Urban Guide Quebec x Le Boat partnership guide
Exploring with Le Boat is like RVing in Ontario, but on the water. Their luxury houseboats have cozy bedrooms, an impressive kitchen, and plenty of deck space for enjoying the sun or relaxing in the shade.
During the day, plot a course through canals and rivers lined with lush vegetation, stopping in quaint towns, and swimming in cool Canadian lakes. It’s the epitome of slow travel; experiencing the local terroir; cycling, hiking, or fishing for a few hours; and mooring in small marinas or at lockstations.
In the evening, cooking onboard or dining in local restaurants is followed by a bottle of wine overlooking the water – which gently puts you to sleep when you finally crawl into bed.
This isn’t a river cruise with strangers, it’s a private houseboat experience with Le Boat where you have complete control.
Why choose Le Boat?
Unlocking the Charm of the Rideau Canal with Le Boat
Boating through the canals, rivers, and lakes of Ontario is an unforgettable off-the-beaten-path experience. Here’s how I spent 4 days with Le Boat and fell in love with boating.
Le Boating in Canada
“Wait, you can take a houseboat through canals, rivers, and lakes in Canada?!”. Yes, you can! I was surprised too when I first learned of Le Boat. I always thought of houseboat vacations as a Europe/UK-only thing. I’m thrilled to be wrong.
There are 15 operational canals in Canada, and thousands of lakes and rivers. The largest canal systems are the Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway – both Le Boat destinations.
Rideau Canal
The first Le Boat destination in Canada, the Rideau Canal waterway, stretches from Ottawa to Kingston. This slackwater canal built in 1832 is 202 km in length and has 24 lockstations.
Travel through the Rideau Canal from Smith Falls to Ottawa, or head in the opposite direction towards Kingston – both are beautiful, delicious, and relaxing.
Le Boat Base: 1 Jasper Avenue, Smith Falls, ON • 1-800-734-5491 • info@leboat.com
Route highlights: Ottawa, Manotick, Merrickville, Perth, Beveridges Locks, Westport, Chaffeys Lockstation, Jones Falls, Kingston Mills, and Kingston.
Getting to Smith Falls: If you’re driving from Ottawa, drive south on ON-416, then turn right on Country Road 43. It’s not the fastest route, but it is the most scenic and includes some of the above highlights.
Alternatively, VIA Rail has a station in Smith Falls which is a 2km walk from the Le Boat base on Jasper Avenue. Tip: VIA Rail has fare sales every Tuesday.
Pre or Post accommodations: There are two places worth staying in Smith Falls, Rogers Motel and Best Western Smith Falls. In Ottawa, however, there are quite a few options. My favourites are Le Germain Hotel Ottawa, The Metcalfe Hotel, and ALT Hotel Ottawa. If they don’t pique your interest, here are some other hotel options in Ottawa.
Trent-Severn Waterway
Discover the beauty and deliciousness of the Trent-Severn Waterway, Le Boat’s newest Canadian route (2024). This 386 km waterway was built in 1833 as a commercial trading route, today it’s the heart of Central Ontario’s cottage country.
Travel from the Le Boat base in Peterborough to Trenton, or through the Kawartha Lakes to Kirkfield. The latter traverses through Ontario’s famous butter tart trail, which gets my vote!
Le Boat Base: Horseshoe Bay Marina, 374 Carolyn Street, Peterborough, ON • 1-800-734-5491 • info@leboat.com
Route highlights: Peterborough Lift Lock, Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, Kawartha Lakes, Bobcaygeon, Coboconk, and Kirkfield.
Getting to Peterborough: From Quebec, the most popular route is Autoroute 20 West to 401 West, the north on Highway 28 from Port Hope. Personally, I love scenic routes, so I drive the fastest route to Ottawa, then take Highway 7 to Peterborough.
Pre or Post accommodations: There are a decent number of hotels in Peterborough; Liftlock Guest House, Tiny House Haven, Burley’s Executive Garden Suite, and Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn are the best ones.
New to Boating Holidays?
It feels intimidating at first, but one of the best things about travelling with Le Boat is that even a novice can have an unforgettable vacation.
Before leaving the Le Boat base, a staff member comes onboard to explain safety and teach you how to operate the boat, as well as how to pass through lock stations. They spend about an hour onboard making sure you’re comfortable, and if you need a little more time, that’s okay!
Who captains the houseboat?
You do! Similar to going on RV vacations in Canada, with Le Boat you are the diver/captain. They don’t provide a captain’s hat though, so hit up a thrift store before your trip if you’re dying to wear one while on your luxury houseboat. 😉
Do I need to have a boating license?
No! One would think that to captain a boat and navigate through canals, rivers, and lakes, you need to have a boating license, but you don’t as the boats cannot go over 10 km/hr.
How will I know if I’m going the right way?
Once you’re underway, there are guides and maps onboard to help you out, and fellow boaters can sometimes offer good advice. Remember to look for the markers/buoys in the water and stay between them. Le Boat staff will give you this information during your training.
Is it hard to pass through a lockstation?
Every lockstation has lockmasters who are there to help, and other boaters are a good resource too. Passing through locks is less stressful than traffic, so relax, breathe, and ask for help if you need it. An important thing to remember is that lockstations are not open 24/7, so plan your route accordingly.
Are the houseboats pet-friendly?
Yes! Le Boat’s luxury houseboats are pet-friendly. It’s truly like RVing in Ontario, but on the water – pretty much everything you can do on an RV you can do on a houseboat.
Choosing a houseboat
Le Boat has a beautiful fleet of luxury Horizon houseboats, which accommodate 5 to 12 people. All of the houseboats have the following:
- Lifevests
- Ensuite cabins
- Fully equipped kitchen and dining nook
- Air conditioning & heating
- “Fundeck” up top with a table for eating or playing games, and a BBQ hotplate
- Sundeck
- Twin seating
- Sliding glass doors.
Learn more about the Horizon fleet here.
Booking with Le Boat
Le Boat vacations are available from 3 to 8 nights, or more, and quite easy. Simply enter the dates you want to travel, select your preferred boat size, select add-ons, and fill in your contact details. Pull in full for a 2% discount or pay a deposit and pay the rest later, it’s up to you.
How far in advance do I need to book my boat?
It is always a good idea to book at least 6 months in advance. It may be possible to book last minute if your dates are flexible, but there is no guarantee.
Does Le Boat have sales or discounts?
Yes! Le Boat has sales throughout the year, check out the vacation deals page for current offerings.
A Regional Guide to The Rideau Canal
Le Boat produces beautiful brochures and regional guides covering their destinations, which include activity and restaurant suggestions – wineries, too! Perfect for planning your luxury houseboat vacation, and for when you’re on the water.
Go Le Boating in Europe!
Trip Planning Resources
Planning a trip can take time, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. I’ve travelled extensively through Quebec, Ontario, and many parts of Canada and the United States. Road trips, on trains, boats, and planes. Cycling… not so much (ha ha ha).
Here are some travel resources (inspirational and practical) that will help prepare for your houseboat vacation.
Destination Ontario – this is the website for the Ontario Tourism Board. It’s quite helpful for planning routes and looking for itinerary inspiration.
Tourism Ottawa – the capital’s tourism board is quite good, and the website is very easy to navigate. They also have email updates for upcoming events etc. I refer to this website often when travelling to Ottawa (my ongoing guide on this website).
Visit Smith Falls – the tourism website for Smith Falls, the Le Boat base for The Rideau Canal has some yummy restaurant recommendations, as well as info on shops for buying goods to bring onboard.
Peterborough & Kawartha Lakes – If you’re planning to travel on the Trent-Severn Waterway, then the tourism website for Peterborough & Kawartha Lakes will come in handy for planning stopovers and things to see and do in Peterborough.
The Great Canadian Bucket List (Ontario) – This book series by travel writer Robin Esrock is an excellent source of inspiration and information. There is something fun and interesting for everyone in the family.
DK Eyewitness Canada Guide – I love the DK guidebooks. They have great information, maps, and diagrams. Full transparency: I often fact-check the Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime chapters.
