Holiday Overview
Trace the St Lawrence River as you drive from Montreal, via Quebec City, heading for the Atlantic Ocean and the town of Gaspe. Keep your camera at the ready as this region boasts abundant wildlife, including black bears and whales. We have included a whale watching cruise from the town of Tadoussac.
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Discover Lighthouses and Whales in Quebec Self Drive includes:
- Return flights from the UK
- 13 nights accommodation
- Car Hire
- Whale watching Cruise ex Tadoussac (covered boat)
- Return ferry Riviere du Loup/Pot a l’Eau de Vie Island (Lighthouse)
- 3 dinners, 2 breakfasts (hotel grades)
- Boat ride to Bonaventure Island and Rock Perce ex Perce
- Catamaran crossing from Rimouski to Forestville
- Park Entry fees at Parc de la Gaspesie
Day 1 - Fly UK to Montreal
Upon arrival in Montreal, make your way to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this lively city. Attractions of interest may be Vieux Montreal, the Basilique de Notre-Dame and the Chapelle de Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours. Montreal plays host to fantastic shopping, spectacular architecture, culinary delights and a great nightlife.
Featured accommodation
Delta Montreal
Enhance your experience
Le Saint Sulpice Hotel Montreal
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth
Day 2 - Montreal to Quebec City (263 km/164 mi)
Today you will trace the St. Lawrence River as you head north to Quebec City. The slower route 138 takes you off the mundane highways in order to experience rural Quebec and the remaining farms from the seigneurial regime. Along the way, pass through 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.
Featured accommodation
Hotel Manoir Victoria
Enhance your experience
Le Saint Pierre
Day 3 - Quebec City
Experience the old world charm of Vieux Quebec with its cobblestone streets, fortified city wall (one of a kind in North America), and seventeenth century architecture. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is complimented by artisan shops, Parisian cafes, landscaped parks, and numerous monuments. Take a stroll on the Plains of Abraham and visit the historic Chateau Frontenac.
Featured accommodation
Hotel Manoir Victoria
Enhance your experience
Le Saint Pierre
Unmissable Experiences
Quebec City Experiences
Day 4 - Quebec City to Riviere du Loup (189 km/118 mi)
Following the scenic path of the St. Lawrence River, today you are bound for the Riviere-du-Loup, the gateway to the Gaspe Peninsula. Kamouraska with its quaint architecture offers a pretty place to stop for lunch. Within the beautiful villages of Kamouraska and Notre-Dame-du-Portage, spot the Kamouraska roof, a distinctive design borrowed from the shipyards. Upon arrival in Riviere-du-Loup make your way to Pot a l’Eau de Vie lighthouse for a unique stay. (11 June to 7 September only)
Featured accommodation
Pot-a-l'Eau-de-Vie
Day 5 - Riviere du Loup to Matane (208 km/130 mi)
Upon your return to Riviere du Loup, continue today towards Matane. Drive 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 maritime museum presenting the history of the Empress of Ireland and its sinking. Climb the 128 steps to the top of Canada’s second tallest lighthouse.
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Hotel-Motel Belle Plage
Day 6 - Matane to Parc de la Gaspesie (110 km/69 mi)
Bound for Gaspesie National Park, soak in the splendors of the Chic-Choc and McGerrigle mountains and keep an eye out for interesting wildlife. The Park 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 kinds of birds.
Enhance your experience
Gite du Mont-Albert
Day 7 - Parc de la Gaspesie
Enjoy a day at your leisure.
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Gite du Mont-Albert
Day 8 - Parc de la Gaspesie to Gaspe (200 km/125 mi)
Enroute to Gaspe, 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.
Day 9 - Gaspe to Perce (78 km/49 mi)
Drive to Perce and its famous "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. Enjoy a boat trip to Ile Bonaventure (included).
Enhance your experience
Riotel Perce
Day 10 - Perce to Matapedia (265 km/165 mi)
Today proceed along Baie des Chaleurs through numerous picturesque fishing villages to Matapedia. At Bonaventure visit the Gospel Chapel, the arts and craft shops and the Acadian Museum. Time permits to visti the Parc de Miguasha, a UNESCO world heritage site renowned for fossils from the Devonian Period
Day 11 - Matapedia to Tadoussac (270 km/168 mi + ferry)
In Rimouski board a high speed catamaran for the 55-minute crossing to Forrestville (included). Upon arrival in Forrestville proceed along the North shore of the Lawrence River to Tadoussac, gateway to the Kingdom of the Saguenay and an immensely popular area for whale watching.
Unmissable Experiences
Tadoussac Experiences
Day 12 - Tadoussac to la Malbaie (78 km/49 mi)
Today enjoy a 3-hour whale watching cruise (included). Five or six species, including the humpback whale (15 m), the fin whale (20 m), and the blue whale-the world's largest mammal (30 m and 140 tons!)-come inland as far as the Charlevoix coastal area for feeding. Catch the 10 minute free ferry ride across to Baie Ste Catherine and proceed to la Malbaie where you will spend the night.
Day 13 - La Malbaie to Montreal (approx. 400 km/249 mi)
Depart la Malbaie and drive south through the Charlevoix Region to Quebec City. Enjoy the incredible scenery, the beauty of which has inspired generations of artists. 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.
Featured accommodation
Delta Montreal
Enhance your experience
Le Saint Sulpice Hotel Montreal
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth
Day 14 - Fly Montreal to UK
Return your rental vehicle and fly Montreal to the UK.
Le Saint Sulpice Hotel Montreal
Ideally located, Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel Montreal offers a superb and unique experience in the heart of Old Montreal. Adjacent to the Notre-Dame Basilica, and just steps away from the Old Port and several trendy bars, restaurants, art galleries, museums and shops, Old Montreal is definitely the most historic and touristic neighbourhood in the city, closed Downtown. This 4 Star-4 Diamond luxuary boutique hotel, features 108 authentic and inviting suites with cachet – overlooking the cobblestone streets or the lovely courtyard garden.
Hotel Manoir Victoria
Located in the heart of the historic, culturally vibrant and gastronomic activity of Old Quebec, Hotel Manoir Victoria extends a warm and friendly welcome in a distinctive and recently renovated decor.
Le Saint Pierre
Le Saint Pierre, auberge distinctive, brings together the top-notch services of a grand hotel with the authenticity of a cozy inn, in Old Québec. The bright and friendly rooms are offered including breakfast served in the Estèbe lounge.
Pot-à-l'Eau-de-Vie
Abandoned in 1964, 102 years after it was first commissioned, the Pot à l’Eau-de-vie lighthouse was restored by Duvetnor in 1989, turning it into a cozy inn with three attractive rooms furnished in the spirit of the 19th century. It is a classified federal heritage building.
Hotel-Motel Belle Plage
This property is 1 minute walk from the beach. Hotel Motel Belle Plage overlooks St. Lawrence Bay, just 2 minutes' walk from the local ferry. It boasts a restaurant which specializes in fish and seafood. The hotel features a private beach and large stone fireplace in the lobby.
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