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10 Days Discover Quebec by Rail Tour Package
Featuring Montreal, VIA Rail's Chaleur, The Gaspe Peninsula, Charlevoix and Quebec City
Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights
Priced From: $2,749 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Jul - Sep
From the chic boutiques of Montreal to the gannets' cries on the far shores of Gaspé, this 10 day Québec tour explores the diverse joys of the province. Enjoy three Fairmont properties - The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in Charlevoix, and the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac, itself a symbol of Old Quebec. Visit the shrine at St. Anne de Beaupre. Travel via overnight train on VIA Rail's Chaleur to the Gaspe Region. This tour includes visits to 4 Economuseums, devoted to preserving cultural heritage.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Montreal, Quebec
Your tour begins in the second largest French-speaking city in the world, Montreal.
Day 2: Montreal - VIA Rail
This morning enjoy a fantastic panoramic sightseeing tour of Montreal, including a view of the gorgeous Notre Dame Cathedral. Take time to stroll the charming cobblestone streets of Old Montreal lined with boutiques and cafés serving typical French cuisine. This afternoon it's "all aboard" VIA Rail's Chaleur. Relive the charm of yesteryear as you travel overnight toward the Gaspe Peninsula. Unwind as the movement of the rails relaxes you and evokes a time when the journey was as much the experience of travel as the destination.
Day 3: VIA Rail - Gaspe Region - Perce
This morning you will wind past stunning coastal scenery, picturesque fishing villages hugging the shore, and pristine forests. Arrive early afternoon in a naturalist's paradise - the Gaspe Peninsula. Visit the Micmac Indian Village and learn about the culture, history and way of life of this tribe in the 17th century, including a presentation on the tools they used and structures they lived in. Continue to the charming seaside town of Perce, complete with a traditional boardwalk lined with charming cafés and shops.
Day 4: Bonaventure Island - Gaspe Region - Perce
This morning, visit one of the best-preserved general stores in Canada, with oak shelves stocked with authentic old-time merchandise. Plunge back in time as local people in period costumes tell you stories about the rich fishing heritage of Gaspe and its people. Later, depart on a remarkable cruise to explore the wonders of the Gaspe Peninsula by sea! First, cruise around the famous Perce Rock, carved by the tides into a breathtaking panorama. Next, circle Bonaventure Island for a once-in-a- lifetime view of the largest gannet colony in the world! Be amazed at the sight of tens of thousands of gannets perched above on the cliffs of this charming island, which is now a national park with a rich maritime heritage. You may disembark on the island and explore by foot if you choose. Then, enjoy leisure time to explore the area on your own, stroll the boardwalk, or sample one of the wonderful local restaurants.
Day 5: Perce - Forillon National Park - Rimouski
Visit Forillon National Park, an invitation to Land's End at the farthest reach of the Gaspe Peninsula. Its majestic landscape is carved out of the sea, cliffs and mountains. Continue on to the charming fishing village of Rimouski.
Day 6: Rimouski - Whale Watching - Pointe-au-Pic
Depart Rimouski and approach the banks of the mighty St. Lawrence River and Baie-Ste-Catherine where you embark on an incredible whale watching expedition. Discover one of the most beautiful whale watching sites in the world as a naturalist guide introduces you to the many species of marine mammals found in the St. Lawrence River. On the other side of the St. Lawrence you will continue into the Charlevoix region and the incomparable Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, your home for the next two nights. From the summit of Pointe-au-Pic cliff, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu towers majestically over the estuary of the St. Lawrence River. The evening is yours to do as you please. Perhaps you will try your luck at the fabulous Casino de Charlevoix, right on the grounds of your hotel!
Day 7: Charlevoix Region
After breakfast, depart your hotel for a day of exploration in the Charlevoix region, renowned as much for its hospitality as for the landscapes which have won the hearts of painters, poets, writers and musicians for hundreds of years. A visit to the ECONOMUSEUM Laiterie Charlevoix shows you first hand how they turn milk into cheese, and teaches you the steps of cheesemaking and a few of their secrets! You even get to sample some of their products, which are among the best in the region, at a special cheese tasting! Next, visit Baie-Saint-Paul, nestled along the banks of the St. Lawrence. One of the oldest towns in Quebec, it boasts two-hundred-year-old houses in the traditional Quebec style, countless art galleries and fascinating craft boutiques, interspersed with quaint terraces and pleasant cafés. Time at leisure allows you to explore this absolutely charming town at your own pace. A short ferry ride brings you to L'isle-aux-Coudres, an island in the St. Lawrence with a rich history and friendly inhabitants. A visit to the ECONOMUSEUM Verger Pedneault, an award-winning orchard, teaches you about the history of apples and techniques of harvesting and production that result in unique and delicious products, including apple butter, jams, hard cider and iced wines. Yet another ECONOMUSEUM on the island boasts a watermill from 1825 and a windmill from 1836, both beautifully restored. While at Les Moulins de l'isle-aux-Coudres, visit the mills, the miller's house, and see up-close the old way of grinding wheat with authentic grindstones.
Day 8: Pointe-au-Pic - Quebec City
Leave the Charlevoix region behind and travel south through the province of Quebec, known for its agricultural history and rich culinary heritage. Begin your own exploration with a visit to Musee de l'abeille, the ECONOMUSEUM of honey. An exhibition shows you how people from early times gathered and used honey, and how beekeeping has changed through the ages. See bees at work in glass-enclosed hives and sample mead produced on-site. Arrive in the charming, European-style city of Quebec and your home for the next two nights, the famous Fairmont Château Frontenac, set high on a bluff overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River in historic Old Quebec.
Day 9: Quebec City
This morning enjoy breakfast at a local sugar shack nestled in the Quebec countryside. Learn about the traditions of maple syrup making and enjoy sampling many delicious traditional foods made with local maple syrup. Before leaving, try a favorite regional treat - maple taffy in the snow!! Later, experience the beauty and history of both Old and New Quebec with a fascinating sightseeing tour. Your tour includes the Parliament, the St. Louis Arch and ends at Place Royale, the site of the original settlement of the city of Quebec, set inside the old walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, enjoy some leisure time to explore this beautiful city on your own. Enjoy walking along the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Quebec and looking through the many quaint shops and galleries around your hotel, or perhaps take one of the horse drawn carriage rides the city is famous for. Tonight's farewell dinner is included at a quintessential restaurant in Quebec.
Day 10: Quebec City - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today in Quebec City.
Tour Highlights
Montreal, VIA Rail's Chaleur, Perce, Bonaventure Island, Whale Watching Cruise, Charlevoix, Quebec City
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9/09
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