French Culture, Lobsters and Lighthouses

French Culture, Lobsters and Lighthouses.

19 days/18 nights. Start: Montreal - End: Quebec City or Montreal.

HOTEL SELECTION (STD = standard / SUP = superior)

Montreal: Hôtel Faubourg ou Best Western Ville Marie (STD) - Hyatt Downtown ou Sens Hotel Montreal (SUP).

Montmagny: Hôtel L'Oiselière (STD) - Auberge de la Pointe (SUP)

Edmundston: Four Points by Sheraton ou Best Western Hotel (STD & SUP)

St. Andrews-by-the-Sea: St. Andrews Inn & Suites ou Rossmount Inn (STD) - The Algonquin Resort ou Rossmount Inn (SUP)

Digby: Coastal Inn Digby County ou Harbourview Inn (STD & SUP)

Halifax:Hotel Halifax ou Hampton Inn Halifax (STD) - Cambridge Suites (SUP)

Baddeck: Inverary Reosrt ou Silver Dart Lodge (STD) - Silver Dart Lodge & Macneil House Suites (SUP)

Shediac: Hotel Shédiac (STD & SUP)

Caraquet: Auberge de la Baie (STD & SUP)

Percé: Riotel Percé ou Hotel le Mirage (STD & SUP)

Matane: Riotel Matane ou Hotel Motel Belle Plage (STD & SUP)

La Malbaie: Hotel au Petit Berger ou Le Petit Manoir du Casino (STD) - Hotel Le Petit Manoir du Casino ou Auberge des 3 Canards (SUP)

Quebec City: Hotel le Concorde ou Place Royal (STD) - Hotel Chateau Laurier ou Palace Royal (SUP)

  • Day 01: Montreal - arrival - rentalcar pickup - hotel checkin - free time at leisure.
  • Day 02: Montreal - Montmagny
  • Day 03: Montmagny - Edmundston
  • Day 04: Edmundston - St. Andrews-by-the-Sea
  • Day 05: St. Andrews-by-the-Sea
  • Day 06: St. Andrews-by-the-Sea - Digby
  • Day 07: Digby - Halifax
  • Day 08: Halifax
  • Day 09: Halifax - Baddeck
  • Day 10: Baddeck
  • Day 11: Baddeck - Shediac
  • Day 12: Shediac - Caraquet
  • Day 13: CARAQUET - PERCE
  • Day 14: Percé
  • Day 15: Percé - Matane
  • Day 16: Matane - La Malbaie
  • Day 17: La Malbaie - Quebec city
  • Day 18: Quebec City
  • Day 19: Quebec City - Departure Montreal
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day 1

Montreal - arrival - rentalcar pickup - hotel checkin - free time at leisure.

1 Day

30 km

Arrival at Montréal's Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport. Pick up you rental car and drive to the citycenter for check-in at the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this cosmopolitan city. Montréal is renowned for its superb dining and cultures from around the world. Overnight in Montréal.

day 2

Montreal - Montmagny

1 Day

320 km

Depart Montréal and travel eastward on the east side of the St. Lawrence through cultural heartland of French Canada. En route to Montmagny, we suggest a stop at Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Canada's national shrine to the Virgin Mary. You may wish to alter your route slightly north to the shore of the river tot the bustling town of Trois-Rivières. Stop for lunch or perhaps visit the Museum of Quebec Folk Arts and Traditions to see excellent examples of wood carving, tapestries and other fascinating artwork. Lodging.

day 3

Montmagny - Edmundston

1 Day

245 km

The towns and villages such as Rivière-du-Loup ans Saint Pascale have grown up along the banks of the river and reflect a complex modern history spanning over three centuries. The cultures of these communities are the legacy of both French and English empires during the country's formative years. Take your time and perhaps stop at any one of the vibrant towns to experience a true taste of the Quebecois culture. Crossing into New Brunswick, arrive in the small, picturesque town of Edmundston for the evening. Overnight in Edmundston.

day 4

Edmundston - St. Andrews-by-the-Sea

1 Day

350 km

Today journey through the central wilds of New Brunswick en route to the southern shores of the province. The central region of New Brunswick contains some of the most pristine wilderness of Eastern Canada. The vast tracks of forests are home to wildlife such as brown and black bears, moose, wolves ans other woodland creatures large and small - it is both an avid naturalist's and casual outdoor enthusiast's dream come true. Arrive in the seaside village of St. Andrews-by-the-Sea where the rest of the day is free to explore this charming maritime community. Overnight in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea.

day 5

St. Andrews-by-the-Sea

1 Day

10 km

Today is yours to experience a day in the life of an East Coast villager. This  bustling town has developed into one of the premier tourist destination in the Maritimes. Everything from local modern and native art galleries, to interactive salmon hatcheries, to a fascinating aquarium delight visitors year round. If seafood is to your liking, the small restaurants of the village serve up delicacies from the daily catches that are sure to tantalize you. Overnight in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea.

day 6

St. Andrews-by-the-Sea - Digby

1 Day

110 km

This morning take the short journey to St. John where you independentrly take a ferry across the deep blue waters of the Bay of Fundy. Disembark at naturally-sheltered cove settlement of Digby, a Loyalist town dating back to English settlers in the 1750's. Named after the captain of the first colony ship, Robert Digby, you can tour severall museums and historic homes celebrating the town's establishment. Overnight in Digby.

day 7

Digby - Halifax

1 Day

240 km

Crossing the width of Nova Scotia, your route takes you alongside the gates of Kejimkujik National Park, an idyllic natural oasis of old growth forest surrounding a large inland lake. Continuing on towards the southern coast, pass by Bridgewater on the shores of the La Hale River, followed by a drive through the port of Lunenberg and its Famous Fisheries Museum. On the approaches of Halifax, you follow the northern shores of Margaret's Bay, one of Nova Scotia's largest natural harbours. This harbour is peaked by the famous Peggy's Cove and its iconic whitewashed lighthouses - historic senctries preventing ships from running aground on the rocky shoals that surround the harbour entrance. Arrive in the premier city of Halifaw for the evening. Overnight in Halifax.

day 8

Halifax

1 Day

5 km

Welcome to the capital of Nova Scotia. This attractive city welcomes you with art galleries, shops, museums, restaurants, terraces and cafes. Halifax dates back to the time of the Mi'kmaq natives, fishermen from Europe and the first Acadians who arrived long before the British. Visit this city, rich in maritime heritage: the Old Clock and the Citadel, the waterfront where the ferries leave for Dartmouth and the Historic Properties, transformed into shops and restaurants. And to end the day, why not visit the Alexander Keith Brewery and the Maritime Museum with its unique collection of artifacts from the wreck of the Titanic.

 

 

day 9

Halifax - Baddeck

1 Day

350 km

Today you drive through the centre of Nova Scotia, passing through the towns of Truro and New Glasgow, celebrating their European heritage. Arrive at the narrows of the ocean and eastern reaches of the Northumberland Strait at the doorstep of the island and the commercial hub of Port Hawkesbury near the tip of St. Georges Bay. Continue on through gentle rolling field of the bay area as it transitions into the beautiful Bras d'Or Lake lowlands. Arrive in Baddeck, often known as the gateway to the Cape Breton Highlands. Overnight in Baddeck.

day 10

Baddeck

1 Day

120 km

With a free day in Baddeck, we suggest a scenic drive along the Cabot Trail into the highlands of northern Cape Breton. The trail runs past lochs and glens settled by Scottish Highlanders and along scenic coastlines settled by Acadians. You will meander through the rugged Cape Breton Highlands National Park, enjoying stunning views of sea-swept headlands, steep cliffs and tranquil beaches. Hiking trails lead into the interior of the park where stunning vistas appear at each turn. Return to Baddeck through the lush Margaree Valley. Overnight in Baddeck.

day 11

Baddeck - Shediac

1 Day

425 km

Today you have another oppurtunity to stop and visit the small towns on the route back into New Brunswick. If you didn't have the chance on your journey east, perhaps now stop for luch in the small town of Truro, or watch gravity be defied at the Magnetic Hill in Moncton where your car will appear to roll uphill. Stay a little longer and visit the adjacent Magnetic Hill Zoo with creatures both unique to Canada and from around the world. Continue on to Shediac where you might wish tot treat yourself to a lobster dinner at one of the local restaurants. Overnight in Shediac.

day 12

Shediac - Caraquet

1 Day

250 km

Heading up the coast of New Brunswick you may choose to visit Bouctouche Bay Eco-Tourism Site, preserving and restoring one of the few remaining great sand dunes on the north-eastern coastline of North America. Alternatively, you may wish to consider stopping at the Kouchibouguac National Park visitor centre for an interactive presentation of the wide variety of forests, marshes and lagoons indicative of the MAritime Plain ecosystem. Continue on to Caraquet where the remainder of the day is yours to explore this pleaant waterside community of the shores of Chaleur Bay. Overnight in Caraquet.

day 13

CARAQUET - PERCE

1 Day

430 km

Today the road follows the southern shores of the Baie des Chaleurs and the original lands of the Acadian people who were among those expelled from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in 1760. Passing through seaside resort town of Bonaventure, you may wish to visit the Acadian Historical Museum of Qubec, featuring the art and cultural artifacts of that displayed community. Crossing hte provincial border back into Quebec, you arrive in Percé. Overlooking the waters of the river, this commercial centre of the Gaspe Peninsula marks where Jacques Cartier first took possession of the land dor France in 1534. Overnight in Percé.

day 14

Percé

1 Day

20 km

Once the largest fishing port in the Gaspé Peninsula. Today, Percé is the jewel of the Gaspé Peninsula as a resort and tourist town and is known for the extraordinary beauty of its environment. Its main geological feature is a large pierced rock from which the community takes its name. The town has a wide selection of restaurants and cafes, some of the best in the area, as well as a rich summer theater program and a promenade that stretches along the south beach. On the docks you can watch the fishermen cleaning their daily catharsis. Overnight stay in Perce.

day 15

Percé - Matane

1 Day

355 km

Passing by the wide headwaters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, you begin to follow the river of the same name as its waters flow by out to sea. Perhaps divert inland a short distance for a pleasant drive or short outing in Parc de la Gaspésie - one of the most beautiful and accesible protected lands in eastern Canada. Continue on to pass though the lush and historic farmlands of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, one of the first and most prominent early Catholic churches in the New World. Although most of the original building has been destroyed by subsequent fires over the last 150 years, it has been immaculately restored and is an unforgettable sight for all visitors. Arrive in Matane where the rest of the day is at leisure to discover the charms of this francophone town. Overnight in Matane.

day 16

Matane - La Malbaie

1 Day

224 km

This morning you board the ferry in Matane and cross the wide waters of the St. Lawrencee to Baie-Comeau. During your sialing, you may see some of the Great Lakes shipping vessels that continue to use the waterway as a viable transportation route for heavy goods into the interior Great Lakes. Upon debarking at Baie-Comeau, the scenic north shore of the river offers a day of discovery through picture-perfect waterside towns. Les Escoumins is considered one of the most beautiful villages of the Haute-Côte-Nord region, located along the riverside at the gate to the Parc MArin du Saguenay. During the summer months, whales may be glimpsed from the shores of the village on their migratory or feeding routes. Arrive in the town of Tadoussac at the confluence of two mighty rivers. Overnight in La Malbaie.

day 17

La Malbaie - Quebec city

1 Day

200 km

Today as you travel into the heart of Québec, you are retracing the route of early European explorers as they pushed into the interior along inter-tribal trade and hunting routes used by the Firt Nations peoples for thousands of years. Furthermore, the towns and villages such as Beaupre, Baie-St. Paul and Saint-Simeon that have grown up along th banks of the river reflect a comparatively recent 300-year history of both French and English empires, leaving their mark on the architecture and the local cultures. As the river narrows, the spires and fortifications of Québec City come into view, quickly dominating the riverside landscape. Overnight in Québec City. 

day 18

Quebec City

1 Day

30 km

Today you depart on a comprehensive orientation tour of historic and modern Quebec City. The cobblestone streets still resonate with the long histories of French and English empires that formed the foundation of Canada. The walled city is one of the finest examples of a colonial fortified city in the world. On this guided tour, you will see the Latin Quarte, the Plains of Abraham, the Citadel, the Fortifications, the National Assembly, Place Royal, the Basilica and other points of interest within Quebec City. The remainder of the day is free to independently explore the sights of sounds of the city. The local restauratuers have refined dining to a fine art and invite aal visitors to sample the indulgent local dishes, or experience the deligths of fusion menus that combine ingredients and preparations from around the world. Overnigth in Quebec City.

day 19

Quebec City - Departure Montreal

1 Day

260 km

Today your trip comes to an end as you proceed to either Quebec City or Montreal International Airports for your flight home.

Standard hotels (0CA00024)
is available starting at 3093 EUR

Prices apply for all departures in the date range. Departure is possible every day.

Rooms 20.05.24 - 30.06.24 01.07.24 - 31.08.24 01.09.24 - 30.09.24
2X DOUBLE ROOMS + 1 RENTALCAR (K2X2D) 2781 2853 2781
DOUBLE ROOM 1 BED (K21) 3093 3229 3093
QUADRUPLE ROOM 2 BEDS (K42) 1785 1858 1785
TRIPLE ROOM 2 BEDS (K32) 2172 2265 2172
SINGLE ROOM (K11) 5852 6125 5852
per child in parents room 2 - 11 (DACHD12) 105 105 105
Alamo Suppl. Gold - per car (DALGOLD) 228 228 228

Superior hotels (0CAS0024)
is available starting at 3279 EUR

Prices apply for all departures in the date range. Departure is possible every day.

Rooms 25.05.24 - 30.06.24 01.07.24 - 31.08.24 01.09.24 - 30.09.24
2X DOUBLE ROOMS + 1 RENTALCAR (K2X2D) 2967 3040 2967
DOUBLE ROOM 1 BED (K21) 3279 3416 3279
QUADRUPLE ROOM 2 BEDS (K42) 1935 2010 1935
TRIPLE ROOM 2 BEDS (K32) 2335 2426 2335
SINGLE ROOM (K11) 6218 6491 6218
per child in parents room 2 - 11 (DACHD12) 105 105 105
Alamo Suppl. Gold - per car (DALGOLD) 228 228 228

Included

  • Hotelaccomodation based on lodging + local sales taxes, as per itinerary and as per chosen hotel category.
  • Car rental with GPS, adapted to the number of persons in the car, one driver.  Extra drivers and/or underage drivers can be added with supplement.
    • Single: Economy except if the car is brought back to another city than the one it started from, than Compact.
    • Double/Twin: Compact
    • Triple: Intermediate
    • Quadruple and 2x double rooms: Fullsize.
  • Any other car rental category can be provided with the appropriate price adjustment.
  • Only for selfdrives booked as published: roadbook with description of day by day itinerary. (Only available in Dutch and French)
  • Local roadmap of the State or Province (Canda), or a road atlas if the trip brings you through different states.

Not Included

All services NOT mentioned such as: 

  • International passport and charges for ESTA = USA and or ETA = Canada.
  • Airline tickets, airport taxes, fuel surcharge, security fee, and more.
  • Meals at the hotels except if confirmed differently at time of confirmation.
  • Resort fees, Urban fees, Facility fees and other fees charged by some hotels and to be paid locally.
  • Eventual cost for a (new) Belgian - European drivers licence, if the current one does not state "Drivers Licence" in English.
  • Warrant/Security Deposit/Guarantee cost for rental cars, motorhomes, motorbikes, hotels and more.
  • Fuel for the vehicles and parking costs. 
  • Charges for tollroads en toll bridges
  • Insurances (cancellation insurance, travel and assistance insurance, luggage insurance, etc).
  • Admissions to the national parks, to attractions, extra excursions, etc.
  • All personal expenses (Food & Drinks), souvenirs and more. 

Good To Know

FLIGHTS:

Wings ‘n Wheels is offering a large choice of European and American carriers which operates daily flights to and from the USA and Canada, starting from Brussels and as well as from the main airports in neighboring countries.

International and eventual domestic flights are not included. Airlines work with flexible prices and availability does change quickly. Use the contact form below and send it to your travel agent (enter your postal code or city name or the name of your travel agency) and indicate accurately your travel dates (departure and return) together with the surname (family name), first name and date of birth of each traveler and Wings ‘n Wheels will search for the best deals, considering itinerary and pricing.

A-LA-CARTE   -  TAILOR MADE:

All self-drive itineraries can be amended and tailormade “ à la carte” to your wishes.

CARRENTAL - DRIVERS LICENCE:

It is mandatory to present a NATIONAL driving licence with on the front side "Driving Licence". An international drivers licence is a translation only and not a valid document to rent a vehicle.