Tour of the Gaspésie
Location: Forillon National Park, Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse and Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Sites
Distance: 1,575 km round trip from Québec
Discover the best places to visit in the Gaspésie on this week-long trip. Admire the cliffs and the sea at Forillon, enjoy a whale-watching cruise, visit a nationally significant lighthouse station and relive a naval clash of 1760 as you explore the Machault shipwreck.
Day 1
Location: Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site, Rimouski
Distance: 330 km from Québec
Depart for Rimouski! Climb the 128 steps of Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse, the 2nd tallest in Quebec, and take in the incredible panoramic views. Immerse yourself in the places once occupied by lighthouse keepers and St. Lawrence pilots. Make sure to check out the River Sentinels exhibition and learn about what went on in daily lives.
Visit our neighbour at the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père and step into the Empress of Ireland Museum to discover Canada’s greatest maritime tragedy.
Looking for a unique experience? Enter the Onondaga, the first publicly accessible submarine in Canada! See what it’s like to be a submariner for a night!
Day 2
Location: Forillon National Park, Gaspé
Distance: 380 km from Rimouski
Continue your journey to Forillon National Park. Admire the beautiful landscapes and breathe in that fresh sea air along the way.
Get settled in your very own oTENTik at the Petit-Gaspé campground. Then, take some time to watch the seals from the lookout, head down to the pebble beach and let yourself be lulled by the sound of the waves at sunset. Back at the campsite, enjoy the evening around the campfire; it’s the perfect time for some roasted marshmallows.
Recommended accommodation:
oTENTik, Petit-Gaspé campground
Day 3
Location: Forillon National Park
Already up? Whether on a cruise or in a kayak, Gaspé Bay provides the ideal setting for marine wildlife watching. Will you be lucky enough to spot a porpoise, dolphin, or humpback whale?
Dive into the 1920s! Check out the Hyman & Sons general store, Dolbel-Roberts house, and Blanchette house — buildings at Grande-Grave over 100 years old! Make sure to visit the little yellow house that once belonged to the welcoming and entertaining Blanchette family.
Recommended accommodation: oTENTik, Petit-Gaspé campground
Day 4
Location: Forillon National Park
Visit Cap-Bon-Ami for an amazing view of the sea, pebble beaches, cliffs, sea birds, whales and seals. Fancy an even more incredible panoramic view? Climb to the top of the Mont-Saint-Alban observation tower!
For a more moderate hike, follow the bay along the Les Graves Trail. Make sure to stop at one of the coves for a picnic. You’ll be captivated by the layers of silvery rock stretching right into the water. The Cap‑Gaspé lighthouse station awaits a little farther along.
Recommended accommodation: oTENTik, Petit-Gaspé campground
Day 5
Location: Forillon National Park
Before leaving Forillon, stop by Penouille and check out the observation hide to discreetly photograph the marsh birds. Take the time to read the interpretive panels along the way: this sand spit reveals rich history and unique flora!
Continue your tour of the Gaspésie toward Percé. Marvel at the famous Percé Rock, a must-see attraction 95 km from Forillon.
Day 6
Location: Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site, Pointe-à-la-Croix
Distance: 245 km from Percé
En route, explore Baie-des-Chaleurs. It’s rich in historic interpretation sites and has plenty of great experiences for outdoor enthusiasts.
Visit the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site and the Machault shipwreck, a 26-gun sailboat tasked with protecting a group of merchant ships from the British. Relive the last naval clash between France and Great Britain for possession of the North American territory. It's a unique foray into history that lets you relive one of the unsung chapters of the War of the Conquest.
Day 7
Location: Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, Rivière-du-Loup
Distance: 300 km from Pointe-à-la-Croix
Hop back on the road and cross the Matapedia valley to cap off your tour of the Gaspésie! There’s so much to see and do, you’ll be saying a week wasn’t enough!
Looking for one final stop before returning to Québec City? Why not visit the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park from the south shore! Spend the night in a lighthouse on one of the islands of the Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie archipelago, near Rivière-du-Loup.
Distance: Return to Québec City, 210 km
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