Bas-Saint-Laurent
Fall is now well underway in the regions of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord and the Îles de la Madeleine. Many authentic and unique experiences as well as a host of emotions await your clients in Eastern Québec in the coming year. Here is an overview of the latest news in our regions!
PAL Airlines – Newly affiliated with Le Québec maritime
In operation for over 45 years, PAL Airlines is the largest independent regional airline in Eastern Canada. It offers regular direct flights from Québec City and Montréal to four airports in Eastern Québec: Mont-Joli, Gaspé, Sept-Îles and the Îles de la Madeleine. Connecting flights to Blanc-Sablon are also available. In order to facilitate international travel, PAL Airlines has interline agreements with Air Canada and WestJet, allowing passengers to fly with the convenience of a single reservation and appropriate connection times. In addition, tour operators and travel agencies outside of Canada can now book and issue PAL Airlines tickets through their partnerships with APG and Hahn Air.
Nautika Chalets – A new lodging option at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula
Offering a Scandinavian-style design, the 15 units available at Nautika Chalets are sleek, modern and cozy, with spectacular views of Gaspé Bay. Conveniently located only 15 minutes by car from Gaspé and 30 minutes from Percé, the chalets are ideal for discovering the many tourist attractions in this area. The site also offers a children’s playground as well as volleyball, badminton and petanque courts. Still under development, the site will offer a total of 26 chalets open year-round within the next few years.
Panora-Loges fluviales – A new lodging option in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Located 30 minutes from Parc national de la Gaspésie in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Panora provides a new type of high-end lodging, ideally situated along the shores of the St. Lawrence and perfectly combining design, comfort and relaxation. Offering a completely self-sufficient stay and available for a minimum of two nights, the seven lodges are equivalent in terms of equipment and amenities. Each includes two bedrooms, a complete kitchen, an outdoor patio with a hot tub and direct access to the beach. This is the place to stay in Haute-Gaspésie, whatever the season!
Projet Éole – A new management team and renewed landscaping
A new dynamic management team at Projet Éole has made some great additions to this wind power site! A new staircase leads to the panoramic terrace located at the base of the vertical-axis wind turbine (the highest in the world), providing a 360-degree view of the surrounding area, including the sea, the Chic-Choc Mountains and the Le Nordais wind farm. Picnic tables, flower paths and a garden have also been added to the space. The parking lot is now closer to the wind turbine to facilitate access to the site. A visit to this experimental power plant built in Cap-Chat in the 1980s is a great way to learn more about wind energy while enjoying an enchanting site. Strong interest in receiving groups.
Distillerie du St. Laurent – Now open to the public!
In operation since 2015 and open to the public since summer 2022, Distillerie du St. Laurent produces many artisanal spirits inspired by local flavours. The distillery offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy delicious cocktails indoors or on the patio as they soak up stunning views of the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site. Coming in the next few months: guided tours of the entire facility and tasting sessions. This is a site not to be missed while visiting the Bas-Saint-Laurent region!
Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site – An interactive journey to better understand the Onondaga
A brand-new interactive experience was launched in 2022 for visitors of the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site who want to learn all the secrets of the first submarine open to the public in Canada. Explorers of all ages can go on a guided outdoor tour with a tablet to discover the Onondaga’s various systems as well as life aboard the submarine. In addition, the more adventurous now have the opportunity once again to enjoy a most unusual experience by spending a night aboard the vessel!
Canyon des Portes de l’Enfer – An expanded offer to become even more of a must-see site!
With over $5 million invested in developing this tourist attraction, Hell’s Gate Canyon will offer new features in 2022, including the interactive Labyrinth of Secrets trail and the Gates of Oniria night tour, which will immerse visitors in the legends of the canyon and its inhabitants. In 2023, new lodging options will be available, with the addition of about 30 new units including chalets, yurts and glamping units. The site will also offer a new four-season service pavilion with a food court, outdoor equipment rentals and washroom facilities. A new 14-km (9-mi.) hiking trail will also be built on the far side of the suspension footbridge, providing access to a whole new area of the canyon.
Whale watching and fjord cruise – Two must-see attractions in a single excursion
Encounter the giants of the St. Lawrence and enjoy a foray into the majestic Saguenay Fjord during this brand-new excursion offered by Croisières AML. Accompanied by a naturalist guide, discover the many marine mammals that frequent the waters of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park from May to October.
Uapishka Station – In the heart of northern Québec
Located on the edge of the Manicouagan impact crater at the heart of Nitassinan, the ancestral home of the Innu community of Pessamit, as well as within the Manicouagan-Uapishka World Biosphere Reserve, this site offers you access to the beauty of the Uapishka (Groulx) Mountains. Offering overnight stays in a lodge, cabins or glamping units, the Uapishka Station is the perfect base camp for an introduction to the north, since it is the departure point for several hikes and kayaking excursions.
Château Madelinot – Now open year-round!
Now open year-round, Château Madelinot is the largest lodging establishment on the Islands with 121 rooms, all of which will be completely renovated by the beginning of the summer 2023 season. Expansion projects are also under discussion, to meet the high demand for lodging on the archipelago. Note that the hotel’s seal observation packages are available from February 25 to March 10, 2023.
Sentiers Entre Vents et Marées trails – Looking forward to a 6th season
Created thanks to the efforts of a group of local hikers who were inspired by their experiences on the Camino de Santiago, the longest hiking network on the Islands celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2022. To mark the occasion, Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine launched a new interactive map that makes it easier for visitors to plan their own hikes on these trails, which are over 200 km (120 mi.) long. Providing a physical, cultural and spiritual experience, this marked network developed and maintained by a team of dedicated volunteers offers a complete tour of the archipelago along beaches as well as on dirt and paved roads. This unforgettable hike is divided into 13 sections ranging from intermediate to difficult.
For more information about what is new in Eastern Québec, visit the Travel Professionals section of our website.
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