Gaspésie Tour

The Gaspésie Tour is a spectacular scenic route along the sea to land’s end, from Bas-Saint-Laurent to Forillon via the legendary Percé Rock.

This tour has been rated 3 stars by the renowned Michelin Green Guide and chosen by National Geographic as one of the 80 ultimate travel experiences in the world (National Geographic Traveler, 20th anniversary issue, October 2004). It’s time for you to hit the road again!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The Gaspésie Tour begins in Bas-Saint-Laurent, in La Pocatière, where the St. Lawrence River widens into the sea and the wind begins to taste salty. The villages in the Kamouraska region, with an architecture that was influenced by shipbuilding, are among the most beautiful in Québec. Several islands in the St. Lawrence offer opportunities for magical visits or overnight stays. Whale-watching excursions depart from Rivière-du-Loup. By following the coastline, you will reach the magnificent Bic National Park. This easily accessible coastal park, where the land meets the sea, is an ideal place to come into contact with nature.

In the region of Sainte-Flavie, discover the fabulous Reford Gardens where history meets nature and culture. Then head south via the Matapédia Valley towards Chaleur Bay, a member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club, and visit Miguasha National Park, a fossil-rich site some 378 million years old that has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Driving further east from village to village, discover Gaspésie’s multicultural mosaic: English Loyalists, Acadians, the Basque, the Irish, Jersey Islanders and Aboriginal peoples along with their vibrant cultures are still present in this region.

LAND'S END

In Percé, home to the legendary Percé Rock, Bonaventure Island exerts a magnetic pull. Part of Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park, this sanctuary is home to 300,000 marine birds, including 122,000 northern gannets. The village is also a tourist attraction where you can spend some free time exploring boutiques and art galleries.

At the easternmost tip of the peninsula is Forillon National Park of Canada. In this breathtaking landscape, discover the various ecosystems of the gulf and the history of its fishers. Forillon also boasts Canada’s tallest lighthouse, in Cap-des-Rosiers. Whale-watching excursions depart from Gaspé Bay.

You can also explore the Îles de la Madeleine from the Gaspé/Percé region, either by boat from Chandler or by plane from Gaspé or Bonaventure.

A SPECTACULAR SCENIC ROUTE

Past Forillon, the road curves back westward through spectacular landscapes of sea and mountains. From lighthouse to lighthouse, you will arrive in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, the gateway to Gaspésie National Park. Here, hiking lovers can venture to Mt. Albert or Mt. Jacques-Cartier, in search of the caribou that inhabit the arctic tundra at their summits.

Your tour completed, you can journey to Côte-Nord aboard a St. Lawrence ferry. The road that takes you back towards Québec City will enable you to discover another corner of Québec maritime along the Whale Route.