Quebec’s Whales, Fjords & Chateaux

Day One
Welcome to Quebec
We arrive in the romantic city of Quebec today. Bordered on the south by the St. Lawrence River, it is has more than half a million residents, primarily French speaking. Quebec's earliest population included Native Americans, as well as settlers from France and England. This probably explains why "les quebecois" are so warm and welcoming. We enjoy a wonderful Dinner together this evening at one of the city’s fine restaurants. (Dinner)

Day Two
Saguenay
We’ll meet our Guide for a tour of the city. Highlights include The National Assembly, admission to Chateau Frontenac, La Place d'Armes, The Governor's Promenade, The Latin Quarter, and Place Royal. Following our tour we depart for the HAUT-SAGUENAY area of Quebec Province. "Where urban life, nature and wildlife evolve in a perfect harmony." This area has two main cities: Chicoutimi and Jonquière. This is the region that suffered from the terrible floods of 1996. The little white house that stubbornly defied the raging waters still stands but its occupants have left since the area is considered to be a hazard zone. The house is still an impressive sight. The scars left behind when the torrents divided the city are still visible. We’ll meet our guide for a tour of the area. We overnight tonight in Jonquière. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day Three
Lake Saint Jean
The Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean has two unique water ways: the Saguenay river which runs along the bed of the only navigable fjord in North America and lake Saint-Jean, a real inland sea of more than 35 km in diameter. Our Guide will take us for a tour around the lake with a stop at the Zoo "sauvage" at Saint Felicien, where we ride around the area in our "caged train" while the animals admire us! At Saint Fulgence we visit the bird sanctuary and in Normandin we’ll visit the "Grands Jardins" with its English and French style gardens. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day Four
WHALES & FJORDS
Today we discover the splendor of the Saguenay Fjord, one of the most beautiful in the world. It allows the waters from the Atlantic Ocean and of the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence to flow into the heart of the Saguenay Kingdom. It drains the water of a catchment basin that covers 88,000 km2 and is 550 kilometers long. We travel to Tadoussac, at the junction of the Saguenay and St-Lawrence Rivers, where salted and unsalted water mix. Here on our Whale Watch Cruise we’ll look for the six different species of migratory whales who live in these waters. We overnight tonight in this area. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day Five
Casinos and Basilicas
We travel south along the Saint Lawrence River, stopping in Malbaie-Pointe-au-Pic for a visit to the Casino at Le Manoir Richelieu. From here we visit the Basilique Sainte Anne de Beaupre with its much admired vast proportions and superb stained glass windows and continue to one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country, Montmorency Falls. In the afternoon we return to the only walled city north of Mexico and the wellspring of French culture on this continent, Quebec. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day Six
Depart for Home
After a tasty breakfast, we depart for home with wonderful memories of our Quebec Experience. (Breakfast)

Tour Inclusions

Five nights accommodations
Five full breakfasts
Five dinners
Guided tour of Quebec City
Guided tour of the Saguenay Region including Lake St. Jean
Admission to the Zoo “sauvage”
Admission to the Grande Jardins
Admission to the Cibro Bird Sanctuary
Whale Watch Cruise
Visit to the Casino at Le Manoir Richelieu
Visit to Ste Anne de Beaupre Basilica
Admission to Montorency Falls
Four day guide service
Luggage handling ( one bag per person)
Hotel taxes and gratuities
Fully escorted
Guide gratuities not included
Two twin complimentary package with 40 paying passengers
Excludes Tour Director gratuities
Excludes motorcoach transportation

Optional: Overnight at the Manoir Richelieu Casino