Compare Christmas at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec by Road Scholar vs High Arctic Explorer - Canada to Greenland (Ocean Endeavour) by Intrepid Travel

Day 1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Quebec City, QC D Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
Afternoon: Following your independent arrival, HOTEL CHECK-IN begins at 4:00pm. Get your room assignment then at 5:30pm come over to the Road Scholar desk in the lobby to register with the program staff and pick up your arrival packet containing the most up-to-date schedule of program activities and general information on your stay. Shortly thereafter, we’ll gather for an ORIENTATION session for introductions, to review the program schedule, note any updates, review roles and responsibilities, address safety issues, and answer any questions you may have. PRESENTATION: A talk about the Frontenac will reveal its history — even some secrets! — as well as its role in Québec’s economic and social development and influence in the development of winter sports.

Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant in the heart of Old Québec, a 5-minute walk from the Château Frontenac. After dinner, stroll with your coordinator through the streets of the Old City to the famous Terrasse Dufferin to form your first impressions of Quebec and discover the city or return to the hotel after dinner.

Day 2
Old Québec City History, Spirit of Christmas
Quebec City, QC B,L,D Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
Breakfast: We'll enjoy a breakfast buffet in the restaurant at the Frontenac with a wide variety of options amid opulent seasonal surroundings. The Chateau embraces its role as the “star” atop the city’s figurative Christmas tree with a beautiful display of decorations and a wonderful sense of revelry and bonhomie.

Morning: PRESENTATION: A local expert will tell you about the history of Québec City — the birthplace of French America and the first settlement in Canada. You’ll learn how winter has shaped the military and political destiny of Québec, how residents deal with it in their daily lives, and get an overview of Québecois culture and Christmas traditions. This program is based at one of the world’s most historic and charming hotels, in one of the world’s most historic and charming cities, within easy walking distance to all that Old Québec has to offer. Part of the learning experience will consist of delighting in the city itself decked out in a magical array of seasonal lights and decorations. The spirit of Christmas radiates throughout Québec City, and Christmas at the Château Frontenac is truly unique and special.

Lunch: Another favorite local tradition is Onion soup for lunch. We’ll dine at a Brasserie Française in a cheerful ambiance.

Afternoon: Led by our local guide, explore the neighborhood surrounding the Château Frontenac. We’ll walk along narrow streets to illustrious monuments and significant buildings that eloquently illustrate aspects of the city's history and architecture. The spirit of Christmas is all around you, from exquisitely decorated storefronts to beautifully-lit cobbled alleys — a wondrous scene to behold. Our walking field trip concludes at Christmas Farmer Market featuring local flavors in the Old Port.

Dinner: We’ll dine out to savor traditional food of Québec at the renowned restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens, located in the oldest house in the city (1675). Its thick walls, solid joints, marvelous wainscoting and recessed cupboards are characteristic of the houses constructed during that era. Specialties of the house include a "tourtière" meat pie and an exquisite maple dessert.

Evening: PRIVATE CONCERT: End the day with classical musicians who've prepared a program of classical and seasonal music just for you.

Day 3
Old Quebec City Christmas Eve, Architecture & History
Quebec City, QC B,L Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
Breakfast: We'll enjoy a breakfast buffet in the restaurant at the Frontenac with a wide variety of options amid opulent seasonal surroundings.

Morning: Guides visit at Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Museum of Fine Arts). The museum is located in Battlefields Park, also known as the Plains of Abraham, a site of exceptional beauty and significance in Canadian history. You’ll hear about the fascinating history of the museum itself — comprising three buildings, styles, and periods — and of course its impressive collections including 35,000 works by 4,000 artists, dating from the 17th Century to the present.

Lunch: Lunch in a local Café.

Afternoon: FREE AFTERNOON: You may stay to examine the museum's fascinating exhibits or explore more of what the historic district has to offer. Your packet will include a list of suggestions and our coordinator will be happy to answer your questions. You may want to learn more about the Quebecers or the First Nations we suggest a visit to Musee de la civilisation, a voucher is included in the program.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own, allowing you to explore the multitude of Quebec City eateries. Our coordinator will offer guidance and suggestions. For this dinner, a reservation will be made by Sylvie in one of Quebec's fine restaurants (5 minutes walk from the hotel) for anyone who wishes to accompany her. (optional) See our suggestion list for more restaurants.

Evening: EXTRACURRICULAR: You have two options this evening if you wish to attend a traditional Christmas Eve service full of liturgical pageantry and music. Both the Basilica of Notre Dame (Catholic) and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Anglican) inhabit magnificent historic buildings. Immerse yourself in the joyful sounds of voices and organ for an evening to remember.

Day 4
Caleche Ride, Rue du Petit-Champlain
Quebec City, QC B,D Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: EXCURSION: Christmas continues with a festive ride in an authentic calèche (horse-drawn carriage). From your cozy seat, get a different perspective on North America’s only walled city including the beautiful 19th Century Parliament building.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own. Our group leader will offer guidance and suggestions. For this lunch, a reservation will be made by your group leader in one of Quebec's fine bistro for anyone who wishes to accompany her. (Optional)

Afternoon: EXCURSION: Walking is key to appreciating all Old Québec has to offer. To absorb more of the city’s holiday spirit, we’ll stroll along cobblestoned Rue du Petit-Champlain in the lower town, named for Samuel de Champlain who founded Quebec City in 1608. You might imagine yourself in Old France thanks to the beautifully preserved architectural character and charm of North America’s oldest commercial district. You’ll feel as if you’re walking through history — no cars allowed! — as you look into distinctive boutiques and little artisan shops in old stone or half-timbered buildings while carolers on street corners sing traditional Christmas favorites.

Dinner: CHRISTMAS DINNER-DANCE: Perhaps the grandest Christmas tradition in Québec City is the annual dinner-dance at the Chateau Frontenac — the most photographed grand hotel in the world and a proud symbol of the city. The centerpiece is a semi-formal, six-course dinner in the ballroom.

Evening: Along with the fine cuisine, you're welcome to join in the dancing as the band plays contemporary popular music. Complete your Christmas Day festivities with this celebratory feast in a setting that is très magnifique! Truly an unforgettable experience.

Day 5
Program Concludes
Quebec City, QC B
Breakfast: Say farewell to Québec and Christmas at the Frontenac as we gather for one more breakfast buffet in the restaurant. This is the time to share your fondest memories of the program with new-found friends. Au revoir! The program concludes with breakfast. Hotel check-out is 12:00 Noon.We hope you have enjoyed this very special program and have gained an appreciation for the Christmas traditions of Old Québec and its grandest and most historic hotel. Please join us for other rewarding Road Scholar programs in the future, and best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1 Ottawa to Qausuittuq (Resolute), Canada

Your Arctic adventure begins in Ottawa, Canada, from where you’ll hop aboard an included early morning charter flight to Qausuittuq (Resolute), in Canada’s Nunavut region. Here you’ll find the Ocean Endeavour ship, your home for the next 13 days. Board a Zodiac boat which will take you to the Ocean Endeavour – these sturdy inflatable vessels will get you on and off the ship throughout your journey. With a name meaning ‘place with no dawn’, Qausuittuq experiences long, dark winters, but your visit in the peak of summer means day-round sunlight. The unique topography of the landscape is characterized by shoreline gravel flats, rocky coastal bluffs, and deposits of glacial moraine. First established in 1953, the community began under false pretenses, as the Canadian government relocated Inuit families from Inukjuak, Québec and Mittimatalik, in an attempt to assert Canadian sovereignty. Learn about this dark chapter in Canadian history and how the community lives on today. Qausuittuq now serves as an important staging post for High Arctic research, tourism and military activities.

Day 2 Beechey Island

Make a sobering visit to the Franklin Expedition historic site on Beechey Island, a memorial to the failed expedition of British explorer Sir John Franklin in 1845. Attempting to cross the Northwest Passage, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror vanished – searches for the wrecks were unsuccessful for 170 years, only to be both be discovered in 2014 and 2016. Pay your respects while learning the stories of the men who are buried here as you visit their graves and the nearby ruins of Northumberland House.

Day 3-7 Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) and Devon Island

The next four days will be spent exploring the rugged landscapes of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area (Lancaster Sound). The area is home to narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales who feed in this area – set out in search of them by ship and Zodiac. Stop by Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island. The vast, barren landscape is dotted with glacial valleys, flat-topped mountains and ice caps, and while it may not be a place you’d want to live, it’s certainly a joy to explore. Hike over tundra, cruise a glacier face and keep a lookout for polar bears and other wildlife from ship and shore. Let expert guides show you ancient archaeological sites that unearth the history of the Inuit people and their ancestors who once laid roots on this now abandoned island. Visit the eerie remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.

Day 8 Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)

A world away from Ottawa where your adventure began, see a different side of Canada in the beautiful Arctic community of Mittimatalik. With a population of just 1600, this place may be small, but there’s so much Inuit culture and history to uncover here. Dive straight in with a performance by the Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group, where they will take you on a journey with their drum dancing, throat singing and storytelling. After the performance, enjoy some time to explore the town and soak in the spectacular views of nearby Bylot Island. There are often gorgeous handcrafted goods for sale if you want to pick up a keepsake to remember your time in this unique corner of the world.

Day 9 At Sea, Davis Strait

Cross the Davis Straight today on your way towards Greenland. This day at sea is the perfect opportunity to add a deeper layer to your discoveries of the Arctic. Enriching workshops and presentations delivered by experts on board the Ocean Endeavour paint an in-depth picture of the region’s fascinating history, geology, wildlife and cultural heritage. There’s even a workshop on how to best use your binoculars, so put your new skills into practice and get out on deck in search of whales, seabirds and other marine life.

Day 10 Western Greenland

An expedition landing on Greenland’s wild and wonderful west coast means the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may like to get active with a rewarding hike, or stretch your legs with a more easygoing stroll through the everchanging landscapes. There’s plenty of unbelievable photography opportunities here, or you may prefer just to sit back and take it all in. However you choose to spend the day, the sights of soaring mountains and vibrant tundra flowers are sure to stick with you long after your adventure is over.

Day 11 Ilulissat

After travelling south overnight, disembark the ship and head out to explore the town of Ilulissat and its surrounds – the name Ilulissat directly translates to ‘icebergs’ in Kalaallisut, Greenland’s official language, and you’ll soon find out why! Neatly organised colourful houses make the town postcard-pretty, but it’s the nearby icefjord that really puts this place on the map. A walk along a boardwalk will lead you to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where towering white ice formations dwarf the buildings of the nearby town. Spend some time soaking up this memorable sight, and perhaps have a wander around Ilulissat’s charming shops and museums, then set out on a Zodiac cruise to admire the icefjord from a different perspective. Weave and bob your way around impressive icebergs – this really has to be experienced to be believed!

Day 12 Sisimiut Coast

Today will be spent exploring western Greenland along the Sisimiut Coast. You’re going to want to have your camera ready for this journey – prepare to pass by glaciers, fjords and islands against a staggering backdrop of mountains. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get off the ship and hike through the inspiring landscape, or set off on a Zodiac cruise for a closer look at these natural wonders. As you traverse the complex waterways, learn the stories of the Saqqaq, Dorset, Thule and modern Inuit people who have called the Sisimiut region home for 4500 years.

Day 13 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Toronto, Canada

It’s time to say goodbye to the Arctic after a day cruising down the Kangerlussuaq Fjord for your final dose of epic scenery, crossing the Arctic Circle one last time. The 190-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by snow-dusted mountains and dramatic glaciers, ensuring your last day in the Arctic will be one to remember. Bid farewell to the Ocean Endeavour as you disembark and take a Zodiac transfer for your included charter flight to Toronto, Ontario. Your Arctic adventure comes to an end upon your arrival at Toronto airport – prepare to leave with memories to last a lifetime.