Fly to Sept-Îles with Provincial Airlines from Montreal (Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport) in the afternoon or from Quebec. Pick up your rental vehicle. Meals are not included. Accommodations: Hotel Sept-Iles (3*)

Breakfast not included. Between Sept-Iles and Rivière-au-Tonnerre, stop and take a hike at Manitou falls. Upon arrival in Rivière-au-Tonnerre, enjoy a welcome cocktail at the head office of Voyages CoSte. In the company of a “Coaster”, or with an audioguide, take a guided tour of the historical wooden church, the only one in the Norman-style in Quebec. Make sure you take the time to hike to the magnificent waterfalls that gave the village its name, and visit the “Maison de la Chicoutai”. Continue your journey toward your destination of the day, Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan.  On the way, 21km from Rivière-au-Tonnerre, we find the charming little village of Magpie. Follow the “rue des Pêcheurs” to the dock for a great view of the bay and the Saint-Lawrence from the belvedere. While leaving the village you will get a glimpse of the Magpie River (200km long) and you will also find a rest area. At 14 km from Magpie, we find the village of Rivière-St-Jean. This river can be found on maps dating as far back as the 17^th century. Rivière-St-Jean is one of the great salmon rivers of the North-Shore. There is also a rest area along the river. You can drive your car along a road that will lead you to the eastern tip of the bay and to the beach. Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, a charming village founded by a group of Gaspesiens of Acadian descent. The name refers to a long point of sand, the one that advances into the bay of Mingan, west of the village.  Your excursion in the Mingan islands (the western part of the Archipelago) will depart from this village. You can visit the sites of “Ile aux Perroquets” and “Ile Nue” for the largest concentration of marine birds, including the famous Atlantic Puffin. You will also see the former residence of the lighthouse keepers. Lastly, if your schedule allows for it, you must not forget to stop at the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS), where you will find a magnificent exhibition on marine mammals. Admission fees are to be expected. This organization also offers educational outings at sea. Accommodations: Trailer in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan

Departure for Havre-Saint-Pierre after breakfast (not included). Upon arriving in Havre-Saint-Pierre, go to “Pélagie Cormier Centre” to pick up the CD audio-guide at the tourist information booth. The Mingan Archipelago, known for its impressive monoliths, has inspired numerous poets and painters. Before lunch, we suggest that you visit the “Maison de la culture Roland Jomphe”. This interesting site will inform you of the history and the skills of the people, whose ancestors left the Magdalen Islands to come settle this village, formerly known as “Pointe-aux-Esquimaux”. After you leave for Natashquan with the audioguide, we suggest you stop for lunch at the Fumoir Le Goynish in Aguanish, or in one of the two restaurants in Natashquan: Café l’Échourie or Le Goût du Large. You are now in Natashquan, where you will board the N/M Bella Desgagnés at 3:00 PM for your cruise to Blanc-Sablon and back. Please be on the dock at least one hour before boarding.

Superior cabin (double occupancy) and meals included. You will have stop-overs in the villages of the Lower-North-Shore while traveling downstream and upstream. Return to Natashquan on Saturday at 9:15 PM. Dinner not included. Accommodations : Natashquan at “l'Auberge du Port d’Attache” (2*). Optional visits or excursions: • La Romaine; • Harrington Harbour; • Tête-à-la-Baleine; • La Tabatière; • St-Augustin; • Blanc-Sablon.

After the continental breakfast, visit Natashquan, where First Nations (from the community of Nutashkuan) and Acadian settlers co-exist. Made famous by the Quebec poet-singer-songwriter Gilles Vigneault, this “little village with a big name” pays tribute to him on the site of the “Vieille École”, who will graciously open their doors to you. Leave Natashquan in the late morning. For your lunch, we suggest stopping at the “Restaurant de la Promenade” in Havre-St-Pierre. Just 35Km further, in the village of Mingan, a scheduled stop at the Maison de la Culture Innue is part of your itinerary. Continue your journey to Sept-Îles. Accommodations: Hôtel Sept-Iles (3*). Optional activities: • Sunset cruise in the Sept-Iles archipelago (6:00 PM to 8:00 PM)

Breakfast (not included). Visit the Musée Régional de la Côte-Nord. Return your rental vehicle and board your return flight to Montreal or Quebec.