13 DAY HISTORIC QUéBEC AND THE GASPé PENINSULA
HISTORIC QUEBEC TOUR
Québecers have a culture that's unique. Deeply rooted in North America and yet fiercely proud of its French heritage, Québec is a blend of the Old and New Worlds,
famous for its unique lifestyle and joie de vivre! Historic buildings, lighthouses, characterful inns and quaint towns throughout the famed Charlevoix and Gaspé regions of Québec provide the building blocks of this cultural tour.
famous for its unique lifestyle and joie de vivre! Historic buildings, lighthouses, characterful inns and quaint towns throughout the famed Charlevoix and Gaspé regions of Québec provide the building blocks of this cultural tour.
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Start Location: Montréal
End Location: Montréal
TOP HIGHLIGHTS
- Montréal City Tour
- Notre Dame Basilica
- Old Montréal
- UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Québec
- Québec Fortifications
- Chateau Frontenac
- Québec Citadel
- Plains of Abraham
- Québec City Tour
- Train Between Québec City and La Malbaie
- Gaspé Peninsula
- Pointe-au-Pére Lighthouse
- Onondaga Submarine
- Reford Gardens
- Saint-Siméon to Riviére-du-Loup Ferry
- Forillon National Park
- Quaint Village of Percé
- Percé Rock
- Mary Travers Historical Site
- Banc-de-Péche-de-Paspébiac Historic Site
- Ecole Cap-Chat Wind Energy Interpretation Centre
- Québec Ile d'Orleans
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ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive in Montréal, QC
A stylish and elegant city with a distinctly European flair offering a vibrant mix of the old and new. Here you can immerse yourself in the French heritage of North America. Stroll through narrow cobbled lanes with 17th century buildings, quaint shops, galleries and sidewalk cafés. Montreal is a city with a thousand different flavours, from award-winning restaurants to ethnic food stalls and locally grown products. You will enjoy the cuisine this city has to offer.
Overnight: Montréal
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Montréal, QC
Today you will enjoy a classic city tour with an expert local guide. Experience an overview of Montréal and its historical sites, where you will discover all of the characteristics this city has to offer. See the highlights of one of the world's largest French-speaking cities in the world with stops at the city's best attractions, where you can explore and have time to take pictures. You will visit the Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory, residential and financial districts, Old Montréal, French Quarter, McGill University and take in some panoramic views from an observation point on top of Mount Royal, from which Montréal gets its name.
Overnight: Montréal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Montréal - Québec City, QC
Today board VIA Rail from Montréal, following the St. Lawrence River, you will pass from city suburbs to the rural landscapes of forests and rich pastures, dotted with tiny villages that extend to Québec City, the oldest walled city in North America and the heart of the French Canadian culture in Canada. Old Québec is a UNESCO designated World Heritage City. Many Québec historic sites such as the Québec fortifications, Chateau Frontenac, Québec Citadel, Plains of Abraham and Québec ÃŽle d'Orléans make up important landmarks of Old Québec City and the nearby region. Many different influences have shaped Québec's history over the past 400 years - the First Nations, the French, the Acadians, the British, the Americans, the Germans and the Irish, to name a few. There is a lot to discover here by foot.
Overnight: Québec City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Québec City, QC
Today you discover Québec City (the Upper and Lower Towns) through its history, architecture and culture. Visit the must-see walled city and the historic Lower Town, but also travel outside the city walls to see Parliament Hill and the famous Plains of Abraham. You will walk through some pedestrian areas like the Dufferin Terrasse, around Chateau Frontenac, Place-Royale (birthplace of the city), and the Petit-Champlain borough.
Overnight: Québec City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Québec City - La Malbaie, QC
Rolling eastward across landscapes both wild and grandiose, you realize just how isolated Charlevoix was in the late 19th century. With no efficient road system, the region was cut off from the world. The idea of creating a rail line connecting Québec City to Charlevoix is owed to Sir Rodolphe Forget. Efforts were colossal because of the countless tunnels chiselled through peaks that plunge straight down to the sea. In 1889, a first rail segment was inaugurated linking Québec City to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. A steam train - fondly called the Good St. Anne - conveyed throngs of pilgrims to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica. In 1904, the train was powered by electricity. A second leg linking Beaupré to La Malbaie (Pointe-au-Pic) was built between 1909 and 1918. The train's maiden rail cruise to Baie-Saint-Paul was celebrated in 1918, whereas another full year was required before the first train pulled into La Malbaie Station. Meandering along the St. Lawrence River across 125 kilometres, this singular four-hour long rail cruise between Québec City and La Malbaie reveals all the poetic beauty of seven cliffside and seaside towns and villages. During this leisurely coastal journey you see an ever-changing landscape where a new spectacle unfolds on every turn. A favourite of tourists, La Malbaie's calm, beauty and fresh air have drawn North America's high society for more than 200 years. Pointe-au-Pic was the first resort area in Canada. The prestigious Manoir Richelieu was built in the early 20th century when the great white ships docked in Charlevoix, sitting high above the St. Lawrence and next to the Casino de Charlevoix. The Musée de Charlevoix in picturesque Havre de Pointe-au-Pic is dedicated to folk art and is considered to be the leading museum of its kind in Québec.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: La Malbaie - Rimouski, QC
This morning starts en route to the Gaspé Peninsula by crossing the St. Lawrence from Saint-Siméon to Rivière-du-Loup on the southern shore by ferry. Take time to do a boat tour of the untouched islands off Riviére-du-Loup that are part of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Protected by Société Duvetnor, these islands provide shelter for colonies of seabirds and seals and are a great place to observe belugas. Two of the islands are open to the public: Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie (Brandy Pot Island), with its completely restored historic lighthouse, and ÃŽle aux Lièvres (Hare Island). Sea excursions are onboard safe and comfortable boats with an interpreter guide that provides commentary on the species observed. The tour follows the southern route to the town of Rimouski.
Overnight: Rimouski
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Rimouski, QC
The Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse near Rimouski played a primordial role in the history of navigation on the St. Lawrence River. The existing lighthouse, built in 1909, is the third to be built on the site and is the second tallest in Canada. Accompanied by an interpreter guide, climb to the top of this unusual structure and take in the view of the St. Lawrence. Later, explore the exhibits in the lighthouse keeper's house and the foghorn shed. You will also visit the Onondaga, one of the only submarines open to the public in Canada, and the Empress of Ireland Pavilion, which commemorates this maritime tragedy through a multimedia show as well as an exhibit of artifacts rescued from the wreck. The afternoon is free to explore this quaint town by foot.
Overnight: Rimouski
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Rimouski - Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, QC
This morning at Grand-Métis, stop at a national historic site of Canada and a heritage site of Québec: the Reford Gardens, which are a must-see for anyone visiting the Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent. A tourist destination for over 50 years, the Reford Gardens provide visitors with varied multisensory experiences. Some 3,000 species and varieties of plants, including the famous Himalayan blue poppy, can be found in over a dozen gardens. Estevan Lodge presents a permanent exhibit on the summer stays of Elsie Reford (who created the gardens from 1926 to 1958) and her family. Be sure to visit Elsie's vegetable garden and the museum of gardening tools. Starting in late June, the International Garden Festival presents innovative contemporary gardens designed by artists, architects, and landscape architects from around the world. Conceptual gardens give visitors the opportunity to experience contemporary art and offer children a giant playground in which to explore fun and interactive installations. Further east, in Cap-Chat, the sea and mountain scenery is dominated by 133 wind turbines in one of North America's largest wind farms. At the interesting École Cap-Chat wind energy interpretation centre, visit the highest and most powerful vertical-axis wind turbine in the world.
Overnight: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts - Percé, QC
Driving from lighthouse to lighthouse eastward through spectacular sea and mountain scenery from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, the tour takes you towards the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula with its magnificent scenery. Since Gaspé became the Cradle of Canada when Jacques Cartier erected a cross here in 1534, the town is also home to many interpretation sites and museums that will introduce you to this region's fascinating history. Forillon National Park is located at the easternmost tip of the peninsula. In this breathtaking landscape, you can learn about the gulf's rich ecosystems as well as local fishing history. Forillon is also home to Canada's tallest lighthouse at Cap-des-Rosiers. The tour continues to Percé, the easternmost tip of the Gaspé Peninsula.
Overnight: Percé
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Percé, QC
The quaint village of Percé is an attraction in its own right, where you can enjoy exploring the local boutiques, churches, the small museum and art galleries. Percé has a reputation for fine dining, and of course, the region's star attraction is majestic Percé Rock! Offshore, you can see Bonaventure Island and get a close-up of this protected area during your sea excursion there. A visit to the island and its national park will give you the opportunity to observe over 300,000 seabirds, including 120,000 northern gannets, in the world's most accessible colony of these birds.
Overnight: Percé
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Percé - Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, QC
Completing the circumnavigation of the Gaspé, head towards the Bonaventure area of the Gaspé where you can stop at the Mary Travers historical site in Newport and be introduced to Québec and French Canada's first singer/songwriter, known as "La Bolduc". A little further west, the Banc-de-Pêche-de-Paspébiac Historic Site presents the history of the area's two largest Jersey Island fishing companies, the Charles Robin Company and LeBoutillier Brothers. An inland drive cuts through the heart of the peninsula through the Gaspé National Park, home to 25 mountains over 1,000 metres high, the only caribou herd south of the St. Lawrence, a large moose population, arctic-alpine flora and spectacular scenery on every side! You will drive through the splendours of the Chic-Choc and McGerrigle Mountains while keeping an eye out for interesting wildlife (caribou, white-tailed deer, moose and over 150 species of birds).
Overnight: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts - La Malbaie, QC
A drive along the scenic southern shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence through the towns of Matane, Rimouski and Rivière-du-Loup, followed by a ferry ride to the north shore of the Gulf takes you back to La Malbaie for your overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13: La Malbaie - Québec City, QC
There is a two-hour drive back to Québec City early this morning to connect with your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
DATES & PRICES
We accept 
AVAILABILITY
START DATE
END DATE
PRICE
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
DEPOSIT
BOOK
CAD (does not include 15% tax)
Flights can be booked to arrive at any time on first day. Please do not book flights departing Quebec City before 1:30pm on the last day. A mandatory single surcharge may apply to this tour if you have selected our TwinShare Program and we are unable to match you with another TwinShare passenger.
Flights can be booked to arrive at any time on first day. Please do not book flights departing Quebec City before 1:30pm on the last day. A mandatory single surcharge may apply to this tour if you have selected our TwinShare Program and we are unable to match you with another TwinShare passenger.
Applicable taxes vary depending on travel destination and are not included. Please ask your sales agent what extra taxes will be payable for your tour.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 12 nights of accommodation (3-4 star, or best available)
- Professional Tour Leader
- Transportation on comfortable motorcoach
- VIA Rail from Montréal to Québec City in economy class
- 24 meals: 12 breakfasts, 12 dinners
EXCLUSIONS
- 5% provincial tax on top of tour base rate
- Gratuities to driver (Recommend $3-$4 per person per day)
- Gratuities to guide (Recommend $5-$7 per person per day)
- Meals not listed
- Attractions not listed
- Credit card payment fees, where applicable
- Airfare domestic and international (Unless Specified)
- Travel insurance (Strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Items of a personal nature
Why Take An Anderson Tour?
Seasoned Tour Guides
Get a deeper understanding with storytelling tailored to your interests.
Space To Breathe
We never max out buses even if we use the same size bus as the competition.
All Inclusive
No hidden expenses along the way. Competitors offer activities as an extra - we don't
Our guide training manual is accredited by ACTA/CITC Canadian Educational Standard Inc. Now used as the standard in educational college programs.
Can't find what you're looking for?
Our specialists can take away the stress and create a custom trip tailored to your exact interests and budget.
Get A Custom Quote
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
Custom Trip Plans
You can see what you want, when you want, how you want.
Unique Experiences
Experiences that help you take in the region in a different way.
Freedom To Explore
Time to take in each place with only the tours you want to do.
Tour Questions
What is the maximum number of travellers in a group?
Anderson Vacations specializes in Small Group Fully Escorted tours. If the tour is classified as a ‘Classic Tour’ up to 24 persons may join the tour although tours commonly travel with anywhere between 18 to 24 travellers. If the tour is classified as a 'Tour of Distinction’ only up to 18 persons may join the tour and many 'Tours of Distinction' travel with 12 to 18 travellers.
What are Guaranteed Departures?
After dreaming about travel to an exciting destination, arranging for time off work, booking your flights the last thing you need is for your trip to be cancelled. Anderson vacation's pre-Guaranteed tours take the uncertainty away from planning your travel and give you peace of mind to book our tours. Pre-Guaranteed Tours are group tours that we have already confirmed as certain to travel on the specified date. All 'Guaranteed Tours' will travel except in the event of a natural disaster or a catastrophic event that is beyond our control. They may already have the minimum number of people booked or else are tours that are known to be popular. Only select departures of tours are 'pre-Guaranteed'.
What happens if I book on a tour that is not Guaranteed?
We pride ourselves on providing “a small shared group experience.” In the event that we have fewer than ten participants on a tour we will offer a “small-group surcharge” to ensure that the tour runs as scheduled. This fee, which is up to 15% of the “land” portion of the tour, will be offered to you as an option to continue with the trip. This fee will cover the costs associated with handling a smaller group.
What is the average age of passengers for this tour?
Our tours are suitable for all age demographics. The average age of travelers is typically 45+.
How physically demanding is this tour? Are you able to accommodate people with mobility restrictions/limitations?
Some tours are mainly coach based and may not be physically demanding while others may require walking inclines or on rough surfaces to access interesting locations. Please check with us and your booking agent carefully and discuss your mobility restrictions before completing any tour booking to ensure this style of travel is right for you.
Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?
Yes, we do accommodate dietary restrictions (within reason) such as, food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, etc. There are many meals included on our fully escorted tours. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so we can ensure there are alternative meal choices.
Booking & Flight Questions
Do you arrange airport transfers?
Yes, we can assist you with airport transfers for you in most locations at a reasonable extra cost. Several tours have airport transfers already included. Please contact us for more details.
Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?
Yes, we can certainly assist with booking additional nights of hotel accommodation for you before and after your fully escorted tour. This is available upon request and subject to availability. Please inquire for further information and prices.
How much luggage should I bring?
Each passenger may bring one large suitcase and one carry-on bag. The weight limit for baggage is 20 kilograms or about 40 pounds. Baggage handling is provided at the hotels in our tour packages but there may be places where you will be required to wheel in your bags for quicker access. Be sure to advise our reservations staff if you will be bringing additional items such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair. You may also bring one small soft-sided carry-on bag, which should easily fit into the overhead shelf of a coach. Each person is responsible for his/her own carryon luggage. Remember to check your airline baggage restrictions if you are flying, as they may differ from Anderson Vacations guidelines.
I am a solo traveller. Is there a single surcharge?
There are options for single travelers to join most tours. Solo travellers can choose to pay a Single Supplement and have their own room throughout the tour. For those willing to share with a co-traveller of the same gender, we have a Twin Share option that is offered for most tours where you share a hotel room with another same gender traveller. In this case, you will not be charged for Single Supplement.
Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?
Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire or contact us regarding this option, as prices and availability vary from tour to tour.
Can we book this tour with our exclusive group?
Yes, you can! Anderson Vacations works with many private groups and helps to customize a tour to traveller’s needs. Please contact us for more details.
Are gratuities included in the tour cost?
For convenience, gratuities for local guides and meals that are specified in the itinerary are included in the tour price. For meals not included in your tour package please remember that it is customary to tip your server 10-20% in North America. Gratuities for your Coach Driver (where appropriate) and Tour Director are entirely at your discretion. We recommend about CDN $5.00 per person, per day, for your Driver and CDN$7.00 per person, per day for your Tour Leader.
Ready? Have More Questions?
Over 25 years offering custom trips and small group tours.
INQUIRE ABOUT THIS TRIP
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
Seasoned Tour Guides
Get a deeper understanding with storytelling tailored to your interests.
Space To Breathe
We never max out buses even if we use the same size bus as the competition.
All Inclusive
No hidden expenses along the way. Competitors offer activities as an extra - we don't
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Tour Code
QCGP
13 Day Historic Québec and the Gaspé Peninsula
13 days
Created On: 28 Sep 2023
Highlights
- Montréal City Tour
- Notre Dame Basilica
- Old Montréal
- UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Québec
- Québec Fortifications
- Chateau Frontenac
- Québec Citadel
- Plains of Abraham
- Québec City Tour
- Train Between Québec City and La Malbaie
- Gaspé Peninsula
- Pointe-au-Pére Lighthouse
- Onondaga Submarine
- Reford Gardens
- Saint-Siméon to Riviére-du-Loup Ferry
- Forillon National Park
- Quaint Village of Percé
- Percé Rock
- Mary Travers Historical Site
- Banc-de-Péche-de-Paspébiac Historic Site
- Ecole Cap-Chat Wind Energy Interpretation Centre
- Québec Ile d'Orleans
Inclusions
- 12 nights of accommodation (3-4 star, or best available)
- Professional Tour Leader
- Transportation on comfortable motorcoach
- VIA Rail from Montréal to Québec City in economy class
- 24 meals: 12 breakfasts, 12 dinners
Exclusions
- 5% provincial tax on top of tour base rate
- Gratuities to driver (Recommend $3-$4 per person per day)
- Gratuities to guide (Recommend $5-$7 per person per day)
- Meals not listed
- Attractions not listed
- Credit card payment fees, where applicable
- Airfare domestic and international (Unless Specified)
- Travel insurance (Strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Items of a personal nature
Dates & Prices
AVAILABILITY
START DATE
END DATE
PRICE
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
DEPOSIT
AVAILABLE
Sun, 18 Aug 2024
Fri, 30 Aug 2024
$5,730 USD
$1,630 USD
$500 USD
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Montréal, QC
A stylish and elegant city with a distinctly European flair offering a vibrant mix of the old and new. Here you can immerse yourself in the French heritage of North America. Stroll through narrow cobbled lanes with 17th century buildings, quaint shops, galleries and sidewalk cafés. Montreal is a city with a thousand different flavours, from award-winning restaurants to ethnic food stalls and locally grown products. You will enjoy the cuisine this city has to offer.
Overnight: Montréal
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Montréal, QC
Today you will enjoy a classic city tour with an expert local guide. Experience an overview of Montréal and its historical sites, where you will discover all of the characteristics this city has to offer. See the highlights of one of the world's largest French-speaking cities in the world with stops at the city's best attractions, where you can explore and have time to take pictures. You will visit the Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory, residential and financial districts, Old Montréal, French Quarter, McGill University and take in some panoramic views from an observation point on top of Mount Royal, from which Montréal gets its name.
Overnight: Montréal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Montréal - Québec City, QC
Today board VIA Rail from Montréal, following the St. Lawrence River, you will pass from city suburbs to the rural landscapes of forests and rich pastures, dotted with tiny villages that extend to Québec City, the oldest walled city in North America and the heart of the French Canadian culture in Canada. Old Québec is a UNESCO designated World Heritage City. Many Québec historic sites such as the Québec fortifications, Chateau Frontenac, Québec Citadel, Plains of Abraham and Québec ÃŽle d'Orléans make up important landmarks of Old Québec City and the nearby region. Many different influences have shaped Québec's history over the past 400 years - the First Nations, the French, the Acadians, the British, the Americans, the Germans and the Irish, to name a few. There is a lot to discover here by foot.
Overnight: Québec City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Québec City, QC
Today you discover Québec City (the Upper and Lower Towns) through its history, architecture and culture. Visit the must-see walled city and the historic Lower Town, but also travel outside the city walls to see Parliament Hill and the famous Plains of Abraham. You will walk through some pedestrian areas like the Dufferin Terrasse, around Chateau Frontenac, Place-Royale (birthplace of the city), and the Petit-Champlain borough.
Overnight: Québec City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Québec City - La Malbaie, QC
Rolling eastward across landscapes both wild and grandiose, you realize just how isolated Charlevoix was in the late 19th century. With no efficient road system, the region was cut off from the world. The idea of creating a rail line connecting Québec City to Charlevoix is owed to Sir Rodolphe Forget. Efforts were colossal because of the countless tunnels chiselled through peaks that plunge straight down to the sea. In 1889, a first rail segment was inaugurated linking Québec City to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. A steam train - fondly called the Good St. Anne - conveyed throngs of pilgrims to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica. In 1904, the train was powered by electricity. A second leg linking Beaupré to La Malbaie (Pointe-au-Pic) was built between 1909 and 1918. The train's maiden rail cruise to Baie-Saint-Paul was celebrated in 1918, whereas another full year was required before the first train pulled into La Malbaie Station. Meandering along the St. Lawrence River across 125 kilometres, this singular four-hour long rail cruise between Québec City and La Malbaie reveals all the poetic beauty of seven cliffside and seaside towns and villages. During this leisurely coastal journey you see an ever-changing landscape where a new spectacle unfolds on every turn. A favourite of tourists, La Malbaie's calm, beauty and fresh air have drawn North America's high society for more than 200 years. Pointe-au-Pic was the first resort area in Canada. The prestigious Manoir Richelieu was built in the early 20th century when the great white ships docked in Charlevoix, sitting high above the St. Lawrence and next to the Casino de Charlevoix. The Musée de Charlevoix in picturesque Havre de Pointe-au-Pic is dedicated to folk art and is considered to be the leading museum of its kind in Québec.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: La Malbaie - Rimouski, QC
This morning starts en route to the Gaspé Peninsula by crossing the St. Lawrence from Saint-Siméon to Rivière-du-Loup on the southern shore by ferry. Take time to do a boat tour of the untouched islands off Riviére-du-Loup that are part of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Protected by Société Duvetnor, these islands provide shelter for colonies of seabirds and seals and are a great place to observe belugas. Two of the islands are open to the public: Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie (Brandy Pot Island), with its completely restored historic lighthouse, and ÃŽle aux Lièvres (Hare Island). Sea excursions are onboard safe and comfortable boats with an interpreter guide that provides commentary on the species observed. The tour follows the southern route to the town of Rimouski.
Overnight: Rimouski
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Rimouski, QC
The Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse near Rimouski played a primordial role in the history of navigation on the St. Lawrence River. The existing lighthouse, built in 1909, is the third to be built on the site and is the second tallest in Canada. Accompanied by an interpreter guide, climb to the top of this unusual structure and take in the view of the St. Lawrence. Later, explore the exhibits in the lighthouse keeper's house and the foghorn shed. You will also visit the Onondaga, one of the only submarines open to the public in Canada, and the Empress of Ireland Pavilion, which commemorates this maritime tragedy through a multimedia show as well as an exhibit of artifacts rescued from the wreck. The afternoon is free to explore this quaint town by foot.
Overnight: Rimouski
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Rimouski - Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, QC
This morning at Grand-Métis, stop at a national historic site of Canada and a heritage site of Québec: the Reford Gardens, which are a must-see for anyone visiting the Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent. A tourist destination for over 50 years, the Reford Gardens provide visitors with varied multisensory experiences. Some 3,000 species and varieties of plants, including the famous Himalayan blue poppy, can be found in over a dozen gardens. Estevan Lodge presents a permanent exhibit on the summer stays of Elsie Reford (who created the gardens from 1926 to 1958) and her family. Be sure to visit Elsie's vegetable garden and the museum of gardening tools. Starting in late June, the International Garden Festival presents innovative contemporary gardens designed by artists, architects, and landscape architects from around the world. Conceptual gardens give visitors the opportunity to experience contemporary art and offer children a giant playground in which to explore fun and interactive installations. Further east, in Cap-Chat, the sea and mountain scenery is dominated by 133 wind turbines in one of North America's largest wind farms. At the interesting École Cap-Chat wind energy interpretation centre, visit the highest and most powerful vertical-axis wind turbine in the world.
Overnight: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts - Percé, QC
Driving from lighthouse to lighthouse eastward through spectacular sea and mountain scenery from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, the tour takes you towards the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula with its magnificent scenery. Since Gaspé became the Cradle of Canada when Jacques Cartier erected a cross here in 1534, the town is also home to many interpretation sites and museums that will introduce you to this region's fascinating history. Forillon National Park is located at the easternmost tip of the peninsula. In this breathtaking landscape, you can learn about the gulf's rich ecosystems as well as local fishing history. Forillon is also home to Canada's tallest lighthouse at Cap-des-Rosiers. The tour continues to Percé, the easternmost tip of the Gaspé Peninsula.
Overnight: Percé
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Percé, QC
The quaint village of Percé is an attraction in its own right, where you can enjoy exploring the local boutiques, churches, the small museum and art galleries. Percé has a reputation for fine dining, and of course, the region's star attraction is majestic Percé Rock! Offshore, you can see Bonaventure Island and get a close-up of this protected area during your sea excursion there. A visit to the island and its national park will give you the opportunity to observe over 300,000 seabirds, including 120,000 northern gannets, in the world's most accessible colony of these birds.
Overnight: Percé
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Percé - Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, QC
Completing the circumnavigation of the Gaspé, head towards the Bonaventure area of the Gaspé where you can stop at the Mary Travers historical site in Newport and be introduced to Québec and French Canada's first singer/songwriter, known as "La Bolduc". A little further west, the Banc-de-Pêche-de-Paspébiac Historic Site presents the history of the area's two largest Jersey Island fishing companies, the Charles Robin Company and LeBoutillier Brothers. An inland drive cuts through the heart of the peninsula through the Gaspé National Park, home to 25 mountains over 1,000 metres high, the only caribou herd south of the St. Lawrence, a large moose population, arctic-alpine flora and spectacular scenery on every side! You will drive through the splendours of the Chic-Choc and McGerrigle Mountains while keeping an eye out for interesting wildlife (caribou, white-tailed deer, moose and over 150 species of birds).
Overnight: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts - La Malbaie, QC
A drive along the scenic southern shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence through the towns of Matane, Rimouski and Rivière-du-Loup, followed by a ferry ride to the north shore of the Gulf takes you back to La Malbaie for your overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13: La Malbaie - Québec City, QC
There is a two-hour drive back to Québec City early this morning to connect with your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
