Autumn Colours
Experience Overview
As fall arrives, admire the fiery foliage flames of New England on your fall tour from Beantown to the rocky headlands of Maine. Scenic drives along Kancamagus Highway, ice-cream tastings and insight into the nature of this beautiful corner of the U.S. is the best way to spend this season.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
- Burlington: Dive into the local products over a farm tour at Green Mountain Girls Farm. After a warm welcome from owners Mari Omland and Laura Olsen – who returned to Vermont after careers in conservation and smart-growth non-profits, tour the farm and see regenerative farming in action and how they utilize ecologically designed methods to provide excellent products and experiences. Then sit down to a tasty, farm-to-table lunch with all local, organic food from the farm and climate conscious farming partners, you’ll love supporting local farmers while having a climate conscious experience.
Dive into Culture
- Boston: Boston's colonial past comes to life as you walk portions of the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long path that encompasses significant locations to the history of the United States. Your Travel Director leads you on this mostly brick path that winds from Boston Common downtown through the North End to the Bunker Hill Monument passing through Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church, enriching your visit with all of their insights into the local history. You’ll love this walk through history visiting sites dating back to the 1600s as well as those like Faneuil Hall which has now become a gathering spot for locals.
- Bar Harbor: Join a Local Specialist and naturalist for a one-of-a-kind look into lobster fishing, marine ecology and local ecosystems. After you’ve gotten an understanding of this fascinating industry, savor a traditional New England lobster dinner. It’s a fascinating window into the Maine Lobster fishery, one of the oldest continually operated industries in North America, with the first documented catch dating back to the 1600s. Maine is the largest lobster-producing state in the nation harvesting over 100 million pounds of lobster each year.
Iconic Experience
- North Conway: From brilliant foliage to tumbling waterfalls, New Hampshire is an endless playground. Join an easy paced guided hike to Diana's Baths - a series of small waterfalls located in the south-eastern corner of the town of Bartlett, within the White Mountain National Forest. You’ll love embracing the natural scenic beauty walking through this serene setting of rocks, ledges, falls and pools in the brook led by your knowledgeable guide.
- North Conway: The fall colors of New England spring to life on the Kancamagus Highway, a 34.5-mile scenic drive along Rt. 112 in Northern New Hampshire known as one of the best fall foliage viewing areas in the country. Designated an American Scenic Byway, the Kancamagus Scenic Byway cuts through the White Mountain National Forest treating you with views of the White Mountains, the Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge -- reaching an elevation of just under 3,000 feet at its highest point at Kancamagus Pass.
- Acadia National Park: Acadia National Park, the first National Park established East of the Mississippi and home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest point along the Atlantic Seaboard. Stop at Hulls Cove Visitor Center before traveling along the Cadillac Summit Loop Trail to the top of Cadillac Mountain. You’ll beat the crowds, admiring the colors of the leaves as your Travel Director circles back to what you’ve learning during the Wabanaki Storytelling. Reflect on how this area is the homeland of the Wabanaki people.
- Bar Harbor: There’s no better way to experience Maine than on a scenic drive. On your coastal drive to Nubble Lighthouse, embrace the power of the Atlantic and the salty breeze. Stop in Kennebunkport, a charming coastal gem known for its picturesque beaches, historic architecture and relaxed seaside ambiance that invites you to savor fresh seafood, explore quaint shops and unwind by the ocean. When you arrive, feel like you’re standing at the edge of the Earth as the waves roll in. Snap a picture of this quintessential Maine lighthouse, built in 1879 on a tiny, off-shore island, or 'nubble,' in York. Admire the Victorian keeper's house with gingerbread trim and a lantern with miniature cast-iron lighthouses on its railing.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- North Conway: Unlock the secrets of the local flora and fauna at Raven Wildlife Program. A Local Specialist provides a historical and ecological look at the diverse environments in fall in the North Woods North Conway, giving you all their insights into the local ecology, wildlife and even the science behind the famous colors of the fall foliage. You’ll love gaining a new awareness of the natural beauty of this environment and insight into the mysteries of nature. This experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
- Bar Harbor: Unlock indigenous history and make a positive impact on the local community meeting a local Wabanaki storyteller. Set within the Bar Harbor Historical Society’s charming waterfront building, discover Indigenous oral traditions and music. You’ll love this storytelling experience about the Wabanaki people’s homeland from this family operated and woman-owned business. This experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Naturalist Guide in North Conway, Lobster Presentation
- Visit Boston Common, Lexington Battle Green Park, Stowe, Acadia National Park, Kennebunkport, Nubble Lighthouse
- View The Green Mountains, Mount Washington, White Mountains National Forest, Cadillac Mountain
- Scenic Drives along the Kancamagus Highway, Route 100, a classic Vermont drive that stretches from Canada to Massachusetts, and Route 1, a Panoramic Drive along the Maine Coast
Stays With Stories
- Boston: Unlock quintessential Boston over your Stays with Stories experience at The Westin Copley Place. Set in the Back Bay, your accommodations are surrounded by historic brick-lined sidewalks, classic brownstones and the Charles River. You’ll find yourself in the heart of it all, moments from Boston’s icons including Newbury Street, Fenway Park, numerous restaurants and shops at the Prudential Center and Copley Place Mall. Make the most of your stay using the 24-hour fitness center or relax in the indoor pool. Your room’s sleek décor and spa-like bathrooms invite you to relax and recharge before another big day in Beantown.
Trip Details
Product Code: 19193
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 762.1695A
Starts: Boston (MA), United States Of America
Finishes: Boston (MA), United States Of America
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All transport and transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5,472 ($608 /day)
Itinerary
Known as the 'Cradle of Liberty', Boston was once home to famous sons such as Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin. Immerse yourself in its revolutionary history or stroll along the waterfront. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner to kick-start your New England tour.
Accommodation: Westin Copley Place
Meals: Dinner
Unlock the best of Boston walking along parts of the Freedom Trail. Stroll through Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Granary Burying Ground established in 1660 by some of America’s most notable citizens, Old State House -- the site of the Boston Massacre and the oldest surviving public house in Boston and Faneuil Hall -- America's first Town Meeting and vital location in revolutionary politics. You'll love following the red-brick path that winds to historic sites that reveal the history of the American Revolution. Stop in historic Lexington and Concord, the site where "the shot heard round the world" was fired, marking the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. In the afternoon make your way to Vermont, driving past picturesque New England farmlands and old-world towns.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington
Meals: Breakfast
Get a taste of East Coast cuisine among some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes on your New England tour. In Northfield, Vermont, enjoy a Be My Guest experience with a farmhouse lunch at Green Mountain Girls Farm. Learn how they practise regenerative and sustainable farming while raising free-range animals and growing produce in Central Vermont. After lunch, there’s the chance to join an Optional Experience cruise on Lake Champlain, where you’ll take in the region’s mountain views and shoreline history from the water. Back on land, explore the Burlington waterfront and downtown area, filled with boutique shops, cafes and breweries. Wander the cobblestoned streets of Church Street Marketplace and enjoy one of the many local eateries before settling into your hotel.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Head to Stowe, Vermont, a quintessential fall foliage destination known for red and orange hues. Learn from your Travel Director how the von Trapp family, made famous in “The Sound of Music” settled here after fleeing Austria. Get ready for more local flavors and tempting treats as you make a stop at Lake Champlain Chocolates for local artisan ice cream and chocolates including sea salt caramels, dark chocolate truffles and peanut butter cups. This afternoon, see how the foliage of New England is in a league of its own as you journey along "The Kanc", an American Scenic Byway that cuts through the White Mountain National Forest. Admire the glowing fall colors on this untouched stretch of road and snap postcard-worthy pics at the many overlooks to remember your New England tour.
Accommodation: Home2 Suites by Hilton North Conway
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, join Raven Wildlife Programs for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a Local Specialist who gives you all the fascinating intel into the local ecology, wildlife, and even the science behind the famous colors of the fall foliage found here. This afternoon, join a gentle guided hike to Diana's Baths, a series of small waterfalls within the White Mountain National Forest. It’s the perfect escape to nature, finding peace in many picturesque spots along the rocks, ledges, falls and pools in the brook.
Accommodation: Home2 Suites by Hilton North Conway
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
From the mountains of New Hampshire to the pine forests, highlands and river valleys of Maine, New England is a classic. Descending "Downeast," the looming Atlantic swells of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island are your destination for the day. Join a Local Specialist and naturalist for insights into the lobster fishing industry, marine ecology and local ecosystems. Further your lobster “education” with a classic lobster dinner complete with traditional sides.
Accommodation: Bar Harbor Regency
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Acadia National Park promises sweeping coastal vistas. Visit the park's Cadillac Mountain, the highest point along the Atlantic Seaboard and the first spot in the United States where the sun rises. Take in a 360-degree panoramic view of the park and the surrounding coastal landscapes. Admire the magnificent pink granite cliffs and ancient maple forests – their leaves glowing fiery red, burnt orange and mustard yellow in the crisp fall air. Return to Bar Harbor for free time to explore or consider joining an optional nature cruise on Frenchman Bay. This afternoon, visit the Bar Harbor Historical Society’s charming waterfront building to meet a local Wabanaki storyteller for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience of Indigenous oral traditional music.
Accommodation: Bar Harbor Regency
Meals: Breakfast
Maine, a state where rocky beaches and cliffs make up a coastline like nowhere else. The intense hues of New England’s forests and mountains linger as you journey south to make a stop at the iconic Nubble Lighthouse. Snap a photo of this classic lighthouse built in 1879 before journeying past fisheries and seaside dwellings that have sheltered everyone from local lobstermen to holidaying presidents. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable dinner, reminiscing over your fall foliage experience.
Accommodation: Rockport Inn & Suites
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to Boston Logan International Airport or to the hotel in Boston if you'd like to extend your stay.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Vandana Gupta - Traveled, October 2024
It was perfect trip and well planned by Trafalgar. Our tour director *Personal information removed by Feefo* was the best tour director I have seen. That made our trip great. Crawford notch was my favorite.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/26/2024
Shelly Mcknight - Traveled, October 2024
The dinner the last night was not what I expected. I was told that it’s always at the hotel that you stay at with the bar where you can mingle say goodbye. The food was great! I was also told that a lot more of the dinners were supposed to be included.. and then to have that hotel at the end NOT GOOD! *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* were the best! Her attention to stories and details were completely entertaining in the long bus rides!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/26/2024
Anthony Piazza - Traveled, October 2024
The Dream Vacation. Everything we wished for and more! History, nature, and beautiful sights. Good company and a fantastic guide. Our driver was wonderful too. He got us there safely and comfortably. All round perfect experience. Fantastic! Our guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo* was knowledgable, friendly, and well-organized. By the end of the trip we all felt like family! The sights were amazing and the agenda had something for everyone. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/20/2024
Jane Hill - Traveled, September 2024
Autumn Colors! Service was great up to what we expect from Trafalgar. Your Autumn Colors trip was excellent, *Personal information removed by Feefo* TD could not have been more knowledgeable about the areas that we visited. *Personal information removed by Feefo* our coach driver was the best she handled the coach like the true professional that she is. The accommodations were excellent, until our last night. What a way to leave a lasting impression on all of the travelers. The Rockport Inn & Suites Should be classified as a motel. This place was not up to the Trafalgar standards, it seemed like there was a few families that were living there. The doors to the rooms had to be slammed shut to keep them closed. My wife kept finding bugs in the bath room. I have stayed in places like this throughout my life but never paid over $60 a night. Then we get to the so called breakfast, Used an old coffee pot for hot ware for tea, so you know the taste. The day old Bagels, the peanut butter and jelly crustables, some type of cinnamon break apart stick, (no way to heat it up) Really old bananas. It seems to me and my wife should get some type of reimbursement back for having to stay here. The sad thing for Trafalgar this was the first time a lot of your travelers have tried Trafalgar and this will leave a lasting impression on them that was not good.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/08/2024
Michael Waldo - Traveled, September 2024
Both the Tour Director and driver were first rate. The team was as knowledgeable and competent as they were friendly and seemed to work well together. *Personal information removed by Feefo* really knew the area and her love for the region was contagious. Before the tour she responded to email queries timely so I could finalize plans for free time in Bar Harbor and that was greatly appreciated. She shared lots of good information while on the tour (dining options, photo spots). Her zest for travel both as a tourist and as a tour director came across as she encouraged us to continue to travel and to travel with Trafalgar again. A great ambassador for the brand! I loved getting the schedule for the entire week up front (including departure and bag pick up times). *Personal information removed by Feefo* recap email at the end of the tour supplemented the notes I took along the way especially when organizing and labeling pictures. This was my third Trafalgar trip as well as past trips with Insight and Contiki. This will not be my last! Covered a lot but at a pace that was good for a wide range of ages and abilities. I never felt rushed or bored. While I enjoy group travel I appreciate time on my own while vacationing. This tour had both - a great balance. Where we could not access certain sites due to restrictions on the coach (Bass Harbor Light), the tour director explained why. We saw so much beautiful scenery we were not short-changed. Baggage handling was timely and organized. All hotels were clean. North Conway was my least favorite hotel but I know lodging at North Conway has been a challenge for you guys for the last 2 seasons.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/12/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, November 2024
I would not do again because of lack of information given before and during trip such as short description of the itinerary which was only available to view digitally and hand written daily itinerary which was passed around the bus, and we were all expected to photograph with our phones. The trip itinerary from the website made it sound like you had afternoons free in many places when all we had was an hour which was also our time to eat lunch. We never got time to spend looking around on our own. I hate not getting more printed material from Trafalgar. Also on airline reservations made through Trafalgar, our trip home was originally a non-stop and through 3 changes made by Delta we ended up on a 1 stop trip because supposedly the non-stop left really early in the morning. To our surprise after we check in for our 1 stop trip home in the afternoon we were asked if we wanted to do the non stop which left an hour later, but got us home earlier. Also, our last hotel in Massachusets was a motel not in very good shape. Certainly wasn't what any of us on this trip, including our tour guide, expected.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/26/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Our director did the best she could with the accommodations and food choices arranged in advance. The grocery stop was unacceptable for a food stop. We eat a plant based diet and this was relayed by *personal info removed by Feefo*to the food service and yet the meals offered were minimal and had no protein. We had to ask for plant based milk at many locations. The last night meal was deplorable - it was ordered days in advance and we waited for over an hour for a basic pasta drenched in olive oil with few vegetables and no protein - think beans, lentils, nuts, tofu...The last hotel needed to complete the renovation before we stayed in it. Water marks and hole in the bathroom ceiling. That whole last day seemed to be a waste of time - long drive, poor meal choices due to crowded Kennebunkport and the hotel was way out of the way plus a BAD last meal. North Conway hotel was a long ways from anywhere for any meal and safety wasn't brought up - like walking after dark or uber or taxi - which would be safer. Montplier had a beautiful capitol that was a 20 minute stop compared to the shopping stop of 40 minutes. I'd prefer to hike and learn the history of the stops rather than shop. I understand the bus tour appeals to older folks who can't hike or walk alot so I'll be more careful in selecting the tour. *personal info removed by Feefo* enthusiasm and knowledge were a plus for the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/20/2024
Steven Andrist - Traveled, September 2024
For our tastes there was too much bus time and not enough time our among the autumn colors and natural wonders. Also, it would have been nice to have some more formal introductions at the opening reception so we would begun learning the names and hometowns of fellow travellers.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/06/2024
Geraldine Perrault - Traveled, March 2024
The itinerary needs adjusting. Many travelling guests are elderly, day needs shortening so we don’t arrive at our hotel destination so late in the day.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/20/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, November 2024
Bus was clean and driver courtieus and friendly guide was knowledgeable and friendly but talked too much. First night meet and greet was poorly done. No introductions. Tables only seated four and dinner was orderves. Lots of on and bus. Could have spent lots more time on history of the area. Hotels were excellent except for one in North Conway. Trees were beautiful and small towns were interesting. Guest speakers were very interesting and optional cruise was great.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/30/2024
Share a personalized trip brochure!
Why Choose Us?
We Work for You
Our goal to make you happy! That means ensuring our travel consultants have the best product knowledge and excellent customer service. A positive customer experience is our #1 goal!
Our Products
We offer an broad selection of travel products, including all-inclusive vacation packages, pre-packaged tours, custom travel itineraries, destination weddings, and luxury vacations.
Escapes Cares
We believe in giving back. When you book with us, you are contributing to tree planting through our partners at Veritree, as well ocean conservation though Oceana Canada.
