The hidden beauties of the Gaspé Peninsula

Arrival at Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Pick up your car and drive to your downtown hotel where you will stay for two nights. You will have the rest of the day to explore the city at your own pace and start enjoying the attractions of this great metropolis.

A major metropolis and economic centre of Quebec, Montreal is known for its dynamic urban life, shopping and historical heritage. During your stay, visit the historic district of Old Montreal, or go to the top of Mount Royal Park where a panoramic view of the city awaits you. Discover the Plateau Mont-Royal, or one of the many green spaces such as Maisonneuve Park, dominated by the emblematic Olympic Stadium tower. With its gastronomy, you're sure to enjoy yourself.

The Bas-Saint-Laurent is an ideal region for cycling or walking and enjoying the great Canadian outdoors. The greater Kamouraska region offers you a string of pretty, colourful villages with the magnificent St. Lawrence River as a backdrop. Breathe in the much sought-after salty air of this region of the World Good Time Reserve, the Lower St. Lawrence. Learn how to make maple syrup, discover the maritime history of the region, go on an expedition on the river, walk in unique gardens and parks and wander through picturesque villages. An authentic region awaits you.

Between Quebec City and Rimouski, you follow route 132: "la Route des Navigateurs"! It runs along the St. Lawrence River and allows you to discover attractions and panoramas related to maritime heritage as well as the inhabitants of these villages rich in history, among the most beautiful in Quebec. From Rivière-du-Loup, the river becomes a "sea" and the lighthouses, one of which is the oldest in the St. Lawrence, are located there. Regional capital of the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Rimouski is a dynamic city with many attractions. You can visit the Pointe-au-Père maritime historic site, the Rimouski regional museum, the Beauséjour Park, and the canyon of the gates of hell on the Rimouski River, all of which can be discovered by kayak or canoe!

Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River and covering an area of 33.2 square kilometres, the Parc National du Bic awaits you with its capes, bays, coves, islands and mountains that form an exceptional landscape. Thousands of seabirds come here to nest and rare plants bloom on the rocky capes. To your amazement, near the shore, seals bask in the sun. The many activities and services offered by the park guarantee you an unforgettable stay!

Today you are truly entering the Gaspé Peninsula, a long peninsula that juts out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with a rugged but strikingly beautiful landscape. Endowed with some of the most beautiful panoramas in Quebec and even in Canada, it encompasses numerous parks and reserves. Forests, beaches, cliffs and meadows form an immense wildlife and plant corridor that is unique in the world. However, you will approach it by crossing the Matapedia Valley, a beautiful river that meanders for more than 70 km and is renowned for salmon fishing. Lodging in the Baie-des-Chaleurs.

From Baie-des-Chaleurs, which owes its name to Jacques Cartier who, in 1534, landed there in the middle of the July heat wave, you will set off for Percé. In Bonaventure, you will visit the Jardin animalier de la Gaspésie in Bonaventure. You will learn a little more about Canadian wildlife and its way of life. Along the way, visit the historic site of the Banc-de-Pêche de Paspébiac. Witness to two centuries of history relating the great fishing epic in Gaspésie, this site is a masterpiece with its eleven period buildings. Always impregnated with the smell of the sea, the walls give you their testimonials and the animation staff will make you relive the great adventure of the two most important fishing companies of Jersey in the 18th and 19th centuries.

You can take advantage of the day to immerse yourself in Gaspesian life and discover the secrets of Percé: a meeting of fishermen on the wharf, a plunge of gannets fond of fish, a local craft shop full of discoveries, the majestic Percé Rock, tourist emblem of Quebec. You will board a cruise that will allow you to admire Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island, the most important marine animal sanctuary in North America.

This morning, head to Forillon National Park, located at the tip of the peninsula. Its grandiose landscapes of sea, cliffs and mountains extend over 244 km2. It is home to a fairly diverse fauna: foxes, bears, moose, porcupines and many other mammals. More than 200 species of birds are listed here. Thousands of sea birds nest on the cliffs every summer. From the pebble beaches of the park it is not uncommon to see seals.

Your route to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, along the gulf, is one of the most beautiful in the province. Here you will find pictures of postcards. Gateway to the majestic Gaspésie National Park, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Quebec's driftwood capital, will charm you with its landscapes and sunsets over the St. Lawrence that will leave you speechless. On the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts wharf, you can visit the Exploramer site. The aquarium, the maritime museum and sea excursions will allow you to discover the marine environment of the St. Lawrence.

A day dedicated to the Parc de la Gaspésie, a veritable sea of mountains, located in the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula. The park protects an exceptional wilderness that varies according to altitude. The Chic-Chocs mountain range, the ultimate extension of the Appalachians, raises peaks here that reach over 1000 metres. Its different climates and geomorphology, which distinguish it, attract a diversity of living species unique in Quebec, including woodland caribou.

Today, you will cross the St. Lawrence River from Rimouski to Forestville on the north shore. Continue to Tadoussac, the official site of the first fur trading post in Canada and a charming little village with red roofs.

In Tadoussac you will have the chance to go whale watching on a boat or zodiac cruise. This more maneuverable means of transportation allows you to get as close as possible to the marine mammals. Afterwards, leave for the Charlevoix region, which combines nature and culture. On the way, don't hesitate to make a stop at the many viewpoints on the river and in the many villages with their own particular charm. Also stop at the Parc de la Chute Montmorency, the last stop before arriving in Quebec City.

The only fortified city in North America, Quebec City has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1985. From the top of its imposing ramparts, Quebec City invites you to travel back in time: the Château Frontenac, the Battlefields Park of the Plains of Abraham, the Citadelle, the Petit Champlain district, not to mention the city's many museums and restaurants! Outside the city, the traditional Huron site in Wendake is also a must-see attraction to retrace the history of the First Nations.

Between Quebec City and Montreal, enjoy a typical sugar shack meal or stop in Trois-Rivières. In the late afternoon, arrive at the Montreal airport where you will return your rental car before boarding your return flight to France. Arrival in France the next morning.