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& Splendours of the St. Lawrence
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We leave Toronto by coach. Upon arrival in Montreal, we check in at our centrally-located hotel with free time until our Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Our first stop today is Saint-Jean-Port- Joli, a place where generations of artisans have depicted French Canadian customs through sculpture. We will visit the Woodcarving Interpretation Centre, have some free time to wander, then continue to Rivière-du-Loup for a 2-night-stay at our resort hotel on the St. Lawrence.
Our morning adventure takes us to Parc des Chutes (Falls Park) to see the spectacular waterfall of Rivière-du-Loup. Then we visit Cacouna, designated as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Quebec, with an architectural heritage dating back to 1721. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy our hotel’s wonderful facilities or stroll along the river. Don’t miss the stunning sunset on the St. Lawrence estuary!
We continue along the St. Lawrence, and then through the picturesque Matapédia Valley, renowned for its salmon river, heritage homes, churches and covered bridges. As we enter the Gaspé Peninsula, we visit Miguasha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fossils from 380 million years ago. We stay overnight in Carleton-sur-Mer, the heart of Baie-des-Chaleurs.
Today we follow the beautiful shores of Baie-des-Chaleurs, passing picturesque fishing villages, pristine rivers and craggy mountains. We stop at the Banc-de-Pêche-de-Paspébiac historic site to learn the fascinating history of local fisheries through images, artifacts and live storytelling. Then we’re off to quaint Percé village, where we can walk the suspended glass walkway for spectacular views of famous Percé Rock. We will enjoy a 2-night stay in this wonderful place, with a dinner of fresh lobster at a local eatery.
We cruise around Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island to see 250,000 nesting birds (including puffins!) on the rugged cliffs: you can disembark to take a closer look at North America’s largest community of Northern Gannets. The afternoon is at leisure—enjoy a nature walk or stroll along the lively seafront promenade, which has wonderful boutiques and cafés.
Our scenic drive takes us to the very tip of the Gaspe Peninsula, where we visit the Musée de la Gaspésie. We will also stop in Forillon National Park with its boreal forest, unique geological formations and abundant wildlife. In the afternoon we travel to Matane, famous for shrimp, its lighthouse, and the lovely Matane River: it’s the only place in Quebec where you can fish right in the town square!
Our first stop is Reford Gardens, a beautiful spot with 3,000 native and exotic plants. Then we visit the charming old-world town of Kamouraska, with free time to enjoy some smoked eel or browse the local shops. We end the day in charming Quebec City for a 2-night stay just outside the old city walls.
On our guided city tour, we’ll see Place Royal, Little Champlain Quarter, the Plains of Abraham and more. Then in the afternoon, we tour the iconic Château Frontenac. The rest of the day is free to explore Old Quebec’s enchanting streets, historic buildings and majestic river views.
We drive back to Montreal, where we will have free time to explore. Ask your Tour Manager for suggestions. This evening is our Farewell Dinner.
We say au revoir to La Belle Province and return to Ontario by coach.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
