Canada, Québec: Saguenay & Charlevoix Hiking Tour
Five nights. Six days of trail hikes with views overlooking the Saguenay fjord and the Saint Lawrence River.
“Always a pleasure traveling with Freewheeling. You’ve managed to hold on to the company ideals throughout the years. Well done.” – Candace B.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Spectacular hikes in “The Kingdom” of the fjord and hilly Charlevoix, with views over the water, and walks right beside it.
- Whale-watching in the world’s southernmost habitat of white beluga whales.
- Birch copses curiously flourishing in sand dunes near Tadoussac.
- Artisanal chocolates in Les Eboulements.
- Peruse art galleries in Baie-Saint-Paul.
- Unique, friendly Quebecois French culture.
- One of the world’s longest fjords. White beluga whales gather at its confluence with the Saint Lawrence River. You can visit them and their minke friends by kayak or Zodiac, and can often see them from the shore.
- Charlevoix is a giant meteorite impact crater, and is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, thanks to its diversity, and richness of fauna and flora.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Daily Distance:
- DAY 1: Variable
- DAY 2: 11 km
- DAY 3: Up to 15 km
- DAY 4: 4 km + options
- DAY 5: Up to 13 km
- DAY 6: 7 km
QC: Saguenay & Charlevoix Hike – Elevation Profile:
(Click image to enlarge)
QC: Saguenay & Charlevoix Hike – Elevation Profile
Activity Levels
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.
This is primarily an easy route, but some days may fall into the moderate category. You can expect time to stop and smell the roses, but some of the rides may be on more hilly terrain.
Requiring moderate fitness levels, these cover terrain with hills and valleys, and tend to include distances of 50-80km (30-50mi.)/day cycling, or 3-6 hours of walking per day. Most Freewheeling Adventures fall into this category, and are suitable for most ability levels.
This is primarily a moderate route, suitable for most ability levels, but some days may be a little more challenging. You can expect some long distances, and/or some big climbs/descents.
The most challenging trips, these include longer distances, bigger hills, long hikes, exposed paddling, and full days of activity. We recommend a higher degree of fitness and training to make the most of the experience.
There is also a rare double black diamond, reserved for only the most difficult adventures.
Start: Québec City, Hotel le Concorde, 09:00, day one.
Finish: Québec City, 16:00, day six. .
Please contact us to arrange alternate plans, if necessary.
Québec City rendezvous, Montmorency Falls, and Cap Tourmente Wildlife Reserve.
Start in Québec City, where you will be collected and transferred to the nearby waterfalls at Montmorency – Quebec’s tallest waterfall. Downriver, hike through the marshes, plains and forests of Cap Tourmente – a National Wildlife Area established to protect the American Bulrush marshes that serve as the primary habitat of the Greater Snow Goose during migration periods. You will have several opportunities for wildlife viewing, as well as great views over the St. Lawrence River. A short transfer then takes you to the artist-haven town of Baie-St-Paul, and your warm lodge. LD (Meal inclusions shown for guided trips)
Auberge La Muse , Baie-Saint-Paul
Parc National des Grand Jardins; hike up to 11 km, drive up to 2 hours.
Today you will explore Parc National des Grand Jardins, home of a unique species of forest dwelling caribou and rare lichens seldom found at latitudes this far south. You will hike alongside steep mountains with bald summits, and enjoy spellbinding views of the Charlevoix crater. On clear days, from atop Mont-du-Lac-des-Cygnes, you will see all the way to the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, and the seven villages scattered through this magnificent Charlevoix region. BL
Same lodging
Sentier Le Paysan & Sentier Louis-Charles Audet: Hike up to 15 km, drive up to 2 hours.
A 30-minute transfer takes you to Les Éboulements, named after the violent rock slides caused by a massive earthquake in 1663. Gourmet delicacies are available at La Ferme Éboulmontaise, to nourish you during two hikes, each of which provide many sweeping vistas of Charlevoix and the St. Lawrence River. You can also visit a windmill museum, and can taste rare ice cider at an award-winning orchard. Continue to La Malbaie – an historic resort village that has attracted the elite of North America’s high society for more than a century. America’s 27th president, William Howard Taft, referred to the area as “intoxicating as champagne, yet without the hangover.” BLD
Auberge des Falaises, La Malbaie
Tadoussac. One-hour transfer, 4km hike, and optional afternoon activities, including whale watching, sea kayaking, and dune sliding.
Tadoussac is where the Saguenay fjord meets the Saint Lawrence – a confluence which produces nutrient rich waters and corresponding ecological richness. Whales love it here, and white belugas are almost always present during the summer months. You will have 4km of coastal hiking at Baie des Rochers, and will visit the Fromagerie at Saint Fidèle. There are many activities to enjoy on a Tadoussac afternoon: visit the Centre d’interprétation des Mammifères Marins, where you’ll learn about the whales of the St. Lawrence River and their protected environment; visit the dunes outside of town, curiously perched far from the river; take a whale cruise, sea kayak to see the whales, or simply repose at your historic lodging. BL
Hotel Tadoussac, Tadoussac
Saguenay Fjord; hike up 13 km
A full day of hiking on the fjord trail, with spectacular views over the Saguenay River. This hike includes challenging, steep sections. During the summer season, the St. Lawrence Beluga whale population regularly comes to the Baie-Saint-Marguerite area, where the opportunity to witness Beluga behaviour seldom seen elsewhere has established it as a critically important habitat for the fascinating Beluga population. BLD
Same lodging
Transfer to Québec City; hike 7 km
Today’s transfer back to Québec City, ‘where the river narrows’ will be enhanced with a hike on Cap Rouge trail to a perch high above the Saint-Lawrence near Saint-Tite-des-Caps. You will be back in Québec City in late afternoon. BL
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SCHEDULED DATES
2024 Guided:
- Jun 23-28
- Jul 14-19
- Aug 11-16
- Sep 15-20
Self-Drive available any dates, except for those listed above. New dates are also welcomed for guided or private departures.
PRICING
Guided: C 3395 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners, full time guide support, ground transportation, park entry fees, luggage handling, 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-Drive: C 2145 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, relevant maps and trail notes, car rental recommendations, 15% sales tax
Fully independent travel including lodging, detailed itineraries, route instructions and resources. Choose your own dates, provide your own transportation. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: 895
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, this usually comes at a surcharge depending on the details, please get in touch for more information. 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.
More Reading:
Charlevoix is sandwiched between craggy Laurentian Mountains and the Saint Lawrence River. It encompasses a meteorite impact crater that accommodates dairy farming and great walking! The wildlife and exceptional richness of its flora have warranted its classification as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, comprising agricultural, tidal marshland, and even mountain tundra ecosystems.
At the mouth of the Saguenay River, Belugas and Minke whales congregate in the mix of fresh water from the Saguenay and the tidal flow of the Saint Lawrence. We invite you to come and enjoy the natural beauty, unique culture, and regional cuisine with us. Whether you are a nature lover, a whale watcher, a music fan, a history buff, or an adventurer, you are promised memorable moments in this most fascinating region of ‘la belle province’.
