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 the 2nd tallest lighthouse in Canada 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 Canada, and take in the incredible panoramic views. Discover the important historic role it played in navigating the St. Lawrence river.

Then, learn about Canada's greatest maritime tragedy at the Empress of Ireland Museum.

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. 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 one of the seven species of whales in the park?

Dive into the 1920s! Check out the Hyman & Sons general store and the Dolbel-Roberts house — buildings at Grande-Grave that date back more than a hundred years! 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!

If you’re looking for an easier trek, hike along the Les Graves trail overlooking the bay. At Cap-Gaspé near the lighthouse, don’t miss the last section of the trail that leads up the cliff to the famous Land’s End...


Recommended accommodation: oTENTik, Petit-Gaspé campground


Day 5


Location: Forillon National Park

Before leaving Forillon, discover a little-known episode of the Second World War at the coastal battery of Fort-Péninsule, near Penouille.

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 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


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, 520 km


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