Magdalen Islands

Departure by plane from Montréal on a direct flight to the Îles de la Madeleine.

PM

Arrival at the Îles de la Madeleine (Atlantic Time). Meet with the local guide and the coach. Settle in and check in at the hotel. Group dinner on-site and evening at leisure.

AM

Breakfast at the hotel.
9:00 AM | Meet your guide from the Magdalen Islands and board the coach to begin the tour.
Visit the eastern part of the islands: introduction and overview of the Magdalen Islands, passing by Cap Alright, Pointe-aux-Loups, Grosse Île and the port of Grande-Entrée. Stop at Grande Échourie Beach and the Shipwreck Museum. Group lunch at Restaurant La Salicorne.

PM

Visit the Seal Interpretation Centre. Walk along Dune du Sud Beach with its beautiful red sandstone cliffs.
The red cliffs are formed of red sandstone, a sedimentary rock composed of quartz coated with iron oxide. Wind, waves, tides and thawing erode these extremely friable walls, sculpting them into sometimes surprising yet always spectacular shapes. Visit and tasting at Barbocheux, a local artisanal beverage producer. You’ll have the opportunity to taste the famous Bagosse des Îles. Group dinner. Return to the hotel and evening at leisure.

AM

Breakfast at the hotel.

9 AM | Meet your Magdalen Islands guide and board the coach to begin your visits.
Visit to the Pied-de-Vent Cheese Dairy. Sample the first artisanal specialty cheese produced by the islanders, made from whole milk from a single herd fed on the local terroir of the Magdalen Islands. Visit to Fumoir d’Antan. The ancestral method of smoking herring, passed down from father to son, guarantees the authenticity and quality of the local products offered at Fumoir d’Antan. Visit to Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire Church and a stop at Belle Anse de Fatima.
Group lunch.

PM

Tour of the coast of Étang-du-Nord. The village of Étang-du-Nord has several observation sites within its territory, all located close to each other. The first is Île aux Goélands, situated slightly off the coast opposite Delaney Road, where several seabird colonies have made their home. Free time to explore the shops. Group dinner. Return to the hotel and evening at leisure.

AM

Breakfast at the hotel.

9 AM | Meet your Madelinot guide and board the coach to begin the tours
Visit the Saint-Pierre Church in La Vernière. Classified as a historic monument, it is the second-largest wooden church in North America. Tour the historic site of La Grave. This authentic location bears witness to the past and retains its traditional architectural charm. The cradle of the settlement of the Islands and of the fishing industry, La Grave stretches along a small pebble beach. Free time for shopping. Visit Havre-Aubert Beach with the option to climb the Demoiselles hill. Group lunch.

PM

Visit the Site d’Autrefois. Immerse yourself in Madelinot and Acadian culture (island life, fishing, agriculture, family, etc.), warmly guided by Claude F. Bourgeois, a former Madelinot fisherman who shares his knowledge and passion through his stories and his music. An exceptional experience for the whole family! Then visit the Musée de la Mer. The museum’s mission is to preserve, promote, and celebrate the history and heritage of the archipelago. It features a permanent exhibition revealing the daily lives of the men, women, and children who lived on Rocher-aux-Oiseaux to tend the lighthouse. Group dinner. Return to the hotel and evening at leisure.

AM

Breakfast at the hotel. Baggage check-out and meeting with the coach. A final short visit and orientation tour of the islands. Dinner on your own ($)

PM

Departure by coach for the airport. Flight to Montreal.