loading spinner
Quebec

Whales, Fjords and French Canada: Saguenay and the St. Lawrence

Program No. 12684RJ
Enjoy expert presentations and thrilling excursions as you learn about whales, fjords, historical architecture and Québecois culture on this journey to the heart of French Canada.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jun 23 - Jun 29, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Jul 7 - Jul 13, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Aug 11 - Aug 17, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Aug 18 - Aug 24, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Aug 25 - Aug 31, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Sep 8 - Sep 14, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Itinerary Note

Private Group - GROUP - Kodai International School Reunion

DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jun 23 - Jun 29, 2024
Starting at
3,559
Filling Fast!
Jul 7 - Jul 13, 2024
Starting at
3,559
Aug 11 - Aug 17, 2024
Starting at
3,559
Filling Fast!
Aug 18 - Aug 24, 2024
Starting at
3,559
Aug 25 - Aug 31, 2024
Starting at
3,559
Sep 8 - Sep 14, 2024
Starting at
3,559
Itinerary Note

Private Group - GROUP - Kodai International School Reunion

At a Glance

From beluga, humpback, minke, fin and perhaps sperm whales, discover the rich cetacean diversity in the St. Lawrence River, fueled by the upwelling of krill near Saguenay Fjord while never far from shore. Drive through the remnants of a 350-million-year-old meteorite crater and experience the quaint charm in the cultural and historical heart of French Canada set in rural Tadoussac. Discover Québec City as you explore its vibrant culture, historical architecture and European charm.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walks up to one mile; boarding and disembarking boats.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Learn about whale behavior and identification at the whale research station from local experts.
  • Enjoy numerous chances to view whales in one of the richest and most diverse cetacean feeding grounds in Canada’s first and largest marine sanctuary.
  • Immerse yourself in Québecois culture with excursions that explore the artistry, old cities and farming villages.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Marie Legroulx
Marie is an eleventh-generation Quebecoise whose ancestors settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the mid-17th century. She has a BA in history and an MA in Quebec literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Marie draws on both fields in her Road Scholar learning adventures as well as within her life more broadly. She taught French and Quebec literature for 25 years at the university level. Marie has been leading groups in Quebec City and the surrounding area since 2008.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Chantal Bellon
Chantal Bellon View biography
A retired teacher, Chantal Bellon has lead visitors around the province of Québec, to the vibrant city of Toronto and the beautiful Niagara Falls, to the nation’s capital in Ottawa. Chantal enjoys sharing the charm and beauty of her home country with guests from around the globe and always looks forward to learning something new from them too. Although as a teacher, she primarily taught math and science, she has an eclectic love for travel, music, carpentry, and animals.
Profile Image of Marie Legroulx
Marie Legroulx View biography
Marie is an eleventh-generation Quebecoise whose ancestors settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the mid-17th century. She has a BA in history and an MA in Quebec literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Marie draws on both fields in her Road Scholar learning adventures as well as within her life more broadly. She taught French and Quebec literature for 25 years at the university level. Marie has been leading groups in Quebec City and the surrounding area since 2008.
Profile Image of Francois Vidal
Francois Vidal View biography
François Vidal was born in Québec City, where he spent years studying theatre and travel. He frequently combines his education with his love for Québec City and its rich history, performing in numerous educational theatrical productions. François has been an educational interpreter in Québec City since 2009 and is well-known for his personification of historical figures including a recent production in which he portrayed General Montcalm from the French-Indian War. François displays a keen interest in the architecture, culture and lifestyle in Québec City.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Whalewatcher, A Global Guide to Watching Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the Wild
by Trevor Day
A photo guide to whales, dolphins and porpoises worldwide, with featured spreads on 40 commonly encountered species.
Maria Chapdelaine, A Tale of French Canada
by Louis Hemon
A young woman living with her family on the frontier in Quebec, Maria endures the hardships of isolation and climate and must choose between three suitors.
The St. Lawrence
by Henry Beston
In this original survey of the St. Lawrence, renowned naturalist Henry Beston not only includes the history of the river, but also its land and its people. Originally published in 1942, illustrated with sketches.
The Whale
by Philip Hoare
A deeply engaging meditation on all things whale. Hoare saves his special love and attention for the sperm whale -- not only via a beautiful literary analysis of Moby Dick -- but also by indulging in a childhood fantasy and actually swimming with whales in the Azores.
Champlain's Dream
by David Hackett Fischer
In this stunningly researched and engaging biography, Pulitzer Prize-winner David Hackett Fischer weaves together the epic story of soldier and explorer Samuel de Champlain, a colonizer of North America who spent 30 years bringing his vision of a New France to life.
The Canadian Frontier, 1534-1760
by W. J. Eccles
A popular, groundbreaking academic history of New France in the colonial era.
Shadows on the Rock
by Willa Cather
Set at the end of the 17th century in rural Quebec, this beautifully realized novel highlights the struggles of the Parisian widower Auclair and his young daughter to adapt to their new land.
Negotiating a River, Canada, the US, and the Creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway
by Daniel Macfarlane
This political and environmental history looks at the defining episodes of the St. Lawrence Seaway megaproject, from the complex diplomatic negotiations between the US and Canada to its lasting impact on transnational relations.
Pandora's Locks, The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway
by Jeff Alexander
This detailed history of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which opened in 1959, focuses on the engineering feat's often devastating environmental effects.
Watching Giants, The Secret Lives of Whales
by Elin Kelsey
Kelsey's highly personal introduction to the culture, behavior and ecosystems of whales brims with vitality and funny anecdotes. She also discusses the human impact on underwater ecosystems.
A People's History of Quebec
by Robin Philbot, Jacques Lacoursiere
This swift overview of Quebec’s 450-year history by a leading historian covers everything from the earliest days of colonization to the province’s recent efforts to gain independence. Includes a helpful timeline.
Three Weeks in Quebec City: The Meeting That Made Canada
by Christopher Moore
A riveting history of the earliest drafting of a Canadian national constitution during the Quebec Conference of 1864.
Canada and Quebec: One Country, Two Histories
by Robert Bothwell
An in-depth look at Canada-Quebec relations through interviews with prominent Canadian figures.
Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
by Mark Carwardine
In the trademark, graphic Eyewitness style, this sturdy guidebook colorfully describes the world's cetaceans with numerous illustrations, range maps, fluke drawings and a few paragraphs on each species.
Surfacing
by Margaret Atwood
One of Atwood's earliest novels, a suspenseful yarn where a young woman becomes entangled in affairs, mysteries and the haunting draw of nature as she searches for her missing father on an island off the coast of northern Quebec.
Arundel
by Kenneth Roberts, N. C. Wyeth (Illustrator)
The grand historical novel of Colonel Benedict Arnold's doomed march on Quebec in 1775, told through the eyes of a soldier in the Continental Army. Rich in historical detail.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.