Travelpack

Day 2: FREE DAY Montreal
Spend the day exploring this fascinating city. Highlights of the city that shouldn\'t be missed are: Notre Dame Cathedral, old Montreal with its cobbled streets and outdoor restaurants, the old port, McGill University, Mount Royal viewpoint, St. Joseph Oratory, and one of the best shopping streets in Canada – St. Catherine’s.

Travelpack recommends: 90 min. Maritime Excursion See the city from a whole new angle! Come aboard the Cavalier Maxim and discover the metropolis like you\'ve never seen it before! Relive a page of history with our famous explorer Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve who will fascinate you with his anecdotes and historical facts. Take advantage of our sunny terraces and relax while admiring the city and its surroundings. A viewpoint beyond compare! (Departures May 03 - Oct 9 at 11:30 am & 2:00 pm, Jun 23 - Sep 06 at 11:30 am, 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm).

Day 3: Montreal – Saint Paulin (130 km)
Your destination for tonight is Saint Paulin, the gateway to the Mauricie region, just outside Trois Rivieres.

Day 4: FREE DAY Saint Paulin
Today relax and enjoy the activities and attractions of the Inn and the surrounding area. Swimming, hiking, mountain biking and tennis are all available locally. Alternatively visit Magnan Falls, aimed at familiarizing visitors with hydro-electricity production in the natural beauty of a remarkable setting. The Park includes, a nature centre and an interpretation pavilion where visitors can learn all about the falls and the park’s history.

Day 5: Saint Paulin – Chicoutimi (381 km) 

This morning travel north to the Lac St. Jean area, home to the “Bluets” as the locals like to call themselves. Your destination for tonight is Chicoutimi.

Travelpack recommends: Saint-Félicien Zoo Here, visitors come into exceptionally close contact with wildlife, and enjoy a unique opportunity to observe and learn. Visitors can almost rub shoulders with a huge number of species, close to 80 of which live together in their habitat. The current mission of the “Wild Zoo”, is to promote awareness, appreciation and conservation of the ecosystems, species, wildlife and plant life that characterize the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, Quebec and Canada as a whole. (Estimate spending 4 hours).

Day 6: FREE DAY Chicoutimi area
You may wish to explore the Lac St. Jean area further with a visit to discover Native art in Pointe Bleue at the only Montagnais museum in Canada, catch the amazing view of Lac St. Jean from the top of the cable car at Val-Jalbert, where there is also a fascinating museum which follows the pulp and paper industry of the area from 1901 to 1927.

Depart the area along the shore of the Saguenay River – the strikingly beautiful cliffs and countryside will be sure to captivate you as you head towards the small village of Tadoussac, at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord.

Day 8: FREE DAY Tadoussac
Tadoussac is a quaint village with a strong ocean going history. You will enjoy a stroll through its small streets.

Included Activity: Commented Whale Watching Cruise From the deck of one of our cruise ships, you will have a front-row seat for this natural, larger-than-life production featuring spectacular leaps and pods of hungry whales seeking to find enough krill to sate their enormous appetites. A show you won’t soon forget!

Day 9: Tadoussac – Matane (200 km + ferry) 

Depart Tadoussac early this morning, traveling along the rugged, northern shore of the St Lawrence. At Baie Comeau
take a ferry across the Seaway to Matane and the Gaspe Peninsula
-OR-
Alternatively for a shorter ferry crossing you may wish to cross at Rivière-du-Loup to Saint-Siméon and then travel up the south coast to Matane. Check ferry schedules prior to departure.

Day 10: Matane – Perce (280 km)
Today travel along the coast to Perce, discover the beauty of Forillon National Park – a vast nature reserve housing numerous plant and animal species. On route, travel through the Peninsula’s charming coves and small fishing ports, great lunch stops, before reaching your destination.

Day 11: FREE DAY Perce
All who have come to see Perce Rock have been impressed by its size, its colour and its beauty. Due to the many belvederes (Mt. Joli, Mt. Sainte-Anne and Pic de l’Aurore, just to name a few) in the area, the Rock can be viewed from many angles. It can also be observed by boat or you can walk right up to it at low tide.

Day 12: Perce - Bonaventure (125 km)
This morning you may choose to take an excursion to the island of Bonaventure, just off the coast of Perce. It has one of the most important gannet colonies in the world and many other species of birds such as puffins, cormorants and murres. The island also has many interesting and diversified trails alongside cliffs, crevasses and beaches. In the afternoon head south along the spectacular coastline to Bonaventure, your destination for the night.

Day 13: FREE DAY Bonaventure
Spend the day exploring the southern area of Gaspe. Bonaventure is an active city and has many attractions and activities to offer. Visit the imposing church and its vault covered with Georges S. Dorval’s paintings. There is also a museum, a zoo and an interpretation center. You have access to many recreational activities such as: Beaubassin Beach, salmon fishing on Bonaventure
River, kayaking and canoeing. Finally, a popular celebration, La Braderie, takes place at the end of July.

Travel through numerous fishing villages, and through the Matapedia Valley to Rimouski, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Perhaps, visit the superb Reford Gardens, located at Grand-Métis. A jewel of Canadian horticultural heritage, it was created by Elsie Reford in the early 20th century and contains more than 3,000 plant species, including the famous Himalayan Blue Poppy.

Follow the St. Lawrence passing through some wonderful scenery, on your way back to Quebec City.

Day 16: FREE DAY Quebec City
Take in the old city with its cobbled streets, historic buildings and strongly fortified walls. Take time to explore the colourful
streets, stores, pavement cafes and restaurants.

Travelpack recommends: Guided Quebec City Tour (2 hours) Experience the European charm of the first French settlement in North America. This is your chance to visit history first hand. The Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, Ramparts, world famous Château Frontenac, National Assembly, Basilica, City Hall, Place-Royale, Citadelle and a glimpse of modern Québec City are the perfect introduction to the city.

Day 17: Quebec City – Knowlton (226 km) 

Crossing the St. Lawrence by bridge. Today’s journey takes you to the historic Eastern Townships of Quebec, where some of Canada’s most picturesque countryside and communities await you, rich in Anglo-Saxon charm and ‘Quebecois joie de vivre’. On route make a stop at the many lakes, forests and quaint Victorian style villages also not to be missed is a visit to the Thetford Mines.

Day 18: FREE DAY Knowlton
Spend today exploring the region’s charm. The Eastern Township’s history of Abenaki natives, American Loyalists and French Canadians weaves a fascinating heritage. Highlights include the town of Lac-Brome, Magog, North Hatley and Sherbrooke, where you will find some wonderful local shops for that perfect souvenir of gift.

Today head back to Montreal. Drop off your car at the airport before checking in for your flight home.