Saguenay Fjord

Watch Beluga Whales from the Hiking Trails Along the Saguenay Fjord

HUBBARDS, Nova Scotia—Imagine the phenomenally scenic setting of granite cliffs rising 1,500 feet from crystal-clear water, where the fresh waters of the Saguenay River flow into the salty St. Lawrence Estuary. This fjord is sixty miles long and very narrow, thus creating a unique marine environment that makes it a wonderland for wildlife. Scott Walking Adventures offers the opportunity to experience Québec’s breathtaking scenery and the incredible opportunity to view its abundant marine life for six days and five nights. The trip includes moderate hiking of three to ten miles per day with a special Fall Foliage Hike in October. A Scott Walking Adventure holiday includes knowledgeable regional guides, historic inn accommodations, sumptuous cuisine, and responsible small group travel with an emphasis on history, culture and the natural world.

A bilingual guide will accompany guests from Québec City to Riviere du Loup, where the journey begins with a boat trip to Île aux Lièvres. This is one of several islands owned by a private non-profit organization, Société Duvetnor, which is committed to the preservation of the natural environment in the Bas-Saint-Laurent. After two days exploring the island, guests will depart for Tadoussac by boat to Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park and the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, then travel to Centre d’interprétation des Mammifères Marins (CIMM), to enjoy an exclusive seminar on the beautiful Beluga whale and its protected environment in the Marine Park. A walk to Pointe de lIslet, Sentier de la Coupe and L’Anse à l’Eau trails around the village of Tadoussac follows.

After departing the town of Tadoussac, guests go for an exceptional hike from Baie-Saint-Marguerite to Anse à Pierrot. During the summer season, a part of the St. Lawrence Beluga population regularly comes to the Baie-Saint-Marguerite area. Regular observation of the Beluga behaviors, seldom seen elsewhere, brings the belief that the area constitutes a critical habitat for the Beluga population. The best place for land based whale watching is from the lookout.

A hike in the Parc National des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Riviere-Malbaie follows. This park boasts two protected areas in one. Visitors to the park view the impressive Cran des Érables rising proudly from the valley floor. This majestic cliff is actually a part of the Réserve écologique des Grands-Ormes, a separate protected area. This area was established to protect a representative sample of the complete altitudinal sequence of the vegetation of the Charlevoix Mountains. It is home to a unique sequence of stands: the summit is dominated by tundra and the sub alpine zone by stunted black spruce. The magnificent geography of Charlevoix was created by a 15 billion ton meteorite some 350 million years ago. On the last day of this fascinating journey, as they make their way back to Québec City, the group stops to tour the charming town of Baie-Saint-Paul. For a more detailed itinerary, click here.

Scott Walking Adventures vacations are designed for those who wish to explore the treasures of the natural world on their own two feet - along a forest trail, up a mountainside, or across an endless stretch of beach. Imagine breathing in the scent of a thousand pines, a wildflower meadow, a brisk sea breeze and seeing spectacular vistas from a cliff top, the rainbow-spray of a waterfall, and brilliant moonlight on fresh-fallen snow. At day’s end, enjoy a comfortable bed at a cozy inn, excellent food, and good company. This Saguenay Hiking Adventure, the “Gateway of Discovery”, will surely delight those with a taste for an amazing experience of discovery.

Cost for this adventure is $2595 CAD pp/double, with a $400 single supplement. Departure is from Québec City, Québec.

For more information contact 800-262-8644, or on the web at www.scottwalking.com