn 2025

  From what our travelers tell us, Globus and Trafalgar stand out for organizing tours that really work well. Their guides like Susan Andrews and Gladys get a lot of praise - they know their stuff and make the whole experience better with their local knowledge and good planning. The coach tours do a solid job getting people to multiple places efficiently, though you should know some days involve quite a bit of time on the road. It's worth noting that while the included activities are generally good value, some of our customers mention the optional extras can get pricey - particularly those special dinner events. One traveler pointed this out after their Quebec City experience. A nice thing about these companies is how they balance structure with free time. The guides keep things running smoothly but don't overload you with endless facts and figures. Both operators clearly put effort into planning routes that make sense and include the key sights while keeping the travel pace manageable. I should mention the feedback on optional activities is mixed - while some find them expensive, others say they're worth it for the unique local experiences. It really depends what you're after. The main itineraries are well-tested though, and that's where both companies consistently deliver good value.

  • September 2025 23 tours
  • October 2025 popular 26 tours
• Spring 2026

  The Great Lakes spring tours combine perfectly-timed seasonal experiences with rich cultural stops. Our three-day New York circuits take you through the Finger Lakes when winter melt powers up the waterfalls at Watkins Glen Canyon. Up at Niagara, eco-catamarans bring you close to the falls in their spring magnificence, with evening illuminations playing off the rising mist. For those with more time, our 8-day Eastern Canada routes wind through Toronto's bustling food markets, past the thawing St. Lawrence River near Kingston, and into the heart of indigenous traditions at Madahòkì Farm. TourRadar travelers often tell us how these spring departures dodge the peak crowds while still hitting all the main attractions like the Thousand Islands cruise and Old Montreal's historic streets. The soft morning light in April and May creates ideal photo conditions, especially when capturing the interplay between city skylines and natural features. Our past customers note how the spring timing strikes just the right balance - comfortable enough for outdoor exploration yet pleasantly cool for walking tours through Toronto's diverse neighborhoods and also Ottawa's heritage sites.

  • May 2026 popular 30 tours
• Summer 2026

  Summer around the Great Lakes opens up so many possibilities. The longer tours connect multiple cities, letting you take boat rides at Niagara Falls, then explore Toronto, Ottawa and also Montreal. Our travelers get really excited about the hockey training - you'll work with pro coaches who provide gear and proper ice time. Out in Algonquin, you're right on the water - early morning paddles through the mist, waterfall swims, fishing on quiet lakes and also watching for moose near the shore. Some trips include extra touches like meals at traditional sugar shacks, time with indigenous cultures at Madahòkì Farm and night paddling under really clear starry skies. Our customers often mention how much they enjoy mixing active time on the water with learning about local culture.

  • June 2026 26 tours
  • July 2026 popular 27 tours
  • August 2026 24 tours