Quebec from Montreal to Quebec City via Gaspesie

Recommended activities for your free day in Montreal: a walking tour of the city’s Old Port, or bike rental to explore the extensive cycling paths and the Formula 1 circuit. You may visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or the Montreal Botanical Garden and Biodome, or enjoy shopping in the boutique and shopping mall district along St. Catherine Street.

Le Bic is a charming Québec village, part of Rimouski, set along the St Lawrence estuary in the heart of the magnificent Parc national du Bic. Famous for its spectacular scenes of sheltered bays, rocky promontories, islets and hillocks plunging into the great river, it is a prime destination for nature lovers. The park is explored on foot, by bicycle or by kayak amid breathtaking views, and is famous for its seal colonies basking on the rocks and for the fiery sunsets over the estuary. The village preserves an authentic and intimate atmosphere, with inns and restaurants. Between bays, seals and sunsets, Le Bic embodies the natural enchantment of the Bas-Saint-Laurent.

Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is a coastal town in Québec, located along the northern shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, facing the Gulf of St Lawrence. Its location makes it the main gateway to the Parc national de la Gaspésie, a vast mountainous reserve that holds some of Québec's highest peaks, part of the Chic-Chocs mountains, home to caribou, moose and deer. The park offers spectacular hikes, ski touring and grandiose landscapes of mountains and forests. The town, facing the sea, has a seafront, a marine exploration centre and an authentic maritime atmosphere. A meeting point between sea and mountains, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is an ideal base for nature and adventure lovers. Between wild peaks and the St Lawrence coast, it is a fascinating stop in the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula.

Percé is one of Québec's most spectacular villages, located at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, facing the Gulf of St Lawrence. Its symbol is the famous Rocher Percé, an imposing rock formation pierced by a natural arch that rises from the sea right in front of the village, one of the most iconic landscapes in eastern Canada. Just offshore, Île Bonaventure hosts one of the world's largest gannet colonies, reachable by boat for an unforgettable nature excursion. The village offers a charming seafront, fresh-fish restaurants and an authentic maritime atmosphere. The area is ideal for hiking, whale watching and discovering coastal nature. Between spectacular rocks, seabird colonies and sea, Percé is a fascinating and unforgettable destination, a jewel of the wild Gaspé Peninsula.

Gaspé is the main town of the Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Québec, facing the bay of the same name where the St Lawrence River opens towards the ocean. Considered the birthplace of Canada, since the explorer Jacques Cartier landed here in 1534, it preserves a strong bond with history and the sea. The town is the gateway to the spectacular Forillon National Park, at the tip of the peninsula, where sheer cliffs over the sea, forests and rugged coasts host rich wildlife, from seals to seabirds, and is ideal for hiking and whale watching. The culture of the Mi'kmaq First Nations is alive in the region. Between history, cliffs and wild nature, Gaspé is a fascinating base for exploring the grandiose landscapes of the Gaspé Peninsula, one of the most evocative corners of maritime Québec.

Matane is a maritime town on the Gaspé Peninsula, stretched along the St Lawrence shore where the river grows as wide as a sea. Famous for its prized shrimp, the crevettes de Matane, and for the Atlantic salmon that swim up the river each summer and can be observed through a dedicated underwater window, it is a pleasant stop along the peninsula's scenic road. From its harbour departs the ferry to the river's north shore. The town preserves a historic lighthouse and an authentic atmosphere tied to the sea. The surroundings, including the wildlife reserve and the Chic-Choc Mountains, offer nature and wildlife. Between shrimp, salmon and sea, Matane embodies the authentic maritime flavour of the Gaspé.

Tadoussac is a picturesque village in Québec, set where the Saguenay River meets the majestic St Lawrence, in a scene of extraordinary beauty. Considered one of the oldest European settlements in North America, it preserves historic charm with its wooden chapel and the iconic hotel overlooking the bay. Tadoussac is famous above all as one of the world's best whale-watching locations: in the plankton-rich waters of the estuary swim belugas, minke whales and even blue whales, observable on boat or zodiac excursions. The nearby Saguenay fjord, with its steep walls, offers spectacular panoramas and unforgettable cruises. Sand dunes and coastal trails complete the natural offering. Between fjords, whales and history, Tadoussac is a fascinating and evocative destination, a jewel of the Québec coast.

La Malbaie is a town in Québec, the heart of the picturesque Charlevoix region, set on the banks of the St Lawrence River in a scene of hills and landscapes of great charm. A historic holiday resort, it is famous for the sumptuous Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, an elegant hotel-castle overlooking the river with its casino, a symbol of the area's refined tourism since the nineteenth century. The Charlevoix region, recognised as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, offers spectacular panoramas, farms, terroir flavours and a landscape shaped by an ancient meteorite crater. Nearby you can hike, watch whales along the coast and visit picturesque villages. Elegant and set in evocative landscapes, La Malbaie combines refinement, nature and gastronomy, one of the most fascinating destinations in the splendid Charlevoix region.

Québec City, capital of the eponymous province, is the most European city in North America, the only one north of Mexico to have kept its fortified walls, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on a promontory above the St Lawrence River, it is dominated by the unmistakable silhouette of the Château Frontenac, a sumptuous hotel towering over Vieux-Québec. The cobbled streets of the old town, divided into Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville, enchant with their stone houses, boutiques, cafés and Francophone atmosphere, especially magical under winter snow. The Petit-Champlain district, among the oldest on the continent, and Place Royale preserve the charm of New France. The Terrasse Dufferin offers scenic walks over the river, while the gastronomy celebrates Québec cuisine. Romantic, historic and uniquely characterful, Québec City is a city to be explored on foot, among fortifications, alleys and old-world atmospheres.