Quebec Road Trip: Wilderness & Whales

Day 1: Arrive in Montréal

Start your tour of Québec off by exploring the province’s largest city. Located on an island at the confluence of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers, Montreal is a cultural and foodie powerhouse with so much to offer visitors.

Visit the well-preserved town centre of Old Montréal (Vieux-Montréal), stop in the Notre Dame Basilica or climb to the top of Mount Royal for unparalleled views. With great food at the core of city life, be sure to include lots of stops for meals, beverages and snacks as you explore the city independently.

Overnight: Chateau Versailles (or similar)

Day 2: Explore Montréal

At its heart, Montréal is a city of neighbourhoods and each one has its own personality. Spend the day finding your favourite spots in the city or hit up the top must-sees such as legendary shopping mecca Rue Sainte-Catherine, the Old Port or Saint Joseph’s Oratory.

For a different view of the city, you can book the optional Maritime Excursion ($), a 90-min tour aboard the Cavalier Maxim. Relive a page of history with famous explorer Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve who will entertain you with anecdotes and historical facts.

If time allows, you can also visit the Montréal Biodôme, a science museum unlike any other in Canada. Here you’ll get to experience five unique ecosystems of the Americas in an interactive setting.

Overnight: Chateau Versailles (or similar)

Day 3: Explore Québec’s Lanaudière Region

Pick up your car rental and leave behind the bustle of Montréal for the bucolic country roads of Québec’s Lanaudière region. Enjoy sweeping views of fields and tree-covered hills on the drive to Saint-Michel-Des-Saints, a picturesque village perched on the shores of the sprawling Lac Taureau. A paradise of beaches, islands and nature, Saint-Michel-Des-Saints is a great jumping off point to explore the wider Lanaudière area.

Overnight: Auberge du Lac Taureau

Day 4: Explore Saint-Michel-Des-Saints

Spend the day experiencing the beauty of your accommodation, head out on the water or perhaps take a day trip. Discover the local farms, explore the rolling foothills or take a drive through the scenic Laurentian mountains. The varied and beautiful landscapes of the Lanaudières offer no shortage of areas to immerse yourself in nature.

There’s also no shortage of activities at the Auberge du Lac Taureau, with opportunities to hike, canoe or sail. Locally, you can also rent a bike, golf or take an ATV ride. The Lanaudière region is a spectacular mix of nature, great food and lively towns.

Overnight: Auberge du Lac Taureau

Day 5: Drive to Saint Paulin

Continue exploring the Québec countryside as you leave Saint-Michel-Des-Saints for Saint Paulin. Your destination for the night is the stunning eco resort of the Auberge Le Baluchon, set on 200 acres of agricultural land and surrounded by another 800 acres of wilderness.

Enjoy the amenities of your accommodations, which include 35 km of pristine forest trails, a meandering river where you can swim, kayak or canoe, an amazing equestrian centre and a farm with a herd of highland cattle.

Overnight: Auberge Le Baluchon

Day 6: Explore Saint Paulin

Relaxing and enjoying nature is the agenda for today. Swimming, hiking, mountain biking and tennis are all available locally. You can also drive to the nearby Magnan Falls to see the meandering waterfall and learn about the region’s hydro-electric production.

Overnight: Auberge Le Baluchon

Day 7: Explore the Bleuets at Lac-Saint-Jean

Today you’ll drive north to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area, home of the “Bleuets” as locals like to call themselves in reference to the many blueberries that grow in the area. If you happen to arrive during blueberry season, be sure to try some of the locally grown berries – they are delicious. In other seasons, you’ll still find many local products made from blueberries, such as chocolates, ice creams and even hand creams.

Overnight: Hotel du Jardin

Day 8: Explore Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

The region centres around the large Lac Saint Jean and the Saguenay River and there are plenty of great spots to explore. You can visit the historic village of Val-Jalbert, an authentic 1920s village frozen in time, to see what life was like for workers and their families at the pulp mill and explore the impressive Ouiatchouan waterfall. Or take in the beautiful scenery of the cave and canyon of the tumultuous Métabetchouane River at the Parc le Trou de la fée.

Another worthwhile attraction is the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien, located close to your hotel. Home to animals native to the boreal forests and cold regions of the world, this zoo has kilometres of nature trails and a train ride that provides proximity to free-roaming animals such as black bears, deer, caribou and the adorable black-tailed prairie dog.

Overnight: Hotel du Jardin

Day 9: Whale Watching in Tadoussac

Drive along the north banks of the Saguenay to Tadoussac. As the countryside gives way to hills, you’ll know you’ve entered the area where the Saguenay Fjord begins. Along the river, the cliffs are higher and the scenery is more dramatic. If time permits, head off the main road at Ste-Rose-du-Nord to visit the riverside village for a scenic view of the fjord’s cliffs (and grab an ice cream from the local shop on the water).

Your destination today is the historic village of Tadoussac, tucked away in the area where the Saguenay Fjord meets the St. Lawrence River. The village is easy to explore on foot and you’ll love your centrally located hotel which is in close proximity to the beach, many restaurants and the dock from which your whale watching trip will leave.

Overnight: Hotel Tadoussac

Day 10: Whale Watching in Tadoussac

Your included whale watching excursion into the St. Lawrence Estuary can be on one of the larger cruise ships or aboard a light vessel such as a zodiac – the choice is yours. The Estuary is home to dozens of marine species, including a pod of beluga whales, minke whales, humpback whales and seals. This is one of the best places in the world to go whale watching and it is definitely an experience you won’t soon forget.

Overnight: Hotel Tadoussac

Day 11: Charlevoix to Québec City

Cross the Saguenay Fjord on the free ferry (be on the lookout for whales!) from Tadoussac to Baie-Ste-Catherine, the start of the spectacular Charlevoix region of Québec. As you make your way through the region to Québec City, there are plenty of worthwhile stops and the drive itself is spectacular with sweeping views of the St. Lawrence on one side and the mountains on the other. If there’s a signed lookout point, be sure to stop – you won’t regret it!

The town of La Malbaie is a great place to grab lunch and stop for photos at the stunning Fairmont Manoir Richelieu or visit charming Baie-St-Paul to shop for a meaningful souvenir from one of the many art galleries. Closer to Québec City, you can visit Ste-Anne Canyon (this requires a few hours to fully experience) or the 272-foot-high Montmorency Falls for dramatic views. You’ll also pass the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré basilica which is worth a stop if time allows.

Overnight: Hotel Clarendon (or similar)

Day 12: Explore Québec City

There’s no other city in Canada quite like the historic Québec City, which feels more European than North American. This walkable city has pedestrian-friendly cobblestone streets, stone fortifications with archways that make for incredible pictures and the castle-like Fairmont Chateau Frontenac at its centre.

The only North American walled city north of Mexico, Québec City is well known for its unique European atmosphere and is considered the birthplace of French North America. No visit to Québec City is complete without a walk through the heart of the Old City, which is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can explore on your own to sign up for the Grand Walking Tour which covers all the bases. Start in the Upper Town where you’ll admire the view of the grand Fairmont Chateau Frontenac (said to be the most photographed hotel in the world) and see the St. Lawrence from the famous Dufferin Terrace. Then you can make your way down to Lower Town, where you’ll stroll through the many spectacular cobblestone streets and alleyways that define the oldest parts of the city.

Overnight: Hotel Clarendon (or similar)

Day 13: Visit the Eastern Townships

Cross the St. Lawrence by bridge this morning and make your way into the foothills of the Appalachians, where cliffs can reach up to 1000 metres. Your journey today will take you to the historic Eastern Townships of Québec, where some of Canada’s most picturesque countryside towns are located. You’ll discover communities rich in Anglo-Saxon charm and ‘Quebecois joie de vivre’. Stop at lakes, forests and quaint Victorian style villages.

Overnight: Hotel Cheribourg

Day 14: Explore Orford & the Eastern Townships

Fresh air, beautiful lakes and charming villages await as you spend the day taking in all that the Eastern Townships have to offer. Get out in nature, spend some time learning about the local terroir at one of the many farms and restaurants or wander around the scenic downtowns of some of the local towns.

Overnight: Hotel Cheribourg

Day 15: Head back to Montréal

Today, return to Montréal to conclude your epic road trip and drop off your car rental.