MTL Detours is a 100% locally owned and operated independent tour company, founded and based right here.
Montreal by Montrealers.
I was born and raised in Montréal and my connection to this city runs deep. My family’s roots here stretch back generations, from operating a shoe and boot manufacturing company in the 1890s to serving as city aldermen and working on the railways that helped shape Canada.
Montréal isn’t just where I live. It’s part of my family’s story.
After becoming a certified Montréal guide, I founded MTL Detours in 2019 with a clear vision: to offer small-group walking tours that prioritize depth over volume, conversation over scripts, and genuine connection over crowds.
Today, I work closely with a small group of carefully selected certified guides to make sure every tour feels engaging, balanced, and genuinely connected to the city we call home.
We love Montréal. We care deeply about how its stories are told. And we look forward to sharing them with you.
À bientôt! (See you soon!)
Lesley Thompson
Founder, MTL Detours
MTL Detours isn’t a franchise or a big-box operation. We’re a 100% locally owned Montréal business, built from the ground up with one clear focus: small-group walking tours that feel personal, thoughtful, and rooted in the city itself.
We believe in quality over quantity and in sharing Montréal with care. That’s why each experience is capped at just 10 guests. Smaller groups mean real conversation, room for questions, and the flexibility to explore hidden corners that larger crowds simply can’t access.
Every tour is led by an engaging, certified professional guide who has completed the official Montréal Tourist Guide training at the ITHQ and holds the mandatory City of Montréal guiding permit. These experts are also members of the Montréal Professional Tourist Guide Association (APGT).
We are proud to collaborate with some of the best in the city. To ensure a high standard of expertise, we do not operate “free” tours funded solely by tips; instead, every experience is delivered by professionals who are fairly compensated and respected for the unique knowledge they bring to the streets of Montréal.
At MTL Detours, your tour supports ethical, local, and responsible tourism. Each outing is delivered in partnership with certified local guides, with deep respect for our guests, the streets we walk, and the communities that shape our city.
Meet the passionate, knowledgeable locals who bring these experiences to life below.
“Absolute must do!! A great tour of a beautiful city. Even the winter cold didn’t dampen the enjoyment of listening to Louise who was so passionate in sharing the history of her city. Fabulous stories and history and was great being in a small group.”
— Kirrily J.
Tripadvisor Review, December 2025
“Elise was amazing, it was so refreshing to be with someone who is excited to do their job and proud to show off their city. She gave us a lot of great information and suggestions. The company did a great job communicating about the meet up place, etc… Very professional and well worth it!!!!!!”
— M. Smith
Google Review, January 2026
“Jeff was an absolutely amazing tour guide! His insight and knowledge of Old Montreal was made easy to follow and his own personal fun facts made the experience all the more enjoyable! I am so glad my family chose this tour group!”
— C. Sabino.
Google Review, January 2026
Founded in 2019, MTL Detours focuses exclusively on walking tours because Montréal is best understood at street level. The details matter here: architectural contrasts, subtle cultural shifts between neighbourhoods, and stories embedded in the streets themselves. You simply don’t notice those from a bus window.
Our routes are carefully designed to blend iconic landmarks with lesser-known corners that most visitors walk past without realizing what they’re seeing. We balance context and storytelling so you leave not just having seen Montréal, but understanding it.
By keeping our groups intentionally small, capped at just 10 guests, we create space for real conversation. Questions are encouraged. Curiosity is welcome. And because the group stays small, everyone can hear, see, and stay engaged from start to finish.
This is Montréal explored the way it should be: on foot, with insight, and with a guide who brings the city to life.
MTL Detours was built for the traveler who wants to look a little closer. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a local rediscovering your own backyard, our tours are designed for those who value depth over a checklist. We are proud to offer inclusive experiences where everyone is welcome, and we lead with a simple principle: to tell Montréal’s stories with the care and integrity they deserve.
When you join us, you are supporting a local vision of small-scale, thoughtful tourism. We invite you to slow down, lean in, and experience the real Montréal with us.
