Six nights; seven days. Easy cycling on the gentle bike paths and roads around Lac-Saint-Jean, following the Blueberry Route – Veloroute des Bleuets – section of Quebec’s Route Verte.
“The scenery, everywhere we turned, is what we will remember always.” – Rick C.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Easy cycling with expansive scenery, on part of Quebec’s Route Verte.
- Shorter distances and easier terrain allow time for more diversions, including swimming, hiking, museums, exhibits, bistros and microbreweries.
- Cycling the pathways at Pointe-Taillon Park, including the dedicated cyclist ferries.
- Comfortable lodging for two nights at the historic village of Val Jalbert.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
This is an easy ride following mostly paved bike paths balanced with some paved shared use roadways; there are some short sections of unpaved surfaces which are compacted and well suited to cycling. This route is fondly known as the “Veloroute des Bleuets”.
The easiest routes we offer, these are generally flat and cover relatively relaxed distances. You will be comfortable riding a hybrid bike, walking in sneakers, or paddling a light kayak, and will normally have time to take many photos and enjoy extended lunches.
Daily Distance:
- DAY 1: Arrive
- DAY 2: 35 km
- DAY 3: 80 km
- DAY 4: 57 km
- DAY 5: 40 km
- DAY 6: 55 km
- DAY 7: 26 km and farewell
Québec: Lac Saint-Jean – Elevation Profile
(Click image to enlarge)
Québec: Lac Saint-Jean Bike
Start: Québec City, Hotel Chateau Laurier, 16:00, day one. You will meet your guides here or another pre-determined location at 09:00 on the morning of day two. Please contact us to arrange alternate plans, if necessary.
Finish: Québec City, 15:00, day seven.
Arrival and independent exploration of Québec City
Arrive at Québec City at your leisure. Your pre-arranged room awaits, and your guide(s) will meet you early tomorrow morning. You can enjoy the art shops, galleries, historical quarters, and cafes of Old Québec. Other highlights include the Musée de la Civilisation, Le Château Frontenac and La Citadelle de Québec (North America’s largest fort). Dining options abound; check out Trip Advisor: Downtown Quebec City for inspiration and current local favorites.
Hotel Chateau Laurier, Québec City
Québec City to Alma 35 km
Meet in Quebec City this morning for an immediate transfer about 2 ½ hours north to La Plage Rigolet in Métabetchouan where the biking begins. Heading east, you will follow the veloroute toward the fromagerie, bakery, and microbrewery at Saint Gédéon. Ride into Alma where you can visit the exhibits at l’Odyssée des Bâtisseurs before arriving at your inn overlooking the Saguenay River. LD (Meal inclusions shown for guided trips)
La Maison du Matelot, or Gite Almatoit, Alma
Alma to Dolbeau-Mistassini 80 km
The warm up ride to Saint-Henri-de-Taillon leads you to a highlight of the tour – the traffic-free trails at Pointe-Taillon Park, an immense delta formed by the Peribonka River at the end of the last ice age. There are beautiful beaches and swimming opportunities and a bicycle ferry that links you to Péribonka from where you’ll continue on the veloroute to Dolbeau-Mistassini and the Chutes du Pere on the Mitassini River at the top of Lac Saint-Jean. BLD
Auberge Chute-des-Peres, Dolbeau-Mistassini
Dolbeau-Mistassini to Saint-Félicien 57 km.
Ride on paved shoulders and paved bike paths up one riverbank, through delightfully rural Quebec. Highlights include the Grand Jardins de Normandin (the day lilies are superb), the Normandin Bear Waterfall, the farmhouse-style cheese from Normandinoise dairy. An early afternoon arrival at Saint-Félicien provides ample time to experience Zoo Sauvage, where you are caged on a train and the animals run free. The bilingual interpretation on this excursion is exceptional, and this experience receives rave reviews (plan on at least two hours for a stop here). Others will enjoy relaxing at nearby Chutes à Michel. BLD
Hotel du Jardin, or Hotel de la Boréalie, Saint-Félicien
Saint-Félicien to Val Jalbert 40 km
Follow the shore of Lac Saint-Jean to the Mashteuiatsh Native Museum where you can learn about the culture and heritage of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh people – natives of this area for more than 6000 years. Cycle through Roberval to the historic village at Val-Jalbert where you will feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, lodging in a beautifully reconstructed period home. BLD
Village Historique de La-Jalbert, Chambord
Val-Jalbert & Parc le Trou de la Fée 55 km
From Val-Jalbert, you will cycle along the Métabetchouan River to the bridge at Saint-André then head across to the Parc le Trou de la Feé where you can explore the caverns, walking trails, including a network of footbridges and suspension bridges, and if you’re up for some adrenaline, the ziplines. Return to Val-Jalbert, stopping enroute for a swim at Plage Chambord. BLD
Same lodging
Val-Jalbert to Metabetchouan 26km, transfer back to Quebec City, and farewell
After a short bike ride and a visit to the Métabetchouan Archeological Centre, you’ll have the chance for one more refreshing swim in the lake before the two-hour transfer back to Quebec City where you will arrive mid-afternoon with time to explore the city independently or depart for other destinations. BL
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SCHEDULED DATES
2023 Guided:
- Jun 18-24
- Jul 9-15
- Jul 23-29
- Aug 6-12
- Aug 20-26
2024 Guided:
- Jun 16-22
- Jul 7-13
- Jul 21-27
- Aug 4-10
- Aug 18-24
Self-Guided available any dates, except for those listed above. New dates are also welcomed for guided or private departures.
PRICING
Guided: C 3695 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 7 days, 6 nights, 4 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners, van and guide support, entrance fees to Pointe Taillon Park, Le Trou de la Fee, and Zoo Sauvage, luggage handling, maps, route instructions, 15% sales tax.
Small groups or private tours, fully supported with drivers/guides and vehicles, all lodging and most meals included. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Guided: C 3395 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 7 days, 6 nights, 4 breakfasts, inn to inn luggage transfers, all ground transportation as outlined, , maps, route instructions, on-call support 15% sales tax.
Semi-supported, independent tours including welcome briefing, lodging, luggage transfers and necessary vehicle transfers. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: 945
Bike Rentals:
Hybrid: 165
Flat bars. Trek FX3 or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag. Lowstep frames available by request.
Road: 295
Drop bars. Trek Domane AL5, SL5, or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag (no rack/bag on carbon frames).
Electric: 465
Flat bars. Trek Verve+ 2 or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag. Lowstep frames available by request.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
Please see above for accurate pricing and inclusions, unless we have proposed a customized trip for you and those details are provided in your custom proposal.
1. Choose an advertised date to join a small group, or see our Join a Group page to see where groups are already forming.
2. Pick your own dates. We will confirm quickly, and are happy to talk with you as you make your choice. If you would like a private guided date, price remains the same as advertised if you have at least six. If you prefer self-guided, we usually only require two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and can sometimes reduce prices for you if you have four or more.
BEST TIMES
The best time to enjoy this tour is mid-June to mid-October.
Spring daytimes warm up to 10 to 20 °C (50 to 70 °F) by mid June. Note that seasonal businesses may still be closed, or on off-season hours, until late June.
Summer, mid June to mid September, is normally 20 to 25 °C (70 to 80 °F). Freshwater and saltwater swimming is encouraged.
Autumn, mid September to mid October, daytimes 10 to 20 °C range (50 to 70 °F). Nights can be chilly, but rarely down to freezing. Mid-October is the best time to see spectacularly colorful fall foliage.
BEFORE & AFTER THE TOUR
We suggest you plan to spend one or two nights in Québec City before or after your Freewheeling Adventure. Québec City is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, with many worthwhile attractions, restaurants, and shopping opportunities. For more information about Québec, visit https://www.quebec-cite.com/en/.
You may also want to coordinate your trip with some of the following festivals:
Québec City Summer Festival| https://www.feq.ca/en/ : Québec City’s 11-day international music festival in July.
Grands Feux Loto-Québec https://lesgrandsfeux.com/en/ : Pyromusical firework festival in August.
Getting There:
If you fly:
we recommend you fly in to Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport YQB www.aeroportdequebec.com/en/. If you are staying in a Québec City hotel before your trip begins, you may want to ask if they offer a shuttle to and from the airport.
Other options include:
● Taxi Coop Québec : 418-525-5191 http://www.taxiscoop- quebec.com/?q=en
● Taxi Coop Sainte-Foy Sillery; 418-653-7777 www.taxicoopstefoysillery.com
● Taxi Laurier: 418-651-2727 www.taxilaurier.ca
Another option is to fly into Montreal Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport YUL www.admtl.com/Passengers/Home.aspx. Via Rail trains travel to Quebec City up to 8 times per day and the trip takes from 3 to 4 hours, Via Rail. Or you can drive to Quebec City in 2+ hours if you are planning to rent a car.
If you drive:
Meet in Quebec City. Reserve your own lodging there, or call us for help with that. We will pick you up or arrange a rendezvous point at about 09:30am on day one. It is 800km from New York, and 800km from Toronto.
To Do:
If you have one day:
Explore Quebec City. See the recommendation in the “Getting to the Start” section, and call us for more detail. There is good hiking and sightseeing, for example, within half an hour at the Chutes de Montmorency. For a nice day’s ride, consider cycling the perimeter of Ile d’Orleans, just north of Quebec City. The bridge to the island is not cyclist friendly, but the cycling on the other side is divine!
If you have several days:
Extend your trip without leaving Quebec. You can link this tour with our Bas-Saint-Laurent Bike tour.
Finish:
Finish in Quebec City on the afternoon of day six. We can help arrange transport to the airport or to your choice of independent lodging.
