Your Itinerary
ARRIVE IN MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC
Your Small Group Discovery Tour begins!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
Magical Montréal
After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing with a Local Guide. The rest of your day is free to explore this lively city on your own. Your Tour Director will be onsite to provide ideas for shopping, dining, and exploring. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURAL GEM Explore the cultural capital of Canada where the traditional Québécois style is celebrated in Vieux-Montréal with cobblestone streets and grand buildings in European flair. Visit the Basilique Notre-Dame with its stunning stained glass and enjoy shopping and lunch in the trendy historic Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood.
Maritime Marvels
Follow the historic Navigator’s Route along the St. Lawrence River into the Bas-Saint-Laurent region for an overnight stay in the maritime center of Rimouski. Recharge in Saint-Jean Port-Joli where nature meets artisan talent with local woodworking, brought to the area by the French settlers in the late 17th Century. Free time this evening – perhaps take in the sunset over the St. Lawrence River or stroll through downtown. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore historic towns and maritime ports as you travel part of the historic path of the Navigators Route along the southern half of the Saint Lawrence River through the beauty of the Quebec countryside and quaint Victorian villages.
RIMOUSKI–MIGUASHA NATIONAL PARK–CARLETON-SUR-MÉR
Sea Legends & Ancient Creatures
Start your grand tour of the spectacular Gaspé Peninsula featuring panoramic views of the sea, beaches, and cliffs. Continue along the St. Lawrence River to Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site, home of the Empress of Ireland Museum, to learn about the transatlantic liner’s history and doomed fate. Travel through the Matapédia Valley, named for the salmon-rich Matapédia River, for a guided visit to Miguasha National Park. Continue to the Carleton-sur-Mér. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Explore the magnificent natural world of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Miguasha National Park, where pre-historic fossil fish and plants tell the story of the origin of the first terrestrial vertebrates, 380 million years ago, when strange creatures moved from water to land.
CARLETON-SUR-MÉR–BANC-DE-PÊCHE-DE-PASPÉBIAC NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE–PERCÉ
Seascapes, Strawberries and Shipbuilding
After a morning at leisure, continue your adventure through the Gaspé Peninsula countryside to Ferme Bourdages Tradition Farm, the local experts in everything strawberries since 1821. Visit strawberry fields with sea views and discover the secrets behind the art of making strawberry wine and liqueurs before tasting them. Continue to the Banc-de-Péche-de-Paspébiac National Historic Site for lunch and a guided tour. Later, arrive at the seaside village of Percé for a 2-night stay. (B,L)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURAL GEMS Visit the remarkable Banc-de-Péche-de-Paspébiac National Historic Site to explore the open-air museum and original buildings dating back to 1766, witness the Gaspésie fishing history, watch traditional shipbuilding and net-mending demonstrations.
PERCÉ. EXCURSION TO BONAVENTURE ISLAND & PERCÉ ROCK NATIONAL PARKS
Peninsula Discoveries & Lobster Seaside
Today, discover the iconic gems of the Gaspé Peninsula. After breakfast, relax on a scenic cruise around the famous [LF] Percé Rock, also known as the “Pierced Rock” and enjoy a guided visit to Bonaventure Island National Park to observe the stunning seabird colony and marine wildlife that frequent the region. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Return to Percé for a local seafood dinner. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island National Parks, home to one of the largest migratory bird refuges in North America. Its colony of 100,000-plus northern gannets is the most accessible in the world. Wander the hiking trails or enjoy the heritage trail to learn about the rich natural, historic, and geological wonders of the island.
PERCÉ–GASPÉ-FORILLON NATIONAL PARK–GRANDE VALLÉE–MATANE
Seaside Parks & Captivating Cliffs
Visit Forillon National Park, the official beginning to the International Appalachian Trail. The park is home to traditional fishing villages, pebble beaches and quiet coves. Follow the peninsula road to visit the Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse, the tallest in Canada, lighting the way since 1858. Enjoy [LF] lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon’s drive provides some of the best scenery of the peninsula with soaring cliffs, lighthouses, and expansive views of the St. Lawrence River. Late afternoon arrival in Matane, the hub of Gaspé’s thriving shrimp industry. (B,L,D)LOCAL FAVORITE SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on Forillon’s peninsula to experience the quaint fishing traditions still treasured here. We recommend the local seafood, the famous Matane shrimp!
MATANE–LES JARDINS DE METIS–CHARLÉVOIX REGION-LA MALBAIE
Garden Light and Fresh Delights
Visit Vignoble Carpinteri, a local winery and Italian-style villa built on a former strawberry farm. Change gears from fruitful vines to flowering plants at the famous [LF] Les Jardins De Métis, better known as the Reford Gardens. Enjoy a ferry ride to cross the St. Lawrence River and continue to the beautiful Charlévoix region, a thriving culinary destination. Learn the secrets to buying and cooking mushrooms at a local mushroom farm during a Small Group Discovery exclusive experience while traveling on the “Charlevoix Flavour Trail.” (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITE SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Few gardens have been built under such adverse atmospheric conditions as the stunning Les Jardins De Métis. These thoughtfully designed gardens (also called Reford Gardens) were built from 1926 to 1958 by innovator and horticulturist Elsie Reford, who spent thirty years transforming a fishing camp on the Métis River into a vast 40-acre estate garden brimming with bold and innovative character. Stroll amid some 3,000 plant varieties, including the famous Himalayan blue poppy, as part of 15 gardens in a naturally beautiful botanical wonderland. Spend time exploring the many areas of the gardens, such as the Linear Garden, the Stream Garden, or Bird Garden specifically designed to attract many varieties of birds.
LA MALBAIE–SAGUENAY FJORD–BAIE-SAINT-PAUL–QUÉBEC CITY
Whale Tales & Traditional Tastes
Travel along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River to the breathtaking Saguenay Fjord to embark on a [LF] whale-watching cruise in the heart of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Continue the journey to romantic Québec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for being one of the most historic and best-preserved cities in North America. Tonight, explore Québec’s Parisian ambiance by visiting the shops in the Petit-Champlain district or enjoying the French inspired cuisine at one of the many restaurants. (B)LOCAL FAVORITEWILD BEAUTIES Embark on a fantastic adventure on the spectacular waters of Saguenay Fjord. Board your whale-watching cruise in the stunning Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, known for having the greatest variety of whale species on earth. On board, a naturalist guide will introduce you to the marine mammals of the area including the endangered species: the blue whale and the St. Lawrence beluga whale.
French-Canadian Treasures
Explore the historic walled city of Québec with a Local Guide to see the Place d’Armes, the Laval Seminary, the star-plan Citadelle, and the Place Royale. Also see the Old-world houses crowding the narrow streets in Lower Town by the St. Lawrence River, and the historic Plains of Abraham in the French-founded city, port, and capital of Canada’s Québec province. Enjoy leisure time this afternoon amid the splendid views and ambience of the surrounding landscape, described by Charles Dickens as the “Gibraltar of North America.” Tonight, travel to Ile D’Orléans for a farewell dinner in a restored 17th-century flour mill. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCITY SIGHTS One of the oldest cities in Canada— Québec City retains more than 400 years of tradition, architecture, and Old-World charm in the only remaining walled city in North America. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a romantic city of narrow cobblestone streets, stone buildings, fortifications, and rich French-Canadian culture and cuisine.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Morning drive to Montréal. Your vacation ends at the Montréal Trudeau International Airport or the Montréal tour hotel for those with post-nights. Schedule departure flights from Montréal Trudeau International after 3:30 pm. Want to explore more in Montreal? Additional nights are available for purchase. (B)