Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Canada – Montreal – Lac-Edouard – Sainte-Rose-du-Nord – La Malbaie – Quebec City – Montebello
100% customisable for you
Your summer getaway to Quebec starts today. Once every family member is packed and ready to go, head to the airport, whizz through security and enjoy refreshments in the airport lounge pre-departure. The flight time to Montreal is around seven-and-a-half hours, so be sure to fully charge your iPads and have some tasty snacks on hand for the younger members of your entourage.
On arrival, a private driver will be waiting to whisk you off to your first hotel in the centre of picturesque Old Montreal. The rest of today is yours to spend at your leisure. Head out for a gentle walk around the neighbourhood, or simply kick back and enjoy the facilities at your hotel after a busy day of travelling.
Spend the next two days soaking up the delights of Montreal at your own pace. There’s plenty to keep you busy here.
Start by heading to the banks of the St. Lawrence to experience the hustle and bustle of the port, then step back in time at the Pointe-a-Calliere museum before admiring the grand architecture of the Notre-Dame Basilica. And be sure to visit the nearby Bonsecours Market to grab a few souvenirs. Keen to see the city from a new perspective? Climb to the top of Mount Royal for sweeping views. Or if you have any aspiring artists in the family, embrace the creative energy of trendy Mile End.
We’ve also planned a private bike ride around Montreal with a local guide. This is a great way to admire the tree-lined avenues and visit some lesser-known neighbourhoods, while learning about the communities that have shaped the city’s melting-pot identity.
If you’re visiting in summer, you may find some of Montreal’s busiest streets closed to traffic, transforming into pedestrian avenues lined with restaurants, boutiques and family-friendly attractions – making sunny days in the city even more enjoyable.
It’s time to hit the road this morning, so pick up your hire car, pack everybody in and set off on a four-hour drive to Lac-Edouard. Along the way, admire dramatic scenery as you drive alongside La Mauricie National Park in the Laurentian Mountains. The park borders the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve, a popular area for hunters, hikers and campers.
Eventually, a pier will come into view. From here, take a boat to your accommodation and home for the next two nights. Settle into your new scenic surroundings, savouring a slow afternoon and evening after your long drive.
Life in Lac-Edouard is all about being outdoors, so spend today sampling some of the activities and adventures on offer in this special spot. Set off on one of the many scenic trails for a family hike, head out on the water in a canoe or kayak, or enjoy a refreshing dip in the lake. From mountain biking to foraging for wild berries and mushrooms, there’s something here for every family member to enjoy.
We can even arrange a flight in a seaplane if you’d like to take to the skies and see the scenery from above. End your day sharing stories around the campfire beneath impossibly starry skies, before heading to bed with happy memories of a day spent in nature.
Stock up on snacks for the car journey before setting off on a three-hour drive to the village of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, tucked away at the foot of steep cliffs in the Saguenay Fjord region. This scenic journey takes you through the stunning Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area, blanketed in forests and dotted with charming historic villages like Val Jalbert.
En route, head towards Monts-Valins National Park, known for its rivers, peaks and spectacular viewpoints, before continuing towards the dramatic landscapes of the Saguenay Fjord. Then it’s time to gather the troops (and the suitcases) and check into your nearby hotel for the next two nights.
A playground for outdoor enthusiasts, Saguenay National Park is a vast expanse crisscrossed by fjords, carved over millennia by geological and meteorological forces. Its boreal forest is home to an array of plant life, such as balsam fir and black spruce, along with wonderful wildlife, including wolves and beavers. A place steeped in legend, it was first inhabited by Indigenous peoples and later by pioneer settlers from France.
Appreciate the immense scale of the fjord by joining a private guide for a kayaking excursion. An activity accessible to all ages, kayaking is a great way for the whole family to take in the scenery from a new perspective.
As you paddle along, panoramas will unfold before you, followed by awe-inspiring vistas that make you pause mid-stroke to soak up the view. Have a head for heights? We can also arrange for you to tackle a treetop adventure course – because after all, both little and big kids love climbing trees.
Rise and shine, today you’re setting off from Sainte-Rose-du-Nord towards La Malbaie (around two-and-a-half hours away). Take the Fjord Route to discover panoramic viewpoints and traditional hamlets nestled along the water's edge.
En route, make a pit stop for one of the highlights of this trip: a whale watching cruise on the Saguenay Fjord, where these enormous mammals gather to feed before winter. Heading out with a small group, you’re on the trail of the blue whale – the largest animal in the world. Watching these magnificent creatures surface will quite simply take your breath away, and what better bonding experience for your family than sharing an encounter with one of nature’s most impressive inhabitants?
Blue whales spotted and back on dry land, your journey continues through the Charlevoix region, via landscapes of forests, deep valleys and charming villages. Arriving in La Malbaie, settle in for three nights at your comfortable hotel, ready for more family fun to follow.
Spend the next two days exploring lovely La Malbaie, cradled between the mountains and the St. Lawrence River. Make more lasting memories by heading out on the smaller Malbaie River, this time exploring by canoe. Glide effortlessly across the waters that have carved their way between the towering peaks, keeping your eyes peeled for local wildlife (a good excuse to encourage a spot of silence from your fellow paddlers).
The rest of your time here is yours to spend as you like, however intrepid or mellow you’re feeling. To stretch your legs and take in more of the epic scenery, we can arrange a guided hike in the Hautes-Gorges Park, setting out on a trail that matches everyone’s energy levels and rewards your efforts with extra-special views.
Wake up bright and early, you have a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Quebec City, which can be punctuated with pit stops if you’d prefer to break up the journey. Along the way, we recommend stopping to admire the tumbling torrent of Montmorency Falls, a magnificent waterfall that plunges 272ft (higher than Niagara Falls). The Ile d'Orleans is another worthwhile place to pause where you can expect pastoral landscapes dotted with stone houses and an array of delicious cuisine. You can also visit the Sainte-Anne Canyon, where there’s a network of gentle trails that are perfect for burning off some of the little ones’ energy.
On arrival, check in for two nights at your family-friendly hotel and grab some well-deserved shut-eye, ready to explore the city sights tomorrow.
On the shores of the St. Lawrence River, Quebec City dazzles visitors with its historic French charm. Marvel at the old city walls and the historic centre before sampling tasty sweets at the Jean-Alfred Moisan house. Wander to the citadel and Royal Museum, followed by a stroll through the grand Chateau de Frontenac. Then head to the Plains of Abraham, in the heart of the Battlefields Park, to learn about the city’s history. Time to spare? Spend your afternoon in the contemporary Saint-Roch district, dipping in and out of its art galleries.
Sights well and truly seen, it’s time for today’s pièce de resistance: a sunset cruise along the legendary St. Lawrence River. As the sky puts on its colourful show, admire the city skyline from the water and snap a family selfie while you’re at it.
Say a fond farewell to Quebec City this morning as you head to the last stop of your Canadian adventure, driving three-and-a-half hours to Montebello. The journey sees you follow the St. Lawrence River before turning towards Montreal and travelling alongside the Ottawa River.
A must-see along the way is the POP Museum, located in charming Trois-Rivieres. Dedicated to popular culture, its varied exhibits highlight the movements, artists and phenomena that have shaped Quebec's collective identity. From language and gastronomy to First Nations culture, hockey and superheroes, there's plenty to keep you busy for an hour or two.
Upon arrival in Montebello, settle in for your stay at Omega Park, where you’ll spend the night surrounded by wildlife – an experience the whole family is sure to enjoy.
Today is all about wildlife watching as you head out to spot some of the region's most legendary animals: we’re talking bison, elk, bears, deer and wolves. Drive through a diverse landscape of lakes, valleys, meadows, forests and rocky hills while listening in to a radio broadcast of insightful titbits about the park’s residents.
If you’d like to experience the park after dark, we can also arrange an immersive night hike. Follow a sensory trail through the trees, complete with lights, music and spectacular projections, to see the forest come alive in the darkness.
All good adventures must come to an end, so pack up your hire car one last time and gather the youngsters for the hour-and-a-half drive to Montreal for your journey home. After a spot of souvenir shopping in the airport, board your six-and-a-half-hour flight back to the UK. Most direct flights depart in the evening, so you’ll spend tonight on board and touch down on home turf tomorrow morning.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
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