Skip to content
LarkTours

Routes · Americas

Irkutsk to French Canada: Montréal, Québec City and Tadoussac

Irkutsk → Montréal → Québec City → Tadoussac

Old Montreal
"Old_Port_of_Montreal_(French-_Vieux-Port_de_Montréal).jpg" by User Gjm130 on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Montreal, Quebec skyline (Montreal)
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

French Canada & whales Best season (general guide): Jun–Sep

French-speaking Quebec combines two historic cities with a wild coast where whales come to feed in the St Lawrence. This route goes from Montréal to Québec City and then north-east to Tadoussac. From Irkutsk the journey to Montréal involves several connections, so allow plenty of time for the flights.

Montréal is a city of neighbourhoods: the old port, the Plateau's terraced houses, and Mount Royal park above the centre. A train or drive along the river brings you to Québec City, whose walled old town, ramparts and the Château Frontenac sit above the St Lawrence. Its historic district is listed by UNESCO. From there the road follows the north shore through Charlevoix to Tadoussac, where the Saguenay Fjord joins the river in the Saguenay–St Lawrence Marine Park. Whale-watching cruises and zodiac trips go out from the harbour; minke, fin and beluga whales are regularly seen, and blue whales are more likely in high summer.

Whale-watching runs from about May to October, with the widest variety of species from late June to September. Summer is also the most comfortable season in the cities. Winters are long and very cold.

Book Tadoussac cruises in advance in July and August. Dress warmly on the water, even in summer, and follow the marine park's rules on keeping distance from whales.

How to pace it: three nights in Montréal give you time to recover from the long journey from Siberia before you start exploring. Two nights in Québec City are enough for the old town and the ramparts, and the drive along the river to Tadoussac takes most of a day with stops in Charlevoix. In Tadoussac, book the cruise for your first morning, so that you have a second chance if the weather or sea conditions cancel the boat.

Suggested outline

  1. Irkutsk

    Start

  2. Montréal

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    Old Montréal's stone streets, the view from Mount Royal and the Jean-Talon market.

  3. Québec City

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    Reached by train or road along the St Lawrence. The walled Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Château Frontenac
    "Château_Frontenac_02.jpg" by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Tadoussac

    By road and ferry · 2 nights suggested

    A village where the Saguenay Fjord meets the St Lawrence, within a marine park. Boat tours go out to watch whales.

    Tadoussac
    "Tadoussac,_QC_-_2026.jpg" by Hayden Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Montréal — Arrive; Old Montréal· Irkutsk → Montréal (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Montréal — Mount Royal and the Plateau
  3. Day 3 · Montréal — Jean-Talon market
  4. Day 4 · Québec City — Train or drive along the St Lawrence· Montréal → Québec City (overland)
  5. Day 5 · Québec City — Old Québec and the ramparts
  6. Day 6 · Tadoussac — Via Charlevoix to Tadoussac· Québec City → Tadoussac (by road and ferry)
  7. Day 7 · Tadoussac — Whale-watching cruise
  8. Day 8 · Tadoussac — Travel home from Tadoussac· Tadoussac → Quebec City (by road and ferry), then Quebec City → Irkutsk (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

Each button opens a live, dated search. We don't show stored fares here: check today's price on the booking site.

Showing dates about a month ahead — change them when you search.

Montréal

More about Montreal →

Plan the trip: Montreal

These links go to partner sites. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices and terms are set by the partner.

Québec City

Nearest airport: Quebec

Partner links may earn LarkTours a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, availability and terms are set by each partner.