Your Small Group Discovery Tour begins!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
Magical Montreal
After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing with a Local Guide. 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. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM Explore the cultural capital of Canada where the traditional Quebecois style is celebrated in Vieux-Montreal with cobblestone streets and grand buildings in European flair. Visit the Basilique Notre-Dame with its stunning stained glass and enjoy shopping and lunch in the trendy historic Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood.
ENHANCED FREE TIME
A DINNER PARTY Consider an optional culinary experience that's perfect for small groups to enjoy with a walking food tour and exclusive dinner in the city.
Maritime Marvels
Follow the historic Navigator's Route along the St. Lawrence River into the Bas-Saint-Laurent region for an overnight stay in the maritime centre of Rimouski. Recharge in Saint-Jean Port-Joli where nature meets artisan talent with local woodworking, brought to the area by the French settlers in the late 17th Century. Free time this evening - perhaps take in the sunset over the St. Lawrence River or stroll through downtown. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXPERIENCE Explore historic towns and maritime ports as you travel part of the historic path of the Navigators Route along the southern half of the Saint Lawrence River through the beauty of the Quebec countryside and quaint Victorian villages.
Sea Legends & Ancient Creatures
Start your grand tour of the spectacular Gaspé Peninsula featuring panoramic views of the sea, beaches, and cliffs. Continue along the St. Lawrence River to Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site, home of the Empress of Ireland Museum, to learn about the transatlantic liner's history and doomed fate. Travel through the Matapédia Valley, named for the salmon-rich Matapédia River, for a guided visit to Miguasha National Park. Continue to the Carleton-sur-Mér. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the magnificent natural world of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Miguasha National Park, where pre-historic fossil fish and plants tell the story of the origin of the first terrestrial vertebrates, 380 million years ago, when strange creatures moved from water to land.
Seascapes, Strawberries and Shipbuilding
After a morning at leisure, continue your adventure through the Gaspe Peninsula countryside to Ferme Bourdages Tradition Farm, 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-Peche-de-Paspebiac National Historic Site. Later, continue to the seaside village of Perce. (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Visit the remarkable Banc-de-Peche-de-Paspebiac National Historic Site to explore the open-air museum and original buildings dating back to 1766, witness the Gaspesie fishing history, watch traditional shipbuilding and net-mending demonstrations.
Peninsula Discoveries & Lobster Seaside
Today, discover the iconic gems of the Gaspe Peninsula. After breakfast, relax on a scenic cruise around the famous Perce Rock, also known as the "Pierced Rock" and enjoy a naturalist-led visit to Bonaventure Island National Park to observe the stunning seabird colony and marine wildlife that frequent the region. Spend the afternoon at leisure or consider an optional sea kayaking experience. Return to Perce for a local seafood dinner. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore Perce Rock and Bonaventure Island National Parks, home to one of the largest migratory bird refuges 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.
Catch of the Day
Visit the Micmac Interpretation Site of Gespeg. Meet a Mi'gmaq Nation guide for a tour of a 17th Century reconstructed traditional living space to learn the history and culture of the Nation. Continue to Forillon National Park, the official beginning to the International Appalachian Trail. The park is home to traditional fishing villages, pebble beaches and quiet coves. Follow the peninsula road to the Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse, the tallest in Canada, lighting the way since 1858. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon's drive provides some of the best scenery of the peninsula with soaring cliffs, lighthouses, and expansive views of the St. Lawrence River. Late afternoon arrival in Matane, the hub of Gaspe's thriving shrimp industry. (B,L)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
A SMALL AFFAIR Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The catch of the day comes highly recommended to experience the quaint fishing traditions with your small group.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITIONS The Mi'gmaq Nation settled permanently in the Bay of Gaspe in the 16th century. Discover life in the village throughout the four seasons and walk a medicinal plant trail to see the heritage preserved through the years. The timeless tradition of creative art continues with local Mi'qmaq Nation residents still making dream catchers, moccasins, and jewellery.
Garden Light and Fresh Delights
Visit Vignoble Carpinteri, a local winery and Italian-style villa built on a former strawberry farm. Change gears from fruitful vines to flowering plants at the famous Les Jardins De Metis, better known as the Reford Gardens. Continue to the beautiful Charlevoix region, known as a thriving culinary destination. Learn the secrets to buying and cooking mushrooms at a local mushroom farm during a Small Group Discovery exclusive experience while travelling on the "Charlevoix Flavour Trail." (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
SMALL PLEASURES OF NATURE Few gardens have been built under such adverse atmospheric conditions as the stunning Les Jardins De Metis. These thoughtfully designed gardens (also called Reford Gardens) were built from 1926 to 1958 by innovator and horticulturist Elsie Reford, who spent thirty years transforming a fishing camp on the Metis River into a vast 40-acre estate garden brimming with bold and innovative character. Stroll amid some 3,000 plant varieties, including the famous Himalayan blue poppy, as part of 15 gardens in a naturally beautiful botanical wonderland. Spend time exploring the many areas of the gardens, such as the Linear Garden, the Stream Garden, or Bird Garden specifically designed to attract many varieties of birds.
Whale Tales & Traditional Tastes
Travel along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River to the breathtaking Saguenay Fjord to embark on a whale-watching cruise in the heart of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Continue the journey to romantic Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for being one of the most historic and best-preserved cities in North America. Tonight, explore Quebec's Parisian ambiance by visiting the shops in the Petit-Champlain district or enjoying the French inspired cuisine at one of the many restaurants. (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
WILD BEAUTIES Embark on a fantastic adventure on the spectacular waters of Saguenay Fjord. Board your whale-watching cruise in the stunning 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.
French-Canadian Treasures
Explore the historic walled city of Quebec with a Local Guide to 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 in the French-founded city, port, and capital of Canada's Quebec province. Enjoy leisure time this afternoon amid the splendid views and ambience of the surrounding landscape, described by Charles Dickens as the "Gibraltar of North America." Tonight, travel to Ile D'Orleans for a farewell dinner in a restored 17th-century flour mill. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS One of the oldest cities in Canada - Quebec City retains more than 400 years of tradition, architecture, and Old-World charm in the only remaining walled city in North America. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a romantic city of narrow cobblestone streets, stone buildings, fortifications, and rich French-Canadian culture and cuisine.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Morning drive to Montréal. Your holiday ends at the Montréal Trudeau International Airport or the Montréal tour hotel for those with post-nights. Schedule departure flights from Montréal Trudeau International after 3:30 pm. Want to explore more in Montreal? Additional nights are available for purchase. (B)