Niagara Falls Tour from Toronto: Boat, Behind Falls & Lunch

What happens when you stand 150 feet below a waterfall while 2,800 cubic meters of water crashes overhead every second?

You're picked up from your Toronto hotel, driven to Niagara Falls, and guided through Journey Behind the Falls (descending 150 feet to tunnels behind the water), a boat ride at the base of the falls, the Whirlpool Aero Car, the Floral Clock, and the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Lunch and a certified guide are included, and you're back at your hotel by evening without arranging a single detail yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Niagara Falls sightseeing and attractions

• View Horseshoe and American Falls
• Visit Table Rock Welcome Centre
• Experience Journey Behind the Falls
• Stop at Floral Clock
• Photo stop at Whirlpool Aero Car
• Visit Living Water Wayside Chapel
• Drive through Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
• See Niagara-on-the-Lake Heritage District
• Enjoy Niagara Falls boat cruise or Journey Behind the Falls

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. Table Rock Welcome Centre Entry included 1h
2. Journey Behind the Falls Entry included 1h
3. Floral Clock Entry included 15m
4. Niagara-on-the-Lake Heritage District passing by
5. Whirlpool Aero Car 15m

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from downtown Toronto or Pearson Airport, round-trip transport by air-conditioned motorcoach with a Niagara Parks certified guide, entry to Journey Behind the Falls with elevator access 150 feet below the falls, the Hornblower boat ride (seasonal, Friday to Monday September through October), stops at the Whirlpool Aero Car, the Floral Clock, Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Heritage District, lunch, complimentary bottled water, Wi-Fi on board, a souvenir, and hotel drop-off in the evening.

Times

• Every day 08:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 56

Live guide English, Spanish and German

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. You can choose from 27 pickup points.

Book up to 2h before

Ages Adult (12 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available Public transport nearby

Operated by Zoom Tours Inc

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

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The experience

That's the moment Journey Behind the Falls hits you, and it's the centerpiece of this day trip from Toronto. You start at Table Rock, right at the edge of the Horseshoe Falls where the water thunders over the brink, then descend by elevator through bedrock tunnels to two observation decks positioned directly behind the sheet of water. The mist is real, the sound is overwhelming, and in spring and summer you get a free biodegradable rain poncho to protect your phone. The whole thing takes 30 to 45 minutes, but you'll be thinking about it for weeks.

The tour picks you up from your downtown Toronto hotel or Pearson Airport in the morning and moves through a series of stops that build on each other. After Journey Behind the Falls, you board the Hornblower boat (operating Friday to Monday, September through October, replaced with other attractions November through April) for a close approach to the base of the falls. You also stop at the Floral Clock (a working timepiece planted with up to 16,000 carpet bedding plants and changed twice a year), and the Whirlpool Aero Car, a cable car suspended 150 feet above the Niagara River that's been running since 1916. The car hangs from six cables while you watch the river below abruptly change direction and form one of the world's most visible whirlpools.

Lunch is included, and the itinerary also takes you through Niagara Parks' Botanical Gardens on the Niagara Parkway, past the Sir Adam Beck hydroelectric station (which opened in 1921 and was the largest in the world at the time), and into the Niagara-on-the-Lake Heritage District, where you have time to walk the 1920s-era storefronts and shop if you want. The guide is Niagara Parks certified, the motorcoach is air-conditioned, and you get complimentary bottled water and Wi-Fi on board. Hotel drop-off happens in the evening, so the whole day is handled: no arranging transport, no figuring out which attraction to skip, no negotiating with taxi drivers at the end.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long is the tour?

The full day trip is approximately 10 to 11 hours, including hotel pickup and drop-off.

Is the boat ride included?

Yes, the Hornblower boat ride is included. It operates Friday to Monday from September 21 through October 31. From November through April, the boat is closed and replaced with Journey Behind the Falls or Skylon Tower access.

What is Journey Behind the Falls?

You descend 150 feet by elevator through bedrock tunnels to reach two observation decks positioned directly behind the falls. The visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. In spring and summer, you receive a free biodegradable rain poncho.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included in the tour price.

Can I request a vegetarian meal?

Yes, vegetarian options are available. Advise the operator at the time of booking.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Niagara Falls?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for downtown Toronto hotels and Pearson Airport hotels. The tour uses an air-conditioned motorcoach or mini coach.

What should I bring?

Bring a waterproof camera or phone case, as you'll be near mist and water throughout the day. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Are there any fitness requirements?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Journey Behind the Falls involves descending and ascending by elevator and walking on observation decks.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by motorcoach, entry to Journey Behind the Falls, the boat ride (seasonal), lunch, a Niagara Parks certified guide, complimentary bottled water, Wi-Fi on board, and a souvenir.