We are now accepting bookings for all of our spectacular worldwide tours.
Read More Towns and Villages of Quebec (Fall Colours)
Departs from Toronto, Hamilton, Whitby and Kingston
There is good reason why Quebec is known as “La Belle Province”, especially during Fall Colour Season!
While the splendour of its cities, towns and countryside have enticed artists like the Group of Seven, its history, delicious cuisine and that French “joie de vivre” unique in North America have seduced visitors to return again and again.
Our journey begins and ends with stays in the vibrant city of Montreal with its delightful mixture of old and new. Montreal has great shopping, cafes, museums and beautifully restored buildings, especially in the Old Montreal quarter and its historic waterfront.
After Montreal we explore the nearby Eastern Township region, a veritable country paradise with mountains and valleys that are home to the most picturesque villages and rural landscapes.
We will enjoy quality wines and delicious food produced proudly in this region. We then enjoy a 2-night stay in Quebec City, one of Canada’s outstanding cities and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site with over 400 years of history. Fall under the charm of the walled city’s cobbled streets lined with art galleries, artisan shops, bistros and horse drawn carriages. Stroll on the Governor’s Promenade which offers spectacular views of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Orleans Island - known as the garden of Quebec with its typical New France architecture, rural tradition and gorgeous scenery over the Montmorency Falls and Quebec skyline.
Next we travel through the picturesque Charlevoix region. A highlight of the tour will be our scenic train journey along the Beaupré hills and the St. Lawrence River coastline, where we will see historic hamlets and the shores where hundreds of migrating birds come to rest and feed. We will visit the pretty village of Baie St-Paul, where a thriving artist community exhibits a colourful and dazzling version of the surrounding landscape. We will stay in Tadoussac, a lovely village on the banks of the St. Lawrence River and f irst trading post in Canada, now renowned worldwide as a prime holiday resort. Visitors come from around the world to watch the flow of the whales and the tides in this pristine environment – an unforgettable experience!
Itinerary / Excursions
We depart for Montreal. Upon arrival we check-in at our centrally located hotel. Later, we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
We begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Montreal’s highlights; Mount Royal, lively Sainte-Catherine Street, Notre-Dame Cathedrale and quaint Old Montreal. This afternoon we depart for the Eastern Townships with a scenic diversion on Quebec’s wine route. Here we will enjoy a visit and tasting at a renowned winery. We continue on to our resort hotel nestled by a scenic lake.
Our first visit is to St. Benoit Abbey, where we learn about the lives of the more than fifty cloistered monks living under the Rule of St. Benedict. We then visit the town of Stansted, home to some magnificent 19thcentury buildings (and so it is considered one of Quebec’s most beautiful villages). The town straddles the friendliest border in the world including the famous CANUSA Street, with the border actually running down the middle of the road. We will visit the Colby-Curtis Museum - a heritage house built in the 19th century. After today’s touring we will enjoy some free time in the charming town of Magog with its numerous shops, cafés and pleasant lakeside promenade.
We depart for Quebec’s capital - Quebec City, for a 2-night stay. Upon arrival in the city we will embark on a guided tour of the most famous sights including Place Royal, Little Champlain Quarter, the Plains of Abraham and the port where so many immigrants first set foot on this new land after their long crossing over the Atlantic.
This morning we will drive through picturesque Orleans Island. These country roads are full of history, old architecture and pastoral landscapes – truly a regional jewel! We will visit an historic home and the Bilodeau Orchard where cider making is an art form passed on through generations. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Old Quebec’s enchanting streets, boutiques and museums - all within walking distance of our hotel.
A short drive takes us f irst to Montmorency Falls - a magnificent cascade 100 feet higher than Niagara! Then, for what may be the highlight of the tour, we board a train journey that will take us along the St. Lawrence River and through the beautiful Charlevoix region. En route we will stop in BaieSaint-Paul - a charming little town of artisans nestled in a valley. Here we will have some free time to visit the many art galleries in town and enjoy lunch at one of the quaint bistros. We continue by coach on our scenic route to our final destination, Tadoussac at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord.
Today we enjoy another tour highlight - a whale watching cruise on the magnificent St. Lawrence River, which is renowned for its large concentration of resident belugas and rorqual whales. The afternoon will be at leisure to take in the beauty of the site, take a stroll on the beach or one of the picturesque walking trails by our hotel, or to perhaps visit the Marine Mammal Interpretation Center.
We depart for Montreal. En route we will drive on the first road built in New France, “Le chemin du Roi”, where we can see some of the area’s finest and oldest homes. We then stop for lunch at an authentic and lively Quebecois sugar shack, where we will enjoy some traditional “reel” and “rigidons” music, as well as a taste of maple taffy on snow! This evening we will have the opportunity to try our luck at The Montreal Casino, brimming with the vitality so characteristic of one of North America’s most exciting cities.
This morning we visit Montreal’s Botanical Gardens, ranked as one of the world’s largest and most spectacular garden with its collection of 22,000 plant species, 10 exhibition greenhouses and some thirty thematic gardens. The afternoon is free to visit one of the city many unique museums, do some fine shopping or simply enjoy the view from one of the city’s many terraces. Tonight enjoy our Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
We proceed home bringing with us fine memories of “La Belle Province”.
Print Tour Info
Senior Discovery Tours © 2018. All Rights Reserved.