CANADA EST - QUEBEC & CHARME

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.

Mont-Tremblant is Québec's leading mountain resort, set in the Laurentides region north of Montréal, famous for its ski area, one of the best in eastern Canada. At the foot of the mountain stretches a picturesque, brightly coloured pedestrian village in French alpine style, rich in hotels, restaurants, boutiques and festive atmospheres in every season. In winter it is a paradise for skiing and snowboarding, while in summer the region becomes a playground for hiking, golf, kayaking and trips to the many lakes surrounded by forests, particularly spectacular in autumn when the maples turn red and gold. The eponymous national park offers pristine nature and outdoor activities. Elegant and lively, Mont-Tremblant combines sport, relaxation and natural beauty, one of Québec's most beloved destinations in all seasons. Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts is a lively holiday town in Québec's Laurentides, set on the shores of the picturesque Lac des Sables, in the heart of a beloved mountainous region north of Montreal. Nicknamed the pearl of the Laurentides, it is the area's main town, with a charming centre enlivened by cafés, restaurants and boutiques and a pleasant lakefront from which scenic cruises depart. In summer the lake invites swimming, sailing and watersports, while the surrounding trails offer hikes among wooded hills, spectacular in autumn. In winter the region becomes a skiing paradise. The famous Le P'tit Train du Nord cycle path crosses the town. Between lake, mountains and relaxation, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts embodies the enchantment of the Laurentides.

Trois-Rivières is a historic city in Québec, located halfway between Montréal and Québec City, where the Saint-Maurice River divides into three channels at its mouth into the St Lawrence, giving the city its name. Among the oldest cities in North America, it preserves a charming historic centre with streets rich in period buildings, cafés and a lively cultural atmosphere, enlivened by festivals such as the poetry festival. The picturesque riverfront offers scenic walks over the St Lawrence. The city boasts a rich industrial heritage linked to paper and iron production, recounted in its museums and historic sites, such as the old Forges du Saint-Maurice ironworks. A convenient stop along the itinerary between Québec's two great cities, Trois-Rivières combines history, culture and riverside atmospheres, a pleasant pause in the heart of the Francophone province. Ste-Rose-du-Nord nestles on the banks of the Saguenay Fjord in Québec and is considered one of the fjord's gems for its spectacular setting between rocky walls and dark waters. The small village keeps a craft-village feel, with little wooden houses, small galleries and a wharf from which to admire the scenery. A departure point for cruises and kayak excursions, it offers the chance to spot the fjord's wildlife and the landscapes of Saguenay National Park. Ste-Rose-du-Nord is a poetic stop for those travelling between nature and quiet.

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. Baie-Sainte-Catherine is a small Québec village set on the north shore of the St Lawrence, right at the mouth of the majestic Saguenay Fjord, across from famous Tadoussac. Its strategic position makes it one of the best departure points for whale-watching cruises, with whales frequenting the cold, rich estuary waters in numbers, from small white belugas to mighty rorquals. From here also departs the ferry that crosses the fjord. The village offers a serene and authentic atmosphere, facing grand scenes where the fjord meets the great river. Between whales, fjord and sunsets over the water, Baie-Sainte-Catherine embodies the enchantment of Québec's Côte-Nord. 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. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a famous Québec village, set along the north shore of the St Lawrence a short distance from Québec City, known across North America as an important place of pilgrimage. The heart of the village is the majestic Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, an imposing neo-Romanesque shrine with splendid stained glass and mosaics, visited each year by hundreds of thousands of faithful and visitors and considered one of the most important sacred sites on the continent. The village stands in a region of great beauty, near the spectacular Montmorency Falls and the scenic road of the Côte-de-Beaupré. The surroundings offer scenes between river and mountains. Between faith, art and nature, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré embodies a solemn and evocative corner of Québec. 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.

North Hatley is a charming village in Québec's Eastern Townships, set at the northern end of Lake Massawippi in a setting of wooded hills. Loved since the nineteenth century as an elegant resort, it keeps historic villas, charming inns, art galleries and a summer theatre. The lake's waters invite boating, while the surrounding countryside is dotted with vineyards and farms. North Hatley is a refined lakeside retreat in the heart of the Eastern Townships.