Go West Tours

33 CANADA Day 5 : Morning tour of Montreal , the second-largest French-speaking city after Paris: Old historical Montreal named Ville Marie by the first French colonists, Place Jacques Cartier , the City Hall , the Olympic Park for the 1976 summer games, the Biodome , the Latin Quarter , Mont Royal Park for its view, Saint Joseph Oratory and the underground network of cafés, restaurants and cinemas. Lunch (full board) in Montreal’s historic district. Free time before leaving for Quebec City. The highlight of the day will be a distinctive aspect of Canada, discovering its American Indian heritage wit a visit to a traditional Huron village . Here, you will have dinner featuring Indian specialties. Later on, arrive in Quebec City for the night. Day 6 : Guided tour of historic Quebec City (400th birthday in 2008): the fortifications, the Plaines of Abraham, the Grande Allée, the Parliament, the Citadel, the illustrious Chateau Frontenac , the Place Royale and Petit Champlain district. Free time to discover some aspects of the old part of the city on you own. Lunch in Old Quebec. Leave for the Lower Saint Lawrence region with several kinds of natural habitats: swamps, rocky islands, lakes and over 300 bird species. Stop in Saint- Jean-Port-Joli , a village known for its artisans who perpetrate popular folklore by sculpting figurines of old fishermen or wild animals. Continue to Rimouski for dinner (full board) and overnight. Day 7 : Visit the Historical Maritime Site, where you will learn about the Empress of Ireland ocean liner tragedy in 1914. Free time to climb the steps of the Pointe-au- Père lighthouse to enjoy a clear view of the river. Leave for Chaleur Bay via Matapedia Valley and the town of Ristigouche . Bucolic lovers will appreciate how the roads were planned in this landscape of farmed land and forests abounding in salmon-filled rivers, lakes, covered bridges and historical homes. Stop for lunch on the way. Visit Miguasha Park and park center where a great number of fish and plant fossils are displayed. Continue to Carleton for dinner and overnight. Day 8 : Leave via the Gaspe Peninsula stopping in Banc de Paspébiac . Composed of eleven buildings, it was one of the first commercial fishing installations in the area. Two Jersey Island companies once exported dry, salted cod all over the globe from this 11-building historic site. One building, a warehouse built around 1845 and the largest wooden structure in North America, now houses an exhibit on commercial fishing. Lunch (full board) before driving to Percé, known for its legendary rock. Free time, or optional cruise to Bonaventure Island to observe Percé Rock , a large natural arch, from the sea. Hotel, dinner and overnight in Percé. Day 9 : Today, the road takes you along the Saint Lawrence River via the Gaspe Peninsula’s northern coast to come across some remarkable views of the forests and mountains plunging into the sea. Visit Forillon National Park , a paradise for black bear, lynx, Virginia deer, red fox, mink, etc. More than 240 square kilometers of parkland include majestic mountains, dunes, swamps, cliffs and beaches, with the sea as a backdrop. During the visit of the park, you will see the fisherman’s house, the general store and Griffon Cove. Picnic lunch in the park (covered area in case of rain). Continue to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts for lodgings in the heart of Gaspesie National Park. Gourmet dinner (full board) at the hotel. Overnight. Day 10 : Free time this morning to discover some magnificent scenery on one of the numerous trails around the area. Leave late morning for Matane for lunch featuring shellfish. Continue along the Lower Saint Lawrence shoreline. Overnight in a resort center on the banks of Lake Pohénégamook. You will have access to their health spa or you may prefer to just admire the exceptional beauty of the setting. Dinner with entertainment, overnight.