Habituellement je ne suis pas fan du froid mais mon conjoint m'a convaincu, nous partons à la mi mars pour un circuit motoneige + chiens de traineau au Quebec (1 semaine avec un tour opérator).
Nous allons traverser les sites suivants:
Montreal; Saint Michel des Saints; St Alexis des monts; Lac Blanc; puis chemin inverse
Qu en pensez vous?
Avez vous des recommandations à me faire pour la gestion du froid ou des choses à faire ou ne pas faire?
ah ok merci 😉 c'est vrai qu en région Ile de France quand il fait 0 degré je crois mourrir mais si j ai les vetements adequat et vu les paysages que je vais parcourir je ne pense pas que je le regretterai 🙂
si quelqu un a déjà voyagé là bas a cette période, n'hésitez pas à me contacter pour me raconter vos expériences souvenirs et à me donner quelques conseils
en motoneige avec le vent, ça peut quand même être un petit peu froid je trouve, même en mars et considérant qu'on n'est pas actif physiquement sur une motoneige (et en plus que tu n'es pas habituée au froid...0 degré...froid?!?!...🙂)
Mais rien de dramatique quand même. Habille toi bien, pelure d'oignon, tuque descendant sur les oreilles, foulard, mitaines, bonnes bottes avec bas chauds et ça devrait être ok.
Et puis, ça fait partie du plaisir d'avoir un petit peu froid. Le soir, tu rentres au chalet, tu prends une bonne boisson chaude et tu te colles sur ton chum et tu te dis que ce n'était pas si froid que ça finalement!🙂
Je ne sais pas si c'est prévu dans votre voyage (ça ne me surprendrait pas du tout que ce soit le cas), mais on devrait être dans le temps des sucres à ce moment-là, ça pourrait être agréable pour vous de faire une visite dans une cabane.
Bon trajet, je te souhaite juste qu'il y ait encore beaucoup de neige. Le soleil de mars fait fondre la neige plus vite qu'on le pense mais puisque tu seras assez éloigné de Montréal, tu devrais en avoir assez encore.
À mon avis, la réponse est simple: tout est une question de vêtements et rien d'autre. J'imagine que ceux qui organisent ces randonnées doivent aussi fournir les vêtements? Je vous dis (à la blague) que si vous laissez tomber la coquetterie et que vous vous concentrez sur le fait d'être bien vêtu, vous ferez un voyage très agréable -).
J'ai évalué qu'au cours de ses 13 ans de vie, mon chien a été l'instigateur d'environ
10 220 sourires chez les humains qu'il a rencontrés. Pour le remercier, on a exigé qu'il soit tenu en laisse.
Vous allez dans une magnifique région. Habituellement en mars ce n'est pas froid, je vous souhaite de la neige en abondance et ce sera magique! Ne craignez pas le froid, en mars pour nous québecois c'est la fin de l'hiver et des -25 celsius ....
Le froid est la préoccupation première des français qui découvrent l'hiver québécois alors que les vrais risques sont souvent ailleurs.
Concernant la motoneige, les vêtements fournis par les loueurs protègent remarquablement. Ils permettent normalement de supporter des températures très basses (j'ai connu -42° en 2000 et, en 2002, de -35° au plus chaud de la journée à - 41° au petit matin pendant trois journées de suite...). Il est toutefois conseillé d'y ajouter une cagoule, des "gants de veuve" et des caleçons longs.
Je ne suis revenu que 2 fois avec le haut des joues gelé, à la limite des paupières inférieures. Difficile de se couvrir à ces endroits là sans conduire à l'aveuglette 🙂...
Attention toutefois, si le pilote est souvent bien protégé, notamment par le pare brise et le capot moteur, il n'en est pas forcément de même pour le passager, moins actif et plus exposé au vent. Souhaitons que vos machines soient équipées de poignées chauffantes à la place arrière. Cette dernière est rarement confortable, surtout dans la région où vous allez car l'importante fréquentation des sentiers les dégrade rapidement. Gare aux secousses (il n'est pas inutile de prévoir une ceinture lombaire) et n'oubliez pas d'invoquer les dieux de l'hiver pour que passent les gratteuses.
En traîneau à chiens, le problème est un peu différent. Les efforts du musher débutant pour rester en équilibre et tenter de faire croire (vainement...) aux chiens que c'est lui qui les dirige, entraînent rapidement une surchauffe et de la transpiration.
En dehors de ces activités, vos manteaux personnels achetés en France, quelquefois garantis "grand froid", risquent fort d'être insuffisants là bas. Inutile d'en acheter d'autres. Avant de les enfiler, ajoutez simplement quelques vêtements supplémentaires légers (genre T-shirt à manches longues, sous pulls, polaires de faible grammage, etc.). Mieux vaut plusieurs couches fines qu'une seule épaisse. En plus, vous garderez ainsi une meilleure mobilité.
Généralement, en mars, les températures deviennent moins rudes. Espérons que vous aurez à la fois du soleil et de la neige. Avec un peu de chance, les érables commenceront à délivrer leur sirop...
Bonnes vacances !
P.S. Les chaufferettes portatives sont beaucoup moins chères dans la Belle Province qu'en France.
Quand le sage montre la Lune, l'imbécile regarde le doigt.
Au fait, est-il bien nécessaire cette année d'aller au Québec pour faire du Skidoo et du traîneau à chiens ??? A Nantes, il a encore neigé une bonne partie de la matinée (cf la photo d'une partie de mon jardin)...
Et ce n'est pas si fréquent !
Quand le sage montre la Lune, l'imbécile regarde le doigt.
Au fait, est-il bien nécessaire cette année d'aller au Québec pour faire du Skidoo et du traîneau à chiens ??? A Nantes, il a encore neigé une bonne partie de la matinée (cf la photo d'une partie de mon jardin)...
Il y a actuellement plus de neige au sol dans une bonne partie de la France et de l'Angleterre qu'à Montréal... 😇
Bon courage pour ton circuit... C'est pas gagné, de nombreux circuits sont bloqués par l'UPA (Unionion des producteurs agricoles) : les circuits traversent des champs et l'UPA a décidé de refuser l'accès de nombreux champs enneigés aux motoneigistes.
renseigne toi : www.cyberpresse.ca ou radio-canada.ca
Bon séjour quand même, il vient de tomber 30 cm de neige sur Montréal et 1,30 m (!!!) sur London et Ottawa.
Bon courage pour ton circuit... C'est pas gagné, de nombreux circuits sont bloqués par l'UPA (Unionion des producteurs agricoles) : les circuits traversent des champs et l'UPA a décidé de refuser l'accès de nombreux champs enneigés aux motoneigistes.
renseigne toi : www.cyberpresse.ca ou radio-canada.ca
Bon séjour quand même, il vient de tomber 30 cm de neige sur Montréal et 1,30 m (!!!) sur London et Ottawa.
Trés exact, quelques personnes que je connais qui ont une motoneige ne renouvellerons pas leur droits d'acces cette année, il y a trop de sentiers qui seront affectés.
et voila avec mon epouse nous allons partir faire un circuit en motoneige et chien de traineau au quebec!! un reve de gosse!!! ;) voici notre circuit 1er JOUR:…
Amérique du Nord › États-Unis / Canada/ Québec › Montréal et Laval · 47 replies
Je rappelle le contexte: un couple qui petit à petit s'approche de la soixantaine. Pas trop randonneur, mais un peu. Pas trop musées, mais un peu quand même.…
Je viens de boucler en gros le parcours que je compte effectuer cet été au Québec. Je pars pour deux semaines avec pour but de bien profiter de la ville mais…
Nous allons partir cet été pour 4 semaines au Québec et sur notre parcours nous souhaiterions nous arréter pendant 3 à 4 jours dans une Pourvoirie permettant…
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.
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
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
bonsoir,
cela fait bien longtemps que je ne suis pas venu au Québec et j'ai un peu perdu mes bases...🙂
quelle est la meilleure place pour faire du pouce de Montréal à Québec et de Québec à tadoussac
si vous avez l’itinéraire en transport en commun pour rejoindre les places je suis preneur
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,
I’ve got a bit of a weird request , but you never know...
I’m currently traveling—we left Tadoussac this morning and are in Rimouski for 2 nights. We’re then heading down the Bas-Saint-Laurent and will be in Montreal on Tuesday. We fly back to Belgium on Friday.
I left 7 sweaters/T-shirts in Tadoussac 😕. Would anyone happen to be going there this weekend and then heading back to Montreal? To pick them up and meet me somewhere?
We’re heading to Quebec in just over a week to meet up with our son, a young adult on a Working Holiday Visa who’s been there for nearly a year 🙂🙂🙂 and I still have a few questions:
1) We’re starting with 3 nights near Shawinigan (Lac à la Tortue). The day after we arrive, we’ll have a relaxed day with one or two activities (sugar shack in St-Mathieu-du-Parc? A seaplane ride?). Any other suggestions? (Besides Parc de la Mauricie, which we’ll visit the next day.)
2) Then, we’ll head to Quebec City via the Chemin du Roy, where we’ll spend 3 nights, followed by a scenic drive to La Malbaie. We’ll be staying in St-Aimé-des-Lacs near Hautes-Gorges de la Malbaie National Park for another 3 nights. One day will be dedicated to hiking in the park—likely the Acropole des Draveurs for our son, and the Riverain trail plus two shorter walks for my husband and me, since he can’t use hiking poles. So, I’m unsure about the second day: should we go back to the park for the cruise, or do something else nearby? Any suggestions?
3) After St-Aimé-des-Lacs, we’ll spend 3 nights in Tadoussac. We’ll definitely stop at Port-au-Persil, but since the drive isn’t too long, we’ll arrive pretty quickly (I think you say "rendu" here 😉). I was thinking of exploring Tadoussac that day, doing the Pointe de l’Islet trail, the Estuary trail, and the Dunes lookout.
The second day, we’d head toward Les Bergeronnes and Les Escoumins to visit the interpretation center and take a Zodiac cruise. I was considering Neptune because they offer covered boats. Any other options?
And on the third day, we’d go to Sainte-Rose-du-Nord via the Saguenay Fjord National Park’s Baie Sainte-Marguerite sector to hike part of the "Le Fjord" trail from the Beluga Observation Center. I’m aware this trail requires a park access fee. However, I just realized that the trails we planned for the first day (Estuary and Pointe de l’Islet) are also part of the Tadoussac sector of the park. Do we need to pay the access fee (10.10 CAD) for these two short trails? If so, it might make sense to do them on the third day. In that case, can we pay the fee in Tadoussac, then head to the Baie Sainte-Marguerite sector and use the same ticket?
Hi there,
My partner and I are planning a trip with our two kids to see whales this summer in Canada. We’ve got two options: Tadoussac or the Bay of Fundy in Saint Andrews. We’ll be there at the end of July.
Could you let me know if one spot is better than the other? Especially in terms of how likely we are to actually see the whales.
Thanks in advance, and have a great day!
Bruno
Hi everyone! We’re nearing the end of our trip and have 3 nights in Quebec City. What are your must-try spots for a good poutine? Our previous attempts haven’t gone well, and where’s the best place to buy souvenirs that actually scream "Quebec"? Also, what are your top picks for sights and walks? We’re thinking Old Quebec, Lévis, and Montmorency Falls. We’ll be there for 3 nights but only have 2 full days. Thanks in advance for your ideas!
Hello,
We (a couple aged 60 and 66) are arriving in Montreal on 09/21 to meet up with our son (on a working holiday). Our original plan was to spend the first 3 nights near Parc de la Mauricie, then 3 nights in Quebec City, and the following 3 near Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Malbaie. The 2 days we’d planned in each park were supposed to be for hiking (including the Acropole des Draveurs) and canoeing if possible.
The issue is that I’ve recently developed frozen shoulder (capsulitis😕), and I likely won’t have recovered by the time we leave. So, we’re scrapping hikes with significant elevation gain, trekking poles, or any risk of falling.
My question is: which hikes of 10–15 km max on easy terrain with beautiful views would you recommend? (We’ll be there in late September, hoping to catch the fall colors already!). For this type of hike, would it be better to swap Parc de la Mauricie for Réserve faunique des Laurentides, Parc de la Jacques-Cartier, or is Mauricie still okay? And should we replace Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Malbaie with Parc des Grands-Jardins?
Are there spots easier than others for canoeing (I could get in the canoe with my son, but he’d be the only one paddling—I’m light, and he’s strong, but I don’t want to overdo it 😉). Or maybe pedal boats, if that’s still an option this season?
Thanks for your advice after these unexpected changes of plans.
Claire
If I want to take a seaplane tour... is it necessarily around Mauricie, or do you have other spots to recommend?
If I want to see whales... it's around Grandes-Bergeronnes from land.
If I want to see belugas... it's around Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
If I want to see seals... where is it?
If I want to see moose... it's in Gaspésie.
If I want to see bears... it's around Saint-Jean-des-Piles on the banks of the St. Maurice River.
If I want to visit the Museum of First Peoples' Civilizations... where is it?
If I want to go canoeing... it's around Lac de la Mauricie or Mont-Tremblant.
If I want to see a beautiful waterfall, it's Montmorency Falls.
If I want to eat the best poutine, where is it?
Just to remind you, my round trip is: Montreal – Mauricie – Lac Saint-Jean – Tadoussac – Gaspésie – Charlevoix – Quebec City... but I'm really hesitating between Montreal, Mauricie, Charlevoix, Quebec City, the Saguenay Fjord, Lac Saint-Jean, Tadoussac, the Gaspésie ferry, and back to Montreal.
Thank you for your valuable tips—I’m taking notes! If you have other suggestions, as well as restaurants and accommodations along the way, I’d really appreciate it!
Hello,
We’ll be arriving in Montreal on Sunday, September 21st for a Quebec road trip. Do you have any car rental agencies to recommend (or avoid)? A favorite search engine? Are all agencies open on Sundays? Should we book the car in advance? And finally, is there still a Voyage Forum discount code with Hertz, like there used to be? I know, that’s a lot of questions , thanks for answering them! 🙂
Claire