Tastes of Québec

Your journey begins with complimentary lounge access at your chosen airport before your flight to Montréal. On arrival, transfer to your hotel, ideally located behind the iconic Notre‑Dame Basilica in atmospheric Old Montréal. With its cobblestone streets, historic façades and lively dining scene, this is the perfect introduction to the city’s French‑Canadian charm. This evening, you may wish to dine at the hotel’s Cour Arrière Restaurant – a tranquil, winter‑garden‑style space serving refined dishes such as beet and goat’s cheese carpaccio, sole meunière and classic crème brûlée.

Begin with a guided walking tour through Old Montréal, starting inside the richly decorated Notre‑Dame Basilica. Wander elegant streets lined with heritage buildings before dipping into Montréal’s famed underground city – the world’s largest indoor network – en route to Chinatown for a tasting stop. Continue into the former Red Light District, now a hub for theatres and creative spaces, before heading up Saint‑Laurent Boulevard to explore Montréal’s celebrated street‑art scene. Visit a contemporary gallery and view large‑scale murals created for the city’s annual MURAL Festival. This evening, board the Cavalier Maxim for a five‑course dinner cruise along the St Lawrence River, with views of Old Montréal, Habitat 67 and the illuminated Jacques Cartier Bridge.

Collect your hire car and travel east into the rolling landscapes of the Eastern Townships. Stop in Bromont to visit its small chocolate museum before continuing to Dunham for a tasting at L’Orpailleur Winery, one of Québec’s most established vineyards. Continue via Sherbrooke, the region’s principal town, or detour to Magog for a scenic lake cruise framed by mountain views. Your destination is Manoir Hovey, a lakeside Relais & Châteaux retreat of old‑world charm. Enjoy an included dinner showcasing regional produce.

After breakfast the following day, explore the region’s pastoral landscapes and cultural highlights. Visit the Abbey of Saint‑Benoît‑du‑Lac, known for its striking architecture and artisanal cheeses, then continue to Coaticook to explore its dramatic canyon and suspension bridge. At the Beaulne Museum, discover collections of textiles, costumes and local heritage before returning to Manoir Hovey for another evening of fine dining at Le Hatley Restaurant.

Drive north through the Eastern Townships to Québec City, the province’s historic capital. With its fortified walls, cobblestone streets and 17th‑century architecture, Old Québec feels distinctly European. Explore artisan boutiques, riverside promenades and leafy squares, all set within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evening is free to sample the city’s excellent dining scene.

The following day, join a guided foodie tour exploring Québec’s culinary heritage. Influenced by First Nations traditions as well as French and British settlers, the region’s cuisine is rich, inventive and deeply tied to local produce. Enjoy five exclusive tasting stops, meeting producers and chefs as you sample everything from artisanal cheeses to Québec classics reimagined with contemporary flair. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city’s museums, historic neighbourhoods and waterfront views.

Follow the St Lawrence River west, passing from urban suburbs into a landscape of forests, farmland and small villages. In Drummondville, you may wish to visit the Village Québécois d’Antan, a reconstructed 19th‑century settlement. Continue to Saint‑Alexis‑des‑Monts, bordering the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve. Your lodge, Auberge Lac‑à‑l’Eau‑Claire, sits amid lakes and woodland, offering a peaceful base for outdoor activities or simple relaxation.

The following day is spent at your leisure. Walk forest trails rich with flora and wildlife, paddle on the water or simply relax with regional cuisine and views of the surrounding wilderness. Dinner is included for your stay.

Travel into the Laurentians, stopping at Sentier des Cimes Laurentides, a treetop walkway culminating in a 40‑metre observation tower with panoramic views of the region’s forests and lakes. Continue to Gourmet Sauvage, a boutique dedicated to northern gastronomy, where hand‑foraged ingredients are transformed into unique preserves and condiments. Then, arrive in Mont‑Tremblant, a lively alpine village surrounded by lakes and mountains where you can enjoy lakeside walks or explore the pedestrian village with its excellent dining options.

The next day, take a panoramic gondola to the summit of Mont‑Tremblant for sweeping views of the Laurentians, Lake Tremblant and the surrounding valleys. Enjoy alpine‑inspired dishes at the summit restaurant before descending via the Cabriolet gondola to the lower village. In the evening, consider dining at La Quintessence, known for its fine cuisine and lakeside sunsets.

Stay: Ermitage du Lac (Superior)

Drive south, stopping in Saint‑André‑Avellin to visit Kisisam, a bakery specialising in Indigenous pastries crafted from foraged ingredients. Then, continue to Montebello, a charming village known for its artisan chocolate, award‑winning cheeses and microbrewery. Your accommodation, Fairmont Le Château Montebello, is the world’s largest log structure – a grand yet rustic retreat with a soaring six‑sided fireplace at its heart.

Spend the next day enjoying the château’s 300‑acre estate, with hiking trails, river activities and woodland viewpoints. Alternatively, visit Parc Omega, a vast wildlife reserve where elk, bison, wolves and other Canadian species roam freely in natural habitats.

Stay: Fairmont Le Château Montebello (Superior)

Drive back to Montréal Airport, where you’ll return your hire car in time for your overnight flight home.