Kingston, Ontario

Nature & adventure tours

Experience the 1000 Islands from the air on a breathtaking helicopter tour. Choose your own adventure with three unique tour options ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. Depart from Gananoque Heliport, located within a 20-minute drive east of Kingston via Highway 401 in beautiful Gananoque, Ontario.  Check in at the front desk then relax in the lounge before your pre-flight briefing. Feel the thrill as you rise above lush greenery, sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs, admiring the sights from your guaranteed window seat.  Wear audio headsets complete with microphones for easy communication. Enjoy pilot-narrated commentary in English or select one of the recorded multilingual audio tours. The duration depends on your selected option. Choose the 10-minute tour for a taste of the 1000 Islands, including the town of Gananoque, the Admiralty Islands, Navy Islands, and the Lake Fleet Islands. Explore further on an Ontario Signature Experience: a 20-minute tour that includes both the U.S. and Canadian spans of the Ivy Lea Bridge, and Boldt Castle on Heart Island.  The most popular option is a Canadian Signature Experience: an extended 30-minute ‘Two Castle’ tour that sends you flying over sunken shipwrecks and nation-spanning bridges, as well as Boldt and Singer Castles.

Cruise the Thousand Islands in the morning light. Explore the remarkable scenery that has made the region famous throughout the world. This 3-hour cruise is the perfect way to combine an in-depth cruise to the Thousand Islands with a leisurely brunch. Offered daily from July to August, a delicious brunch is served onboard the Island Queen. See the world-famous Thousand Islands, which begin in Kingston and span the St. Lawrence River for miles. You'll wind your way through the small cottage islands of the Admiralty Group, passing through small islands and large estates that attract visitors from around the world. Enjoy live entertainment and hear the history and folklore as you pass by spectacular scenery and island homes. Brunch is freshly prepared onboard and served with coffee and tea.

Board a sightseeing cruise and embark on a journey to the Thousand Islands from Kingston. Marvel at the scenic beauty of the area while passing by the pretty small cottage islands, Wanderer’s Channel, Mandalay Mansion, and more. The world-famous 1,000 Islands begin in Kingston and span the St. Lawrence River for miles. Your round-trip route onboard the triple-deck Island Queen winds its way through the small cottage islands of the Admiralty group, which feature Napoleon’s Hat, the Wanderer’s Channel, the Bateau Channel, the opulent Mandalay Mansion, and the historic sights of Kingston. This cruise is one of the most in-depth cruises of the 1,000 Islands and is the perfect way to explore the scenery that has made the region famous throughout the world. Onboard, enjoy live entertainment, and listen to commentary about history and folklore as you pass by spectacular scenery and island homes. You will also have access to a full-service canteen and bar.

Experience Kingston like never before. Go on an adventure that takes you through Kingston’s old Sydenham Ward and hear some of the most spine-tingling ghost stories from the earliest days of Kingston. This night tour departs from the ticket office on Ontario Street. Your cloaked tour guide will lead you from the heart of the historic city to the oldest residential area. Listen to chilling tales and see a darker side to Kingston's history. Immerse yourself in haunted hotels, hidden burial grounds, grave robbings, hangings at the old courthouse, and Kingston's haunted bed and breakfasts. You will never look at the city in the same way again. After being led through the streets of Downtown Kingston, your guide can walk you back to the start location, or leave you to enjoy a sleepless night in the city.

Set sail in the warm glow of the setting sun for a 3-hour dinner cruise. Enjoy the scenery of the small cottage islands or dance under the glass-topped canopy of this unique boat at dusk. Aboard the dining ship, the Island Star, you’ll be treated to a three-course meal with a choice of five entrees, all prepared on board and served to your table. A full-service bar serving wine, cocktails, and beer is available onboard (at own expense).  It’s dinner and a show: your entertainer and evening host will provide music along with a commentary of the sights.

Enjoy the beauty of Kingston on a self-guided scavenger hunt walking tour. See the famous City Hall, City Park, several museums, the waterfront, several parks, and monuments, while learning about the history, and some fun facts. Solve challenges as you go. Solve challenges at each step along your way, to discover your next destination. Soak in the warm and vibrant atmosphere while strolling through the streets of the historical town. During the tour, feel free to stop at any part of the tour to spend some more time seeing the sights. Experience a fun adventure with family or friends.

Discover Kingston’s lesser-known and difficult-to-access haunted spots on an evening trolley tour. Learn about the city's mysterious past, darkest stories, and best-kept secrets over 1.5-hours. Kingston is one of the oldest cities in Ontario and has amassed an impressive list of hauntings and mysteries. Hear them all from your entertaining guide as the tour winds through downtown Kingston, around the back of Fort Henry Hill and Deadman’s Bay. The tour will also take you by the Kingston Penitentiary and the Rockwood Asylum.

Set sail on the Island Belle and tour Kingston’s spectacular waterfront on a 1-hour sightseeing experience. Sit back and relax while live commentary highlights the iconic scenery of Royal Military College, Fort Henry, Kingston harbor, and the local islands. Kingston is a UNESCO World Heritage Destination for its remarkable and well-preserved 19th-century defense fortifications. Learn about the history and waterfront of Kingston, located at the beginning of the St Lawrence River. The cruise begins at the confluence of three major waterways: the Rideau Canal, the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. The Island Belle winds her way along the shorelines of Point Frederick, Navy Bay, Deadman's Bay and Cedar Island. From here, sail on toward the open water of Lake Ontario, with views of Wolfe Island’s powerful wind turbines. Take in the sights of some of Kingston’s most prominent landmarks including Murney Tower, Kingston Penitentiary, the Tett Centre, and Gord Downie Pier.

Explore the history of Canada's first capital aboard a comfortable trolley bus. The Trolley is the ideal way to enjoy Kingston’s history and attractions. Our tour guides provide an informative, engaging overview* of Kingston’s more than three hundred years of history. *Currently available in English only. The trolley route covers all of Kingston’s historic old town and downtown shopping district, including Fort Henry, the Penitentiary Museum, and Queen’s University. You can hop off at any stop, stay for as long as you like, then hop back on and continue your tour. Trolleys follow a figure-8 route that divides the route into two halves: you can begin with the east half of the tour, hop off at the Market Square stop to get lunch or take a cruise, then continue with the West half of the tour.

Set sail from downtown Kingston for a 3-hour journey to explore the Thousand Islands. Admire the remarkable scenery that has made the region famous throughout the world as you savor a delicious meal freshly prepared onboard. Wind your way through the small cottage islands of the Admiralty Group featuring Napoleon's Hat, Wanderer's Channel, the Bateau Channel, the new, opulent Mandalay Mansion, and the historic sights of Kingston. Enjoy live entertainment, and a description of the history and folklore as you pass by spectacular scenery and island homes, as well as a full-service canteen and bar. Bask in the beautiful views of the islands from the panoramic second deck of the triple-decked paddle-wheeler, the Island Queen. Relax inside with live entertainment, then head outside to promenade on the open-air deck between courses.