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DAY 1 - TORONTO AIRPORT (L.B. Pearson)
 Welcome to Toronto, Canada's largest city (in terms of both size and population). Tonight you will be staying at the Comfort Suites City Center***, in downtown Toronto. You will receive your Authentik travel book, with all the details of your adventure including a road map indicating your route, as well as a personalised roadbook, a host of practical tourist information, a tax refund form for foreign visitors, a toll-free assistance number, vouchers...
Spend the next couple of days exploring Toronto and its places of interest: Bay Street, the business district, the Ontario parliament, University of Toronto, Yonge Street, Queen's Park, Eaton Centre, and the famous CN Tower. Defining the Toronto skyline, at 553.33 metres tall, the CN Tower is one of the Wonders of the modern world, an important telecommunications hub, and one of Toronto's main attractions. You will be impressed by how tiny the cars look from the world's highest observation deck, at a dizzying height of 447 metres.
Optional activities in Toronto
Guided tour of the city
CN Tower (tallest in the world)
Wonderland Theme Park (great for families)
Buffet supper
Authentik Advice: Don't pick up your rental vehicle at the airport upon your arrival in Toronto. As in all major cities around the world, driving in Toronto is challenging and it can be hard to find your way around. We suggest that you take a taxi from the airport to your hotel ($40), and then explore the city by foot and by subway - the easiest and most economical choice.
DAY 2 - OUTING TO NIAGARA FALLS (260 Km round trip)
After breakfast, you pick up your vehicle and the journey begins! Don't forget your camera!  You set out for the Niagara Peninsula and the incredible Niagara Falls. Your visit to the falls is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip; you will never forget their awe-inspiring power and beauty. Don't miss taking a cruise on the famous Maid of the Mist, which will take you right to the base of the falls! You return to Toronto at the end of the day for another night at the Comfort Suites City Center***.
Optional activities in Niagara
Maid of the Mist Cruise (at the foot of the falls)
Helicopter ride over the falls
DAY 3 & 4 - TORONTO / THOUSAND ISLANDS (301 Km)
Breakfast at your hotel, then departure for the beautiful Thousand Islands, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, where you will see landscapes of a rare beauty. This collection of tiny jewels has a rich and complex natural and human history; centuries ago, the First Nations people called it "The Garden of the Great Spirit".
St-Lawrence Islands National Park comprises 24 picturesque islands; the best way to explore this watery site is by boat. During this guided cruise on the waters of the St-Lawrence, you will encounter a wide variety of islands, from the large to the very small, and some with rich mansions built upon them, such as Wellesley Island. Nights at the Athlone Inn in the charming village of Gananoque.
Optional activity in the Thousand Islands
Thousand Island Cruise DAY 5 & 6 - THOUSAND ISLANDS / OTTAWA (140 Km)
After a hearty breakfast, you are ready to hit the road again for Ottawa, capital city of Canada.
 Optional activity along the way
Upper Canada Village
Once you reach Ottawa, spend some time exploring its main attractions, such as Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, its various ethnic districts, Rockcliffe Park, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Hull casino, etc. For young and old alike, we strongly recommend the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada's largest and most popular cultural institution. You will learn about Canada's history through a series of interactive exhibits, where
life-size reconstructed buildings and other historical settings are among the exhibits evoking a sense of different periods and different regions of the country. Don't miss the world's largest collection of totem poles. Night at the Lord Elgin***, in the heart of downtown Ottawa.
Optional activities in Ottawa
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Fresh seafood meal in the Byward Market
Scenic steam train ride
DAY 7 & 8 - OTTAWA / MONT-TREMBLANT NATIONAL PARK (175 Km)
Breakfast, then you set out for Quebec and its great expanses of nature and wilderness. Your first stop in Quebec will be the legendary Mont Tremblant National Park with its majestic landscapes.
Optional activity along the way
Omega Animal Park
 Mont Tremblant National Park is a vast universe of mountains looming over endless lakes and rivers, offering freedom and escape. A rich blend of Quebec's natural and historical heritage, Tremblant was the first National park to be created in Quebec, and is Quebec's largest park. The wide range of activities and discoveries are sure to please everybody. Explore the area by canoe, on foot, on horseback, or by mountain bike - you will be amazed at the sheer size of it! Whatever your interests, Mont-Tremblant National Park is sure to impress you. After a full day of activities and fresh air, be swept away by the undeniable charm of the picturesque pedestrian village of Tremblant. In the evening, Tremblant is transformed into a legendary hive of nighttime activity. The mood is festive, the smiles are contagious, and partying easily becomes a habit!
Your next two nights will be spent at a warm and friendly log inn, Auberge Le Lupin.
Optional activities at Mont Tremblant
Meet the Algonquin (1 night)
Helicopter ride over Tremblant
Spa, Canadian-style!
Horseback riding in the forest
DAY 9 & 10 - MONT-TREMBLANT NATIONAL PARK / MAURICIE (300 Km)
After a hearty breakfast, you set out for Mauricie National Park. Covering an area of 536 km2, the park gives off an air of serenity throughout its gently contoured terrain. On this vast plateau of rolling hills intersected by valleys and dotted with myriads of lakes, life moves in perfect unison with nature. Here only the changes of the seasons mark the passage of time, retouching the landscape with subtle strokes. For nature lovers, we suggest you explore our untamed land during a 2-day canoeing-camping excursion in Mauricie National Park.
Your next 2 nights will be spent at Auberge du Trappeur, where you will receive a warm welcome from your Quebec hosts, Mario and Annie. During your stay, you will have the chance to discover or gain a better understanding of First Nations culture, spend some time relaxing, or go hiking in the park. In the evening, share some warm moments around a friendly campfire.
Optional activities along the way
Seaplane flight over the wide open countryside
Cité de l'Énergie
2 days of canoeing and camping (+1 night)
STAY IN AN OUTFITTER BETWEEN MONT TREMBLANT NATIONAL PARK AND MAURICIE (OPTIONAL) |
Name of the Outfitter |
List of activities |
Destination |
BALUCHON OUTFITTER
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Theatre by the river, kayak, canoe, horseback riding, cycling, archery, horse-drawn carriage ride, whirlpool, sauna, tennis, hiking, spa and Mauricie National Park. |
Mauricie National Park |
DAY 11-
MAURICIE / LAC ST-JEAN (310 Km)
When you wake up in the morning, your first thought is to look out of the window and marvel at the beauty of nature. Breakfast, and then the adventure continues along a panoramic and bucolic route following the historic St-Maurice River. This river is without question the foundation of the economic development of the Mauricie region.
Optional activity along the way
Val Jalbert Village
Your destination: Hébertville, in Lac-St-Jean, where hospitality is second nature. In fact, you have a rendezvous with a local Lac St-Jean family for a typical meal, followed by a night in a local home. What better way to get to know the French Canadian people, their customs and traditions.
For an equally enriching cultural experience, take an excursion into the heart of the Innu Nation. You will receive a warm welcome from a real Innu family - discover true Amerindian culture and the secrets of their traditional way of life!
* The night in a local home can be replaced by a stay in a Bed and Breakfast
Optional activities in Lac St-Jean
St-Félicien Wild Zoo
Sleep with the caribou (+1 night)
Meet the Montagnais (+1 night)
STAY IN AN OUTFITTER BETWEEN MAURICIE AND LAC ST-JEAN (OPTIONAL)
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Name of the Outfitter |
List of activities |
Destination |
TRITON OUTFITTER
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Speckled trout fishing, a night in a teepee, hiking, canoe, kayak, mushroom identification, nighttime excursion on the lake with traditional legends, campfire with marshmallows and "thé des bois" (wintergreen tea),... |
Haute-Mauricie |
DAY 12, 13 & 14- LAC ST-JEAN / SAGUENAY FJORD (120 Km)
 Following a traditional hearty breakfast, you take leave of your warm Quebec hosts and head for the majestic Saguenay Fjord. The little-known landscapes of this grandiose fjord will create lasting memories. Here you will discover the immensity of time and space in a place where the colossal forces of nature are imprinted indelibly on the landscape.
Optional activity along the way
New France Village
Don't miss the hiking trails of Saguenay National Park, among the most beautiful in Québec with their breathtaking views of the great Canadian landscapes. In order to make the most of this majestic and calming natural setting, you will be spending the next three nights in a typical wooden cabin in the heart of Saguenay National Park.
Optional activities in Saguenay National Park
Sea Kayak on the Fjord
"Bateau Mouche" cruise on the Fjord
Sailing on the Fjord
Show: "La Fabuleuse"
DAY 15 & 16 - SAGUENAY FJORD / TADOUSSAC (130 Km)
This morning, you set out for Tadoussac Bay, listed as one of the 50 most beautiful bays in the world.
Optional activity along the way
Via Ferrata
During your stay in Tadoussac, experience the thrill of a whale-watching safari, either by Zodiac, by boat or by sea kayak, on the beautiful St-Lawrence River. You will be accompanied by a naturalist guide, who will help you to identify various species including rorqual whales and whitecoats (baby seals). At the head of the Laurentian Channel, in the St-Lawrence River Estuary, where deep, cold Arctic waters rise to the surface, marine mammals abound and can be observed for eight months of the year, making the Tadoussac region a whale-watching site of international renown.
You will be staying at the friendly Maison Gauthier Bed and Breakfast, in the heart of the village of Tadoussac.
Optional activities in Tadoussac
Zodiac Whale Safari
Catamaran Whale Safari
Sea Kayak with the whales
Quad Excursion in the Mountains
Black Bear Observation
DAY 17 & 18 - TADOUSSAC / QUEBEC CITY (300 Km)
 Today you will leave for the birthplace of North America's French culture, the beautiful Quebec City.
Optional activity along the way
Canyon Ste-Anne
Once you reach Quebec, take the time to explore this historic city, a recognized and protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Place Royale and Petit Champlain to Dufferin Terrace and Château Frontenac, follow winding alleys that will lead you to hidden places where you will have the impression that you are the first to discover them.
Your 2 nights in Quebec City will be spent at the luxurious Château Laurier*** hotel, at the gates of Old Quebec.
Optional activities in Quebec City
Guided tour of Quebec City
Dine at a traditional Sugar Shack
Dine on the roof of Old Quebec
Water Slides at Sports Village
Visit a traditional Amerindian site, with typical lunch
River Rafting
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
STAY IN AN OUTFITTER BETWEEN TADOUSSAC AND QUEBEC (OPTIONAL) |
Name of the Outfitter |
List of activities |
Destination |
RAVAGE OUTFITTER
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Black bear watching, hiking with a trapper, quad, canoe, kayak, Finnish sauna, spa, mountain biking, and Cherlevoix Grands Jardins Park. |
Charlevoix |
DAY 19 & 20 - QUEBEC CITY / MONTREAL (300 Km)
Last morning in the old Capital before leaving for Montreal. Montreal has the 1001 attractions of any big city. But Montreal is unique, inventive, caught up in whirlwind of cultural creativity, both classical and avant-garde. The downtown center teems with life at the foot of the mountain, while the city's history is firmly rooted in the older areas by the river.
 Explore its main points of interest by bicycle, or take a guided bus tour of the city. See Montreal from the top of the Olympic Park Observation Tower (the tallest leaning tower in the world), followed by a fascinating visit to the Biodome. You will spend your last two nights in the heart of the city, at the Delta Centre-Ville***.
Optional activities in Montreal
Try the local cuisine
Guided tour of Montreal
Biodome and Olympic Stadium Tower
Explore Montreal by bicycle
Pointe à Callière Museum
Optional activity on leaving Montreal
Excursion to New York City (3 days/2 nights)
DAY 21 - MONTREAL AIRPORT
Last chance to enjoy the delights of the city before leaving for the airport. Drop off your vehicle at the Montreal Airport and board your return flight home.
And you leave the land of lakes and rivers, your heart full of lasting memories!!!
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