Trace the length of Québec’s St. Lawrence River from Montréal’s lively streets to the cliffs and fishing villages of the Gaspé Peninsula. Over fifteen days you’ll travel by road and ferry through alpine parks, across a glacial fjord and around vast inland lakes, finishing amid the quiet boreal forests of Mauricie. This carefully planned self-drive balances city culture with coastal and mountain wilderness, giving seasoned travellers a complete view of the province’s landscapes and Francophone heritage.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN MONTRÉAL’S HISTORIC HEART
Arrive in Montréal and settle into the character of Old Montréal, where cobblestone lanes and 17th-century architecture frame the modern city. Walk the Old Port for views of the St. Lawrence River and discover the city’s café culture and neighbourhood bistros. Take time to enjoy the contrast between Montréal’s French heritage and contemporary energy before the journey east begins.
Accommodation: Les Suites Labelle (or similar)
DAY 2: ST. LAWRENCE CRUISE AND DRIVE TO QUÉBEC CITY
Begin the day on the water with a 1.5-hour guided cruise of the St. Lawrence, gaining a river-level perspective on Montréal’s skyline and the islands that shape the city. Guides share the history of the river as a trade route and lifeline for early settlement. After lunch, follow the river east toward Québec City. The drive passes fertile farmland and riverside villages before arriving in the walled Upper Town for an evening stroll along the Dufferin Terrace.
Accommodation: Auberge Saint Pierre (or similar)
DAY 3: EXPLORING QUÉBEC CITY’S LIVING HISTORY
Spend a full day inside the fortified Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk narrow streets lined with stone buildings, visit the grand Château Frontenac and the historic Plains of Abraham, and descend to the artisans’ shops and cafés of the Lower Town. The city’s French-Canadian culinary tradition offers plenty of choice for a relaxed evening meal in a bistro or on a riverside terrace.
Accommodation: Auberge Saint Pierre (or similar)
DAY 4: ALONG THE LOWER ST. LAWRENCE TO RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP
Leave the city for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, where the St. Lawrence widens and tidal landscapes unfold. Pause in small shoreline communities to sample local cheeses or stretch your legs on short coastal trails. Arrive in Rivière-du-Loup, a town known for striking sunsets over the river and as a natural pause before the long sweep of the Gaspé Peninsula.
Accommodation: Auberge de La Pointe (or similar)
DAY 5: MARITIME CALM OF THE BAIE DES CHALEURS
Continue east toward the Baie des Chaleurs, where the sheltered bay creates a gentle maritime climate. The route passes fishing villages and sandy beaches, with chances to watch seabirds or simply enjoy the slower pace of the coast. Local seafood restaurants and small community markets reflect the region’s Acadian and Gaspesian culture.
Accommodation: Riotel Carleton-sur-Mer (or similar)
DAY 6: ROUTE 132 TO PERCÉ’S DRAMATIC COAST
Follow Route 132 around the outer curve of the Gaspé Peninsula. Cliffs, rocky headlands and small fishing harbours mark the drive, which ends at Percé, a coastal village framed by the immense limestone arch of Percé Rock. The changing light over the Gulf of St. Lawrence gives the evening a distinct maritime character.
Accommodation: Hotel Motel Fleur de Lys (or similar)
DAY 7: BONAVENTURE ISLAND AND COASTAL WILDLIFE
Join an optional boat excursion to view Percé Rock from the water and continue to Bonaventure Island, home to one of the world’s largest northern gannet colonies. Easy walking trails lead to bird-watching lookouts and remnants of early fishing settlements. Return to the village to stroll the waterfront and sample fresh seafood or regional craft beer.
Accommodation: Hotel Motel Fleur de Lys (or similar)
DAY 8: FORILLON’S CLIFFS AND THE CHIC-CHOC MOUNTAINS
Drive north through Forillon National Park, where spruce-fir forest meets dramatic sea cliffs and where remnants of 19th-century fishing stations tell of a long maritime history. Continue inland to Parc de la Gaspésie as the scenery shifts to highland plateaus and the rugged Chic-Choc range, setting the stage for mountain exploration.
Accommodation: Hotel Et Cie (or similar)
DAY 9: HIKING IN PARC DE LA GASPÉSIE’S ALPINE PLATEAU
Spend the day on marked trails that lead through alpine tundra and above-tree-line ridges. The park protects one of Canada’s last herds of woodland caribou and offers a rare look at high-elevation ecosystems in eastern North America. Whether choosing a moderate valley walk or a more challenging summit route, the day reveals a dramatic contrast to the coastal landscapes of earlier days.
Accommodation: Hotel Et Cie (or similar)
DAY 10: DRIVE TO MATANE ON THE ST. LAWRENCE SHORE
Travel north across the Gaspé Peninsula toward Matane, a fishing town set on the St. Lawrence River’s southern shore. The drive reveals a changing landscape as you leave the high Chic-Choc mountains and descend toward the wide tidal river. Pause at roadside lookouts for long views across the estuary and explore Matane’s small harbourfront, known for its history of salmon fishing and maritime trade. Enjoy a relaxed evening by the river in preparation for the ferry crossing tomorrow.
Accommodation: Riotel Matane (or similar)
DAY 11: FERRY CROSSING AND SAGUENAY FJORD DRIVE
This morning board the ferry for the broad St. Lawrence crossing to the Côte-Nord or Saguenay side. From the deck, watch for seabirds and the occasional whale as the river opens to its widest expanse. After landing, follow a scenic drive through the Saguenay Fjord region, where steep glacial cliffs rise above dark waters. Stop at viewpoints and small riverside communities that highlight both Indigenous and Francophone traditions before continuing toward the city of Saguenay for the evening.
Accommodation: Hotel Le Montagnais (or similar)
DAY 12: LAC SAINT-JEAN’S INLAND SEA AND LOCAL FLAVOURS
Drive to Lac Saint-Jean, a vast inland lake ringed by fertile farmland and blueberry fields. Sample local products at farm shops or cycle a section of the lakeside trail. Lakeside villages and welcoming auberges introduce a distinct regional identity expressed in dialect, cuisine and a relaxed pace of life.
Accommodation: Hotel de la Borealie (or similar)
DAY 13: INTO THE FORESTED HEART OF MAURICIE
Head south toward Saint-Alexis-des-Monts in the Mauricie region, where boreal lakes and rolling hills replace the open waters of the north. The drive leads into a quieter landscape of mixed forests and clear rivers. Settle into a lakeside inn or lodge and enjoy the tranquillity of the Laurentian Shield.
Accommodation: Auberge Lac À L’Eau Claire (or similar)
DAY 14: LAKES, RIVERS AND LOGGING HERITAGE OF MAURICIE
Spend the day exploring the waterways of La Mauricie. Options include a gentle hike along forest trails, a canoe outing on a calm lake, or a visit to a logging-heritage site that interprets the region’s timber-driven history. Evening brings a sense of quiet and reflection at your lodge.
Accommodation: Auberge Lac À L’Eau Claire (or similar)
DAY 15: RETURN TO MONTRÉAL
Complete the circuit back to Montréal. Depending on your schedule, take time for a final stroll through a favourite neighbourhood or a farewell meal before continuing your onward journey
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
