Eastern Townships Day Trip

Day trip to Eastern Townships

★ 4.8 31 reviews

from $180.96 per person

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Duration: 9 hours
Meeting point: 750 Rue Saint-Pierre
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Run by: Ntours

Overview

This nine-hour day trip bundles the Eastern Townships into one loop from downtown Montreal, with stops at Lac-Brome, the village of Knowlton, the Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Magog and its bay park, the Haskell Free Library and Opera House on the Canada-US border, and Ayer's Cliff. Every listed stop carries free admission, so entry fees are not part of the day's costs. Travel is in an air-conditioned vehicle with a bilingual guide who comments on the road between villages, and the group is capped at 12 travellers.

The rhythm is hop on, hop off. Stops are short, from 10 to 30 minutes at most places, with an hour in Magog where reviewers say the group breaks for lunch and pastries. Reviewers repeatedly single out the abbey and the border-straddling library as the memorable moments, along with lake viewpoints along back roads.

It suits travellers who want scenery and village atmosphere without renting a vehicle, and who can handle a long day of frequent boarding and short walks. It does not suit anyone with limited mobility, and that is stated plainly.

Guide And Group In Brief

Guide	Included
Hotel pickup	Included
Group size	Up to 12 travellers

What's Included

Included

Complimentary pick up and drop off from listed Montreal downtown hotels
Commented driving day trip
Bilingual tour guide
Short walks
Small size group in comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Not Included

Gratuities
Food and drinks
Private transportation

Itinerary

Meet at World Trade CentreMeet at 750 Rue Saint-Pierre by the eastern entrance of the World Trade Centre Montreal, at least 5 minutes before the 09:00 start. Hotel pickup from listed downtown hotels is included, and the guide needs a reachable cellphone number.
Lac-Brome viewpointA 10-minute stop at Lac-Brome.
Knowlton village30 minutes in Knowlton.
Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-LacA 30-minute stop at the abbey. This is the stop reviewers praise most often.
Magog Bay Park and Magog20 minutes at Magog Bay Park, then about 1 hour in Magog. Reviews mention lunch and pastries during the Magog stop.
Haskell Free Library and Opera House15 minutes at the library and opera house. The building sits on the Quebec and Vermont line, and reviewers call it a highlight.
Ayer's Cliff and returnA final 15-minute stop in Ayer's Cliff, then the drive back to the meeting point in Montreal.

GuideIncluded

PickupIncluded

Rating And Season In Brief

Rating	4.8 from 31 reviews
Weather	Needs good weather: if the operator cancels for poor weather you are offered another date or a full refund.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, and most come straight from the tour details or from what several reviewers said after taking the tour.

Long day, short stops. The tour runs nine hours, so treat it as a full outing. You get on and off the vehicle at every stop, sometimes just for 10 or 15 minutes. One reviewer wanted more time in a few towns to see some shops.
What to bring. Food and drinks are not included, so budget for lunch in Magog, where reviewers mention eating and buying pastries. Bring your phone, keep it reachable for the guide, and carry anything you leave the vehicle with, since bags cannot stay onboard unattended. One reviewer noted water and snacks were offered, but do not count on that. Gratuities are also not included.
Pace and mobility. The tour involves frequent boarding and short walks and is not suitable for people with limited mobility. It is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are. Reviewers describe the group, capped at 12, as small and comfortable.

Where this tour sits among 4 priced tours in More Day Trips From Montreal listed here (from-price per person, USD)

Mont Tremblant Day Trip$71.66
Ottawa One-Day Tour$71.66
Sugar Shack Maple Syrup Tour$136.80
Eastern Townships Day Trip (this tour)$180.96

Guide and language. A bilingual guide runs the day in French and English. Reviewers praise the commentary on history, settlement and politics along the drive.
Weather and season. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can mean a changed date or a full refund. Pack for the season and have a backup plan in case weather forces a change.
Rules on board. Smoking, e-cigarettes and alcohol are strictly prohibited in the vehicle. No bags can be left on the unattended van during visits or lunch, so everything you bring must come with you.

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Common issues. The honest downsides are length and pace: reviewers call it a long day with a lot of driving, and stops in the smaller villages are brief. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met you are offered a different date, a different experience or a refund. Special events or road closures can change the itinerary without notice. It is not suitable for travellers with limited mobility, for impatient or disruptive children, or for anyone prone to motion sickness. One reviewer would have liked longer in a few towns to see the shops.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from listed downtown Montreal hotels, a commented drive, a bilingual guide, short walks, an air-conditioned vehicle for a group of no more than 12, and GST. Every stop on the itinerary has free admission.

Is Food Included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, and neither are gratuities. There is an hour in Magog, which reviewers used for lunch and pastries, so plan to buy your own meal there.

Where Does The Tour Meet, And Is Pickup Included?

The meeting point is 750 Rue Saint-Pierre, at the eastern entrance of the World Trade Centre Montreal, and you should arrive at least 5 minutes before your pickup time. Pickup and drop-off from listed downtown hotels is included. The guide needs to reach you by cellphone, so keep your phone on.

Is The Tour Suitable For People With Limited Mobility Or Children?

Not for limited mobility. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for persons with limited mobility because guests get on and off the vehicle frequently. Pushchairs are allowed, and it is not suitable for impatient or disruptive children or people who suffer motion sickness.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the 09:00 start for a full refund. Inside 24 hours there is no refund and no changes are accepted, using local Montreal time. The tour also requires good weather and a minimum number of travellers; if it is cancelled for either reason you get a different date, a different experience or a full refund.

How Long Is The Day, And What Should I Bring?

The tour runs 9 hours. Bring money for lunch and gratuities, a working cellphone, and only what you can carry, since no bags can stay on the unattended vehicle during stops. Wear whatever suits the season.