DAY 1 - MONTREAL AIRPORT (P.E. Trudeau)
 Welcome to the world's second-largest French-speaking city after Paris. For your first night we have chosen a comfortable downtown hotel, the Delta Centre-Ville***, conveniently located at the heart of an urban fervour that is typically North American. You will receive your Authentik travel book, with all the details of your adventure including a road map indicating your route, as well as a personalised roadbook, a host of practical tourist information, a toll-free assistance number, vouchers, etc.
Explore Montreal's main points of interest by bicycle, or take a guided bus tour of the city. See the city from the top of the Olympic Park Observation Tower (the tallest leaning tower in the world), followed by a fascinating visit to the Biodome.
We wish you a great holiday in the land of lakes and rivers!
DAY 2 - MONTREAL / CHARLEVOIX (403 Km/4 hrs 26 mins)
After breakfast you pick up your vehicle and set out along a bucolic road that follows the majestic St-Lawrence River. This is said to be the part of Quebec where you are at once so close to the river and so high above it. Your destination: Charlevoix, a hospitable region with magnificent scenery that captivates painters, poets, writers, musicians and visitors alike.
Optional activity along the way
Ste-Anne Canyon
Covering 6000 km² in the Canadian Shield, where the most ancient rocks on Earth are found, Charlevoix conceals unique attractions. The crystal waters of the Laurentians, that majestic chain of mountains, cascade into the salty flow of the Saint-Lawrence. Here and there, pretty little villages perch on the sides of mountains. All of these elements come together to create landscapes in which water and mountains figure side by side.
You will be able to immerse yourself in this magnificent natural setting during your stay at Auberge Châtelaine***, on the banks of the St-Lawrence River, in one of the most beautiful villages in Québec, Pointe au Pic. Perched on a hilltop, set back from the road and surrounded by large flowered gardens, this former bourgeois villa, complete with antique furnishings, dates from 1892.
DAY 3 - CHARLEVOIX / TADOUSSAC (77 Km/1 hr 27 mins)
After breakfast, take a good deep breath of the fresh salt air before setting out once again, this time along the scenic route to Tadoussac.
Optional activities along the way (+ 140 km/1 hr 40 mins)
Sea Kayak on the Fjord
"Bateau Mouche" cruise on the Fjord
Sailing on the Fjord
Via Ferrata
 During your stay in Tadoussac Bay, one of the 50 most beautiful bays in the world, experience the thrill of a whale-watching safari, either by Zodiac, by boat or by sea kayak. You will be accompanied by a naturalist guide, who will help you to identify various species including rorqual whales and whitecoats (baby seals). At the head of the Laurentian Channel, in the St-Lawrence River Estuary, where deep, cold Arctic waters rise to the surface, marine mammals abound and can be observed for eight months of the year, making the Tadoussac region a whale-watching site of international renown.
You will be staying at the friendly Maison Hovington Bed & Breakfast, in the heart of the village of Tadoussac.
STAY IN AN OUTFITTER BETWEEN MONTREAL AND TADOUSSAC (OPTIONAL)
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Name of the Outfitter |
List of activities |
Destination |
BALUCHON OUTFITTER
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Theatre by the river, kayak, canoe, horseback riding, cycling, archery, horse-drawn carriage ride, whirlpool, sauna, tennis, hiking, spa and Mauricie National Park. |
Mauricie National Park |
DAY 4 - TADOUSSAC / BAIE-COMEAU (199 Km/2 hrs 58 mins)
Breakfast. Make the most of the morning by taking a walk through the pleasant town of Tadoussac.
Optional activity along the way
Quad excursion in the mountains
In the afternoon you will continue along the north shore of the St-Lawrence River. You will pass one picturesque village after another until you reach your destination, Baie-Comeau, well-known for its hydroelectric dams just north of the town. For an experience you won't forget, take part in a black bear and Canada wolf watching safari.
Night at Le Manoir Hotel, with the singular charm of an old French colonial manor house.
DAY 5 & 6 - BAIE-COMEAU / GASPESIE PARK (94 Km/3 hrs 10 mins)
This morning, you will take an unforgettable ferry ride across the majestic river, to the south shore and the beautiful Gaspésie region. Your destination: Gaspésie National Park.
Gaspésie National Park is a veritable sea of mountains located in the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula.
Its varied climates and unusual geomorphology attract a diversity of plant and animal species that are unique to Quebec. A permanent exhibit will allow you to go from one end of the park to the other and to have an initial contact with the one-of-a-kind natural elements found here. This new exhibit is a must-see for anyone interested in discovering all the treasures of Gaspésie National Park.
 Hiking is, without a doubt, the favourite activity within Gaspésie National park. A variety of trails lead to breathtaking views! Hike up Mont Jacques-Cartier for a taste of the Far North; you may even surprise some caribou grazing at the summit. Ask about the shuttle service, and the discovery hike "Vivez le Grand Nord". Enjoy your hike!
For the next 2 nights, you will be staying in a typical inn, close to the majestic river and at the gates of Gaspésie National Park: Bed & Breakfast La Seigneurie des Monts.
DAY 7 - GASPESIE PARK / FORILLON PARK (202 Km/2 hrs 22 mins)
 The adventure continues towards the point of the Gaspé Peninsula, where mountains thrust brutally into the Atlantic Ocean, forming the incredible cliffs of Forillon National Park. The park encompasses 244 square kilometres of sea, hilly forest land, rugged cliffs and majestic coastline, including a protected zone containing part of the Mégantic and Notre-Dame mountain ranges, as well as part of the coast of the Gulf of St-Lawrence. The presence of ten different rock formations, colonies of sea birds, and enigmatic Arctic-alpine plant life gives the Park its unique character.
To learn more about this internationally renowned park, you can choose among the many educational nature and history activities. Just ask for the Visitor's Guide, then plan your day! In addition, the sea kayak expeditions will open up a whole other world to explore, to understand, and to love. And situated within this seaside park, the Grande-Grave Heritage Site bears witness to the way of life of fishermen and their families at the turn of the twentieth century. A day packed with adventures!
You will spend the night at La Belle Forillonne B&B
DAY 8 & 9 - FORILLON NATIONAL PARK / PERCÉ (114 Km/1 hr 19 mins)
 After spending the morning in Forillon National Park, you head towards the renowned Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island. Sculpted by time and the sea, at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park can boast of a rich historical and natural heritage, a surprising geological past, and unusual plant and animal life including the famous colony of Northern Gannets, known all over the world. An extension of the Appalachian Mountains into the Gulf of St-Lawrence, this rocky city has Bonaventure Island for a fortress; the majestic Percé Rock, symbol of Quebec tourism, is its flagship. On the island, the fragrance and colour of the wildflowers and the fresh sea breezes will intoxicate you.
You will spend the next two nights at Riotel Percé***, right on the beach in the village of Percé with a magnificent view of Percé Rock. Now that's the way to spend your vacation!!!
DAY 10 - PERCÉ / MATAPEDIA VALLEY (310 Km/3 hrs 33 mins)
After breakfast, you leave for the southern part of Gaspésie and Baie des Chaleurs.
Optional activities along the way
Biopark
Miguasha Fossil Park
Descent of the river by canoe
Canoe-camping excursion (+3 nights)
After Baie des Chaleurs, you will enter the mythic Matapédia Valley, a wonderfully wild and natural region where forests, plateaus, hills and rivers coexist in perfect harmony. The Valley contains a great network of rivers and lakes, veritable little paradises for hunters and fishermen. Known worldwide for its salmon fishing, the Matapédia river twists and turns over more then 70 km; as for the lake of the same name, it prides itself on being the largest freshwater body in Gaspésie.
At the end of the day, you are expected at Auberge La Coulée Douce in Causapscal, where you will be spending the night. There you will be able to see salmon fishermen in action.
DAY 11- MATAPEDIA VALLEY / MONT COMI (92 Km/1 hr 15 mins)
Today we invite you to discover the back country of Québec in all of its splendour. You will leave the main highway for quiet country roads that will lead you to Mont Comi, a wild and mountainous region that has retained its unspoiled beauty throughout the years.
Optional activities along the way
Matamajaw Historical Site
Métis Gardens
To further your discovery of this corner of the province, you will be spending the next 24 hours at Valga Outfitter. Domaine Valga covers 72 hectares including a 22-hectare fish-filled lake. The surrounding hills offer superb views of this largely forested region, as well as the opportunity to visit one of the oldest ancestral maple groves in Quebec.
DAY 12 - MONT COMI / KAMOURASKA (145 Km/1 hr 44 mins)
Breakfast and the morning off to enjoy some last moments in this peaceful and remote setting.
A panoramic route along the Gaspesian coast will take you to the region of Kamouraska, in Bas-St-Laurent, where, according to National Geographic, you will find "the second most beautiful sunsets in the world, after Hawaii".
"Where rushes grow at the water's edge" - that is what the Algonquin people called this place that is blessed by the gods. In addition to its rich and fascinating architecture and history, the Kamouraska region is renowned for the beauty and diversity of the land, and its calm and harmonious scenery. Tonight you will be staying at Auberge sur Mer, located on the banks of the St-Lawrence with a view of the famous sunset.
DAY 13 & 14 - KAMOURASKA / QUEBEC CITY (198 Km/2 hrs 12 mins)
 After breakfast, you set out along the wide St-Lawrence River in the direction of Quebec City. Why not stop in the charming village of St-Jean-Port-Joli, to take a look at the magnificent wood sculptures that have made this typical Quebec village famous....
Once in Quebec City, spend the rest of the day (and the next) exploring this old city with its many historic sites, recognized and protected by UNESCO. From Place Royale and Petit Champlain to Dufferin Terrace and Château Frontenac, follow winding alleys that will lead you to hidden places where you will have the impression that you are the first to discover them.
Your 2 nights in Quebec City will be spent at the luxurious Château Laurier*** hotel at the gates of Old Quebec.
DAY 15 - QUEBEC CITY/ MONTREAL AIRPORT (252 Km/1 hr 44 mins)
Your last morning in the old Capital before leaving for Montreal. Like any other big city, Montreal has 1001 attractions to offer the visitor. But Montreal is unique, a multicultural community whose French accent mingles with those of more than 80 other cultures. Montreal charms visitors with its Euro-American ambiance. Inventive, Montreal is caught up in whirlwind of cultural creativity, both classical and avant-garde. The downtown center teems with life at the foot of the mountain, while the city's history is firmly rooted in the older areas by the river.
Drop off your vehicle at the Montreal Airport and board your return flight home. And then you leave the land of lakes and rivers behind, with your heart full of lasting memories!!!
 
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Montreal vacation & Weather
