Québec's grand Gaspésie self-drive tour

Begin your exploration of Québec with a tour of its beautiful Old Town — the only walled city in North America. On this small group walking tour your local guide will show you the city's major landmarks, and you'll learn more about Québec's turbulent history. You'll have this afternoon at leisure to explore under your own steam.

Make your own way to the car hire depot to collect your car — your car hire package includes insurance and a GPS navigation system. Make the short drive to the picturesque town of Rivière-du-Loup, where you will be transferred by boat to Phare de l'Île du Pot à l'Eau de Vie (Brandypot Island Lighthouse), where you will stay tonight. After a warm welcome from your hosts, you'll take a guided tour of the lighthouse and its surrounding walking trails, before enjoying a hearty dinner.

Enjoy a leisurely morning on the island, before returning to Rivière-du-Loup. Your drive this afternoon takes you through the heart of rural Québec to Carleton-sur-Mer: a small seaside town on the shores of Baie des Chaleurs. On arrival, you might like to visit Miguasha National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its wealth of fossils, which are among the best preserved in the world.

Begin your journey around the scenic Gaspé Peninsula. Over 40 lighthouses line this stretch of coast, and today you'll pass six as you make your way to the picturesque seaside town of Percé. It's worth taking your time to stop and enjoy the lovely sea views along the way. Later this afternoon, head out onto the water on a small group tour to view the region's prolific whale population with an expert marine biologist. There are 13 different species in the Percé region alone, including humpback, fin and blue whale, and your guide will tell you more about the whales and their habitat.

Percé's star attraction is its namesake landmark — the Rocher Percé — which sits just offshore, and its silhouette is easily visible from the town. Today you'll take a cruise right up to the rock and learn more about this striking limestone arch, before continuing on to nearby Bonaventure Island National Park, home to one of the world's largest colonies of northern gannets. You'll have the option to get off here and explore the island, before returning to Percé. The rest of your day is free to explore the town and surrounding area.

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Percé. We suggest exploring Forillon National Park, which is located an hour's drive north of the town. Perched on the Gaspé Peninsula's eastern extremity, there is plenty to see and do — from excellent coastal walking trails, scenic viewpoints and insight into the region's early European settlers and their traditional way of life.

Today's drive to Gaspésie National Park is one of the most scenic in Québec, as your journey west hugs the scenic coastal road with views of the peninsula's verdant mountains to your left, and the expanse of the Saint Lawrence to your right. Whales can often be seen surfacing close to the shoreline, and the route is peppered with lighthouses — each sharing a unique and fascinating history. We recommend making a day of the drive — there are plenty of places to stop and explore. Toward the end of your journey today you'll head inland into Gaspésie National Park - home of some of Québec's oldest mountains and untouched, forested vistas. There is also a thriving moose population within the park, and you may see some of Gaspésie's cervine inhabitants as you make your way through the park.

You have a full day at leisure to explore Gaspésie National Park. The region is a haven for walkers, with trails to suit all abilities crossing the park. As an alternative you might like to take a scenic drive through the mountains, or rent canoes to explore the park's pristine lakes.

Return to the coast and continue your drive west; your destination is the small, but perfectly formed Le Bic National Park. En route you might like to stop at the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site, home of Canada's second tallest lighthouse, a Cold War era nuclear submarine and a well-presented museum dedicated to the Empress of Ireland — a luxury ocean liner that sunk in 1914. You might also like to stop at the Jardins de Métis: over 45 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens that is now a National Historic Site of Canada.

Spend your morning at leisure exploring Le Bic National Park. A little over 33 square kilometres, this is one of Canada's smallest national parks but there is plenty to admire in this compact region. Several walking trails and bicycle paths weave their way through the park, and several observation points offer visitors fantastic views of Le Bic's atmospheric bays and islets, which would not be out of place on Canada's west coast. Sea kayaking is also a popular activity here, which can be arranged locally at the park headquarters. From here, continue on to Québec City and drop off your car at the airport in time for your onward flight.