This “once-in-a-lifetime” journey, offered exclusively by Voyages Coste, takes you to the far end of the Côte-Nord, along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence!
A true introduction to “the other Québec,” where a maritime life was resolutely established thanks to the resilience of pioneers and fishermen who came from “upstream” (from the upper reaches of the river), from France, Jersey Island, the Basque Country, Norway, and Iceland, and more recently from Newfoundland.
After flying over the great river, hundreds of kilometres of the Lower North Shore coastline, boreal forests, lakes, rivers, and the many islands that characterize this unexplored region of Québec, your plane lands at Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon: a mythical village once far removed from urban centres.
This is where your experience begins in a corner of the continent that Jacques Cartier once dubbed the “Land of Cain.”
Here, in Blanc-Sablon and the neighbouring localities that make up the municipality of Bonne-Espérance, regional life is resolutely organized with services that only the resilience of pioneers and the dynamism of the locals can explain.
We are on the edge of Newfoundland Labrador, which you will have the chance to explore after driving the last stretch of this distant Route 138 to Vieux-Fort.
Everything here springs from the fabulous history of great hunts and great fisheries that have taken place over the centuries.
Switching from French to Newfoundland English, you might notice Inuit origins in some locals: distinctions, but a shared community spirit spanning more than two hundred kilometers of coastline, which you will briefly leave to see the icebergs lingering as they pass through the Strait of Belle Isle in the cool summer days at this latitude.
Air Liaison flight with stopovers along the Lower North Shore: La Romaine, Chevery, Saint-Augustin.
Fly over isolated villages, North Shore rivers and the landscapes of the 51st parallel. Arrival in Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon. Pick up your rental vehicle and check in at the inn.
Late afternoon: guided photo safari of approximately 3 hours in the Québec–Labrador area.
Breakfast included. Dinner on your own.
Accommodation: Inn
Departure for Salmon Bay.
Visit to the Rivages Grandir aquaculture farm. Discover scallop farming, enjoy a walk along the rocks, local interpretation and seafood tasting. Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, visit the Whiteley Museum in Rivière-Saint-Paul and meet with a local Coaster.
Late afternoon: pontoon boat excursion in Salmon Bay with the Roberts family, followed by dinner at the farm.
Breakfast and dinner included
Accommodation: Inn
Guided boat excursion. Discover the archipelago, sites from the French colonial period, and Indigenous and Basque remains.
Weather permitting: picnic on the rocks or lunch at the farm. Return to the village in the afternoon, with the possibility of a visit to Vieux-Fort.
Dinner on your own. Breakfast included
Accommodation: Inn
Free day to explore.
Suggested visits:
Possible activities:
Breakfast included. Meals on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel
Boat excursion through the Blanc-Sablon archipelago.
Schedule may be adapted depending on weather conditions.
Breakfast included. Meals on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel
Departure for Mary’s Harbour in Labrador. Ferry crossing to Battle Harbour, a former historic fishing port.
This stay includes the round-trip ferry, a guided walking tour of Battle Harbour Island, heritage accommodation and all meals.
Immerse yourself in Labrador’s maritime history and discover spectacular coastal landscapes.
All meals included
Accommodation: Battle Harbour
Return from Battle Harbour in the morning.
Stop in Red Bay, a National Historic Site known for Basque whale hunting and its archaeological remains. Return to Blanc-Sablon in the evening.
Breakfast included. Meals on your own.
Accommodation: Inn
Free time depending on the flight schedule. Return the rental vehicle at the airport. Return Air Liaison flight to Montreal, with one last flyover of the Lower North Shore.
End of stay.
Important:
Program subject to weather and maritime conditions.
Some excursions depend on sea conditions.
