Bas-Saint-Laurent:
Route des Navigateurs by Bike from Québec City to Rivière-du-Loup in 5 Days

Departure from Old Québec, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first stage begins with a ferry crossing from the Petit-Champlain district: five minutes on the St. Lawrence River to pass from the north shore to Lévis.

In Lévis, the bike path passes through the urban area before reaching Route Verte and then Route 132, whose wide shoulder makes cycling safer. A stop at the Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse wharf, steps from its church, is a must to look out over the river.

The route then passes through Saint-Vallier and Berthier-sur-Mer, before arriving in Montmagny at the end of the day. The Promenade du Bassin, the 3 Bridges circuit and the downtown restaurants offer several options for the evening.

Departure via the Chemin des Pionniers, whose name recalls that this stretch of the south shore was among the first areas settled by the French in the 17th century.

Isle-aux-Grues soon appears offshore, with the cliffs of Charlevoix across the river. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is Québec’s wood-carving capital, a title it earned in the 1930s thanks to the Bourgault brothers, Médard, André and Jean-Julien, who helped make the village a recognized artistic center. At the entrance to the village, Parc des Trois-Bérets displays outdoor works. There’s a possible stop at the microbrewery near the wharf before the end of the day.

In the morning, you continue along the Route des Navigateurs. A possible stop at the church of Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies, a witness to Québec’s religious heritage. As you enter Kamouraska County, sea, plain and the first hills come together. Farmland lines the road, and the old houses tell the seigneurial history of the region.

In the afternoon, you ride toward the village of Kamouraska, known for its sunsets and its food scene. Its riverside setting and well-preserved architecture have earned it a place among the most beautiful villages in Québec.

Last major day on the Route des Navigateurs. You follow the river with a few detours on quieter secondary roads. Cacouna and L’Isle-Verte recall the maritime past of the region, including the oldest still-inhabited lighthouse in the country (1809).

In Trois-Pistoles, Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Church impresses with its dimensions for a village of this size. Arrival in Rivière-du-Loup at the end of the day.

A free morning by the river. The Rivière-du-Loup wharf, a few minutes from your accommodation, offers a beautiful view over the St. Lawrence, more than 20 km wide here, with belugas sometimes visible offshore.

Before you leave, there’s a possible stop at the fish market to bring home a few local fish and seafood. The transfer to Québec City is planned for the afternoon, around 1 p.m.