Taste, tour and take on epic adventures in the Charlevoix, playground of presidents, politicians, and movers and shakers
“As intoxicating as champagne, but without the morning-after headache” is how U.S. President William Howard Taft once described this place. An idyllic vacation destination since the 19th century, the undulating Laurentian Mountains and mighty St. Lawrence River frame the Charlevoix region. It’s an enchanting place known for charming French-Canadian villages, historical architecture, farm-to-table cuisine and Bucket List excursions every season of the year — from snowmobiling and skiing, climbing and hiking, to foodie touring, fall foliage viewing, arts and culture.
ASK THE CONCIERGE
Need help planning your adventures? Ask the local experts. Our concierge team can put together day trip itineraries, recommend activities, and arrange reservations and tours. Call 418 665 3703 or email lmr.concierge@fairmont.com.
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EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF CHARLEVOIX
TRAIN DE CHARLEVOIX
Step aboard, sit back, relax and take in the riverside shoreline, bridges, waterfalls and quaint cliffside villages from Quebec City via “culture capital” Baie-Saint-Paul to charming La Malbaie and Fairmont Manoir Richelieu. This scenic seasonal journey runs June to October following a 140-km former loggers’ line. The Baie-Sant-Paul-La Malbaie happy hour sunset rail cruise is especially magical.
PROJECT VERTICAL’S VIA FERRATA
Get way out there, literally. Test your abilities and tap your adrenalin to scale 500 metres of rock wall, traversing exposed wooden bridges. Project Vertical’s via ferrata, a secured outdoor climbing route, towers high above the St. Lawrence River for spectacular panoramas. The best part about the 2.5-hour spine-tingling adventure is that it’s right here on the Manoir’s property, open year-round.
NATIONAL PARKS
Bike, hike, kayak and canoe in the Charlevoix forest. See for yourself the forces of Mother Nature in the dramatic landscapes at Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-De-La-Riviere-Malbaie, glacier-carved valleys and plateaus punctuated by waterfalls, rivers and rock wall faces, the tallest east of the Rockies. Herds of caribou wander the lichen-draped boreal forest and taiga of Parc national des Grands-Jardins, a Biosphere Reserve known for its steep valleys and unusual flora and fauna.
SNOWMOBILE
Whisk through the sparkling wonderland of the Charlevoix in winter. Explore the large network of snowmobile trails winding through the woods right from the Manoir. Bring your own, rent a snowmobile at the resort or try a SKIDOO Nord Expé adventure, from four-hour to multi-day guided excursions paired with delectable local cuisine and regional sightseeing (December to April).
FLAVOUR TRAIL
Charlevoix is a veritable locavore’s paradise. Road-trip from farmstead to ciderie or follow the curated Flavour Trail. Sample succulent organic duck sustainably raised, award-winning artisan cheeses, chocolates and lavender honey, or delicacies like pickled mushrooms. Sip craft beer and local vintages at stops along self-guided route from Petite-Rivière-Saint-François to La Malbaie.
WHALE WATCHING CRUISE (AML)
Saguenay Fjord is a top whale-watching spot worldwide, May to October. Head out with a guide in a Zodiac onto the water to see bottlenose, belugas and endangered blue whales, plus orcas, playful seals and some 1,000 species of birds. Both belugas and harbour seals spend the entire year in the St. Lawrence Estuary.
HÉLI-CHARLEVOIX
Flight-see high above the St. Lawrence River any time of year for breathtaking views from the air. Heli-Charlevoix’s experienced pilots take you on one of three different excursions: a 100-km river bird’s eye view, cliffs and shoreline over 200 km or the 300-km Great Experience, which transports you over national parks, lakes, rivers, gorges, a crater, coastline and fjord for whale-watching from the sky. Treat the family or surprise your partner with the romantic adventure of a lifetime.