Arrive in Montreal, Quebec today and settle into your conveniently-located hotel. Later, meet your Tour Manager and get to know your traveling companions at 6:00 p.m. for a welcome dinner. Meal: D
Embark on a narrated tour of Montreal, one of Canada’s vibrant cities known for its rich French-Canadian heritage. Your local guide shows you Old Montreal with its narrow streets lined with a mixture of buildings dating from the 17th-century, Place d’Armes, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Mount Royal and Olympic Park, site of the 1976 summer Olympics. Also visit Montreal’s sacred Notre-Dame Basilica, one of the crown jewels of Quebec’s rich religious heritage. This afternoon you visit the McCord Stewart Museum, dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of Canadian history. Relive the magic of Ogilvy’s mechanical Christmas window displays at the museum. See The Mill in the Forest and The Enchanted Village, both dazzling holiday displays dating back to 1947, featuring handmade animals that come to life in a Bavarian setting. Later, climb aboard Le Grande Roue de Montreal Ferris wheel. Enjoy the comfort of the enclosed gondolas which taking in the exciting Montreal skyline. Meals: B, D
Begin the day at the Space for Life Museum District, a collection of Montreal’s four most prominent natural museums. The Montreal Biodome allows you to walk through the nation’s four ecosystems; the Montreal Botanical Garden features thematic gardens and greenhouses; the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium offers presentations of the Aurora Borealis and the Dark Universe; the Montreal Insectarium, the largest in North America and featuring collections from butterflies to bees. After your included lunch today, visit the exceptional Chateau Dufresne. This extraordinary example of Beaux-Arts style architecture and gives one insight into the life of the French-speaking bourgeois family at the beginning of the last century. Later, come to Notre-Dame Basilica for the amazing AURA Experience, a four-act multimedia display of dynamic light, orchestral music and expressive architecture. Meals: B, L
Between Montreal and Quebec City stretches a legendary road, the “Chemin du Roy”. Known as the King’s Road, it was the first carriageway of New France. Built in 1737, this historic 175-mile route follows the majestic St. Lawrence River and winds through picturesque villages rich in heritage. In Trois Rivieres, visit Canada’s National Shrine, Our Lady of the Cape Shrine. Built in 1714, it is one of the two oldest churches in Canada. With its magnificent stained-glass windows and unique 5,425-pipe Casavant organ, the shrine welcomes over 250,000 pilgrims a year. Meals: B, D
Begin the day with a stop at the Albert Gilles Copper Art Studio to learn the intricacies of copper art with a tour and hands-on workshop to make your own copper work of art. You will then visit St-Anne-de-Beaupre Shrine, one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in North America. Cross over to Ile d’Orleans, named the “Garden of Quebec” for an included lunch before continuing to Manor Montmorency, once the summer home of the Duke of Kent, for a breathtaking view of Montmorency Falls. Higher than Niagara, Montmorency is Eastern Canada’s highest waterfall. Tonight, embark on a tasting tour at the German Christmas Market for a sampling of three typical German products, including warm spiced mulled wine. Then enjoy dinner on your own in this European-style market in the heart of Old Quebec. Meals: B, L
This morning, a local guide conducts a tour of one of Canada’s most beautiful cities, Quebec. Discover the history as well as the festive and friendly atmosphere of the cradle of French civilization in North America. See Place Royale, Parliament Hill, the historic Plains of Abraham and the Basilica-Cathedral Note-Dame de Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon, return to the German Christmas Market and explore the over 90 local artisans and producers gathered in a warm and festive atmosphere. Tonight, a special Sugar Shack dinner will introduce you to Quebec’s unique culture complete with a maple syrup making tour, musical entertainment and traditional French-Canadian cuisine. Meals: B, D
After breakfast, your group transfer takes you to Quebec’s Jean-Lasage International Airport for flights out after 12:00 p.m. Meal: B
