Usa & Canada Express

All content by Intrepid

15 days (New York)

Destinations visited: Canada, USA, New York City, World

Physical rating:
Culture shock rating:

Physical Ratings

The physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the trip. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our ratings follows:

Rating 1

These trips are a relaxing break. You don't have to worry about doing anything physically demanding unless you want to.

Rating 2

Some easy physical activities included in your trip. No physical preparation is required to make the most of the journey.

Rating 3

This trip will raise your heartbeat. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.

Rating 4

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. The majority of activities included on this trip will be challenging. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your holiday.

Rating 5

Intrepid’s highest physical rating. Get ready for a heart-pumping adventure with plenty of challenges and some extreme conditions. You will be required to be seriously fit for this trip as difficult activities are included.

Culture Shock Ratings

The culture shock rating considers the level of development in the location, the area's infrastructure and how easy it is to access services. It also takes into consideration how different the food and customs are and whether English is widely spoken. While generalisations are always tricky, here’s a summary of the ratings:

Rating 1

This is the least confronting of Intrepid's product range. English is the native language and the food, customs and access to services will be familiar to you.

Rating 2

You will probably have experienced food like this in restaurants back home and English is commonly spoken. Services are available most of the time but there may be some cultural differences.

Rating 3

Expect some culture shock. You will be exposed to signs of poverty and access to services may be sporadic. The food will be quite different to home and English speakers harder to find. Respecting the local culture will make it easier to fit in and really experience the location.

Rating 4

The comforts of home are more of a rarity. English is not common and the food will be quite different to what you are used to. It is important to observe some of the local customs to not cause offence. Many of the locals' standard of living may be confronting.

Rating 5

You're really out there! You'll need to pay specific attention to health and hygiene. A large proportion of locals' living conditions are a world away from standards you are used to. You may have difficulty finding an English speaker and there is little or no access to services. Paying heed to local customs is essential.

from USD$2,270

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Description

This overland adventure looping through Canada and the USA, features some of North America's most celebrated cities. Begin in pulsating New York before getting a taste of American history in Washington DC. Feel the roar of Niagara Falls, hike through Algonquin National Park and become a Francophile in Montreal and Quebec City. Travel south back over the border for a short stint in New England, seeing the best of Boston, feasting on seafood in Cape Cod and coming to rest in coastal Connecticut. Great parks, exciting cities, delicious regional cuisine and a whole lot of adventure - experience all this and more during 15 days of fun.

Highlights

Take a bite out of the Big Apple.
Talk politics in Washington DC.
Hear the roar of Niagara Falls from both the US and Canadian sides.
Go hiking in the pristine Algonquin National Park.
Practise French in Montreal.
Try poutine in charming Quebec City.
Watch sunset from a kayak in Acadia National Park.
Catch a baseball or football game in Boston.
Go whale-watching in Cape Cod.

Itinerary

Day 1 New York

New York excites the senses with its mixing pot of cultures, artistic prowess, flashy commercialism and depth of soul that inspires everyone who visits.

Days 2-3 Washington DC

Awash with iconic buildings, political intrigue, absorbing museums and eclectic neighbourhoods, Washington DC is a compelling city to explore.

Day 4 Niagara Falls

Famous as a honeymoon destination, Niagara Falls shares a border with Canada and showcases the cascading waters of the Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil falls.

Day 5 Toronto

Sitting on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto is a charismatic city with a fantastic mix of architecture, cultures, shopping, food and outdoor areas.

Day 6 Algonquin Provincial Park

Water abounds in the beautiful Algonquin Provincial Park, with its thousands of lakes and nine rivers providing sustenance to an abundance of trees, plantlife and animals.

Days 7-8 Ottawa/Montreal

Ottawa, the capital of Canada, impresses with its grand architecture, world-class museums, multicultural cuisines and endless outdoor activities, at any time of the year. Montreal is a unique city where culture, style and flair abounds, with its French flavour casting an intoxicating spell over all who visit.

Day 9 Quebec City

With its French tone and walled Old Town boasting cobbled streets and 17th-century buildings, Quebec City is easily the most unique city in North America.

Days 10-11 Acadia National Park

Located in the state of Maine, Acadia National Park's beauty lies in its rugged coastlines, windswept beaches, dense woodlands, dramatic mountains and abundant wildlife.

Day 12 Boston

As one of the oldest cities in the US, Boston has a wealth of provocative history, stately architecture, dignified culture and truckloads of American spirit.

Day 13 Cape Cod

Known as 'the Cape' to locals, Cape Cod is a popular summer retreat with wonderful stretches of beach, charming villages, and lots of outdoor activities on offer.

Day 14 Clinton

With the picturesque Nashua River running through its centre, Clinton is a small Massachusetts town that was settled in 1654.

Day 15 New York

'The Big Apple', 'The city that never sleeps' and 'The capital of the world' have all been used to describe New York, one of the most charismatic cities in the world.