Tours Expédition Ottawa provides the canoe, the paddles, the life safety vests, the benches, and a Pĩknĩk-Duo of your choice. Bring a small backpack and the proposed personal equipment, as well as a bathing suit and a towel. There are three levels of difficulty: 1 – easy; 2 – medium; 3 – difficult. There are three seasons during which this activity can be practised: spring, summer, and fall (i.e. from April to October). The picnic will be eaten on the shores, weather permitting, or in a lodge; otherwise a meal will be bought in a local restaurant (a small supplement applies in such a case).
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Level 2
45-minute drive
from Ottawa
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A canoe expedition on beautiful Meech Lake, in the middle of a generous nature, is an ideal destination for calm and solitude. Come swim in the waters of a clear lake and take advantage of its beautiful beaches in the middle of Gatineau Park.
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Level 1
15-minute drive
from Ottawa
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Rideau Canal is a unique UNESCO site and its landscape is central to all people living in Ottawa or visiting the region. On the unique Dow’s Lake basin, discover the edges of the Arboretum of the Central Experimental Farm and pursue your canoe trip on the canal to see Ottawa from an entirely different perspective.
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Level 3
15-minute drive
from Ottawa
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You will discover the rich flora and fauna of the Rideau River in the middle of an urban environment. The expedition starts at Mooney’s Bay at the base of Hog’s Back Falls, where the river takes a much calmer path. The trip even includes some small rapids.
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Level 2
30-minute drive
from Ottawa
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On the Ottawa River, the Petrie Islands were formed by sand deposited at the end of the last Ice Age, some 12,000 years ago. This archipelago comprises several kilometers of shoreline, including channels and bays, and sandy beaches, only accessible by canoe.
Choose from 4 walk-trekking tours. Tours Expédition Ottawa provides walking sticks, binoculars, a compass, a map, and a Pĩknĩk-Duo of your choice. Bring a small backpack and the proposed personal equipment. There are three levels of difficulty: 1 – easy; 2 – medium; 3 – difficult. This activity can be practised year-round. The picnic will be eaten in a park, weather permitting, or in a lodge; otherwise a meal will be bought in a local restaurant (a small supplement applies in such a case).
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Level 3
30-minute drive
from Ottawa
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Hike up the King Mountain Trail and savour a spectacular view of the Ottawa River Valley. Along the trail, you will encounter a series of different forest types. The rapid changes between types of trees are due to differences in the soil, water, and light. The hilly landscape around King Mountain is part of the Canadian Shield, one of the oldest and hardest rock formations in the world. King Mountain is on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, which in this area is marked by the cliffs of the Eardley Escarpment.
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Level 1
30-minute drive
from Ottawa
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Mer Bleue provides a unique opportunity to see a northern boreal landscape, merely a few minutes from Ottawa. This 7,700-year-old bog provides habitat to many species of regionally rare and significant plants, birds and other wildlife, and is one of the most outstanding natural features of the Greenbelt. You will find interpretive boardwalks of the largest bog and largest natural area in Canada’s Capital Region.
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Level 2
1-hour drive
from Ottawa
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The Forêt-la-Blanche Ecological Reserve harbours one of the last old growth forests in Eastern Canada. Come explore this exceptional and unique ecosystem and enjoy a hike on a beautiful network of trails. As the forest reveals itself and its 400-year-old treasures, we guarantee your jaw will drop!
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Level 1
15-minute drive
from Ottawa
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A beautiful walk where you will cross 3 of the 5 bridges (Alexandra, Portage, and Chaudière) connecting the cities of Ottawa (Ontario) and Gatineau (Quebec). You will experience unique and magnificent panoramas of the National Capital Region. This trek connecting the two Ottawa River shores will lead you to large national museums, the Canadian Parliament, historical breweries, the locks, the Rideau Canal, and the Chaudière Falls.
Choose from 4 biking tours. Tours Expédition Ottawa provides two cross-country bicycles, head protection (helmet), and a Pĩknĩk-Duo of your choice. We will also take care of all the necessary bike and helmet adjustments to ensure a perfect fit. Bring a small backpack and the proposed personal equipment, as well as sunglasses. There are three levels of difficulty: 1 – easy; 2 – medium; 3 – difficult. There are three seasons during which this activity can be practised: spring, summer, and fall (i.e. from April to October). The picnic will be eaten in a park, weather permitting, or in a lodge; otherwise a meal will be bought in a local restaurant (a small supplement applies in such a case).
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Level 2 and 3
15-minute drive
from Ottawa
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The Arboretum of Ottawa displays a wide range of well-established trees and shrubs, some dating back to 1889, which are now among the largest tree specimens of their species in Canada. You will ride near Dow’s lake, the Rideau Canal, and finally in the Central Experimental Farm, a unique farm exploited in the hearth of the Capital. A national historic site spread over more than 400 acres.
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Level 1
15-minute drive
from Ottawa
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One of the best ways to explore Ottawa-Gatineau is by bike. There are more than 300 kilometres of bike paths designed to embrace the green and natural areas, large parks, national sites like the Rideau Canal, Dow’s Lake, Preston Street’s Little Italy, and the mighty Ottawa River with its breathtaking panoramas and locks.
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Level 2 and 3
15-minute drive
from Ottawa
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Leamy Lake Park in Gatineau is the largest urban park in Canada’s Capital Region and an excellent spot for outdoor sports and recreational activities. Surrounded by Leamy Lake and the Gatineau and Ottawa rivers, this 174-hectare park offers grand panoramas in enchanting surroundings.
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Level 2
1-hour drive
from Ottawa
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The name evokes the pleasantness of a land and water landscape characterised by bays, ponds, islands, and marshes. In spring, the Parc de Plaisance puts on an unforgettable performance with the migration of thousands of Canada Geese. Come summer, it becomes a paradise for ducks, herons, ospreys, and dozens of other species.
Choose from 4 cross-country skiing tours. Tours Expédition Ottawa provides classic skis (waxless scales), boots, poles, and a Pĩknĩk-Duo of your choice. We will also take care of all the necessary equipment adjustments to ensure a perfect fit. Bring a small backpack and the proposed personal equipment, as well as sunglasses. There are three levels of difficulty: 1 - easy; 2 - medium; 3 - difficult. This activity is only offered during the winter, from December to March, depending on the weather and snow conditions. The picnic will be eaten in a heated lodge. Gatineau Park is one of the largest cross-country ski networks in North America. It comprises some 50 trails with various difficulty levels, from beginner to expert.
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Level 3
30-minute drive
from Ottawa
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From the P16 parking, trail No. 50 leads to Healey Lodge, for a total distance of 10 kilometers. On site, discover a beautiful rustic lodge with large windows opening on beautiful vistas. Picnic is eaten near a woodstove. This trail involves many up-hills especially at the beginning, but once on the plateau, the sinuous trails are in valleys in the middle of dense forests. The return is much faster – a trail considered advanced, you will need to use the angle technique to climb and descend many hills.
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Level 3
30-minute drive
from Ottawa
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From the P16 parking, trail No. 50 leads to Herridge Lodge, for a total distance of 10 kilometers. On site, discover a beautiful rustic lodge with large windows opening on beautiful vistas. Picnic is eaten near a woodstove. This trail involves many up-hills especially at the beginning, but once on the plateau, the sinuous trails are in valleys in the middle of dense forests. The return is much faster – a trail considered advanced, you will need to use the angle technique to climb and descend many hills.
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Level 2
30-minute drive
from Ottawa
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From the P10 parking, an ascension on the Fortune Parkway leads to Huron or Keogan lodge, for a total distance of 7 to 10 kilometers. On site, discover a beautiful rustic lodge with large windows opening on beautiful vistas. Picnic is eaten near a woodstove. This trail involves a steady up-hill climb on a good part of its distance, in the middle of dense forests on the edges of Fortune Lake. The return is much faster – a trail considered intermediate. Time permitting, we can plan a stop at the very charming Shilly Shally Lodge.
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Level 1
45-minute drive from Ottawa
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From the P19 parking, trails Nos. 50 and 55 lead to Renaud Lodge near Philippe Lake, for a total distance of 8 kilometers. On site, discover a beautiful rustic lodge with large windows opening on beautiful vistas and Renaud Lake. Picnic is eaten near a woodstove. This trail involves gradual up- and down-hill climbs and descents on a good part of its distance, in the middle of dense forests – a trail considered as beginner to intermediate.
Tours Expédition Ottawa can also organize a variety of seasonal outdoor activities and experiences depending on availability, timing, weather, costs, etc., to accommodate your specific needs. It could include: camping, yurt rental, kayak, rafting, caving, paddle board, horseback riding, hot-air balloon. You could visit a fair, a waterpark, an animal refuge, a bird sanctuary, a sugar bush, a pioneer village, an aboriginal community, a farmer’s market, antique flea markets, an organic farm. Go for berry or apple picking, beer and wine tasting, a gourmet tour, a night tour under the stars, fishing or hunting trips with an outfitter, cut your Christmas tree. Celebrate Halloween, the Tulip Festival, Christmas Lights, Winterlude, Canada Day, Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving, the RCMP musical ride. Go skating on the Rideau Canal, dog sledding, downhill skiing, snowboarding, sleigh ride, tobogganing, tubing, snowshoeing. Experience an adventure-spa, visit our museums and our architectural treasures. To ensure we do not leave a noticeable carbon print, we do not organize anything involving a fuel motor. Contact us and let us organize your unique experience!
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Level 1-4
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Tours Expédition Ottawa offers personalized 'Adventure-Spa' packages in collaboration with Holtz Spa, for guests wanting to explore Ottawa with a unique experience (includes expedition, spa and dinner). Do not hesitate to contact us for any information or contact Donna Holtom, owner of Holtz Spa: 613-241-7770
www.holtzspa.com