Inns of Québec

 

Montréal	The Nelligan	2 nights
Orford	Estrimont Suites & Spa	1 night
Lac Mégantic	Victorines du Lac	1 night
Montmagny	Manoir des Érables	1 night
Tadoussac	Hotel Tadoussac	2 nights
Saguenay	Auberge des 21	2 nights
Québec City	Hotel Manoir Victoria	2 nights
The Laurentians	La Montagne Coupée	2 nights

Click on the name of the hotel for details

15 days from £1320

excluding international flights

DAY 1 - Arrive Montréal.

On arrival at International Airport take a taxi (not included) to your centrally-located hotel. Recommended flight: British Airways from London 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: If you prefer we can arrange for you to be met at Montréal Airport by a representative of World Discovery and taken by private chauffeur-driven limousine 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 (pictured left during the evening sound and light show). The Place Jacques Cartier is a lively open area of cafes and restaurants, filled in summer with flowers, street musicians and vendors. 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 - Drive into the picturesque Eastern Townships.

Pick up your rental car and drive away from Montréal into the rolling hills, lakes and villages of the 'Eastern Townships', close to the borders with Vermont. Relatively little visited, this region is full of charm and is known as the 'Garden of Québec'. Your route takes you through some beautiful scenery, and there are several stops worth taking on the way. The Eastern Townships area has developed over recent years into one of the best wine-producing regions in Canada and there are many small vineyards that can be visited. One we recommend, where you can also enjoy a good lunch, is L'Orpailleur (pictured left). Continue to your accommodation in the town of Orford.
Meals included: Continental buffet breakfast.

DAY 4 - The Eastern Townships.

A day travelling in this lovely region. There is wide choice of visits that you can make. Don't miss out on the charming Abbaye St- Benoit-du-Lac near Magog (pictured left), home to about 50 Benedictine monks; if you time your visit to 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. you can hear the monks practising Gregorian chant. Another highlight is the town of Lac-Brome (Knowlton), first settled in 1802 by British Loyalists after the American War of Independence; the town still retains its British atmosphere and has a wealth of typical 19th century buildings. North Hatley is a delightful town located on the picture-postcard pretty Lac Massawippi, whilst the largest city in the region, Sherbrooke, is where you will find some wonderful local shops for that perfect souvenir or gift. Your destination for tonight is the tranquil Lac Mégantic.

DAY 5 - North to the St. Lawrence.

Relax for while in the peaceful surroundings before heading off on the next leg of your journey, which today will take you through rural eastern Québec to the town of Montmagny on the St. Lawrence River.

DAY 6 - Ferry across the St. Lawrence. Continue to Tadoussac.

Drive along the south shore of the St. Lawrence to Rivière-du-Loup. Here you will board the ferry to take you across the St. Lawrence to the beautiful Charlevoix region (pictured left), with its forested rolling hills, stunning coastal roads and pretty farms and villages. This whole region has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Drive through this enchanting area to reach Baie Ste. Catherine, where another short ferry ride will bring you to Tadoussac, located at the mouth of the dramatic Saguenay River. Tadoussac was founded as Canada's first fur-trading post in 1600 and has a long history. Nowadays it is best known as a base for whale-watching. Its picturesque bay has been voted as a one of the 'World's Thirty Most Beautiful Bays'.

DAY 7 - Tadoussac. Whale-watching excursion.

This morning walk down to the jetty and board your zodiac for an exciting 3-hour whale-watching excursion, accompanied by an expert naturalist guide. The waters off Tadoussac contain a rich crop of krill and support a permanent colony of white beluga whales, joined in the summer months (June to early October) by minke, fin, humpback and blue whales. The afternoon is at leisure to walk through Tadoussac's charming streets, lined with brightly-painted houses, or maybe take a relaxing cruise into the Saguenay Fjord, with its towering cliffs that reach up to 500m in height.

DAY 8 - The Saguenay Region.

Leave Tadoussac today and drive inland through the Saguenay region to reach La Baie, where your hotel is located on the shores of the Saguenay River itself. This is an area of great scenic beauty and there are many activities you can enjoy, such as cycling, walking or fishing.
Meals included: Dinner.

DAY 9 - La Baie.

At leisure in La Baie. A trip could be made to Lac Saint-Jean, one of Québec's largest inland stretches of water (with a circumference of over 200k) or you could join a guided activities excursion offered by the local Okwari Adventures company.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 10 - Through the Charlevoix region to Québec City.

Today's drive will take you through the glorious scenery of the Charlevoix region, continuing into the Laurentians to the Parc de la Jacques-Cartier, Québec's top wilderness park. Here you can follow the walking trails through the woods, hire a bicycle, or try your hand at paddling a canoe on the river that runs through the park's entire length (left). After you leave the park, it takes just another hour of driving to reach Québec City, perched on a cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Your hotel is located in the heart of the Haute Ville (Upper Town).
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 11 - 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 (pictured left: the busy pedestrianised Rue du Petit Champlain in the Lower Town, one of the best streets for shopping). Québec City was the first French settlement in North America and 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.  As an introduction to the culinary traditions of the city, there is also the popular afternoon Food Tour, available from May to October.

DAY 12 - Into the Laurentians.

Today you drive into the Laurentians, one of the most beautiful regions of Québec, an expanse of gentle rolling hills, forests, lakes and pretty villages. In autumn it becomes a riot of colour to rival the display of the better known New England countryside. Your destnation is a pretty inn that sits on a high promontory with spectacular views.

DAY 13 - The Laurentians.

At leisure. After your long journey by road and ferry through the Province of Québec, 'La Nouvelle France', this is the perfect place to unwind, in delightful surroundings. Pictured left: the view from your hotel grounds.

 

 

 

DAY 14 - Depart for the UK.

Your time is free until you drive to Montréal International Airport to drop off your rental car and check in for the return flight.

DAY 15 - Arrive UK.

Arrive UK in the morning.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of British Airways from London Heathrow. Flights can be booked through their easy-to-use website www.britishairways.com/travel. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Montréal. Depart at 17.40; arrive Montréal at 19.45
Montréal/Heathrow. Depart at 21.50; arrive Heathrow at 09.15 (next day)

Inns of Québec: Tour Reference: WDCA030)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Daily	Price
12 to 26 Jun	£1320
27 Jun to 24 Aug	£1424
25 Aug to 5 Oct	£1335

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, on a room only basis (except at the Hotel Nelligan and the Auberge des 21 where some meals are included).
• 4 breakfasts and 2 dinners.
  
• 12 days car rental (Compact group - e.g. Ford Focus) including unlimited kilometres, Provincial Sales Tax, Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), Concession Free Recovery (CFR), Vehicle Licensing Fee (VLF), Passenger Vehicle Rental Tax (PVRT), Tax for fuel conservation (TFFC) and Air Conditioning Surcharge Recovery (ACSURCH). Upgrades are available to other vehicles.
• Whale-watching excursion as shown. NB. A liability waiver must be signed by participants in adventure activities.
• Document pack on arrival at your first hotel with maps, safety tips for wildlife viewing, and detailed information about your trip
• Applicable taxes and General Sales Tax (GST) refunds

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
• Optional sightseeing
• Meals
• Car parking at hotels

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.