Harp Seal Adventure

 

Montréal	The Nelligan	2 nights
Iles-de-la-Madeleine	Chateau Madelinot	3 nights
Québec City	Dominion Hotel	2 nights

9 days from £1378

excluding international flights

The harp seal is an Arctic species which migrates from Greenland to the Iles de la Madeleine around the end of December.  Adults have grey fur marked with wide black bands running down each side of the body and meeting over the back; the harp seal's head is black.  Every year at the end of February/beginning of March, hundreds of thousands of harp seals come to the ice floes around the islands when it is time for the birth of their young - known as 'whitecoats'.  It is during this short window of time that our Seal Observation programmes are operated, giving you the unique opportunity to see these charming creatures in their natural habitat - an experience which you will never forget.

DAY 1 - Arrive Montréal.

On arrival at International Airport take a taxi (not included) to your centrally-located hotel. Recommended flight: Air Canada fromLondon Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFERS: Ifyou prefer we can arrange for you to be met at Montréal Airport by arepresentative of World Discovery and taken by private chauffeur-drivenlimousine to your hotel. The one-way cost is £30 per person.

DAY 2 - Montréal.

Montréal is the gateway to the province of Québec, a vibrant modern city located on an island in the St Lawrence River. Despite its modernity, the city also boasts a wealth of historic buildings and your hotel is located in the old quarter, with its narrow cobbled streets lined with restaurants and boutiques. For an introduction to the city's history we recommend a visit to the excellent Museum of Archaeology and History within walking distance of your hotel. You should not miss the amazing interior of the Basilica of Notre-Dame. Montréal is famed for its cuisine and in the evening there is a host of restaurants to choose from. The hotel's own Verses Restaurant is worth sampling, or if you wish to add in a touch of history, you could try the Auberge Le Saint Gabriel, the oldest inn in North America (1754).
Meals included: Continental buffet breakfast.

DAY 3 – Flight to Iles de la Madeleine.

Take a flight to Iles de la Madeleine, a string of a dozen small islands in the Gulf of St Lawrence.  You will be bewitched with their sense of isolation and unspoiled natural beauty.  On arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel, your base for the next 3 nights.
Meals included: Continental buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAYS 4 AND 5 – Harp Seal Adventure.

A full programme of activities has been arranged for you during your stay on Iles de la Madeleine.  Three half day excursions will take you to explore the Eastern, Central and Western parts of the island; you will visit the Seal Interpretation Centre, and there is a thrilling 3 hour excursion by helicopter during which you get to see the seals at really close range (see picture).  For the first two weeks of their life, baby seals or 'whitecoats' grow at an amazing rate, thanks to the fact that their mothers' milk is 40% fat. During this period, their lovely white coat gradually peels off and their appearance gives rise to another nickname, 'ragged-jacket'. The baby is weaned approximately two weeks after birth and his mother leaves him on the ice to go off and mate. Once he has finished shedding his baby coat, the young seal is called a 'beater'. His fur becomes silvery and mottled with darker patches.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day.

DAY 6 - Fly to Québec City.

Included transfer to the airport for your flight to Québec City, perched on a cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Your hotel is located in the heart of the Old Quarter.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 7 - Québec City.

A free day to explore this truly historic city. Take in the old city with its cobbled streets, stone buildings and strongly fortified walls. Enjoy the views over the St Lawrence River from the Dufferin Terrace and take time to explore the colourful streets, stores,pavement cafes and restaurants. Québec City was the first French settlement in North Americaand celebrated its 400th birthday in 2008. The most famous incident in the city's history, from a British perspective, was the victory of General Wolfe over the French on the Plains of Abraham in 1759; this effectively led to Canada being handed to Britain by the Treaty of Paris four years later. Well worth exploring (on a guided tour - you can't visit it on your own) is the La Citadelle, the huge fortress at the southern edge of the walled city. Québec City is also famed for its superb cuisine and there are many restaurants to choose from. One we particularly recommend is the La Crémaillère, housed in a mansion that once belonged to the British Governor James Murray. There is also the better known (and therefore harder to book) Aux Anciens Canadiens, in another historic building dating from 1676.

DAY 8 – Depart for home.

Transfer to the airport for your homeward flights.

DAY 9 - Arrive home.

Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of Air Canada from London Heathrow to Montréal, and from Québec City via Montréal on the return leg. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Montréal. Depart at 14.25; arrive Montréal at 17.00
Québec City/Montréal.  Depart at 16.50; arrive Montréal at 17.44
Montréal/Heathrow. Depart at 19.50; arrive Heathrow at 07.30(next day)

Harp Seal Adventure (Tour Reference: WDCA032)
2011 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Departures	Price
All dates (25 Feb to 12 Mar)	£1378

Single Room Supplement on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled domestic flights from Montréal to Iles de la Madeleine and from Iles de la Madeleine to Québec City, including airport taxes.
  
• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners as shown in the itinerary.  Evening cocktail (days 4, 5 and 6).
  
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel in (and v.v.) Iles de la Madeleine.
  
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as 'optional'), including entrance fees, including the 3 hour excursion by helicopter.
• The use of a Survival Mustang Suit (warm and waterproof clothing).
• The services of a professional guide on the ice in Iles de la Madeleine.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• International airport taxes.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.