School Trips to CanadaQuébec City, Ottawa & the Rockies
School trips to Canada are educational group tours that introduce students to the country's French and English history, its system of government, and the glacial landscapes of the Rockies.
In 2026, Rustic Pathways programs to Canada priced between $2,200 and $3,100 per student, excluding international airfare, on itineraries of 6 to 9 days.
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Canada School Travel Itineraries
The three Canada school travel itineraries are History, Identity and Government, French in Everyday Life, and Mountains, Water and Wildlife. History, Identity and Government starts at $3,100 for 9 days, French in Everyday Life starts at $2,200 for 6 days, and Mountains, Water and Wildlife starts at $2,850 for 8 days.
Compare the three itineraries side by side
| Itinerary | Canada: History, Identity and Government | Québec: French in Everyday Life | Canadian Rockies: Mountains, Water and Wildlife |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 9 days | 6 days | 8 days |
| Starting price | From $3,100 | From $2,200 | From $2,850 |
| Learning focus | History · Civics · Geography | French · Cultural Studies · History | Geography · Environmental Science · History |
| Route | Québec City · Montréal · Ottawa · Toronto | Montréal · Québec City | Calgary · Banff · Lake Louise · Yoho · Icefields Parkway |
| Overnight bases | Hotel in Québec City (2) · Hotel in Montréal (2) · Hotel in Ottawa (2) · Hotel in Toronto (2) · In transit (1) | Hotel in Montréal (2) · Hotel in Québec City (3) · In transit (1) | Hotel in Banff (2) · Hotel in the Lake Louise area (4) · Hotel in Calgary (1) · In transit (1) |
| Physical profile | 5 low · 4 moderate | 2 low · 4 moderate | 3 low · 5 moderate |
| On-program flights | Arrival into Québec City, departure from Toronto. Both outside the day count. | Arrival into Montréal, departure from Québec City. Both outside the day count. | Arrival into and departure from Calgary. Both outside the day count. |
| Which cities the route covers | Four cities: Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto | Two cities: Montréal and Québec City, with French practice throughout | Three bases: Banff, the Lake Louise area, and Calgary |
| Best for | Best for departments that want a broad introduction to eastern Canada's history and government, with two nights in every city. | Best for French departments seeking a manageable first international or out-of-province trip. | Best for a general secondary-school group, with moderate walks and introductory guided canoeing. |
Canada · Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto
9 days · From $3,100
Canada: History, Identity and Government
Nine days and eight nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count. Students fly into Québec City, then move west through Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto, spending two nights in every city and comparing how each one presents Canadian history, identity and government.
Choose this programThe route connects Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
- Hotel in Québec City2 nights
- Hotel in Montréal2 nights
- Hotel in Ottawa2 nights
- Hotel in Toronto2 nights
- Flight home1 night
Your nine-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Arrival in Québec City
The group lands in Québec City, meets its Program Leader, transfers to the hotel and takes a short orientation walk around Dufferin Terrace before a welcome dinner introduces the week's guiding question.
MorningQuébec City is the first stop: the Program Leader meets the group at the airport and the coach runs straight into the old town.AfternoonTransfer to the hotel, then a short orientation walk around Dufferin Terrace once everyone has arrived.EveningWelcome dinner and an introduction to the week's question: whose stories shape a country?- Route
- Québec City airport to the hotel in Old Québec.
- Travel
- One airport transfer in program transport.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Québec City, the first of two nights.
- Meals
- Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day with a short orientation walk.
- Learning outcome
- Students locate the four cities on the route and write an initial question about Canadian identity.
- Customization
- A late landing does not affect the day; no ticketed activity depends on arrival time.
-
Day 2
Reading Québec City as evidence
A guided walk through Old Québec's fortifications, streets and monuments, followed by a small-group evidence exercise at the Musée de la civilisation, and dinner conversation on what each setting emphasizes about the past.
MorningGuided walk through Old Québec, examining its fortifications, streets and public monuments.AfternoonMusée de la civilisation, using selected exhibits for a small-group evidence exercise.EveningDinner, then students compare what the streets and the museum each emphasize.- Route
- Old Québec's fortifications and streets, then the Musée de la civilisation.
- Travel
- Local walking and short coach transfers within Québec City.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Québec City, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking on hills and cobbled streets.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain how different settings present different versions of the past.
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Day 3
The drive to Montréal
The group follows the St. Lawrence west to Montréal, checks into its hotel, and takes a relaxed orientation walk through the Old Port before an evening focused on language in public space.
MorningDepart Québec City for Montréal after breakfast.AfternoonLunch on arrival, hotel check-in and a relaxed Old Port orientation.EveningNeighborhood dinner; students note examples of language in public space.- Route
- Québec City to Montréal, following the St. Lawrence River corridor.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about three and a half to four hours with a stop.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Montréal, the first of two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Light effort; a travel day with an easy orientation walk.
- Learning outcome
- Students connect settlement and trade patterns to the river corridor.
-
Day 4
Language and belonging in Montréal
A locally guided neighborhood walk on migration and language, a climb to the Mount Royal viewpoint, and an evening mapping exercise comparing what students saw across the city.
MorningLocally guided neighborhood walk focused on migration, language and how buildings change use over time.AfternoonMount Royal viewpoint, then a facilitated comparison of the neighborhoods visited.EveningDinner, then a student mapping exercise.- Route
- Montréal neighborhoods on foot, then Mount Royal by coach and on foot.
- Travel
- Coach and walking within Montréal; a shorter route to the viewpoint is available.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Montréal, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; a climb to the viewpoint, with a shorter option.
- Learning outcome
- Students support an observation about urban identity with evidence from the city.
- Customization
- A shorter approach to the Mount Royal viewpoint is available for groups that need it.
-
Day 5
Into Ottawa for a national museum
The group travels to the Ottawa-Gatineau area for a booked school program at the Canadian Museum of History, then discusses how a national museum selects and interprets its evidence.
MorningTravel to the Ottawa-Gatineau area.AfternoonA booked school program at the Canadian Museum of History, matched to the group's age.EveningDinner, then discussion of how a national museum selects and interprets evidence.- Route
- Montréal to Gatineau to Ottawa.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, roughly two and a half to three hours from Montréal to the Ottawa area.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Ottawa, the first of two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Light to moderate effort; a travel day with a museum program.
- Learning outcome
- Students distinguish a historical object from the interpretation built around it.
-
Day 6
Institutions and Indigenous perspectives
A reserved visit to an available parliamentary venue, then an afternoon alongside Indigenous educators at Mādahòkì Farm, hearing whose perspective the day's institutions represent and why.
MorningA reserved visit to an available parliamentary venue, then small groups discuss what they saw.AfternoonAn afternoon alongside Indigenous educators at Mādahòkì Farm, subject to its group program availability.EveningDinner, then time with the question the afternoon raised: how Mādahòkì Farm's Indigenous educators see the story Parliament tells about Canada, set against what the group saw there that morning.- Route
- A parliamentary venue in Ottawa, then Mādahòkì Farm.
- Travel
- Coach transfers within the Ottawa area.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Ottawa, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Light effort; light walking at both stops.
- Learning outcome
- Students point to one idea from the afternoon at Mādahòkì Farm that changed how they see Canadian government, crediting the educator whose voice gave them that idea.
- Customization
- The itinerary does not depend on access to Centre Block or the Peace Tower, which remain closed during rehabilitation.
-
Day 7
The long drive to Toronto
A transfer day by design: the group stops in Kingston for lunch and a waterfront stretch on the way from Ottawa to Toronto.
MorningDepart Ottawa; stop in Kingston for lunch and a brief waterfront stretch.AfternoonContinue to Toronto and check in.EveningDinner close to the hotel, then downtime.- Route
- Ottawa to Kingston to Toronto.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about six to seven hours with stops.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Toronto, the first of two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Light effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students use the journey to compare settlement patterns and transport connections.
- Customization
- This is deliberately a transfer day, with no major stop beyond Kingston.
-
Day 8
Toronto at two scales
The CN Tower for a view of Toronto's waterfront and transport corridors, then a guided walk through Kensington Market and Chinatown, ending with a farewell dinner and comparisons across all four cities.
MorningThe CN Tower, examining Toronto's waterfront, density and transport corridors.AfternoonGuided walk through Kensington Market and Chinatown, with structured observation and respectful discussion.EveningFarewell dinner and short presentations comparing the four cities.- Route
- The CN Tower, then Kensington Market and Chinatown, on foot and by local transport.
- Travel
- Local transport and walking within Toronto.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Toronto, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; a full day on foot and by local transport.
- Learning outcome
- Students connect the city's large-scale geography with everyday neighborhood life.
-
Day 9
Departure from Toronto
Breakfast, a final written response to the week's opening question, and the transfer to Toronto's airport.
MorningBreakfast, then a final written response to the opening question.AfternoonAirport transfer and departure, adjusted to flight schedules.EveningOnward travel.- Route
- Hotel to Toronto airport.
- Travel
- One airport transfer in program transport.
- Overnight
- None; the group flies home.
- Meals
- Breakfast. Later meals depend on the departure flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students construct a supported argument using evidence from all four cities.
Québec · Montréal and Québec City, in French
6 days · From $2,200
Québec: French in Everyday Life
Six days and five nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count. Students fly into Montréal, practice French in a booked lesson and in the city, then move to Québec City for three nights of history, language and a Québécois cultural meal.
Choose this programThe route connects Montréal and Québec City.
- Hotel in Montréal2 nights
- Hotel in Québec City3 nights
- Flight home1 night
Your six-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Arrival in Montréal
The group lands in Montréal, transfers to the hotel, takes a short orientation walk nearby, and starts practicing French over a welcome dinner.
MorningThe week opens in Montréal, with the Program Leader waiting at arrivals.AfternoonHotel transfer and a short orientation walk near the accommodation.EveningWelcome dinner; students practice introductions and ordering with support.- Route
- Montréal airport to the hotel.
- Travel
- One airport transfer in program transport.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Montréal, the first night.
- Meals
- Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day with light walking.
- Learning outcome
- Students set a personal speaking goal for the week.
-
Day 2
From classroom to city
A prebooked French lesson matched to the group's level, then Old Montréal and the Notre-Dame Basilica, using the neighborhood itself as a language observation task.
MorningA prebooked French lesson tailored to the group's level.AfternoonOld Montréal and the Notre-Dame Basilica, followed by a guided language-observation task.EveningDinner and a low-pressure French conversation session.- Route
- The lesson venue, then Old Montréal and the Notre-Dame Basilica.
- Travel
- Local transport and walking within Montréal.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Montréal, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; a full day on foot in the city.
- Learning outcome
- Students apply the lesson's vocabulary in a real setting.
- Customization
- The lesson needs a confirmed school partner; a sightseeing activity is not an equivalent replacement.
-
Day 3
The drive to Québec City
The group travels east to Québec City with a comfort stop, checks in, and explores a compact section of the old town before an evening photo-caption exercise in French.
MorningTravel to Québec City, with a comfort stop.AfternoonCheck-in and exploration of a compact section of the old town.EveningDinner and a student photo-caption exercise in French.- Route
- Montréal to Québec City.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about three and a half to four hours including a stop.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Québec City, the first of three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Light to moderate effort; a travel day with a short old-town walk.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe places and make comparisons using observed details.
-
Day 4
Language and power in Québec City
A visit to the Morrin Centre to discuss the city's different linguistic communities, then a guided session on the Plains of Abraham, closing with team storytelling in French.
MorningVisit the Morrin Centre and discuss the city's different linguistic communities.AfternoonGuided Plains of Abraham session, with time to question how historical conflicts are remembered.EveningDinner and team storytelling in French. Guided at the Plains of Abraham that afternoon, each team now retells the battle as one of Quebec's English-speaking, French-speaking or Indigenous communities remembers it, and the group sits with what it feels like to hold all three versions side by side.- Route
- The Morrin Centre, then the Plains of Abraham.
- Travel
- Coach and walking within Québec City.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Québec City, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking on the Plains of Abraham.
- Learning outcome
- Students recall the moment a Quebecois perspective on the Plains of Abraham surprised them most, trace what it shifted in their own account of the battle, and note the question they'd still like answered.
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Day 5
Montmorency Falls and a sugar shack
The group walks Montmorency Falls, then shares a reserved sugar-shack meal and cultural demonstration to discuss maple production and its place in regional life, before final French presentations.
MorningExplore Montmorency Falls, using paths appropriate to conditions and the group.AfternoonA reserved sugar-shack meal and cultural demonstration; discussion of maple production and its place in regional life.EveningReturn to the hotel for final French presentations.- Route
- Montmorency Falls, then a sugar shack outside Québec City.
- Travel
- Coach excursion outside Québec City.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Québec City, the third night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking on paths at the falls.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain a cultural practice using both geographical and historical context.
- Customization
- Actual sap harvesting is seasonal; an off-season cultural visit is not sold as harvesting.
-
Day 6
Departure from Québec City
Breakfast, a short speaking task revisiting each student's original goal, and the transfer to Québec City's airport.
MorningBreakfast and a short speaking task revisiting each student's original goal.AfternoonTransfer to Québec City airport and departure.EveningOnward travel.- Route
- Hotel to Québec City airport.
- Travel
- One airport transfer in program transport.
- Overnight
- None; the group flies home.
- Meals
- Breakfast. Later meals depend on the departure flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students identify measurable progress and a next step in language learning.
Alberta and BC · Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise
8 days · From $2,850
Canadian Rockies: Mountains, Water and Wildlife
Eight days and seven nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count. Students fly into Calgary, follow water from glacial landscapes through lakes, rivers and canyons across Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho and the Icefields Parkway, and return to Calgary for the final night.
Choose this programThe route connects Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho, and Icefields Parkway.
- Hotel in Banff2 nights
- Hotel in the Lake Louise area4 nights
- Hotel in Calgary1 night
- Flight home1 night
Your eight-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Arrival and the drive to Banff
The group lands in Calgary, drives to Banff, and opens the week with a question: how do mountains shape water, wildlife and human activity?
MorningCalgary is the gateway: the Program Leader meets the group on arrival and the coach turns west toward the mountains the same morning.AfternoonTransfer to Banff, with a short orientation if timing allows.EveningWelcome dinner and an outdoor briefing introducing the week's question.- Route
- Calgary airport to Banff.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about two hours plus stops and traffic.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Banff, the first of two nights.
- Meals
- Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students identify the landscapes and questions they will investigate this week.
- Customization
- Schedule an arrival early enough for a comfortable transfer.
-
Day 2
Banff's river and its history
A local history walk on Banff's tourism and railway past, a guided canoe session on the Bow River with habitat interpretation, and an evening sketch connecting the river to the town around it.
MorningA local history walk or museum-led session in Banff, examining tourism, railways and the town's development.AfternoonA guided canoe session on the Bow River, with instruction and habitat interpretation.EveningDinner and a student sketch connecting the river with the surrounding mountains and town. Paddling the Bow River alongside a guide left the group with one question: how this valley looks different depending on whose relationship with the water you ask about.- Route
- A history walk in Banff, then the Bow River.
- Travel
- Local transfers, walking and introductory paddling.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Banff, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; a history walk and introductory canoeing.
- Learning outcome
- Before drawing conclusions about how the valley supports ecological, cultural and economic uses, students sit with one difference: how their canoe guide reads the Bow River compared with how they read it that morning.
- Customization
- Both activities need group reservations; a riverbank habitat walk is the weather alternative to canoeing.
-
Day 3
Canyon geography to Lake Louise
An early guided walk to Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls, then a picnic lunch on the way to the Lake Louise area, where the group settles in and uses the canyon to explain erosion.
MorningA guided walk to Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls, extended only if conditions and group ability support it.AfternoonPicnic lunch, then continue to the Lake Louise area to check in and organize field notebooks.EveningDinner and a short exercise explaining erosion using observations from the canyon.- Route
- Banff to Johnston Canyon to the Lake Louise area.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about one and a half to two hours driving across the day.
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodge in the Lake Louise area, the first of four nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; a canyon walk with narrow sections and inclines.
- Learning outcome
- Students use visible evidence to explain how running water changes a landscape.
-
Day 4
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
A lakeshore walk at Lake Louise, then a reserved transfer to Moraine Lake for a second, shorter exploration, comparing the two settings and discussing how visitor access affects protected places.
MorningLake Louise lakeshore walk, examining the valley shape, surrounding slopes and glacial landscape.AfternoonLunch, then a reserved transfer to Moraine Lake for a second, shorter exploration.EveningDinner and discussion of how visitor access affects protected places.- Route
- Lake Louise, then Moraine Lake.
- Travel
- Reserved lake transport; a shorter walking route is available at both stops.
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodge in the Lake Louise area, the second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; a shorter route is available at both lakes.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain both a landscape feature and a visitor-management challenge.
- Customization
- Moraine Lake access depends on the season and confirmed transport; it is reserved ahead rather than booked as an ordinary coach stop.
-
Day 5
Yoho and a mountain watershed
A walk beside Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, a picnic lunch, then Natural Bridge to see the Kicking Horse River's erosive power, closing with a comparison of river and glacial erosion.
MorningTravel into Yoho National Park and walk beside Emerald Lake.AfternoonPicnic lunch, then Natural Bridge to examine the Kicking Horse River's erosive power.EveningDinner and comparison of river erosion with the glacial features seen earlier.- Route
- The Lake Louise area to Emerald Lake to Natural Bridge, in Yoho National Park.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about one and a half to two hours driving in total.
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodge in the Lake Louise area, the third night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; the full Emerald Lake lakeshore circuit runs only when conditions and group ability suit it.
- Learning outcome
- Students distinguish processes that produce different mountain landforms.
- Customization
- The Emerald Lake circuit's length adjusts to conditions and group ability; Takakkaw Falls is not an automatic stop on this day.
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Day 6
Tracing the Icefields Parkway
A guided shoreline exploration at Bow Lake, then the Peyto Lake viewpoint, closing with a simple watershed diagram connecting glaciers, lakes and downstream rivers.
MorningTravel north to Bow Lake for a guided shoreline exploration and discussion of glacial meltwater.AfternoonPicnic lunch, then the Peyto Lake viewpoint, using maps and photographs to examine how glaciers and drainage shape the landscape.EveningDinner and preparation of a simple watershed diagram.- Route
- The Lake Louise area to Bow Lake to the Peyto Lake viewpoint, on the Icefields Parkway.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about one and a half to two hours driving, excluding stops.
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodge in the Lake Louise area, the fourth night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, including an uphill approach to the Peyto Lake viewpoint.
- Learning outcome
- Students connect glaciers, lakes and downstream rivers within one system.
- Customization
- This day does not reach the Athabasca Glacier and does not include walking on glacier ice.
-
Day 7
Back to Calgary and to the plains
A short local walk, then the drive back to Calgary with a lunch stop, watching the transition out of the mountains before a farewell dinner and team presentations.
MorningA short local walk, or a replacement for a weather-affected activity, within the day's transfer allowance.AfternoonTravel to Calgary with a lunch stop, observing the transition out of the mountains.EveningFarewell dinner; each team explains one relationship between water, wildlife, tourism or settlement.- Route
- The Lake Louise area to Calgary.
- Travel
- One coach transfer in program transport, about two and a half to three hours plus a lunch stop.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Calgary, the final night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Physical demand
- Light effort; a travel day with a short morning walk.
- Learning outcome
- Students build an argument from several observations rather than one memorable stop.
- Customization
- The final city night protects departure day from a long mountain transfer.
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Day 8
Departure from Calgary
Breakfast, a final reflection, and the transfer to Calgary's airport.
MorningBreakfast and final reflection.AfternoonAirport transfer and departure, adjusted to flight schedules.EveningOnward travel.- Route
- Hotel to Calgary airport.
- Travel
- One airport transfer in program transport.
- Overnight
- None; the group flies home.
- Meals
- Breakfast. Later meals depend on the departure flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students identify one supported conclusion and one question for further investigation.
What applies across every itinerary
- Groups and teachers
- Groups start at ten students; smaller groups are considered on a case-by-case basis. One teacher's Program Tuition is free for every eight paying students.
- Rooming
- Students share gender-separated rooms, each with their own bed. Teachers get private rooms.
- Price
- Program Tuition doesn't cover flights to and from the program, travel insurance, medical insurance, or pocket money.
- Flights and documents
- Book the international flights yourselves, or ask us to arrange them. Passports and any required travel documents are on the families, and we'll guide them through it. No itinerary flies inside Canada.
- Supervision
- Program Leaders lead scheduled activities, stay on site and are available overnight. The approved itinerary specifies any free time, and Program Leaders are present during it.
- Effort
- Low means limited walking, mostly on a travel day. Moderate is a full day on foot in a city, on hills and cobbles, or on an easy canyon or lakeshore trail.
- Flexibility
- Reserved sessions, such as a museum program, a parliamentary venue visit, a canoe outing or a booked lake transfer, move only with their venue's availability or the weather. City and walking days can shuffle without restructuring anything.
How much does a school trip to Canada cost?
A school trip to Canada costs $2,200 to $3,100 per student for program tuition, or approximately $344 to $367 per day. Tuition covers lodging, meals, airport transfers, in-country transport, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees.
Schools receive one complimentary program tuition place for every eight paying students. Airfare is not included.
Program Tuition covers lodging, meals, coach transport within Canada, the booked activities on each itinerary, guides and entrance fees. Schools receive one complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students and a group-specific quote.
$2,200 to $3,100
per student across the sample itineraries, excluding international airfare.
6 to 9 days
program length across the three sample itineraries.
Group quote
every school receives its own, built on dates, group size and route.
| Included | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Travel | Lodging for every night on the program, meals and drinking water, airport transfers, coach transport within Canada, the booked activities on each itinerary, guides, and entrance fees. |
| Activities | Booked museum and historic-site programs, the guided canoe session on the Bow River, and reserved lake transport at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. |
| Staff and support | At least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, pre-departure planning, and school documentation. |
| Community donations | Required by a service project, paid by Rustic Pathways and never collected from students. |
| Chaperones | One complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students. Chaperone airfare and insurance are separate. |
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, medical insurance, and personal spending money.
| Effect | Factor |
|---|---|
| raises | Shoulder-season dates cost less. Peak and holiday weeks push the price up. |
| raises | Fixed costs stay the same on a short trip. Fewer days to spread them across means a higher daily cost. |
| raises | One teacher place travels free. Every chaperone seat beyond it gets costed into the group total. |
| raises | Lodging tier, from a standard three-star hotel to a signature property such as Fogo Island Inn |
| lowers | 10 students is the starting size, with no upper limit; the more who join, the lower the per-student price. |
| lowers | Shoulder-season dates outside peak and holiday weeks |
Payment and cancellation
Installment plans are available. Review the current enrollment terms.
What do students learn on a Canada school trip?
Students learn about Canadian history and government, French language and culture, and geography and environmental science through experiences in Ottawa, Québec, and the Canadian Rockies. Each itinerary connects classroom subjects to the places, communities, and landscapes students encounter.
History and Government
Students examine Canadian history, government, and identity through Parliament Hill, the Canadian Museum of History, Old Québec, and time with Indigenous educators at Mādahòkì Farm.
How do governments, museums, and communities shape the stories a country tells about itself?
Canada: History, Identity and Government
French and Cultural Studies
Students use French beyond the classroom through a language lesson and everyday interactions in Montréal, then explore Québec's Francophone history and culture in Montréal and Québec City.
What changes when students use classroom French in real conversations?
Québec: French in Everyday Life
Geography and Environmental Science
Students study how water, ice, and erosion shape the Canadian Rockies at Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, and along the Icefields Parkway.
How can water carve a canyon in one place and fill a glacial lake in another?
Canadian Rockies: Mountains, Water and Wildlife
What makes Rustic Pathways educational trips different?
A Rustic Pathways school trip is one private group on your school's own dates, one bed per student, and an itinerary built to your curriculum.
- 01No mixed groups. Just your school
- 02One student, one bed
- 03Your school picks the dates
- 04Monthly payment plans available
- 05No tipping; Rustic Pathways Program Tuition includes community donations
- 06Aligned to your curriculum
Who supervises and manages the trip to Canada?
School chaperones and Rustic Pathways Program Leaders supervise and manage the school trip to Canada together.
Rustic Pathways manages the itinerary, accommodation, ground transport, activities and emergency procedures; your school manages its own student conduct and communication policies.
Your school can book international flights directly or ask Rustic Pathways to arrange them. Families receive trip logistics and itinerary information through the MyRustic web app.
How safety is managed on a school trip to Canada
Program Leaders manage local operations and safety procedures alongside school chaperones. Across 13 years of published incident data from every Rustic Pathways program worldwide, 87% of reports were GREEN, the minor tier where the group stays intact.
What the team plans for
Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto
Hills and cobbled streets in the old towns, and a full day on foot around the CN Tower, Kensington Market and Parliament Hill
Intercity coach days
Long stretches in program transport, including the six-to-seven-hour Ottawa-to-Toronto leg with a Kingston stop
Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho
Mountain and canyon trails, cold water on the Bow River during the guided canoe session, and lakeshore footing at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Controls built into every trip
Written risk plan. A score above 5 requires new controls, reassessment or cancellation.
Two-Deep Leadership. A single staff member is never alone with students, and at least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, support each School Group Travel trip.
Assessed activity vendors. Museum-program, canoe, and coach operators are reviewed before use, every one to two years, and on site when high risk.
Medical readiness. WFR coverage for remote programs and Dr. William R. Smith, dedicated Medical Director since 2015.
Is Rustic Pathways the right partner for your school trip to Canada?
Yes, Rustic Pathways is the right partner for private, curriculum-focused school trips to Canada. Your school chooses the travel dates, and Rustic Pathways builds the itinerary around your curriculum.
Students travel only with their teachers and classmates and never join another school's group. Individual students can join fixed-departure Canada programs instead.
- You want one private group with your dates and your teachers.
- Your dates can run 6 to 9 days, depending on the itinerary.
- You have 10 or more students.
- You want eastern Canadian cities, or the Rockies' mountains and lakes.
- A student has significant mobility, medical, mental-health, dietary, or religious support needs.
- You have fewer than 10 students.
- You want the Rockies itinerary. Guided canoeing and moderate mountain trails require a baseline level of fitness and comfort in the outdoors.
- You want the Ottawa civics day. Parliamentary venues and Centre Block access depend on availability and are confirmed closer to your dates.
- You are an individual student or parent looking for open-enrollment teen travel programs to Canada.
- You want your group combined with another school.
- You need a confirmed departure date before the proposal and planning process.
Support planning starts early
Raise individual needs before booking so Rustic Pathways can assess them and adapt the route and support plan where feasible.
Questions about school trips to Canada
The questions schools ask most before requesting a Canada proposal, answered from the itineraries and prices on this page.
How much does a school trip to Canada cost?
A school trip to Canada costs $2,200 to $3,100 per student for 6 to 9 days, excluding international airfare.
The Rockies and four-city itineraries are at the higher end of the range, while the Montréal and Québec City itinerary is at the lower end. Larger groups can reduce the per-student cost.
When is the best time to take a school trip to Canada?
The best time for a school trip to Canada depends on the itinerary. Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto itineraries can run during any school term.
The Rockies itinerary depends on seasonal access to Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway. Rustic Pathways confirms access before booking.
Have a question before you ask for a proposal?
Patrick Ziemnik answers Canada school-trip questions with the school travel team.
Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
Start with your travel window
Start your Canada trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and customized trip options within 48 hours.
Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com
Have a school expeditions or tour operator quote?
Send it over. Rustic Pathways will show you what’s possible for the same budget.
Destinations related to Canada
Browse all school trip destinations- Rustic Pathways has operated student travel since 1983. Recent industry recognition:
- 2026 GoAbroad Innovation AwardsInnovation in Adventure-Based Programming · Global Adventure Learning Model
- 2025 International Travel AwardsBest Group Tour Operator
- 2024 Skift IDEA AwardsIndustry Innovators – Tour Operators
- 4x WYSETC Best Youth Tour Operator2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- BBB A+ RatingBetter Business Bureau profile
- NESA Affiliate OrganizationNear East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools
- 2025 World Travel AwardsUnited States’ Leading Tour Operator