French Canada and Gaspe Peninsula by Rail

FRENCH CANADA & GASPE PENINSULA BY RAIL
08 DAYS FROM $2,690 US
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Explore the Old World charm of Eastern Canada’s biggest cities, as well as the remote reaches of the eastern provinces populated with whales and seabirds on this Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, and Montreal tour. Enjoy a rail journey through pristine landscapes to land’s end on the peninsula, a boat cruise to see unusual rock formations and a bird sanctuary, and a ferry across the St. Lawrence Seaway. Visit a saint’s shrine, a famous battlefield, and renowned formal gardens. Look for whales, seals, and puffins in Forillon National Park. Take in the historic sites and European atmosphere in Quebec and Montreal.

Day 1: Arrive in Montreal
Tour begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Delta Centre-Ville. Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight's welcome reception followed by dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Delta Centre-Ville, Montreal

Day 2: Montreal to Gaspé by rail
Explore Montreal, a culturally diverse, cosmopolitan city located on an island in the St. Lawrence River. Today's Montreal tour highlights include St. Joseph’s Oratory, Olympic Park, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Then board the Chaleur for an overnight rail journey to Percé on the Gaspé Peninsula.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Chaleur, VIA Rail

Day 3: Picturesque Percé and bird sanctuary cruise
Enjoy seascape views from the comfort of your train berth or the domed observation lounge; the end of the line is the village of Percé. Take a boat cruise around Percé Rock, a curious geologic feature, and Bonaventure Island, a sanctuary for over 80,000 gannets. Poke around seaside Percé in your free time.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Riôtel Percé

Day 4: Puffins and more at Forillon National Park
Explore Forillon National Park, the headlands at the farthest point on the Gaspé Peninsula. It protects colonies of sea birds such as razorbills and Atlantic puffins, as well as seals, dolphins, and seven species of whales. Stop at historic Hyman’s General Store, still open during the summer season. Travel along the rugged coastline to the fishing village of Matane as your French Canada and Montreal tour continues.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hôtel Belle Plage, Matane

Day 5: Gardens and Beluga whales
Visit Métis Gardens, designed in 1926 to cover 40 acres with more than 1,000 indigenous plant species. Take a boat cruise across the St. Lawrence Seaway, and watch for Beluga whales. Your French castle-style hotel sits atop a cliff at Pointe-au-Pic overlooking the river. Perhaps test your luck in the casino in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, Pointe-au-Pic

Day 6: The Charlevoix region's shrines and revered sites
Drive through the Charlevoix region, and stop in Baie-Saint-Paul to admire the 19th-century homes; visit the Shrine of Saint Anne de Beaupré. Arrive in Old Quebec City, the heart of French-speaking Canada. The fortified colonial district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and evokes the atmosphere of old Europe.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

Day 7: Explore Quebec City, just 400 years young
Tour the upper and lower parts of Old Quebec City, which is celebrating its 400th birthday in 2008. See Porte St-Louis, the Provincial Parliament Buildings, Place Royale, and the Plains of Abraham. Choose among a variety of museums and attractions during your free afternoon. Conclude your French Canada and Montreal tour with a festive farewell reception and dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

Day 8: Journey home
Return by motor coach to Montreal (approximately 168 miles). Your French Canada, Gaspé and Montreal tour ends at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (formerly called Dorval) at 12:00 p.m.
Meals: Breakfast

Night 1: Delta Centre-Ville
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Ideally situated where Old Montreal and the New International Business district meet, the Delta Centre-Ville is a wonderful base from which to explore cosmopolitan Montreal, including easy access to Montreal’s famed Underground City. All guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, color TV, iron and ironing board, coffee maker and hair dryer. The Delta Centre-Ville features a health club with a Nautilus-equipped gym and an indoor pool and is crowned by Montreal’s only revolving rooftop restaurant. The Belle Époque ambience of the Bistro Bar Chez Antoine makes it a delightful venue for a pre-dinner cocktail or a nightcap.

Night 2: Aboard the Chaleur
Montreal to Gaspé Peninsula

The Chaleur, operated by Canada’s VIA Rail Corporation, evokes the age when train travel was common and famous trains rumbled across the landscape. Accommodations include private single, double and triple occupancy sleeping compartments. While compact, they are also cozy and comfortable and all offer an in-room sink and private toilet. Watch the world roll past your window from a comfortable seat during the day and fall to sleep listening to the rhyme of the rails when seats become comfy beds at night. Dine on cuisine inspired by the traditions of the Maritime Provinces while taking in the passing scenery in the gracious dining car.

Night 3: Riotel Percé
Percé, Quebec, Canada

Set on a peaceful site directly on the beach, Riotel Percé offers dramatic views of Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island from its waterfront terrace, while the charming downtown area of Percé is just a short walk away. Guestrooms offer a hair dryer, cable TV, telephone and windows that open. The hotel has direct access to the beach and an outstanding spa.

Night 4: Hôtel Belle Plage
Matane, Quebec, Canada

For over 70 years, the Hôtel Belle Plage has prided itself on its friendly, welcoming staff. Its top-notch dining room provides a lovely view of the sun setting beyond the sea as guests enjoy the delicious products of its own smokehouses, such as delectable smoked salmon. For decades, dignitaries such as Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and former American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt have enjoyed the warm hospitality that awaits you at the Hôtel Belle Plage.

Night 5: Fairmont Le Manior Richelieu
Pointe-au-Pic, Quebec, Canada

Built in 1899, this imposing château enjoys a commanding setting between the mighty St. Lawrence River and the magnificent mountains. Guestrooms at the “Castle on the Cliff” feature air conditioning, bathrobes, cable TV, coffee makers, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, a refreshment center and windows that open to let in the sweet fresh air. Its numerous recreational facilities include an 18-hole golf course, pampering services at the Amerispa, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a fitness studio, as well as a casino. Relax and enjoy the stunning view of the St. Lawrence River from La Brise Lobby Bar. The lovely setting and superb service that are hallmarks of Fairmont Le Manoir make it one of the very finest hotels in the province of Quebec.

Night 6 & 7: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Perched majestically high on a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the stately Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac truly symbolizes the charm and elegance of Quebec City. Located in the very heart of historic Old Quebec this grande dame has won the admiration of the readers of Travel + Leisure, who voted it one of the best 500 hotels in the world. Well-appointed guestrooms feature cable television with in-room movies and video games available, high-speed Internet connection, coffee / tea maker, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and windows that open to the outside. Take a dip in the indoor swimming pool or work out the kinks in the fully equipped exercise room. Sample a Winston Churchill, F.D. Roosevelt or Maurice Duplessis martini as you drink in the lovely view of the St. Lawrence River from the outdoor terrace of the St-Laurent Bar & Lounge.

DEPARTURE DATES
June - September

PRICES
From approx $2,690 US per person double occupancy