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Wildlife and Wilderness of Quebec

from £2424 excluding flights

  • 13 nights
  • Jun-Sep
Home Destinations Americas Canada Wildlife and Wilderness of Quebec

Highlights

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Marvel at the scenery and wildlife of Parc de la Gaspesie

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Search for beluga, humpback and blue whales on an included boat cruise

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Cruise to North America's largest migratory bird refuge

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Uncover the fascinating maritime history of French Canada

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Spend a night in a lighthouse in the middle of the St Lawrence River

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Take in the architectural highlights of Montreal

Why this trip...

Aoraki Mt Cook National Park tailor made white

Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

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Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

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Stay in great locations

This holiday features accommodation in incredible locations

Overview

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

Follow the shores of the St Lawrence River as you head north to Quebec City. Perhaps stop at 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.

Petit Champlain, Québec City

Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion 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.

Following the scenic path of the St. Lawrence, head to Riviere-du-Loup, the gateway to the Gaspe Peninsula stopping en route at Kamouraska with its quaint architecture for a picturesque lunch spot. Within the beautiful villages of Kamouraska and Notre-Dame-du-Portage, spot the Kamouraska roof, a distinctive design borrowed from the shipyards.

Continue by road to Matane, driving past beautiful Cacouna village before reaching the Parc Bic, a magical spot for sea excursions, hiking, cycling and harbour seal spotting. Further along the town of Rimouski is home to the Musee de la Mer, a fascinating maritime museum exhibits the tragic tale of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland. Climb the 128 steps to the top of Canada’s second tallest lighthouse.

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Bound for Gaspesie National Park, take in spectacular views of the Chic-Choc and McGerrigle mountains and keep an eye out for 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.

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Explore the Forillon National Park and discover magnificent views of the sea and mountains. Observe abundant wildlife including black bears, porcupines, beavers, black-legged kittiwakes, cormorants, guillemots, seals and whales.

Black bear and cub

Drive to Perce where you will find the famous rock of the same name, the ‘Rocher Perce’. Bonaventure Island and Perce Rock National Park are home to the largest migratory bird refuge in North America with a colony of 110,000 northern gannets. The town has a terrific selection of restaurants and cafes, some of the best in the region. There is a summer theatre and a boardwalk that stretches along the south beach, where you can seethe fishermen cleaning their daily catch.

Journey along Baie des Chaleurs through numerous picturesque fishing villages to Matapedia. At Bonaventure you may wish to stop to visit the Gospel Chapel, the arts and craft shops and the Acadian Museum. The Parc de Miguasha is also worth visiting, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its fossils dating back to the Devonian Period. Overnight in Matapedia.

Drive to Rimouski and board a high speed catamaran for the 55-minute crossing to Forestville (included). Upon arrival in Forestville head along the north shore of the St Lawrence River to Tadoussac, gateway to the Saguenay Fjord and an immensely popular area for whale watching.

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Today enjoy a 3-hour Whale Watching Cruise. Five or six species of whale may be spotted including humpback, fin and the mighty blue whale.

Catch the 10-minute free ferry ride across to Baie Ste Catherine to continue your journey to La Malbaie for an overnight stay.

Depart la Malbaie and drive south through the beautiful scenery of the Charlevoix Region. Along the way you may stop to visit picturesque Baie St. Paul and take a stroll along its many narrow streets lined with charming boutiques, art galleries and great restaurants. You may also wish to stop at Sainte Anne de Beaupre’s shrine and Montmorency Falls before reaching your final destination, Montreal.

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Accommodation Options

We have selected properties for this holiday to ensure you stay in the best locations including an overnight at Pot a l’Eau de Vie lighthouse. However, with a wide choice of accommodation in Canada, we can change accommodation to suit your personal preference.

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Prices and Departures

Price from £2424 excluding flights

Airfares start from around £550 per person and are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
  • Intermediate car hire including GPS, unlimited mileage, 2nd driver, loss damage waiver and third-party liability
  • Choice of excursion in Quebec City: Historical City Tour / Country Tour / Foodie Walking Tour
  • Boat excursion to Bonaventure Island and Rock Percé
  • Whale watching cruise at Tadoussac
  • Catamaran crossing from Rimouski to Forestville
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from £2,424 per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels, and rental of an intermediate vehicle.

  • Prices may vary depending on departure date. Please contact us for a detailed quote based on your preferred travel dates, vehicle category and style of accommodation, or to tailor this itinerary.

Tailor made trips

As independent destination specialists, we are able to tailor make holidays to suit you, be that customising the itineraries shown on this website or creating something bespoke.

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Travelling sustainably

We believe travel is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment and broadening minds through new experiences and cultural interaction.