Gaspé Peninsula

We leave Toronto by coach. Upon arrival in Montréal, 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 Musée de la sculpture sur bois (woodcarving museum), 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 begins with the visit of Cacouna, designated as one of the most beautiful villages in Québec, with an architectural heritage dating back to 1721. Then, it’s onto the Parc des Chutes (Falls Park) to see the spectacular waterfall of Rivière-du-Loup. 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 the Baie-des-Chaleurs.

Today we follow the beautiful shores of the 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 will cruise around Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island, where you can see 250,000 nesting birds (including seals and puffins!) on the rugged cliffs. You will also have the opportunity to disembark and 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 Gaspé Peninsula, where we visit the Musée de la Gaspésie. We will also stop in Forillon National Park, home to a boreal forest, unique geological formations, and abundant wildlife. In the afternoon, we travel to Matane, which is famous for its shrimp, lighthouse and beautiful Matane River. It’s the only place in the province where you can fish in the town square!

Our first stop is Reford Gardens, a beautiful spot with 3,000 native and exotic plants. Then we visit the picturesque old-world town of Kamouraska, with free time to enjoy some smoked eel or browse the local shops. We end the day in charming Québec City for a 2-night stay just outside the old city walls.

On our guided city tour, we’ll see Place Royale, Little Champlain Quarter, the Plains of Abraham, and take a fascinating tour of the National Assemblée of Québec. The rest of the day is free to explore Old Québec’s enchanting streets, historic buildings and majestic river views.

We drive back to Montréal, where we will enjoy a walking tour in Old Montréal with 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.