Hello everyone!

Welcome to Iko! Excursions, where Friendly People make Friendly Excursions. We offer an alternative way to experience the province of Quebec, through day trips, in any season of the year!

Marcus Bender - Founder of Iko! Excursions

We offer a day trip program for language school students in the Montreal area. Members of our excursion group come from all over the world: Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Columbia, Taiwan, England, Europe, and pretty much anywhere else that you can think of. This makes us a very interesting way to meet friends from other countries, in a comfortable setting.

The Iko! Philosophy

We have 3 main beliefs that make us different.

1.  Firstly, we believe that it is important to experience everything that Quebec has to offer, without taking too much time out of the week.

2.  Secondly, we believe that one shouldn’t have to spend too much money to see the major sites of Quebec.

3.  Finally, we strongly believe that friendly faces, and friendly people, make an excursion memorable and interesting. That is what makes us different from other excursion companies.

Mont-Tremblant Fall Colours

We offer a day excursion schedule for language school students in the Montreal area. In keeping with our 3 beliefs, we offer day trips on Saturdays only – so that students will have plenty of time during the week to study. The majority of all of our excursions are one day trips only.

Also, all of our excursions are offered on a school bus. This way, we can keep the price reasonable, so that students will have more time to focus on other things (like studying). Plus, it’s an interesting experience in a school bus! It reminds us of the good ol’ days…

Finally, all of our tour guides make an effort to bring everyone together as a group. On all of our excursions, people make friends, and share memories as a group. Often, students come home feeling happy about seeing an interesting tourist attraction, but also because they have made new friends and contacts in the Montreal area.

School Bus Excursions in Montreal

More About Iko! Excursions

We offer a variety of day excursion products that appeal to the whole experience of being in Quebec. Once a month, we go once to Quebec City and Montmorency Falls. Also once a month, we go to Ottawa and the Canadian parliament. These excursions are always memorable and lots of fun. For more information about these excursions, please see our Upcoming Trips section on the website.

Montmorency Falls and Quebec City

We also offer a variety of seasonal events – Traditional Quebecois/Canadian activities. Here is a sampling of the special events that we offer during the different seasons:

In January and February, we go to Quebec City to view the world-famous Ice Hotel and Quebec Winter Carnaval.

In March, we go to the Sugar Shack, to eat traditional Quebecois Food.

In May, we go to Ottawa to view the beautiful Tulips of the Ottawa Tulip Festival.

Ottawa Tulip Festival

In June and July, we go to Quebec City and Ottawa respectively, to celebrate St-Jean Baptiste Day and Canada Day, Canadian Style!

In September, we are sure to go to Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentian Mountains, to see the beautiful fall colours. This is my personal FAVOURITE trip.

World Famous Ice Hotel!

…And many more! Be sure to check the Upcoming Trips section for more information concerning the variety of day excursions that we offer.

Please have a look at our Photos section to have an idea of the types of trips that we offer. As well, the Reports section gives you the chance to relive one of our excursion experiences. Don’t hesitate to Contact Us if you have any questions.

If you are a student in Montreal, and you are looking for something fun and exciting to do on Saturdays, give us a call! If you are new to the city, and you are looking to make some contacts, and a fun experience, don’t hesitate! If you would like to meet some friendly people, and take part in our friendly excursions, Iko! Excursions is the place for you.

Iko! Excursions. Friendly People, Friendly Excursions. See you there!

Iko! Excursions in Mont-Tremblant

A Message from Marcus Bender – Founder of Iko! Excursions

Hello everyone,

Marcus Bender - Iko! Excursions

Thank you for visiting my website.  Over the past 3 years, I have been working hard to develop Iko! Excursions into the success that it is today.

I am very excited to tell you all about Iko! Excursions.  We offer day trips around Quebec and the surrounding area.  I post Photos and Tour Reports in the hopes that students will be able to see themselves, and remember the great experience that they had on our trips.  My intention is to show my country and culture to the many students that come from over-seas, for a reasonable price, and in a context that they will find exciting and comfortable.  Thank you for making that possible!

I have travelled to Europe, Mexico and Japan.  I understand the overwhelming feeling of not knowing the culture, the language, the food, the best places to see…  While I was travelling, I felt very appreciative of the locals that helped me along the way.  Their recommendations and hospitality made my experience better.  For this reason, I started Iko! Excursions, in the hopes of giving back to the people and the cultures that come to visit my country.

Marcus In Ottawa - Iko! Excursions

I am interested in languages.  I speak English, French, Spanish and Japanese. This helps me to communicate with the group, and to become friends with everyone.   Speaking other languages is important, and it creates an interesting cultural exchange.

Before starting Iko! Excursions, I was a Tour Guide and Travel Agent for the company “Vacances Tourbec”.  I have about 3 years of experience as a Tour Guide.  I’ve been to Niagara Falls about 30 times, and I never get sick of it!  I’ve led excursions to Quebec and Ottawa more than 30 times each, and every time it’s a new experience.  I really love being a Tour Guide.

Before becoming a Tour Guide, I was an English Teacher in a ESL private language school in Montreal.  For this reason, I know about the language school community, and I still have many friends who work with language schools in Montreal.

I think that that’s enough about me for the moment.  If you have any questions, by all means feel free to ask.  You can send me an email, or better yet, you can meet me on one of the excursions!

Marcus in Leaves - Iko! Excursions

Be sure to check out the Photos section on the website for a better idea of the type of excursion that we offer.  Also, please see the Upcoming Trips section for more information.

Thank you very taking the time to look at my website everyone!  Remember:  Friendly People, Friendly Excursions.  Have a nice day everyone, and I hope to see you on the excursions!

Marcus Bender – Founder of Iko! Excursions

Marcus with Friends at Montmorency Falls