Dans moins de 3 semaines nous allons rendre une petite visite aux baleines en partant des Bergeronnes, ma question est la suivante : qu'est-ce qui est le plus sympa : le bateau pneumatique ou le kayak ? avez-vous fait l'expérience de l'un ou l'autre ou des 2 ?
Je serais ravie d'avoir votre avis...
Je ne sais pas qui fait les excursions aux Bergeronnes mais je sais qu'aux Escoumins à qq km de là ce sont les amerindiens qui ont le contrat et ils les font en zodiac ce qui est bcp mieux que Dufour à Tadoussac avec son voilier ou les autres bateaux qui font un peu cages à touristes....
De plus aux Escoumins il y a le village amerindien avec musée....resto etc...C'est pas encore trop commercial..Profitez-en !
Ceux qui vont à Tadoussac....plutot que de payer 45$ pour le Dufour....Installez-vous sur un banc au débarquadère et avec un peu de chance et de patience vs les verrez les baleines...!!!
J, ai souvent vu les baleines entre baie Ste Catherine et Baie-comeau ( St laurent)ainsi qu'en Basse Californie mais JAMAIS je n, ai vu une baleine sortir entierement de l, eau....j, attends donc qu, un gentil chanceux vforumiste aie cette chance et m, en envoie une photo...
Merci pour l'info Memphre.
Nous savons déjà que nous ne prendrons pas ces énormes bateaux et comme j'hésitais entre les Bergeronnes et les Escoumins...nous allons suivre vos conseils et promis, si une baleine sort complètement de l'eau (on peut tjrs rêver 😇) on vous enverra une photo !!
à bientôt.
Je croit que tu est pas dans la bonne région, par ce que c'est beaucoup des bélougas et pas des balaines a bosse ou des balaine bleu. En faite les belougat sorte pas trop de l'eau ...
Il parrait que de temps en temps à la fin de l'été (ou au début, me souvient plus), y'as deux trois balaine à bosse qui traine près de tadousac, mais j'ai jamais vue de photos prise de cette région, faut demander au jumeaux (ou frère j'ai jamais su) qui ont une affaire, eux je croit qu'il en on une acroché au mure de la maison ...
Tous sa pour dire que en kayak sa doit être simpas, c'est non poluant et en plus tu fait des effort pour y arrivée. Il faut savoir aussi qu'avec des embarcation a moteur du es des distance a respecter pour pas déranger les balaine, ce qui n'est pas forcément le cas pour les kayak ..., bien que la loie a l'aire d'avoirun peut évoluer ...
Bon aller la prochaine fois que je vient (peut être en 2005) on y vas avec les kayak et Francois ...
Pas de baleine bleues dans le St laurent. En fait dans l, estuaire, le fleuve et le Saguenay il y a des belugas en gd nombre...baleines grises et qq baleines blanches...
Et ts les guides ont des photos de baleines entierement hors de l'eau....
bon, alors moi, je prendrai une autre baleine en photo, voilà !! ou peut-être que je prendrai en photo les gens qui prennent la baleine en photo...et j'en enverrrai une copie à...la baleine 😉😉
Tu a moderer mon post alors je le remet pensant qu'il est légétime, par ce que je te redit qu'il y'as de temps en temps des balaine bleu (celle qui montre leu queue quand elle plonge) qui remonte de temps a autre dans l'estuaire, certain spécialiste pense même que le golf stream vas bientot mettre fin à ce phénomène encore inexpliqué !!!!
hi ! philobate,
peut-être que je verrai une baleine bleue, ou peut-être une grise...mais ce sera depuis un kayak, c'est décidé, pour le fun, pour le respect des animaux autant que possible (hum !!) et pour le respect de la nature.
Trés sage décision par contre je te conseille de prendre un guide par ce que je ne sait pas si il n'y as pas une législation spécifique (de type 6ème catégorie ou autre ..)
Merci regy ; j'avais déjà consulté ce site et c'est vrai qu'il donne plein d'infos !
Je n'ai pas eu de réponse sur les expériences vécues par les uns ou les autres mais je crois bien que nous choisirons le kayak pour rendre visite à ces baleines.
Dolma
Pour avoir déjà essayé les deux types de visite, je dois t'avouer que l'aventure Kayak fut la plus exitente puisque les baleines viennent assez près de nous. C'était à grande bergeronne au site du camping «le paradis marin». A cet endroit « camping» on a pu voir des baleines qui se nourissent et cette caractéristique fait en sorte qu'elles sortent de l'eau sur près de la moitié de leur corps. L'expérience du zodiac est bonne aussi mais ce n'est pas nous qui décidons de l'étinéraire et c'est plus de la course à la baleine que de la rendonnée ou elles viennent à nous.
Peu importe le choix, je te souhaite bonne excursion.
Le kayak est un bon choix, mais si vous allez plus loin (cote nord) aux iles mingans il y a le mics qui vous permet de faire partie de leur recherche et d'en apprendre plus sur le rorqual, en fais les touriste qui embarquent servent a financé leurs recherches.....
En plus les monolythes des iles de mingans sont a couper le souffle et la mer est d'une beauté incroyable, lorsque j'étais allé je l'avais fais en zodiac et ont avaient vu des macareaux, rorquals, phoques et meme deux marsouins 🙂
Je me souviens d'une anecdote, où certains de mes amis etaient parti longer la côte Alaskane en Kayak pres de Wrangel, et plus ils avançaient, plus il y avait
de baleines (celles à bosses) leur offrant chaque nuit les douceurs de leur chant,
Evoluant dans leur kayak un matin, ils se sont mis à les suivre, histoire d'aborder au plus pres leur comportement, quand d'un seul coup un banc d'une quinzaine d'entre elle a fait volte face et foncer sur eux pour finalement plonger juste en dessous leur embarcations sans même les effleurer d'un pouce…
Nous avons supposé qu'elles aussi surement avaient voulu voir de plus pres ces petits humains gesticulants sur leur floteurs…
En kayak....? Sais-tu si on peut faire du camping sauvage qq part sur les plages du coté de longue pointe de Minguan...?
Les excursions avec le MICS sont tres longues: 10 à 12 hrs. Je me rappelle qu, en basse californie apres une heure j, en avais assez. Quoiqu'à Minguan il y a bcp plus que les baleines semble-t-il ?
Pour le camping sur la côte probablement c'est pas l'espace qui manque, sinon y a un camping municipal a havre st-pierre, sur les iles depuis qques années c'est plus compliqué puisque ils y a plusieurs espèces protégés (végétaux, animaux)moi j'étais chez des amies....
La location de kayak est présente!
A sept-iles je sais qu'il est de permis de camper sur les iles et un bateau t'y amènes pour presque rien...
Cette année nous ne montons pas jusqu'aux iles Mingans ; ce sera pour une autre fois, tout est si grand chez vous qu'il faut bien faire des choix...
Merci quand même pour l'info !
Je ne sais pas où vous avez pris vos informations, alors, je vous propose de consulter ces deux sites sur la présence des baleines dans le Saint-Laurent. Je ne suis pas un expert en cétacés mais les guides qui m'ont accompagnés lors d'excursions sur le fleuve et sur le Saguenay, prétendaient que j'avais vu un Rorqual bleu (baleine bleue). J'ai aussi eu la chance de voir un cachalot qui montre la queue en plongeant (encore une fois, selon les guides qui m'accompagnaient).
C'est bien possible en tk moi je n, en n, ai jamais vu et je vais aux Escoumins depuis 1972 au moins une fois par été.....
Je me méfie aussi des guides....
Cette année je vais essayer l'excursion de 10hrs avec le MICS à Longue Pointe de Minguan, mais pas pour les baleines, plutôt pour les dauphins blancs....!
Hello,
I’ve just discovered this forum and I’m looking for your valuable advice. We’re planning to spend a month in Quebec from mid-July to mid-August 2027 with our young adult daughters. Everything looks so beautiful that we’re struggling to decide how to organize our trip beyond our stops in Montreal and Quebec City. We’ll be renting a vehicle to explore the province, but we don’t want to spend our entire vacation racking up kilometers. Do you have any suggestions for an itinerary?
Hi, I’d like to visit Quebec this fall or starting in August (what do you recommend?). I’d love to meet some Quebecers and get some tips on transportation. I’m wondering if it’s doable with an electric mountain bike (not too much rain?). I’m planning to buy one second-hand and return it afterward. If there are any travel buddies out there too...thanks
I’ve already been to Quebec City and Montreal, so this time I’d like to return to Quebec but skip visiting those two cities and focus entirely on Gaspésie. I’ll be traveling solo from October 5th to 15th.
What do you think? Any thoughts on park closures, weather, etc.?
hi everyone,
my flight’s all booked (Sept 19–Oct 4), with 1.5 days in Montreal + 1.5 days in Quebec City...
then I’ve got 11 days starting from Quebec City for a road trip—what route do you recommend?
(I’ve seen these stops come up a lot: Parc Omega, Charlevoix, Tadoussac, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay, Parc de la Gaspésie, Parc Forillon, Mauricie...)
The idea is no more than 2–3 hours of driving per day on average.
I’m traveling solo :-( (if you’re in the area around the same dates, hit me up!)
45 years old, I love sports (so I’m hoping to do hikes, kayaking, and other activities, see whales...discover beautiful landscapes). I’m not sure if there are any events in the area during those dates, but I’d also like to meet some people...
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi everyone,
I'd like to know which route is the quickest between Montréal-Trudeau Airport and downtown: the 747 bus, the Air Canada shuttle, or taking the 815 bus to the De La Savane REM station.
Thanks for your replies, have a great evening!
Hello,
We’re a group of four active seniors (still in great shape!) and we’re planning to visit this part of Canada for the first time. We usually travel with a self-drive tour package that includes accommodations and site visits.
Our trip is scheduled for June 2027, and we’d love some advice from the community on how many days we’ll need for this first visit, given the distances involved. We’d also appreciate any tips on our route, as we want to see the main highlights: Niagara Falls, Quebec City, Montreal, Charlevoix, whale watching, and more...
We’ll be arriving either from Toronto and returning via Montreal, or the other way around—still deciding.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions—they’ll be much appreciated!
I’m looking for your help planning a 3-week road trip from mid-September to early October starting in Montréal.
We’d like to explore part of Québec and the Gaspésie, and we’re intentionally starting with the Gaspésie because if we leave it for the end (early October), the weather might be less favorable and a lot of places will already be closed. I’ve also read that the fall colors are more beautiful in the Mauricie and Laurentides regions toward the end of our trip (early October).
Here’s the itinerary we’ve come up with:
Montréal (arrival and departure airport) -> Québec City -> Charlevoix -> Crossing the St. Lawrence River from St-Siméon to Rivière-du-Loup -> Rimouski and Parc du Bic -> Gaspésie along the coast (Matapedia, Percé, Bonaventure Island, Gaspé, Forillon Park) -> Crossing the St. Lawrence River from Matane to Baie-Comeau -> Tadoussac to Lac Saint-Jean via the route along the Saguenay River -> Return to Montréal via La Tuque, crossing the Laurentides and Mauricie Park
This is our first time in Canada, so don’t hesitate to be critical (I won’t take it badly ;)), if the route seems too ambitious (we know there’ll be a lot of driving!) or if it’s better to skip some stops that aren’t must-sees.
Hi,
I'm looking for an organized tour in Quebec lasting at least 2 weeks for next winter.
I'm looking for a tour that's done by bus, because there are many where you have to rent a car, and I don’t have a driver’s license.
Could you recommend any travel agencies that offer this?
Thanks in advance.
Hi everyone,
I’ve got 2 weeks of vacation to take (around Sept 15–Oct 10 max).
I’m thinking of Canada since I’ve never been, to see the beautiful fall colors, mix in some sports activities (hiking or others), and a bit of city exploration...
Traveling solo, backpacker style (youth hostels), renting a car/van or using buses... (whichever is most cost-effective and practical).
Which area would you recommend?
For arrival, I can fly into Montreal, Quebec City, or Toronto at the cheapest fares.
What itinerary (big picture) or activities would you suggest?
Or maybe you’d advise against it? ))
Hi there,
I was wondering if there’s a taxi stand at the Sainte Foy bus station, or do we have to use an app to call one?
Thanks in advance for your help
Hi there, I’m planning a road trip to Quebec in late September/early October.
Since I’m over 75, it’s impossible to rent a camper van. So, the option left is a car plus hotels. I’m used to traveling freely—I sketch out a rough route and stop wherever and whenever I feel like it.
Is it possible during this period to travel without booking hotels/motels or B&Bs in advance, knowing I’ll only need a double room?
Thanks for your replies.
Hello,
I’m not sure if it’s still possible to travel to Quebec. I haven’t bought my flight ticket for June (from June 11 to July 1) and I’d like to know the current cost of gas. Also, can we book hotels last-minute without risking cancellation due to current events? Thanks
Hi everyone, from August 7th to 10th I’m renting an apartment right across from the WESTMOUNT library, next to the park of the same name. The landlord tells me that parking around the apartment is free. Does that cause any issues? I was planning to rent my car before leaving MONTREAL, but I might visit a friend who lives nearby—I’ll only know for sure at the last minute. Thanks in advance for the replies
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Québec for 4 days in Montréal and 4 days in Québec City from April 18 to April 22. I’ve been looking but can’t find any excursions—any tips for seeing belugas or other whales?
If it’s really off-season and impossible to find anything,
what else can we do in the area instead?
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re planning a trip to Quebec from June 15 to 28, 2025, specifically along the St. Lawrence River. As I’ve been looking into it, I’ve got two main questions:
First, about our route—I feel like I might be biting off more than we can chew by wanting to follow the left bank downstream from Quebec City (including the Saguenay Fjord and Lac Saint-Jean), then heading to Gaspésie by ferry, and finally returning along the right bank. We’re flying into Montreal and will likely stop in Quebec City too. Over about ten days, is that too much? Would it be better to stick to the left bank, enjoy the coast and the lake, and maybe explore Mauricie or Mont-Tremblant on the way back instead?
Second, about prices. Since we’re thinking of renting a car and booking accommodations at each stop, I was a bit surprised by hotel and motel rates. I’ve always heard Canada is a pretty expensive destination, but I’m seeing average prices very similar to France—between 60 € and 90 €. Am I missing something? Is service not included? Meanwhile, on platforms like Airbnb, the prices seem exorbitant.
This second question is a bit generic, but as I’m trying to budget, I don’t feel like there’s a huge difference compared to France, even for meals. Am I way off base?
Hello everyone.
We’ve already traveled to Canada in 2018.
This time, we’re prioritizing heading to Quebec City right after arriving in Montreal to stay for 3 days, then moving on to Rivière-du-Loup for 2 to 3 days before heading toward New Brunswick.
We want to see Acadia, Prince Edward Island, the Bay of Fundy, etc., before returning to Quebec City to drop off the rental car.
We were thinking of taking the bus from Montreal Airport to Quebec City and only renting the car 3 days later. Same route on the way back, with one night in Quebec City.
We arrive in Montreal around June 25 (11 AM) and return on July 26 (6 PM).
Could you give us some advice? Routes, sights, accommodations, and chalet rentals.
On our first trip, we went through an agency, but this time we’d prefer to organize everything ourselves.
Thank you so much for your tips and suggestions!
See you soon,
Fabienne
Hi everyone, as a regular in the "bike travel" section, I’m reaching out for some info since I’m planning to come to Montreal at the end of September 2026 for the Road Cycling World Championships. If I get the time off and manage to gather the details, I’ll arrive on Wednesday the 23rd and leave on Tuesday the 29th. Traveling solo with just my backpack, I need answers to:
1°) Do you know of any youth hostels (or similar) within walking distance (less than 3 km) of the finish circuit on Mount Royal?
2°) What’s the best way to get to this accommodation from the airport—metro, bus, etc.?
I’m just starting my research and counting on you all for any tips. My goal is to watch the road races and explore Montreal afterward—restaurants, bars, and more.
Hi everyone! 🙂
My partner would love to discover Quebec, while I’ve already been there over 15 years ago (Quebec City, Tadoussac, the Fjords, Lac Saint-Jean).
This time, of course, we’d want to do something different.
Quebec City would still be a must for my partner in this plan.
With the tight budget we have right now🤪, we’re thinking of spending several days in Quebec City, then maybe renting bikes to explore the surrounding areas—aside from Montmorency Falls, what other nice spots are worth visiting? I remember there being tons of bike paths.
After that, we’d rent a car (for a few days to visit the parks) and use trains or buses for the rest of the trip. From what I recall, cars aren’t super fuel-efficient there.
Since we’ve never seen Niagara Falls, I’d like to include it in this itinerary.
For a roughly 15-day trip in September, I was thinking of a multi-destination flight: France-Quebec / Toronto-France, so it’d look something like this:
Quebec City: 5 days (including arrival day)
Pick up the car
La Mauricie National Park (or others?) 1 day
Mont-Tremblant 1 day
Montreal 4 days
Drop off the car in Montreal
By train/bus
Toronto 2 days
By train/bus
Buffalo-Niagara Falls 1 day
Toronto 1 day (return to France)
I was planning one night at Niagara Falls—is that enough, or is a single day sufficient?
If our finances don’t stretch that far, we’d shorten the trip from Montreal (so long, Niagara🙁), adding extra nights between Quebec City and Montreal.
Anyway, thanks in advance for all your great tips!
Hi, I’d like to plan a trip for 4 adults. 14 days.
From June 4–6 to June 21, 2026
Arriving in Montreal
Then Quebec City... Gaspésie, Lac Saint-Jean
Looking for a loop route starting and ending in Montreal
Where to sleep... where to stay 1 day or more
Thanks for your ideas!
Nature, hiking, a little city time—but not too much.
Jean-Yves. B ARBRISSEL
hi there,
it's been a long time since I've been to Quebec, and I've kinda lost my bearings...🙂
What's the best spot to hitchhike from Montreal to Quebec City and from Quebec City to Tadoussac?
If you've got the public transit route to get to those spots, I'd love to hear it!
Hi there!! We all know there are mosquitoes in Quebec… but is it bearable? Are the cities affected too? Like Montreal and Quebec City? I can imagine it’s bad in the parks… The road trip would be from July 5th to the 21st, right in the middle of bug season!! Best, Christophe
If you’re French, you *have* to make an effort to go see Alexandre Texier play at the Bell Centre. The new player for the Montreal Canadiens, originally from France, is having a lot of success. 🏒
Looking for a comparison? Imagine a Quebecer playing for Paris Saint-Germain. ⚽ You’d be surprised, and we’d be proud. Well, that’s exactly what’s happening. Yesterday, he was the hero of a great win. 🌟
Many of you often wonder what makes Quebecers’ hearts race. Go see a Montreal Canadiens hockey game, and you’ll experience something unforgettable. Especially right now with this young team. Okay, does this fit the travel forum criteria? I think so—especially if you want to learn more about the locals you’re visiting. 😄
Enjoy your trip to Quebec! And if you’re from France, don’t worry about the snow—it always melts eventually. 😄😄👋👋👋
We’re planning our first trip to Quebec for early July 2026. There’ll be 2 adults and 2 teens (17 and 14 years old). For now, we’re thinking of renting an RV in Montreal for this loop.
Here’s a first draft of our route, based on itineraries I’ve seen on the forum.
The times below are the useful time spent at each stop, not including driving.
Does the order make sense? It has us crossing the river twice.
Are the lengths of the stops reasonable? We like to take our time and not spend too much time on the road.
Finally, any other suggestions for places to add or swap out?
Arrival and half a day in Montreal
Pick up RV the next day
Mauricie National Park: 2.5 days
Quebec City: 2 days
Jacques Cartier National Park: 2.5 days
Saguenay Fjord–Tadoussac: 2.5 days, then crossing
Bic Park: 2.5 days, then crossing back
Charlevoix: 3.5 days
Montreal: 2 days, then return to France
Thanks so much in advance for any help you can give us!
Hi, I'd like to know if I rent a car at Quebec City airport, can I drive to New Brunswick without any issues and then return to Quebec?
Thanks in advance for the answer, Claude
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a trip to Quebec at the end of June/beginning of July 2026 for 20 days.
We’re a family of 4, with two kids aged 7 and 4 at that time.
I’ve already started drafting our itinerary but I’m open to all suggestions and ideas.
We plan to land in Montreal and stay a few days to recover from the trip.
Here’s my first draft of the itinerary:
-Day 1 to 4: Exploring Montreal:
-Day 5: Sucrerie de la Montagne in Rigaud.
-Day 6/7: Parc Omega (staying in Pods)
-Day 8-10: Saint-Alexis-des-Monts (staying at Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc)
-Day 9/10: Heading toward Lac Saint-Jean: I’m still looking for accommodation halfway to La Tuque. I’ve noticed Pourvoirie du Triton or Domaine Le Bostonnais.
-Day 10/11: Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien: I’m also looking for accommodation near the lake for this stop + visiting Village historique de Val-Jalbert?
-Day 12-13-14: Stop in Sacré-Cœur at Ferme 5 Étoiles. (I also saw the Canopée Lit accommodations in the area—something to consider).
-Day 15-16: Tadoussac: Whale-watching excursion. Should we do it by Zodiac given my kids’ ages?
I’m also looking for accommodation in the area (Hotel Tadoussac is out of budget).
On the way back from Tadoussac to Quebec City, I’m considering an intermediate stop if there’s a spot worth the detour (Malbaie??).
-Day 17-18-19: Exploring Quebec City (Montmorency Falls / Old Town / Wendake).
-Day 20-21: Return to Montreal and flight home.
I’d love recommendations for activities for young kids along this route.
Thanks
I’m heading back to Montreal in early November after several years away. I’m so excited!
I won’t be staying long, but I’ll have time to wander and explore.
I’d love to get your recommendations for great things to eat—restaurants, bakeries, all kinds of food.
I’m open to all your suggestions and addresses.
I’ll definitely hit up the market. And eat bagels, of course.
I’ll probably stay in the Quartier des Spectacles,
but I’ll definitely be getting around the city.
Hi everyone,
I’m planning to spend at least 3 weeks on the Côte Nord all the way to Natashquan to see the whales. I’m torn between renting a van or finding accommodations.
For the van, it’s hard to find one in Quebec City—most rentals start in Montreal... plus the prices are pretty high.
For accommodations, there aren’t many towns, so there aren’t a lot of options on Booking, for example. Do you have any leads, websites, or addresses to help me find some?
Thanks for any info you can share!
Isabelle
We’re heading out for 3 weeks and just bought our flight tickets;
3 days in Montreal
2 days in La Mauricie Park
drive down Route 155 to Lac Saint-Jean
2 days in Tadoussac
ferry to Gaspésie—planning to stay 6/7 days there
Charlevoix region for 3 days
Quebec City for 2 days
Back to Montreal
If you’ve got any great tips, I’d love to hear them—accommodation, activities (seaplane, bears, whales), parks.
We’re traveling with our kids, aged 20 and 23,