Wildlife of Quebec

Day 1 - UK to Montreal

Arrive in Montreal and make your way to your chosen hotel. Spending the rest of your day at leisure.

Day 2 - Explore Montreal

Spend today exploring the city of Montreal! Built on an island on the St Lawerence River Montreal is home to a wide variety of shops, fashion boutiques and restaurants to explore. Visit the renowned Montreal Botanical Gardens, home to beautiful collection of flowers which are all presented in themed gardens. No visit to Montreal is complete without visiting Notre-Dame Basilica Montreal, this gothic style church was the first built in Canada of this design in 1891.

Day 3 - Montreal to Mont Tremblant (132km/82 miles)

Pick up your car hire and begin your journey to Mont Tremblant.

Mont Tremblant is divided into three zones the downtown area rue de Saint-Jovite, the village Lac Mercier and Mont-Tremblant Resort. The downtown area is home to a variety of local stores, boutiques and restaurants many which are located in heritage buildings. Parc National du Mont-Tremblant is a mixture of natural and historical heritage, it was the first national park to be created in Quebec and is home to 40 mammal species including wolves. Mont-Tremblant is the prefect location for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, canoeing, fat biking and more!

Day 4 - Mont Tremblant to Saint Alexis des Monts (173km/110 miles)

Today continue your drive to Saint Alexis des Monts.

There is lots of great wilderness areas to explore around Saint Alexis des Monts! La Mauricie National Park entrance is near Wapizagonke Lake, an approx. 56 km long panoramic road winds through the hilly and lake-rich La Mauricie National Park. Along the drive you will come across some very beautiful vantage points the views from the viewpoint of the Ile-aux-Pins is particularly picturesque. From here, a short hike offers more breathtaking views. At Wapizagonke Lake, you can rent canoes and explore the lake as hunters, trappers and Native Americans did hundreds of years ago. Other hiking trails and picnic spots invite you to linger. In St-Jean-des-Piles you can get more information about the park at the visitor centre.

Day 5 - Saint Alexis des Monts to Quebec City (220km/137 miles)

Continue your drive to Quebec City. As you are in one of the most unique North American cities you should take advantage of its culture and flavour, it can best be enjoyed on foot. One of the focal points of the "Old Town" is the Chateau Frontenac, this is one of the many hotels that the Canadian railways built to provide passengers first class accommodations, as they travelled across the country. Stroll along Dufferin Terrace and enjoy the magnificent panorama of the mighty St. Lawrence with the Laurentian Mountains in the distance or visit the Citadel and Battlefields Park to understand the pivotal role Quebec played in the history of North America. You may reach the lower portion either by the Funicular or steps, the heart of Lower Town is the Place Royale with its historic Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church. There are a great variety of restaurants for you to enjoy some of the traditional Quebec cuisine.

Day 6 - Explore Quebec City

A full day to explore Quebec City!

Day 7 - Quebec City to La Baie / Saguenay (265km/165 miles)

Today’s drive takes you to La Baie / Saguenay. At the tip of a majestic fjord where the waters of the Saquenay and Saint Lawrence Rivers meet lies the charming village of Saguenay. With a decidedly French atmosphere and a touch of the Old World, visit the district of Chicoutimi, and learn about the areas cultural, historic and natural history. Visit La Baie along the Saguenay Fjord to discover the beauties of the fjord, the Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park with is hiking, sea kayaking, camping, and beluga whale watching. Discover the importance of the fjord, deeply chiseled in the Laurentian Mountains, as a natural trading route for the first Nations people of the area. In the 1600’s, France established its first fur trading post and colonization of the area soon followed.

Day 8 - La Baie / Saguenay to Lac Saint-Jean (104km/65 miles)

From east to west, from north to south, discover landscapes each more breathtaking than the next. The shores of Lac Saint-Jean offer many kilometres of pristine sandy beach. Parc national de la Pointe-Taillon offers exceptional access to lake Saint-Jean and the Péribonka River. You will be charmed by the varying hues of sand along its long sandy shores. The protected territory is populated by birds, beavers and moose. If you would like a more contained environment for wildlife viewing, visit the Zoo Sauvage, which offers natural habitats as immense as they are magnificent for animals from the boreal and cold regions of the world. It is considered one of the 10 most beautiful zoos in the world. There are more than 85 species, including exotic and native animals. Red pandas are among the most popular. The Parc de la caverne Trou de la Fee is surrounded by an impressive rock wall. Carved out of the granite, a 7-meter-high amphitheatre—unique in Quebec—allows you to take a seat for a captivating immersive show projected on the rock at 360 degrees. In 21 minutes, you will learn about the evolution of the territory and its occupation. Explore the canyon, hike the hiking trails and discover the rushing Métabetchouane River with its waterfalls and cascades.

Day 9 - Explore Lac Saint-Jean

A full day to explore Lac Saint-Jean.

Day 10 - Lac Saint-Jean to Tadoussac (215km/135 miles)

Continue your drive to Tadoussac. The main attraction of the region around Baie Sainte Catherine and Tadoussac is the Saguenay Marine Park. The approximately 1245 square km large park protects a considerable part of the St. Lawrence estuary and almost all the Saguenay Fjord. Whales and other marine life are best seen on one of the regularly scheduled boat tours. We have included a whale watching experience. Due to the abundance of nutrients, various whale species are drawn far into the estuary of the St. Lawrence River. These include humpback and blue whales. The white beluga whales are particularly spectacular. They are naturally very curious and communicative, which is why they are also called the "canaries" of the sea. They are the only whale species that can move their heads and have facial expressions similar to dolphins. The marine life in this region cannot be missed on your trip.

Day 11 - Explore Tadoussac

A full day to explore Tadoussac.

Day 12 - Tadoussac to Riviere du Loup (425km/264 miles)

Your drive today takes you to Riviere du Loup. Riviere du Loup's main attraction is the 33-meter-high waterfall in the middle of the town. A walk through the city takes you past Victorian houses, churches and parks. The Musee Du Bas St. Laurent gives a good insight into the history of the city. In the Parc de la Croix Lumineuse, an illuminated cross overlook the St. Lawrence River, which is about 14 miles wide here. Boat tours go to the islands: Ile aux Lievres, Iles du Pot a L'eau de Vie and Les Pelerins.

Day 13 - Riviere du Loup to Sherbrooke (411km/255 miles)

Sherbrooke is the primary economic, political, cultural and institutional centre of Estrie, and was known as the Queen of the Eastern Townships at the beginning of the 20th century. With its New England charm and French flair, Sherbrooke, the heart of Quebec’s Eastern Townships, is the perfect hub when visiting the lovely Eastern Township region of Quebec. One of the province’s most popular tourist destinations, the “Heart” (as the locals call it) abounds with wide open green spaces in the Coaticook Valley, lakes and mountains in the Memphrémagog region, all topped off with the naturally urban charm of Sherbrooke. Explore outdoor urban art galleries (both murals and garden sculptures) or lavender fields in bloom. Enjoy gourmet outings on a tourist train or a cruise boat and visit one of Canada’s most beautiful religious sites. And in the fall the Townships boasts some of the brightest maple colours in the world!

Day 14 - Explore Sherbrooke

A full day to explore Sherbrooke.

Day 15 - Sherbrooke to the UK

Your Quebec adventure comes to an end today, make the drive to Montreal Airport returning your car hire before your onward flight.