Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
C$90
per adult
Chariots of Fire Ltd
Chariots of Fire Ltd
5
Full view
About
Our Fall for Niagara day tour includes round trip transportation to and from Toronto, riverside viewing and exploring at Niagara Falls, and a scenic drive on the Niagara Parkway with picture stops at Table Rock, Whirlpool Rapids, Hydro-electric dams, and Floral Clock (seasonal). Our licensed tour guide will provide an informative and entertaining commentary. It is our goal for our guests to have a wonderful Niagara Falls experience, with fond memories to last a lifetime. All this for $77 per person (tax extra).
Tours and Tickets by Chariots of Fire Ltd
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Sophie R
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Jan 2016 • Family
In our 4 night stay in downtown Toronto (from Sydney, Australia) my mum, sister and I booked the day trip with Chariots of Fire unsure of what to expect of such a tour and unsure if Niagara Falls was worth visiting. We were so glad we did.
Mel promptly picked us up at our chosen location, was warm, welcoming and friendly as we embarked on the hour and a half journey to the Falls, and he provided entertaining and informative commentary along the way with some interesting facts about the history of Toronto and the Niagara region. He also made the trip and various stops along the way feel peaceful, and at our own pace, and had good advice on the best places to grab refreshments along the way so that we would be comfortable and get the most out of the trip.
We all loved seeing the falls, the included ride up the Skylon tower, the stop over in the charming Niagara on the Lake and the ice wine tasting. And we were back by 3.30pm. A day well spent!
Mel promptly picked us up at our chosen location, was warm, welcoming and friendly as we embarked on the hour and a half journey to the Falls, and he provided entertaining and informative commentary along the way with some interesting facts about the history of Toronto and the Niagara region. He also made the trip and various stops along the way feel peaceful, and at our own pace, and had good advice on the best places to grab refreshments along the way so that we would be comfortable and get the most out of the trip.
We all loved seeing the falls, the included ride up the Skylon tower, the stop over in the charming Niagara on the Lake and the ice wine tasting. And we were back by 3.30pm. A day well spent!
Written January 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review. We're glad that you enjoyed the tour.
Written January 4, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
1wearytraveler
Florida40 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
We did the Toronto to Niagra tour and had a great time. Our bus driver/tour guide was wonderful. Very nice and lots of information. Can't remember his name but he had an Italian accent. We stayed in a hotel downtown and chose to be picked up at the first stop (lower Yonge St) at 7:30am, bus was prompt and then we went a very short distance up the street and parked to wait 30 minutes for the 8:00am pick-up time. My recommendation: sleep a few more minutes and go to the upper Yonge St pick-up at 8:am, if we were in a taxi it probably would have cost an extra dollar to go to the second stop...well worth it rather than waiting 30 min sitting on the bus.
We wondered about getting wet and brought extra clothes....not necessary. Maid of Mist is only time you get wet and free poncho was good protection...shoes got a little wet but quickly dried. Your face/hair will get wet but rest stays dry...if you don't want your face/hair wet there are places on boat to stay dry.
First real stop is Skylon tower...extra 12.00/person......pay the money........it was worth it!! Some people chose to take a helicopter flight and were dropped off before Skylon tower.
We were told we could get food at park by falls or after Maid of Mist boat ride....time was short and really not enough time to get and eat food before getting on bus. People were pretty hungry by the time we went to village "Niagra on the Lake" and really only had time to eat and see very little before getting back on bus.
Only part of trip that was not interesting and a waste of time was the wine tour. Feels more like a captive audience to sell you wine than something to see. Most people were getting tired and ready to head back.
Only real complaint was the bus...seats don't recline and the a/c was never on until 5 minutes outside Toronto on the return. No bathroom on bus. A few easy changes would make this trip excellent.
Only other complaint I had was when I booked online for the tour.....the website states you cannot change/cancel your reservation without a 20 or 25% admin fee being charged....I think this is ridiculous....we booked many weeks in advance and I think a fair policy would be 100% refund until 1 week before trip or even 3-4 days prior. You could book this several months from now and then change plans months before your trip and when you cancel, you still lose 20-25% of the trip cost.
We wondered about getting wet and brought extra clothes....not necessary. Maid of Mist is only time you get wet and free poncho was good protection...shoes got a little wet but quickly dried. Your face/hair will get wet but rest stays dry...if you don't want your face/hair wet there are places on boat to stay dry.
First real stop is Skylon tower...extra 12.00/person......pay the money........it was worth it!! Some people chose to take a helicopter flight and were dropped off before Skylon tower.
We were told we could get food at park by falls or after Maid of Mist boat ride....time was short and really not enough time to get and eat food before getting on bus. People were pretty hungry by the time we went to village "Niagra on the Lake" and really only had time to eat and see very little before getting back on bus.
Only part of trip that was not interesting and a waste of time was the wine tour. Feels more like a captive audience to sell you wine than something to see. Most people were getting tired and ready to head back.
Only real complaint was the bus...seats don't recline and the a/c was never on until 5 minutes outside Toronto on the return. No bathroom on bus. A few easy changes would make this trip excellent.
Only other complaint I had was when I booked online for the tour.....the website states you cannot change/cancel your reservation without a 20 or 25% admin fee being charged....I think this is ridiculous....we booked many weeks in advance and I think a fair policy would be 100% refund until 1 week before trip or even 3-4 days prior. You could book this several months from now and then change plans months before your trip and when you cancel, you still lose 20-25% of the trip cost.
Written August 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlie J
Wirral, UK28 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
Our pick up location was a 10 min walk from our hotel which was perfect! We was picked up by our tour guide Melvin who was amazing, he provided us with so much information it was incredible! He knew all facts about Toronto and Niagara Falls! First we was taken to Skylon Tower to view Niagara Falls from above, this is an extra and you have to pay extra for but it is well worth it, the views are out of this world!
Then we went down to see the roaring Niagara Falls which was indescribable! It was everything I imagined but more! We then took little trips to water rapids, floral clock and then stopped in Niagara on the lake village which was very picturesque, this is where we stopped for lunch with a variety of restaurants and local bakery’s to choose from! Our last stop was at the vineyard where we got to taste local wines and in particular taste there famous Ice Wine which was the best thing I have ever tasted!
The trip was amazing and I would recommend to anyone who was thinking of visiting Niagara Falls! Thank you Melvin for your knowledgeable tour, your laughs and your snacks!
Then we went down to see the roaring Niagara Falls which was indescribable! It was everything I imagined but more! We then took little trips to water rapids, floral clock and then stopped in Niagara on the lake village which was very picturesque, this is where we stopped for lunch with a variety of restaurants and local bakery’s to choose from! Our last stop was at the vineyard where we got to taste local wines and in particular taste there famous Ice Wine which was the best thing I have ever tasted!
The trip was amazing and I would recommend to anyone who was thinking of visiting Niagara Falls! Thank you Melvin for your knowledgeable tour, your laughs and your snacks!
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KevRadu
Winnipeg, Canada48 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
I had planned our trip to Toronto as a surprise for my wife's 30th Birthday. So it goes without saying that it was incredibly special and I wanted us to have a perfect day. I chose this tour on the day of her birthday as a romantic getaway/day out and based on so many positive reviews was hoping it would turn out great.
Unfortunately, we had a driver called Mel who made the trip anything but perfect. We were picked up at Yonge Dundas Sq where two cars were available. He suggested that out of ten people in total seven should sit his car and the remaining three in the other car. This was mainly so that he would be the one receiving most tips at the end. The other car being a seven seater had only three passengers and all of us were crammed in cadillac.
On the way to Niagara, one of us had to use a restroom so when we requested him to stop at a service station his response was "Can't you wait?". We were about an hour away from the falls and since it because urgent we had to ask again at which point he did drive into a Tim Hortons for a quick stop but with an attitude as if we had forced him to do something against his will.
We carried on to Niagara Falls making a stop at the Skylon tower for picture stop. At each stop he suggested a time of return that was so short that it made us constantly look at the watch rather than enjoy the attractions. In Niagara Falls, we were hoping to visit two attractions Niagara's Fury and Journey Behind the Falls but due to such stringent timeline we could only visit one. The way he gave us the option of how long we wanted to spend time was such that it 15 minutes different between the two options and all of us always chose the longest one.
We went to Niagara-On-The-Lake town where went spent just over an hour to look around the small town, have lunch and go souvenir shopping. One hour fifteen minutes is no way near enough to do all of this. Before leaving the town he declared that whoever wants to use the restroom MUST use it now or hold it till we get back to Toronto. It felt like we were on a military tour rather a relaxed trip.
Everyone on the tour felt rushed and found the driver to be very unpleasant. The commentary he gave was like a robot. It showed he had zero interest in his job and just wanted to say what he had to say. He tried making a couple of jokes but used a tone that made people think twice to figure out it was a joke.
It was obvious that he did his job for the sake of it and wanted to get back to Toronto as soon as possible. We were back in the city just before four. When we reached he had cookie boxes in the trunk that he was meant to give to everyone. When it was our turn he asked, "You want one too?". What kind of customer service should I call this? I took the box and in front of him gave it to a homeless person standing next to us and left without giving him a single penny tip.
As I said before, I wasn't expecting five star service but just wanted to have a good time and wanted to create a memory that we would remember in the years to come. We did create a memory but not a good one. I will NOT be opting for this tour again and neither will recommend to anyone who wants to visit Niagara Falls.
Unfortunately, we had a driver called Mel who made the trip anything but perfect. We were picked up at Yonge Dundas Sq where two cars were available. He suggested that out of ten people in total seven should sit his car and the remaining three in the other car. This was mainly so that he would be the one receiving most tips at the end. The other car being a seven seater had only three passengers and all of us were crammed in cadillac.
On the way to Niagara, one of us had to use a restroom so when we requested him to stop at a service station his response was "Can't you wait?". We were about an hour away from the falls and since it because urgent we had to ask again at which point he did drive into a Tim Hortons for a quick stop but with an attitude as if we had forced him to do something against his will.
We carried on to Niagara Falls making a stop at the Skylon tower for picture stop. At each stop he suggested a time of return that was so short that it made us constantly look at the watch rather than enjoy the attractions. In Niagara Falls, we were hoping to visit two attractions Niagara's Fury and Journey Behind the Falls but due to such stringent timeline we could only visit one. The way he gave us the option of how long we wanted to spend time was such that it 15 minutes different between the two options and all of us always chose the longest one.
We went to Niagara-On-The-Lake town where went spent just over an hour to look around the small town, have lunch and go souvenir shopping. One hour fifteen minutes is no way near enough to do all of this. Before leaving the town he declared that whoever wants to use the restroom MUST use it now or hold it till we get back to Toronto. It felt like we were on a military tour rather a relaxed trip.
Everyone on the tour felt rushed and found the driver to be very unpleasant. The commentary he gave was like a robot. It showed he had zero interest in his job and just wanted to say what he had to say. He tried making a couple of jokes but used a tone that made people think twice to figure out it was a joke.
It was obvious that he did his job for the sake of it and wanted to get back to Toronto as soon as possible. We were back in the city just before four. When we reached he had cookie boxes in the trunk that he was meant to give to everyone. When it was our turn he asked, "You want one too?". What kind of customer service should I call this? I took the box and in front of him gave it to a homeless person standing next to us and left without giving him a single penny tip.
As I said before, I wasn't expecting five star service but just wanted to have a good time and wanted to create a memory that we would remember in the years to come. We did create a memory but not a good one. I will NOT be opting for this tour again and neither will recommend to anyone who wants to visit Niagara Falls.
Written November 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chl0e1992
Vancouver, Canada2 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
Jesus Christ, that was a hell of a tour! (You will understand the irony in this comment once you've experienced it yourself.)
Written June 7, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
so3003
Cumbernauld, UK1,312 contributions
Mar 2011 • Couples
We used this company to do a day trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls. I'm fairly well travelled, and this has to rank as the most bizarre day trip ever. The guide was frankly very odd; spoke in a thoroughly monotonous tone throughout the trip; and the "full day trip" ended with us back in downtown Toronto by 3pm.
We were collected from Dundas Square in the early morning. The tour bus was a 3 row stretched car (see photo) that was reasonably spacious (though I'm told the middle of the rows was quite uncomfortable). At first I thought the commentary was an attempt to be ironic or funny but actually the guide seemed completely uninterested, and if anything it would have been more fun to drive in silence.
At each stop the guide wouldn't actually come with us outside the car, but would drop us and then return at a prearranged time to collect us again.
First stop was the Skylon Tower (included in price) which was good (I'll review it separately). We spent 30 minutes there which was probably enough. We then went to the falls themselves, with another short time limit. We went on the "walk behind the falls" which was ok, then bought coffee and waited to be collected again. (No eating or drinking in the car incidentally...)
I had wanted to go to the IMAX show about people going over the falls but the guide told us that was closed - when I checked later it was in fact open, but would have involved him driving my partner and I a few minutes back in the direction of Skylon tower, which I think was the real reason for telling us it was closed.
We continued driving along the river making a couple of short stops; had 30 minutes for lunch at Niagara-on-the-Lake, then to a short (15 minutes) wine tasting, then drove back to Toronto. We were back by 3pm - this doesn't justify the very early morning start.
The wine tasting place incidentally is free of charge to anyone who walks in off the street; they say this is part of your tour price but in fact there isn't a cost to attending this as the vineyard company use it as a loss leader for wine sales.
Niagara itself is well worth seeing, and you probably do need a tour to get there as parking and navigating around would be tricky, especially in high season. I'd not stay there overnight as the area around the natural splendour was very tacky. We visited off-season meaning a lot of the attractions were not operating, but the snow and ice really made it look spectacular.
I'd avoid this company because the tour was very rushed despite arriving back in Toronto very early; the wine-tasting is a waste of time; and the tour guide was really the most bizarre guide I've encountered on many trips around the globe.
We were collected from Dundas Square in the early morning. The tour bus was a 3 row stretched car (see photo) that was reasonably spacious (though I'm told the middle of the rows was quite uncomfortable). At first I thought the commentary was an attempt to be ironic or funny but actually the guide seemed completely uninterested, and if anything it would have been more fun to drive in silence.
At each stop the guide wouldn't actually come with us outside the car, but would drop us and then return at a prearranged time to collect us again.
First stop was the Skylon Tower (included in price) which was good (I'll review it separately). We spent 30 minutes there which was probably enough. We then went to the falls themselves, with another short time limit. We went on the "walk behind the falls" which was ok, then bought coffee and waited to be collected again. (No eating or drinking in the car incidentally...)
I had wanted to go to the IMAX show about people going over the falls but the guide told us that was closed - when I checked later it was in fact open, but would have involved him driving my partner and I a few minutes back in the direction of Skylon tower, which I think was the real reason for telling us it was closed.
We continued driving along the river making a couple of short stops; had 30 minutes for lunch at Niagara-on-the-Lake, then to a short (15 minutes) wine tasting, then drove back to Toronto. We were back by 3pm - this doesn't justify the very early morning start.
The wine tasting place incidentally is free of charge to anyone who walks in off the street; they say this is part of your tour price but in fact there isn't a cost to attending this as the vineyard company use it as a loss leader for wine sales.
Niagara itself is well worth seeing, and you probably do need a tour to get there as parking and navigating around would be tricky, especially in high season. I'd not stay there overnight as the area around the natural splendour was very tacky. We visited off-season meaning a lot of the attractions were not operating, but the snow and ice really made it look spectacular.
I'd avoid this company because the tour was very rushed despite arriving back in Toronto very early; the wine-tasting is a waste of time; and the tour guide was really the most bizarre guide I've encountered on many trips around the globe.
Written August 22, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeeHYw3
Singapore, Singapore68 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
We signed up with Chariots of Fire ("COF") after reading the reviews on TripAdvisor and turned up at the pickup point, prepared to be bowled over with dry wit, entertainment, etc., etc. Yes, we did get fed facts and figures, maple cookies and complimentary wine but there was nothing particularly entertaining about the tour.
The Falls are a must-see but I didn't care much for the floral clock or wine-tasting. We felt very rushed throughout the tour - we had half an hour at Skylon Tower, 10 minutes at the whirlpool, ten minutes at the floral clock, one and a half hours at the village at Niagara on the Lake ("Village") and too much time at the vineyard. There wasn't enough time to have a proper sit-down lunch or enjoy the Village, tourist trap though it may be.
If I had the chance to go to Niagara Falls again, I'd choose to rent a car, stay overnight at the Falls, go on the Hornblower again (don't miss this! It's a blast!), go on Journey behind the Falls, go on the cable car over the whirlpool and have tea at the Village. I would go eat Butler's BBQ steak panini sandwich at Old Town Goodies again. I would skip the floral clock and vineyard.
The Falls are a must-see but I didn't care much for the floral clock or wine-tasting. We felt very rushed throughout the tour - we had half an hour at Skylon Tower, 10 minutes at the whirlpool, ten minutes at the floral clock, one and a half hours at the village at Niagara on the Lake ("Village") and too much time at the vineyard. There wasn't enough time to have a proper sit-down lunch or enjoy the Village, tourist trap though it may be.
If I had the chance to go to Niagara Falls again, I'd choose to rent a car, stay overnight at the Falls, go on the Hornblower again (don't miss this! It's a blast!), go on Journey behind the Falls, go on the cable car over the whirlpool and have tea at the Village. I would go eat Butler's BBQ steak panini sandwich at Old Town Goodies again. I would skip the floral clock and vineyard.
Written June 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bexbris
Bristol, UK327 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
I was really looking forward to this tour and I was really annoyed and uncomfortable all day. The driver was late, so whilst waiting I decided to make a last minute dash to the toilet as I knew there were none on board. I got back to find everyone on board and the driver (mel) rushing me on board. He then said as soon as I got on board that we were on a schedule and that people need to make sure they get back on time. The way he said it was so rude and patronising, especially considering we'd just been waiting for him after he showed up late! He said there was a huge accident on the highway and we were going to go a different way, then we headed straight on to the highway. After driving on the highway for about 30minutes he said the accident must have been cleared. Seemed like a bit of a story to be honest but I guess we'll never know for sure. From that moment on he began to tell us about Niagara and some of the history of the surrounding area. Some of the information was interesting but it just seemed to go on forever. I would say he seemed like a well informed man but it was so monotone, I found myself regularly falling asleep whilst on board. He asked if everyone wanted to go to the town of Niagara (Niagara on the lake) and the skylon tower, to see if we could skip anything but of course, most people said yes to both. Nobody seemed enthusiastic about the winery tour but he never gave us the option of not going there. The skylon tower was our first stop and Mel said about getting something to eat/drink in starbucks and going up the tower etc. but made his patronising point AGAIN about being back on time. I forget how long we had but I think it was 15-20mins. Well we had to wait about 10mins to get the lift up the tower, so even after barely any time at the top, we had to try and get back down on time. Again we had to wait for the lift, and so I believe we were 5mins late in getting back to the bus and again Mel made some snotty comment about 'everyone getting back on time'. Then we rushed off to....feed some ducks. Bread I might add which is well documented as being bad for ducks. Everyone seemed a bit shocked when he said that's what we were doing, especially after being such a time lord when it came to an actual attraction. I'll admit most people got into it but there was a few of us who just held back and waited, for a substantial amount of time while they fed the ducks something which could later kill them. It shocked me even more than there were Canadian geese there and all over Canada there are signs and leaflets saying DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE! They don't just mean bears, they mean geese, squirrels, all wild animals because if someone feeds a squirrel, its not a big jump to go and feed a bear and then things become dangerous. As a qualified zoologist, I was quite horrified but I bit my tongue and waited. Then we went on to Niagara Falls. Now Niagara Falls was absolutely tremendous. It was the only part of this day I enjoyed, and it was well worth the visit BUT yet again, we were rushed. Because of the strict time schedule we had to keep to, by the time we queued, went on the boat and queued to get out, we didn't even make it to the gift shop before we were late. We had no time to look around the gift shop and to buy souvenirs we will never be able to get again, and still got rude comments about time keeping when we got back to the bus! On the way to Niagara on the Lake, Mel was doing his monotone rambling about various sights on the way. One of the sights was a massive dam which is used for hydro power. He mentioned it and slowed down, everyone picked up their cameras but there were bushes blocking the view, then suddenly there was a big gap in the bushes and Mel sped up and drove away. Everyone was looking at each other wondering what the hell was going on. This happened OVER AND OVER. To the point that even when he did stop and say you can have a look around, I never bothered to get off the bus because it was always followed by "you only have 2 minutes" and so I knew by the time I got off the bus and walked over, I'd have to walk back without ever seeing/experiencing what I was trying to look at. Then on to Niagara on the Lake. We were told we could pre-order food (again, to keep to Mel's strict time schedule). I chose not to, as it was just sandwiches, only to receive disappointing looks from Mel as he made his way past. We arrived, we were told we had an hour in town but it took 10mins to get the shuttle to the town (as tour buses aren't allowed in), and of course then he told us to allow the 10mins to get back on time. So then we were down to 40mins. In the end I had a hotdog from the sandwich shop which was recommended by Mel on the bus, simply because I didn't have time to look anywhere else for food. We ate (some of) our hotdogs (which were chorizo even though it never said) and then went next door for dessert. There was no queue and we got served straight away and by the time we finished we had 10mins before we had to head back to get the shuttle bus back to the coach. We went in one shop and looked around for less than 5 minutes before we found ourselves running for the shuttle. We just got there when one was pulling away and managed to get back to the coach park with just a few minutes to spare. We made a mad dash to the toilet and found someone's belongings left in there, so after taking them in the shop there, made our way back to the bus. We were approx 5 mins late and yet again were met with a disappointed, patronising response from Mel. I can understand needing to stick to a schedule so you don't spend hours in one place but barely having time to eat and not being able to see any of a town I paid for a tour to see IS A JOKE. Tours need to be flexible when it comes to timings as when you have lots of people and kids involved, nothing is going to run like clockwork. If we were 30 mins late or something all day I could understand but barely seeing anything we paid to see because of a ridiculous and unrealistic schedule was just infuriating. The wine tasting I will say was a surprise. We're not a fan of wine but the ice wine was very sweet and interesting. Of course the tour was rushed again, we barely had time to look through the shop but I did enjoy the little time we had. Finally, the religious nonsense which I find irritating and borderline offensive. From the moment we got on the bus and saw bible extracts in every seat pocket I thought 'great...here it comes' and there was a religious sign which you saw every time you got off the bus too. As if that wasn't bad enough, at the end Mel started going on about 'living for god' and 'being good people for god' and so you can 'go to heaven' and it just made me angry. I'm a scientist, and an atheist and having religion shoved down my throat and being made to feel inferior. I'd also like to add that there was a middle-eastern family on the trip, who were muslim and I doubt they appreciated the unnecessary religious babble. I'd say absolutely go to Niagara Falls but don't go on a trip with Chariots of Fire, hire a car and drive yourself so you actually get to see and enjoy what you're paying to see!!
Written June 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
Thank you for your feedback.
We do try to be on time for the pick ups. The highway was indeed closed that morning due to a major accident. The driver took the most efficient alternate route until the highway was open again.
Since we do usually have people that have chosen our tour specifically because they need to be back in Toronto by 5:00 for other travel plans or meetings/ events, the drivers are told to try to keep the tour on schedule. Our drivers always repeat the return times after the various stops to have it clear to passengers who don't understand English or others who may forget, to try and keep the tour on schedule. I'm sorry if you thought that these reminders were directed at you personally.
We are a Christian company and this can be seen on the homepage of our website.
We will discuss your other concerns in our office with the manager and drivers.
Thanks.
Written June 27, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Librarygirl1902
Cardiff, UK24 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
Took this tour of Niagara Falls and there were definitely pros and cons.
Pros
We were a small group which was good (14 I think) and we left Toronto very early (8am) which was a bit hard for us as we were staying outside of Downtown Toronto but it did mean that we got to Niagara ahead of most people. The driver was obviously knowledgeable about the area and we did see everything that was advertised - the falls, skylon tower, Niagara on the lake, the winery. However this is where the cons come in....
Cons
The driver didn't stop talking the entire way to Niagara which was very irritating. It's nice to have some background but we didn't need to know the full dates that every single person went over the falls in a barrel! It was a 1.5 hour trip and he didn't draw breath.
He was obsessed at each stop with time keeping. You couldn't be 2 minutes late. When we walked past the mini bus at Niagara on the lake ten minutes before the meet up time he tried to usher us back on board.
I did not go in a tour of Niagara Falls to be preached at and offered copies of the New Testament. Some people may not find this annoying and offensive - but I did. We were paying the going rate for a tour - not for religion being shoved down our throats.
Pros
We were a small group which was good (14 I think) and we left Toronto very early (8am) which was a bit hard for us as we were staying outside of Downtown Toronto but it did mean that we got to Niagara ahead of most people. The driver was obviously knowledgeable about the area and we did see everything that was advertised - the falls, skylon tower, Niagara on the lake, the winery. However this is where the cons come in....
Cons
The driver didn't stop talking the entire way to Niagara which was very irritating. It's nice to have some background but we didn't need to know the full dates that every single person went over the falls in a barrel! It was a 1.5 hour trip and he didn't draw breath.
He was obsessed at each stop with time keeping. You couldn't be 2 minutes late. When we walked past the mini bus at Niagara on the lake ten minutes before the meet up time he tried to usher us back on board.
I did not go in a tour of Niagara Falls to be preached at and offered copies of the New Testament. Some people may not find this annoying and offensive - but I did. We were paying the going rate for a tour - not for religion being shoved down our throats.
Written January 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan M
San Francisco, CA21 contributions
Apr 2014 • Solo
I will start by saying that my experience may have been uncommon. When I arrived at the pickup location, the rather nervous Chariots of Fire representative told me that the bus had broken down early that morning and that we would be split up and take 3 smaller vehicles. Stuff happens, no problem.
A little while later a shuttle-style bus (probably 16-18 seats) pulled up. Since I was the first to arrive, I was put in this vehicle (some of the others were to wait for the next vehicle). The driver/tour guide was very friendly. He told us that he does another tour and that he was helping out Chariots of Fire since their bus broke down. That's when I began to wonder if this would be as high-quality as the standard tour.
After four more stops in Toronto, then a stop at Pearson airport (some of these stops were for the COF tour, some for our driver's own tour), we headed to the Niagara airport. There we were given the option of taking a plane or helicopter ride over the falls for something like $160. Nobody was interested (couldn't this have been determined ahead of time?), so we piled back into the van.
Next we went to Niagara-On-The-Lake. We had about 45 minutes to wonder around there. It would have been great to have more time! Even the 15 minutes we wasted at the Niagara airport. This was just enough time to walk into a coffee shop for a drink, then a bakery for a pastry, then get back in the van.
After that we went to a winery. The guide said that he has never visited this one before, but that he heard they have free tastings. It seems quite odd that a tour would visit an un-vetted location. It turned out to be an okay stop, although a bit long. I'm not sure this stop really merited 45 minutes, but maybe it is because I am from northern California so tasting cheap wines (the red and white wines were screw topped instead of corked....) seems frivolous. The ice wine, however, was quite interesting. If the tasting had simply been with the ice wine, with a little history and explanation of that, this stop would have been perfect, and of perfect length.
Next we drove by the flower clock and stopped at a scenic overlook where we could see the river below and New York state across the water. This stop was also kind of pointless, as we were on our way to see mind-blowingly awesome water, and would still be able to see the US.
Finally, we went to the falls. We had two hours to wander around the overlook. The falls are magnificent. I would have simply loved to have another hour, at least. It made the silly stops seem even sadder.
After the two hours, we met up again to go to Skylon Tower. This was probably the biggest disappointment to me. We had every indication going into the tour that the boat ride was an option. All information I could find seemed to verify this. Instead, we were told after we got there that it wasn't an option and that we would be visiting the tower. While the views were magnificent, I'm sure they were much more so from the water! Once again, we were rushed through, spending just over 20 minutes there.
Finally, we hopped in the van again and drove back to Toronto.
The whole experience felt a bit rushed and cheap. Commentary from the guide was okay, but we didn't really learn anything interesting or insightful.
My takeaway was that I can't imagine the quality of the cheaper tours is any better, and the extras that come with this one probably aren't worth the added expense. If I were to do it again, I'd just go with one of the standard $59 or less tours and spend more time at the place you're really there to see - the falls themselves.
A little while later a shuttle-style bus (probably 16-18 seats) pulled up. Since I was the first to arrive, I was put in this vehicle (some of the others were to wait for the next vehicle). The driver/tour guide was very friendly. He told us that he does another tour and that he was helping out Chariots of Fire since their bus broke down. That's when I began to wonder if this would be as high-quality as the standard tour.
After four more stops in Toronto, then a stop at Pearson airport (some of these stops were for the COF tour, some for our driver's own tour), we headed to the Niagara airport. There we were given the option of taking a plane or helicopter ride over the falls for something like $160. Nobody was interested (couldn't this have been determined ahead of time?), so we piled back into the van.
Next we went to Niagara-On-The-Lake. We had about 45 minutes to wonder around there. It would have been great to have more time! Even the 15 minutes we wasted at the Niagara airport. This was just enough time to walk into a coffee shop for a drink, then a bakery for a pastry, then get back in the van.
After that we went to a winery. The guide said that he has never visited this one before, but that he heard they have free tastings. It seems quite odd that a tour would visit an un-vetted location. It turned out to be an okay stop, although a bit long. I'm not sure this stop really merited 45 minutes, but maybe it is because I am from northern California so tasting cheap wines (the red and white wines were screw topped instead of corked....) seems frivolous. The ice wine, however, was quite interesting. If the tasting had simply been with the ice wine, with a little history and explanation of that, this stop would have been perfect, and of perfect length.
Next we drove by the flower clock and stopped at a scenic overlook where we could see the river below and New York state across the water. This stop was also kind of pointless, as we were on our way to see mind-blowingly awesome water, and would still be able to see the US.
Finally, we went to the falls. We had two hours to wander around the overlook. The falls are magnificent. I would have simply loved to have another hour, at least. It made the silly stops seem even sadder.
After the two hours, we met up again to go to Skylon Tower. This was probably the biggest disappointment to me. We had every indication going into the tour that the boat ride was an option. All information I could find seemed to verify this. Instead, we were told after we got there that it wasn't an option and that we would be visiting the tower. While the views were magnificent, I'm sure they were much more so from the water! Once again, we were rushed through, spending just over 20 minutes there.
Finally, we hopped in the van again and drove back to Toronto.
The whole experience felt a bit rushed and cheap. Commentary from the guide was okay, but we didn't really learn anything interesting or insightful.
My takeaway was that I can't imagine the quality of the cheaper tours is any better, and the extras that come with this one probably aren't worth the added expense. If I were to do it again, I'd just go with one of the standard $59 or less tours and spend more time at the place you're really there to see - the falls themselves.
Written April 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a tremendous amount of walking? My Grandma is 84 and is in good health I just want to make sure it’s not a lot of walking. We plan on doing the hornblower as well.
Written September 10, 2019
No, not much walking involved. The driver stops very close to all the sightseeing spots.
Written September 12, 2019
Nous désirerions réserver depuis Paris (France). Nous envisageons cette visite le 30 ou le 31 juillet et craignons de ne pas avoir de place. Est ce possible ?
Written May 7, 2019
Hello. I think you were asking if we have a tour on July 30 or 31. Yes, we do on both days.
Written May 7, 2019
Pouvez-vous m’indiquer l’adresse du depart pour la visite de Niagara falls à Toronto par Chriots ou Fire? Merci
Written July 31, 2018
We have 3 pick up locations: We leave from the city bus stop that is in front of the Double Tree hotel that is at the corner of Dixon Rd. and Carlingview Dr. at 7:15 am. We leave from the city bus stop that is in front of the office building at 33 Yonge St. (on Yonge St., just north of Front St.) at 7:45 am. We leave from the Shopper's Drug Mart that is at the corner of Yonge and Dundas at 8:00 am, but ask for people to be there 10 minutes early for boarding.
Written August 1, 2018
How do we know where to wait in yonge square . Thanks.
Written August 16, 2017
Our pickup was actually lower Yonge St. But the next pickup was at Yonge-Dundas square on Yonge St, at the the south west corner of the square. But don't worry, the van will stop on Yonge St, several shops north of the Tim Horton's donut shop.
Written August 16, 2017
How long does the entire day trip take from start to finish? Do you pick up from hotels by the airport? What about private residence in Toronto area?
Written September 9, 2016
Sorry it has taken a while to get back to answering your question. To the best of my knowledge, pick up is only from Hard Rock Cafe in central Toronto or from outside main station. Cheers
Written September 15, 2016
While people visit horn blower boat , what others do who dont want to take a boat ride ?? Is boat ride is in time span of 2 and half hrs at niagra ...I am confused as my husband wants to take boat while I dont want
Written June 27, 2016
Niagara Falls Village is a short walk from the drop off for the hornBlower cruise.there are a number of restaurants and coffee shops there as well as amusement park attractions for the kids
Written July 11, 2017
How big is the coach, we don't want a large bus with 30/40 people. What is the general number of visitors in June? Thinking June 8th for two passengers. Do you pick up from hotels, or do we need to meet somewhere.
Thanks
Written April 21, 2016
we were in a 32 person mini bus that thankfully wasn't stuffed to capacity. the two pickup spots were 33 Yonge street and Yonge Dondas square on the trip back they dropped at both locations as well as the airport.
Written July 11, 2017
je souhaiterais savoir si la visite est français ou que en anglais merci
Written November 24, 2015
I'm sorry, but we only speak English. The driver/ guide does speak slowly.
Written November 30, 2015
Were there any children on this tour? I am traveling with my 10 year old granddaughter and I'm not sure about this because of the wine tasting part. Seems like it might be adults only.
Written June 26, 2015
Hello, Yes, children are welcome. The wine tasting is only a 20 minute stop and anyone under 19, or who does not drink alcohol is welcome to a sample of grape juice. I hope this helps.
Written June 26, 2015
We are a group of 8 who will be in Toronto but would like to end the day in Niagara area. We fly out early
from Buffalo the following day. Is this possible?
Written January 27, 2015
Hello. You can leave the tour whenever you want. We usually do Niagara Falls first. Our last stop is at the winery that is outside the village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, at aound 3 pm. I hope this helps.
Written January 27, 2015
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