Montreal Circular 8 – A comprehensive route in Eastern Canada. The route starts in the city of Montreal and from there leads south through the province of New Brunswick to Saint John. From Saint John the route continues via ferry to the southern tip of Nova Scotia. After touring the picturesque villages of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton island and it’s beautiful National Park, the route leads north to to the Gaspe Peninsula – a beautiful, pristine region in eastern Quebec. The last part of the trip includes a ferry ride that crosses the Saint Lawrence River and a drive south along the river’s eastern banks the beautiful Quebec City and from there back to Montreal.
Day 1 – Land in Montreal and tour the city
Lodging location: Montreal
Day 2 – Drive south the Grand Falls, 6 hours drive
Lodging location: Grand Falls
Day 3 – Continue driving south and to Saint John and take the ferry to Digby, 2.5 hours ferry ride plus 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Digby
Day 4 – Drive plus take the short ferry rides to the end of Digby Neck (to Brier Island) and go whale watching, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Digby
Day 5 – Drive to the town of Lunenburg through Kejimkujik National Park, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Lunenburg
Day 6– Drive to Halifax and through the village of Peggy’s Cove and the beautiful coastal areas around it, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Halifax
Day 7 – Travel to East Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Ingonish
Day 8 – Visit West and North Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Cheticamp
Day 9 – Drive to the town of Moncton, and on the way visit Hopewell Rocks (the place with the greatest tides in the world), 6 hours drive
Lodging location: Moncton
Day 10 – Drive to the Gaspe peninsula and on the way visit Kouchibouguac National Park, 6.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Perce
Day 11 – Visit the amazing Gannet colony in Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park and drive to the northern tip of the Gaspe peninsula, 1 hour drive
Lodging location: Gaspe
Day 12 – Visit Forillon National Park and drive south along to coast of the Gaspe peninsula, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Matane
Day 13 – Take the ferry to Baie-Comeau and afterwards drive south to Tadoussac and go whale watching in, 2.5 hours ferry ride plus 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Tadoussac
Day 14 – Drive to Quebec City and enjoy an afternoon in town, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Quebec City
Day 15 – Drive to Montreal along the Saint Lawrence River, on the way stop for a visit at La Mauricie National Park, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Montreal
Day 16 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our East Canada destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
