11 Day Tour from Montreal to Montreal
Breathtaking scenery awaits on your escorted tour of Québec and the Gaspé Peninsula. Fall in love with this spectacular part of the world—from Montréal to Percé and the picturesque maritime ports in between. Begin with two nights in Montréal for guided sightseeing and free time to explore the second largest city in Canada. Follow the historic Navigator’s Route along the St. Lawrence River through Victorian villages, past lighthouses, and on to Miguasha National Park. This begins your grand tour of the stunning Gaspé Peninsula—the rugged, windswept sanctuary in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
In Carleton-Sur-Mér, visit the strawberry fields above the seaside, and learn the art of making strawberry wine and liqueurs from the local experts. Explore historic sites where the original buildings from 1766 still stand, with the rich history of fishing, shipbuilding, and fisherman’s nets. Take an excursion to the seaside hamlet of Percé—named one of the most beautiful villages in Québec. Take a scenic cruise around the huge, sheer Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island. Observe the seabird colonies and marine wildlife and enjoy the history and geology of the heritage trail on Bonaventure Island. Hear the history of native peoples, and visit Forillon National Park, the old Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse, and the sleepy fishing port of Grand Valleé before driving through stunning scenery to Matane—Gaspé’s shrimping hub. Stroll the 40-acre gardens at Les Jardins de Metis and enjoy lunch at its founder’s historic home.
Your visit to Québec includes a thrilling whale-watching cruise excursion in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Return to Québec while stopping for culinary specialties and samples in a Fromagerie in the Charlevoix region. Celebrate your adventure with guided sightseeing in Québec, followed by a farewell dinner in Île d’Orléans inside a restored 17th-century flour mill. A fantastic guided tour of Eastern Canada you’ll treasure for a long time to come!
- Trip Outline
- Trip Includes
- Gallery
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN MONTRÉAL
Welcome to Montréal, the second largest city in Canada. At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink as your Tour Director prepares you for your Québec adventure.
DAY 2 MONTRÉAL
After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing with a Local Guide. Take in NOTRE DAME BASILICA, the Old Seminary of St. Sulpice, and a drive to the top of Mount Royal to enjoy a panorama of the city. 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.
BreakfastDAY 3 MONTRÉAL–RIMOUSKI
Next, follow the historic Navigator’s Route along the St. Lawrence River traveling through quaint Victorian villages, past lighthouses and into the Bas-Saint-Laurent region for an overnight in the maritime center of Rimouski.
BreakfastDAY 4 RIMOUSKI–MIGUASHA NATIONAL PARK–CARLETON-SUR-MÉR
Today, start your grand tour of the spectacular Gaspé Peninsula featuring panoramic views of the sea, beaches, and cliffs. Visit the POINTE-AU-PÈRE MARITIME HISTORIC SITE, home of the Empress of Ireland Museum, to learn about the transatlantic liner’s history and doomed fate. Later, travel through the Matapédia Valley to Chaleur Bay for a guided visit to MIGUASHA NATIONAL PARK, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered the world’s most outstanding illustration of the Devonian Period known as the “Age of Fishes.” Continue to the Carleton-sur-Mér.
Breakfast
DinnerDAY 5 CARLETON-SUR-MÉR–BANC-DE-PÊCHE-DE-PASPÉBIAC NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE–PERCÉ
After a morning at leisure, continue your adventure through the Gaspé Peninsula countryside to FERME BOURDAGES TRADITION, the local experts in everything strawberries since 1821. Here, visit strawberry fields with sea views and discover the secrets behind the art of making strawberry wine and liqueurs before tasting them. Next, visit the BANC-DE-PÉCHE-DE-PASPÉBIAC NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE to explore the original buildings dating back to 1766, witness the Gaspésie fishing history, watch traditional shipbuilding, and net-mending demonstrations. Later, continue to the seaside village of Percé.
Breakfast
LunchDAY 6 PERCÉ. EXCURSION TO PERCÉ ROCK AND BONAVENTURE ISLAND
Today, discover the iconic gems of the Gaspé Peninsula. Take a scenic CRUISE around the famous “Pierced Rock” also known as the "Pierced Rock" and Bonaventure Island to observe the stunning seabird colony and marine wildlife that frequent the region. Visit 
BONAVENTURE ISLAND AND PERCÉ NATIONAL PARK, home to one of the largest migratory bird refuge in North America. Its colony of 116,000 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. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
NOTE:
The scenic cruise is subject to favorable weather conditions.
BreakfastDinnerDAY 7 PERCÉ–FORILLON NATIONAL PARK–GRANDE VALLÉE-MATANE
This morning, visit GESPEG MICMAC INTERPRETATION SITE for a guided introduction to the Mi’gmaq, a First Nations people, to discover their culture, traditions, and contributions to modern day society. Then, into FORILLON NATIONAL PARK and follow the peninsula road to old Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse. Enjoy a lunch break in a sleepy, yet charming fishing community. The catch-of-the-day comes highly recommended. This afternoon’s drive provides some of the best scenery of the peninsula. Late afternoon arrival in Matane, the hub of Gaspé’s thriving shrimp industry.
BreakfastLunchDAY 8 MATANE–QUÉBEC CITY
Today, visit the famous LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS, better known as the Reford Gardens after 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. Spend time exploring the many areas of the gardens, such as the Linear Garden, the Stream Garden, or the Bird Garden which is specifically designed to attract many varieties of birds. Then, a TASTE THE GARDENS lunch at the historic Estevan Lodge, once the summer home to Elsie Reford. Enjoy the seasonal menu highlighted with the 150 edible plants picked daily from the gardens themselves. This afternoon, continue your 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.
BreakfastLunchDAY 9 QUÉBEC CITY. EXCURSION TO THE SAGUENAY FJORD & CHARLÉVOIX REGION
This morning, travel along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River to the breathtaking Saguenay Fjord. Here, embark on a WHALE-WATCHING CRUISE in the heart of the 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. En route back to Québec City, stop in the Charlévoix region, known as a thriving culinary destination. Here, visit a family owned traditional FROMAGERIE, or cheese factory, to learn the delicate art of cheese making, followed by a tasting.
NOTE:
The whale-watching cruise is subject to favorable weather conditions.
BreakfastDAY 10 QUÉBEC CITY
This morning, enjoy a tour of the only walled city north of Mexico with a Local Guide. Within the walls of Old Québec, 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. Tonight, travel to Ile D’Orléans to enjoy a delightful farewell dinner at a fine restaurant housed in a restored 17th-century flour mill.
BreakfastDinnerDAY 11 QUÉBEC CITY–MONTRÉAL
Today, depart for Montréal arriving in the early afternoon, with a stop at the airport for guests with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 3:30 pm. Then, the motorcoach continues to the Delta Montréal hotel where the tour ends.
Breakfast
