The North Shore, vast and unexplored

Departure dates: Daily, from May 1 to October 24, 2026

DAY 1 | MONTREAL

Arrival at Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Pick up your car (car rental not included) and transfer to your downtown hotel. Your travel booklet will be waiting for you at the hotel reception. You will have the rest of the day to explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Montreal.

DAY 2 | MONTREAL – QUEBEC CITY (250 KM)

Enjoy the morning discovering Montreal. Treat yourself to a guided tour offering an overview of the main attractions or freely explore some of the many neighborhoods bordering downtown. See the skyscrapers of the business district and the underground city, Sainte-Hélène and Notre-Dame islands, the Latin Quarter, Chinatown, Sainte-Catherine Street and its intense commercial activity, Old Montreal and the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral of Quebec. Leaving Montreal, you will travel through part of the Mauricie region, pass through the city of Trois-Rivières and the Chemin du Roy if you wish, then follow the St. Lawrence River to reach Quebec City, the only fortified city north of Mexico. Overnight in Quebec City.

Optional activity: Walking tour of Old Montreal

DAY 3 | QUEBEC CITY

Quebec City, the capital of the province and a jewel of UNESCO World Heritage, has much to offer. Its main historical sites are the Plains of Abraham, the fortifications, Place Royale, the Citadel and the Petit Champlain district. You will enjoy walking along Dufferin Terrace, a lively and popular area. Let yourself be charmed by the streets and alleys of Old Quebec, with undeniable charm, and take the ferry to Lévis simply to enjoy a truly exceptional view of Cap Diamant and Château Frontenac. Or venture out to Montmorency Falls Park or Sainte-Anne Canyon. These two sites feature impressive waterfalls that can be pleasantly explored on foot along trails and lookouts, but also offer soft adventure experiences such as ziplining. Overnight in Quebec City.

Optional activities: Zipline at Montmorency Falls Park / Sainte-Anne Canyon / Guided tour of the Citadel of Quebec and museum admission

DAY 4 | QUEBEC CITY – LES ESCOUMINS (250 KM)

Departing from Quebec City, you will cross the beautiful Charlevoix region, which combines culture and nature. For decades, the beauty of its landscapes has attracted many painters and artists of all kinds, as evidenced by the number of boutiques, studios and art galleries found there.

You will officially reach the North Shore upon arriving in the Tadoussac region, at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord. In Tadoussac or Grandes-Bergeronnes, you are in a prime area for whale watching. It is indeed at the confluence of these two major waterways and nearby in the St. Lawrence River that krill, plankton and small fish thrive—food that whales are particularly fond of. If you prefer to save sea excursions for later, why not treat yourself to a black bear observation activity, which generally takes place at dusk? Overnight in Les Escoumins.

DAY 5 | LES ESCOUMINS – SEPT-ÎLES (390 KM)

You will travel today along a long road toward Sept-Îles. Route 138, the only road running along the entire North Shore, is also called the “Whale Route” because 13 different species, including the blue whale, frequent the waters not far off the coast. By keeping an eye out, it is even common to spot them from the shore in several places. In fact, from Baie-Trinité onward, the river reaches gigantic proportions. You then enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which locals naturally refer to as “the sea.” Along the way, stretch your legs at Pointe-aux-Outardes Nature Park, located about 20 minutes west of Baie-Comeau. There, you will find eight distinct ecosystems specific to the Manicouagan Peninsula: boreal forest, tidal flats, beaches, peat bog, sand dunes, alder grove, as well as the largest salt marsh on the North Shore. Overnight in Sept-Îles.

Optional activity: Guided tour “Wabush in the Land of the Innu” and tasting

DAY 6 | SEPT-ÎLES

You have the day to discover Sept-Îles, located on the shores of a vast circular bay. You can begin with a visit to the North Shore Regional Museum, which through artistic and heritage exhibitions reveals the identity of the North Shore. Continue with a visit to the Old Trading Post, a summer gathering place for the Innu, where they traded with French merchants until 1842. Today, it is a historical interpretation site where costumed guides offer interactive activities about the way of life of the time and the fur trade. Then, stroll along the Old Wharf, a meeting place for the local population, with its promenade of over one kilometer running along the bay and the Seven Islands archipelago. It is the ideal place to observe the splendor of the bay, the activities of fishermen and ore carriers, and the sunsets. In summer, artisans and artists are present there. It is also from Sept-Îles that a ferry service to Anticosti Island is available. Overnight in Sept-Îles.

DAY 7 | SEPT-ÎLES – HAVRE-SAINT-PIERRE (220 KM)

On your way to the Lower North Shore, stop at Rivière-au-Tonnerre. You will enjoy a beautiful viewpoint over the small fishing harbor of this village of 300 inhabitants, whose wooden church is worth a visit.

The road will then take you to Mingan, an Innu village called “Ekuanitshit” in its original name, and through the entire spectacular Minganie region. Then you will arrive in Havre-Saint-Pierre for two days of extraordinary natural discoveries. First, stop at the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve Interpretation and Visitor Centre to obtain all the information on services and activity schedules offered and to book your transport to the islands with a certified boat operator.

You are about to discover an absolutely unique place. The archipelago stands out for having the largest concentration of erosion monoliths in Canada. Made up of more than a thousand islands and islets, it will captivate you with its limestone giants and the diversity of its ecological environments, where it is possible to observe rich flora as well as several species of seabirds. A fantastic stay awaits you. Also be sure to visit the Mingan Islands Research Station, a non-profit organization conducting scientific research on large whales—a fascinating visit led by passionate biologists. Overnight in Havre-Saint-Pierre.

DAY 8 | HAVRE-SAINT-PIERRE

Spend your day discovering the archipelago. Bring warm clothing, put on good walking shoes and go hiking. Don’t forget your binoculars, your water bottle and your camera! Around 200 bird species frequent the park reserve, including the famous Atlantic puffins. To make sure you don’t miss anything, choose a discovery activity with a guide-interpreter. Boat and zodiac excursions are offered to Niapiskau Island, Quarry Island, Perroquets Island or the Two Islands, all of which have their own secrets and special features. Several lighthouse stations in the archipelago, which bear witness to the lives of their keepers and tell a unique maritime history of the region, can also be visited. Overnight stay in Havre-Saint-Pierre.

DAY 9 | HAVRE-SAINT-PIERRE – BAIE-COMEAU (450 KM)

You now take the road back west. Passing once again through Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, you are sure to fall in love with Shaputuan, the Innu Culture Transmission House. It is strongly recommended to plan a guided visit with an Innu guide in order to fully understand the colors of the traditional and modern life of this nation. In Baie-Comeau, the second largest city on the North Shore with its 22,000 inhabitants, you can visit the Glacier Garden. It is a themed park offering an adventure focused on the last ice age and climate change. First through a virtual and multisensory experience where all your senses will be stimulated, then through the geological experience known as the “valley of shells,” a thousand-year-old natural agora located in the heart of the boreal forest. Overnight stay in Baie-Comeau.

Optional activity: Shaputuan Innu Culture Transmission House

DAY 10 | BAIE-COMEAU

Enjoy your day with an exceptional visit: a giant hydroelectric dam. The Manic-Outarde project is a vast hydroelectric development project comprising a total of seven power stations on the Manicouagan and Aux Outardes rivers, carried out by Hydro-Québec between 1959 and 1978. The first suggested stop is 22 kilometres from Baie-Comeau at the Georges-Dor pavilion, where you will have the opportunity to visit the Jean-Lesage power station, also known as “Manic-2.” You may also choose to go directly to kilometre 214 of Route 389 and visit the largest multiple-arch and buttress dam in the world: the Daniel-Johnson Dam, known as “Manic-5.” A masterpiece of engineering and a privileged witness to Quebec’s ingenuity, the Daniel-Johnson Dam is a must-see. Standing at nearly 366 metres above sea level, it offers a breathtaking view of its reservoir and the region’s glacial valley. Whether at its base, on its crest, or inside, you are guaranteed an exhilarating experience during the visit. Free tours are offered at both dams during high season. Overnight stay in Baie-Comeau.

DAY 11 | BAIE-COMEAU – RIMOUSKI / MONT-JOLI (160 KM + 2H20 CROSSING)

Today you leave the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River to reach the south shore by ferry. The distance between the two coasts is about 60 km. Different routes are available. But whatever crossing you choose, it will be a pleasant moment where you can enjoy the fresh air on deck, observe the St. Lawrence estuary, and take advantage of onboard services (food, rest areas, shop). You will arrive in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and Rimouski. Take the opportunity to visit the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site, featuring the tallest lighthouse in Canada as well as the fascinating history of the Empress of Ireland, a magnificent ocean liner that sank in Canadian waters in 1914, causing the largest maritime tragedy in Canada with over 1,000 victims. Overnight stay in Rimouski / Mont-Joli.

Optional activity: Jardins de Métis

DAY 12 | RIMOUSKI / MONT-JOLI – MONTMAGNY (240 KM)

On the road toward the Chaudière-Appalaches region, the majestic Saint Lawrence River remains ever-present as you follow the coastline! Take a break in Kamouraska, a village known for its rich architectural and historical heritage, remarkable for the harmony and serenity of its landscapes; visit the Seigneurie des Aulnaies, the most important interpretation centre of the seigneurial system in Quebec; or stop in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, the wood carving capital of Quebec. Overnight stay in Montmagny.

DAY 13 | MONTMAGNY – MONTRÉAL (305 KM)

Return to the Montreal region to continue your discoveries. Take the opportunity to visit one of the many museums in Montreal or explore the Old Port, whose range of activities is impressive. You may also choose to take a short trip to Jean-Talon Market, the largest outdoor market in North America, to meet local producers and mingle with the colourful crowd of regulars. Or head up to Mount Royal and its large park, which Montrealers affectionately call “the mountain” and which stands proudly in the heart of the city. There is no shortage of options in this dynamic and cosmopolitan city. Overnight stay in Montreal.

Optional activity: Zipline in Montreal

DAY 14 | MONTRÉAL

Departure to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

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