Dreaming of cycling for more than a week? Reaching remote destinations and gobbling up kilometres of happiness without worrying about anything? For those who have already done it and those who are thinking of doing it... join this adventure and ride the complete Cross-Québec with EKILIB.
You've heard of the great crossings, such as the Pyrenees, Alps, Dolomites or Canada. They all have their own particular challenges and every cyclist always comes back feeling amazed.
Don't wait a minute longer to discover our beloved Quebec on charming local roads that will take you from the Outaouais to the Gaspé Peninsula, through the Laurentians and the Baie des Chaleurs, before reaching your goal, the one of a kind Percé Rock!
This 19-day trip is for athletic cyclists who are used to riding between 80 and 120 km per day. Although our route is relatively flat, as it was carved out by the bed of the St. Lawrence River, the daily distances are significant. As such, this trip requires an advanced level of cycling and a good level physical fitness to fully enjoy the different regions along the route and to savor your arrival in Percé. The EKILIB guide will transport your luggage in the support vehicle while you are peddling along the roads of our province at your own pace. The support vehicle will always be available should you have a problem or need a refreshment.
This itinerary gives the broad outline of a trip (cities and sites). However, it is essential to understand that an itinerary is never set in stone. There are always unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather), which often make up the best part of the trip.
Route description: We ride primarily on paved roads with shoulders. We also ride on low-traffic roads without shoulders. Although a portion of the trip takes place on the Route Verte bicycle network, the majority of the route is on a road shared with vehicles.
Meet up with the Ekilib guide and travel to Gatineau in the morning. Once at our destination, we will unload the bikes and begin a warm-up loop. We begin our journey on the most beautiful roads in Gatineau with its favourite bike paths. We head for Wakefield, a charming village at the halfway point of the loop and an ideal place to stop for a local treat and discover its famous covered bridge; the beginning of a beautiful journey.
Night Gatineau
Today, we celebrate our grand departure for this crossing behind the Canadian Museum of History, where we have a magnificent view of Ottawa's Parliament and the Rideau Canal.
We begin riding south of the Ottawa River and have the opportunity to say hello to our Ontario neighbours. A great ride on impeccable asphalt. We ride the first twenty kilometres on a paved bike path with breathtaking views of the wild banks of the river.
Night in Hawkesbury
Itinerary : 112 km, altitude gain + 140 m
The town of Saint-Sauveur is our objective for the day. Rooted in the Laurentians, this charming and dynamic village is reputed for its ski hills that surround it. We get to the Laurentians in two different stages. Beginning in Montebello, the Ottawa River is flat and serves as a good warm up. Once past Lachute/Brownburg, the road tends to be steeper, and will have earned some time to relax and recuperate in the facilities of our hotel upon arrival.
Night Saint-Sauveur
Itinerary 1: 110 km, altitude gain + 850 m
Itinerary 2: 115 km, altitude + 1113 m
Leaving the Laurentians, we ride through backcountry on small roads that lead us through areas filled with lakes and cottages. Magnificent scenery that forces us to forget our trip through the Laurentians before joining the plains of Lanaudière.
Night in Berthierville
Itinerary 1: 110 km, altitude gain+ 950 m
Itinerary2: 129 km, altitude gain + 986 m
The proximity of the Berthierville islands allows early risers to venture out for an additional short loop on l’île Saint-Ignace. Then the day's route heads towards Trois-Rivières. During this leg of the tour, we have an easy ride from the tourist region of Lanaudière to that of la Mauricie. We ride along the banks of the 138 until we reach Lac Saint-Pierre and the St-Lawrence River.
Night in Trois-Rivières
Itinerary 1: 77 km, altitude gain + 150 m
Itinerary 2: 103 km, altitude gain + 408 m
We follow the Chemin du Roy, opened to traffic in 1737 and the longest road built in North America. Leaving behind the moulin à vent Grondines, the moulin de la Chevrotière and the vieux presbytère de Deschambault, we head for the station touristique de Duchesnay for a well-deserved rest. Located on the shores of Lac Saint-Joseph, it is the ideal place to feel like you're on holiday and to take advantage of the water sport facilities.
Night in Duchesnay
Itinerary: 108 km, altitude gain + 550 m
We can choose to take a day off. In such a case, there are several activities from which to choose: kayaking, paddle boarding (SUP), going to the beach or swimming pool, hiking or tree climbing. Let's just say, it will be a nice change of pace!
For those who prefer to keep cycling: for an easy day, the tour of Lac Saint-Joseph is very popular. For those who are more "hardcore", we suggest the loop of Les Équerres to discover the Rivière Jacques-Cartier.
Night in Duchesnay
Today's program: nothing less than crossing through the national capital. Now that we recharged our batteries, we head in the direction of Wendake, following along in the footsteps of the Hurons. This section is about thirty kilometres on a bicycle path and allows us to avoid the big city traffic. We will be riding on the corridor des cheminots, a safe and impeccable asphalt route dedicated to cyclists. Upon arrival in lower town Québec, there are two options for getting to Lévis, one by ferry (allows for a nice break and a magnificent view of the Chateau Frontenac) and the other by the Pont de Québec, for those who will do the longer leg of the day.
Montmagny is our destination for the day, which brings us to the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
Night in Montmagny
Itinerary 1: 100 km, altitude gain + 400m
Itinerary 2: 127 km, altitude gain + 883 m
We begin our day on the “Chemin des Pionniers” (route 132). During the first portion of the day, we can see Isle-aux-Grues with the cliffs of Charlevoix in the background. Sculpture is the highlight for this section of the trip. There is also time for wine tasting in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli before arriving at our destination. To work your legs a little more, let's continue our route inland on a loop of about thirty-five kilometres. We reach the Appalachian Plateau after a two-kilometre climb. The quiet secondary roads take us through forest and farmland, after which we return to La Pocatière to spend the night.
Night in la Pocatière
Itinerary 1: 62 km, altitude gain + 270 m
Itinerary 2: 97 km, altitude gain + 580 m
A beautiful day lays ahead! This section of the Bas-Saint-Laurent brings us through Kamouraska County, where sea, plain and mountains meet. This part of the country is rich thanks to its agriculture, nature and the presence of well-preserved old buildings. After the first thirty kilometres, a stop in Kamouraska is a must. An ideal place to taste the region’s famous fish soup, as well as pastries from the local bakery. The wharf is also a pleasant place to admire the river’s beauty. If you feel like it, plan a stop in Notre-Dame-du-Portage to take a dip in the municipal pool where the salt water is heated! Only about ten kilometres before we arrive in Rivière-du-Loup, our stop for the night.
Night in Rivière-du-Loup
Itinerary: 104 km, altitude gain + 584 m
After a good breakfast, we set out for Trois-Pistoles. Our route, dotted with fields, forests and quaint villages, keeps us a good distance from the 132. We ride inland to Saint-Fabien, where we have the choice of cycling the Parc National du Bic before going on to Rimouski.
Night in Rimouski
Itinerary: 112 km, altitude gain + 831 m
Today is a well-deserved day of rest to recharge our batteries. The Parc National du Bic is a great opportunity for hiking and watching the seals sunbathe. Will you be able to do the Tour du Cap à l'Orignal trail quickly enough to beat the rising tides? For history buffs, a visit to the musée régionale de Rimouski and/or the Empress of Ireland Museum are interesting options. Photography and sunset enthusiasts will get their monies worth. Just a few steps from the hotel, head up to the lookout for some beautiful shots.
Night in Rimouski
This morning, we cycle towards the Matapédia Valley, the Mi’kmaq word for "where the rivers meet". We are in the heart of nature. We start to feel the energy of the Gaspé as we ride towards some Appalachian mountains. The landscape changes as we leave the river and head for the mountains and the salmon-filled Rivière Matapédia. Along the way, we pass magnificent covered bridges, including the pont Beauséjour, a proud attraction of Amqui and our next stopover town.
Night in Amqui
Itinerary: 104 km, altitude gain + 650 m
Day 7 is similar to day 6 regarding the effort and the environment in which we ride. The road is a must for anyone wishing to reach the Baie des Chaleurs. It runs along the Rivière Matapédia and provides us with many magnificent views throughout the day. Our stop for the night is located just before Campbellton, easily accessible by the bridge that separates us from our New Brunswick neighbours.
Night in Pointe à la Croix
Itinerary: 102 km + 450 m
We are now almost at the mouth of the Baie des Chaleurs. As we arrive in Carleton-sur-Mer, we become aware of the challenges we are about to face. The air becomes salty and we start to go through one fishing village after another, and will continue to do so over the next few days.
Night in New Richmond
Itinerary: 96 km, altitude gain + 700 m
This leg of the tour, with the colours of a St-Jean (Quebec’s national holiday), we ride seaside. We have never been so close to the water since the beginning of the tour. We are perfectly situated to stop for a moment and watch the fishermen's boats return to port and deliver their catch of the day. We cross the famous Bonaventure River before beginning a few climbs that will challenge us at the end of the day. A stop at the site historique de Banc-de-Pêche-de-Paspébiac is a must. This site is classified as a historical monument and bears witness to the life of our ancestors in the 18th and 19th centuries. A remarkable drying rack is exposed on the site. The racks were used to prepare salted and dried cod for export around the world. A little further on, there is a beautiful beach, another good reason to enjoy the fresh air of the Gaspé!
Night in Chandler
Itinerary: 117 km, altitude gain + 800 m
We finish EKILIB’s Cross-Quebec on a high note, on a route that is just as surprising as the one of the previous day. The last leg of the trip is quite demanding and merits our full attention as we pass through beautiful fishing villages, where a few culinary surprises await us. En route, a welcoming stop at the old factory, a well-kept local secret, allows us to savour a final refreshment. After several days of gustatory delights, it is time to visually savour having arrived at the Roché Percé. Our accommodation for the night offers us a breathtaking view. What a magnificent finale!
Night in Percé
Itinerary: 80 km, altitude gain + 810 m
Time to celebrate based upon what you are in the mood for.
Several options are available, but the choice will not be easy... The cruise to Isle Bonaventure, the hike to the Geopark or the ride along the Route des Failles with its winding climb, each will leave us with magnificent memories.
All good things must come to an end. We are proud to have completed the EKILIB Cross-Quebec bike tour.
Some may choose to extend their stay, while the others will be taking the road back to Montreal.
*Pictures courtesy of EKILIB
Prochains départs | Durée | Prix avec aérien | Prix hors aérien | Supplément personne seule | Statut du départ | Guide |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Du 7 au 25 juin 2022 | 19 jours | N/A | $4,295 / personne | + 1,495 $ | Ouvert | N/A |
Confirmed group travel from 12 to 30 people. 2022 Prices Double occupancy package: $4,295 +taxes per person Additional premium for single occupancy: $1,495 + taxes per person Not enough time or not available in June? An alternative departure is available on August 30th: Quebec – Percé in 12 days. Click here for Ekilib’s Terms and Conditions |