Compare French Canada at a Slower Pace: Montreal & Quebec City by Road Scholar vs High Arctic Explorer - Canada to Greenland (Ocean Endeavour) by Intrepid Travel

Day 1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Montreal, QC D SpringHill Suites Old Montreal
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 5:30-5:45 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table on the Mezzanine level to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: At a popular steak house restaurant on rue St-Paul, the oldest street in Montréal, enjoy a 3-course plated meal with appetizer (soup or salad), choice of entrée (chicken, fish, steak), dessert of the day, and beverage choices including coffee (regular/decaf), hot tea, water; other beverages available for purchase from the bar.

Evening: Orientation: We will return to the hotel for orientation when the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Plus, a few useful tips to enhance your stay in French Canada. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day 2
Exploring Montreal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal, QC B,L,D SpringHill Suites Old Montreal
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day, standing in museum.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers a rotating variety of choices such as an egg dish, breakfast meat (such as bacon and ham), hot and cold cereals, fruit, toast, bagels, muffins, yogurt, milk, juices, coffee (regular and decaf), hot tea, water.

Morning: Led by an expert, we will go for a city field trip via motorcoach, focusing on the city's history, architecture, main neighborhoods, and its astounding underground city that features a 20-mile network of pedestrian walkways. Among the highlights are the Underground, Mont-Royal, and Ste-Hélène Island that was the site of Expo 67 (1967 International and Universal Exposition).

Lunch: At one of the city’s numerous cafés, we’ll order from a menu.

Afternoon: With our Group Leader, we will go by motorcoach to the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) for an overview of the Quebec and Canadian art exhibition. Founded in 1860, the MMFA has an outstanding permanent collection representing artistic achievements from antiquity to the present day with paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, photographs, and decorative art objects in four major areas: international art, world cultures, decorative arts and design, and Québec and Canadian art that we will explore. Returns to the hotel will be via taxi in small groups for those who wish to leave earlier or stay later.

Dinner: In Old Montréal, we will enjoy a 3-course plated meal with appetizer (soup or salad), choice of entrée (chicken, fish, steak), dessert of the day, and beverage choices including coffee (regular/decaf), hot tea, water; other beverages are available for purchase from the bar.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to go out and explore independently, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.

Day 3
Explore Old Montreal, Private Jazz Concert
Montreal, QC B,L SpringHill Suites Old Montreal
Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Led by an expert, we will head out for a walking field trip through Old Montréal. We will learn about the delicate transformations of public art and architecture, and why the importance of blending old and new is at the heart of this urban conversion to create the Montréal of today.

Lunch: In Old Montréal, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with appetizer (soup or salad), choice of entrée (chicken, fish, steak), dessert of the day, and beverage choices including coffee (regular/decaf), hot tea, water; other beverages available for purchase from the bar.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Among the highlights you might enjoy are the Pointe-à-Calliere Museum, the port, and the Botanical Garden.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a concert just for us performed by a pair of well-known musicians from the Montréal jazz scene. As we delight to their improvisations, we’ll also learn about the history of jazz in Montréal. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning. Participants will need to carry their own baggage on the train, one piece of luggage and one carry-on bag.

Day 4
Living in Montréal Today, Basilica de Notre-Dame de Montréal
Quebec City, QC B,L,D Hôtel Clarendon
Activity note: Getting in/out of taxis; on/off a train. Baggage aboard the train is limited to one piece of luggage and one carry-on bag per person. We will carry our baggage when we transfer to the train station. There it will be loaded onto the train for us; keep carry-ons with you. The train ride is about 160 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. Upon arrival in Québec City, we will retrieve our baggage and load it onto a van for transfer to the hotel where it will be taken to our rooms.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will begin the day with a lecture by a local expert on living in Montréal. Next, we will walk a few minutes to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal (Notre-Dame Basilica) and explore, led by a church specialist. This magnificent church that grew from a small chapel in 1642 has a fascinating history and is considered one of the most beautiful in North America. The decorative scheme we see today was inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Returning to the hotel, we will check out and depart via taxis to the train station, then board the train for departure at 1:00 p.m.

Lunch: Aboard the train, we’ll have box lunches from a local bakery with a sandwich, salad, and soft drink, coffee, or tea.

Afternoon: Upon arrival in Québec City, we will transfer via motorcoach to our hotel for check-in. Take some time to freshen up and relax before dinner or feel free to walk around the hotel and surrounding area.

Dinner: We will walk one block from the hotel to a renowned pub in the heart of Old Québec for a 3-course plated meal with appetizer (soup or salad), choice of entrée (meat, seafood, vegetarian), and dessert of the day, plus beverage choices including coffee (regular/decaf), hot tea, water; other beverages available for purchase from the bar.

Evening: We’ll set out on a stroll of discovery and first impressions with our Study Leader through the streets of the Old City to the Terrase Dufferin overlooking the fleuve Saint-Laurent — St. Lawrence River — behind the Château Frontenac.

Day 5
Quebec City: History & Architecture, Montmorency Falls Park
Quebec City, QC B,L Hôtel Clarendon
Activity note: Riding a funiculaire (cable car). Walking up to 1 mile; cobblestone, uneven ground.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet includes hot and cold choices plus juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: At the hotel, our local expert will give a presentation highlighting the city's foundation and exceptional geographical location as well as its present-day social and economic facets. We’ll gain an understanding of how Québec City's history contributed to the creation and development of Canada and why it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We’ll then head out on a walking field trip to explore Québec City with its eclectic architecture, streets, and monuments that serve as eloquent, perfectly conserved testaments to its evolution. There are two parts: the Upper Town that was the fortified area, and the Lower Town that developed around the Place Royale and the harbor. A well-preserved integrated urban ensemble, the Historic District is a remarkable example of a fortified city of the colonial era, and unique north of Mexico. Enjoy the city's uniquely European atmosphere, enchanting setting, and friendly inhabitants. After the walking exploration, we will board the motorcoach and ride to the foot of Montmorency Falls where we will take the cable car to Manoir Montmorency.

Lunch: At Manoir Montmorency, we’ll have a set meal featuring area specialties.

Afternoon: Next, we will have some time on our own to see astonishing Montmorency Falls Park. Located between the river and the cliffs, it is one of the province's most spectacular sites. You might like to take a short walk to the bridge that goes over the falls. We’ll then take the cable car down to the motorcoach and return to the city with time for personal independent exploration at your own pace. You might like to explore the Quartier Petit-Champlain located at the foot of the funicular a block away from the hotel (coupon provided). The Quartier Petit-Champlain is the site of Québec’s first port. As one of the city’s original neighborhoods, it has gone through various periods of development, decline, and redevelopment. Today, after an expansive (and expensive) restoration project, the quarter exudes an Old World atmosphere with historical architecture and buildings dating back to the 1600s, narrow streets, artisans and craftsmen, charming boutiques, and much more.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Governor-General's Official Residence, Musée des Ursulines
Quebec City, QC B,D Hôtel Clarendon
Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile; standing up to an hour; limited seating.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Led by an expert, we will visit the official residence of the Governor General of Canada, located within La Citadelle of Québec overlooking the majestic St. Lawrence River. Québec, the cradle of French civilization in North America, is a repository of history and culture from the French, English, and Canadian periods. The fortified boundaries of this old British fortress are the only such remaining walled defenses on the continent. After a terrible fire in 1976, it was restored with Canadian materials throughout to showcase the city’s history, modern cultural sensibilities, and outstanding artists. Today, it houses an important collection of art and period furnishings.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: We will regroup at the hotel and walk to the Musée des Ursulines, a block away. At this art and history museum, we will learn about the rich heritage of the oldest teaching order in Canada including Québec’s religious and social history. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore on your own. Take this opportunity to see and do what interests you most at your own pace.

Dinner: At a local restaurant near the hotel, we will have a 3-course plated meal with appetizer (soup or salad), choice of entrée (meat, seafood, vegetarian), and dessert of the day, plus beverage choices including coffee (regular/decaf), hot tea, water; other beverages available for purchase from the bar. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Day 7
Program Concludes
Quebec City, QC B
Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. 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.