Combine historic Montreal and Quebec City with an exploration of the beautiful wilderness of the Gaspe Peninsula. Enjoy spectacular scenery, abundant bird life and the chance to see beluga and other whales on this unforgettable self-drive along the shores of the St Lawrence River.
Departing from and returning to the vibrant city of Montreal, explore the spectacular and little-visited Gaspe Peninsula at a leisurely pace. Home to rugged coastlines, breathtaking mountains and a wealth of wildlife, your route will follow the shore of the iconic St Lawrence River, where you will uncover the early European history of this region and see how these influences remain strong today.
Learn of maritime triumphs and disasters as you travel alongside the St Lawrence, once the main trading and immigration route between Europe and Canada. Spend time exploring the architectural highlights of historic Montreal and Quebec City, enjoy boat excursions in search of the numerous species of whales and birdlife that inhabit the St Lawrence Seaway and visit picturesque coastal villages. Your journey will include the unique opportunity to stay at the Pot a l’Eau de Vie lighthouse, surrounded on all sides by this mighty river.
During this two-week adventure you may see whales – belugas, fin, humpbacks and more, a variety of seabirds including Atlantic puffins and northern gannets in their thousands, and land mammals including caribou, moose and black bears.
Itinerary
Travel north to Quebec City along the slower route 138, tracing the St. Lawrence River. Avoiding the mundane highways allows you to experience rural Quebec and the remaining farms from the seigneurial regime. On the way, pass through Trois-Rivieres, one of the first European settlements dating back to 1634 and the point from which French explorers embarked on their North American discovery. Spend two nights in Quebec City.
Today you can enjoy your choice of one included experience from the following options:
Rendezvous with History – Quebec City Tour – offering a glimpse of modern Quebec City, explore sites including the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, Ramparts, world famous Château Frontenac, National Assembly, Basilica, City Hall, Place-Royale, Citadelle.
A Fabulous Country Tour – travel back in time to rural Quebec along the Chemin du Roy to SainteAnne- de-Beaupré. See the world-famous shrine and Montmorency Falls before visiting the Island of Orléans.
Foodie Walking Tour of Quebec City – discover the city’s gastronomic and
culinary history by taking part in five exclusive tasting presentations, inspired by Amerindian, British and French cuisines.
Follow the scenic path of the St. Lawrence River, towards the Riviere-du-Loup, the gateway to the Gaspe Peninsula. Take a stop for lunch and spend time exploring the beautiful villages of Kamouraska and Notre-Dame-du-Portage. Admire the quaint architecture and spot the Kamouraska roof, a distinctive design borrowed from the shipyards.
Continue towards Matane today. Pass beautiful Cacouna village before making a stop at the Parc Bic, a magical spot for sea excursions, hiking, cycling and harbour seal spotting. Further along is the town of Rimouski, home to the Musee de la Mer, a maritime museum presenting the history of the Empress of Ireland and its sinking. Just beyond Rimouski, it’s worth climbing the 128 steps to the top of Canada’s second tallest lighthouse for views over the river.
Bound for Gaspesie National Park, soak in the splendours of the Chic-Choc and McGerrigle mountains and keep an eye out for interesting wildlife. Spend two nights in Parc de la Gaspesie.
Enjoy two days at leisure. The Gaspesie contains the highest peaks of the Appalachian Mountains in Quebec, the only caribou herd south of the St Lawrence, a large moose population, arctic-alpine flora and 150 different species of birds.
Explore Gaspé and the Forillon National Park on the way to Percé. Discover magnificent sea and mountain views with the chance to spot wildlife including black bears, porcupines, beavers, black-legged kittiwakes, cormorants, guillemots, seals and whales.
Renowned for the extraordinary beauty of its surroundings, Percé is a lovely place to explore. Take a boat trip to Bonaventure Island and the iconic Rocher Percé, a great rock pierced with a hole from which the community derived its name. Discover a great selection of restaurants and cafes, some of the best in the region and a boardwalk that stretches along the south beach. Once the largest fishing port in the Gaspé Peninsula, today you can watch the fishermen cleaning their daily catch at the wharf.
Today proceed along Baie des Chaleurs through picturesque fishing villages to Causapscal. At Bonaventure visit the Gospel Chapel, the Acadian Museum and explore the many arts and craft shops. Continue to the Parc de Miguasha, a UNESCO world heritage site renowned for fossils from the Devonian Period.
Board a high speed catamaran for the 55-minute crossing to Forestville from Rimouski (not included). Upon arrival in Forestville proceed along the North shore of the Lawrence River to Tadoussac, gateway to the Kingdom of the Saguenay.
Enjoy a 3-hour Whale Watching Cruise today (included). Up to six different species of whale may be spotted including the humpback, fin and the mighty blue whale.
Catch the 10 minute free ferry ride across to Baie Ste Catherine and proceed to La Malbaie. Perhaps walk along the waterfront at Pointe au Pic to the Rue du Quai to see the colourful historic wooden houses.
Drive south through the Charlevoix Region towards Quebec City and enjoy the incredible scenery which has inspired generations of artists. Along the way, stop to visit picturesque Baie St. Paul and explore its many narrow streets lined with charming boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. You may also wish to stop at Sainte Anne de Beaupre’s shrine and Montmorency Falls before reaching your final destination, Montreal.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Car hire including unlimited mileage, 2nd driver, loss damage waiver and third-party liability
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Choice of excursion in Quebec City: Historical City Tour / Country Tour / Foodie Walking Tour
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Boat ride to Bonaventure Island and Rock Percé
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Whale watching cruise at Tadoussac
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £1992 Excluding Flights
13 Nights
Jun-Sep
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Make this trip yours
Every destination and itinerary you see here can be adapted to suit you – so reach for that bucket list and start imagining your next adventure here.
Doug
Kilometres ran in Longyearbyen
Penguin species encountered
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.