The Blueberry Route – the Véloroute des Bleuets – is a 256 km paved cycling circuit around Saint-Jean Lake, north of Québec City. Spin along flat, easy routes through national parks surrounded by forested peaks. Ride along the sapphire-blue lakeshore, through peaceful farmland and beside glittering rivers. Sample local delights from craft brews to handmade cheese to poutine, Québec’s most famous dish. Explore indigenous history, Québecois culture and the Historic Village of Val-Jalbert, a “Company Town of the 1920s.” Go whale-watching (July is the best time of year!) Ride ‘La Route Verte’ – the Green Route – alongside the St. Lawrence River into historic Old Québec, where you’ll have plenty of time to explore.
Type | Road bike, Hybrid bike, E-bike |
Duration | 7 days |
Level | Moderate |
Support | Guided |
Daily distance | 30 – 40 mi, up to 70 mi |
Total distance | 228 mi / 367 km |
Group size | Maximum 13 |
Lodging | Hotels |
Bicycle | Included |
Month | July |
Start | Quebec |
Finish | Quebec |
States or country | Canada |
Airport start | International airport Québec City Jean Lesage |
Airport finish | International airport Québec City Jean Lesage |
*Please note the prices are subject to change depending availability *
After we pick you up in Quebec City, we will shuttle (~2.5hrs) north to Alma on the southeast edge of gorgeous Lac Saint-Jean. With three national parks and a marine park totaling over 1,000 square miles, this giant playground is renowned for its outdoor-loving activities. After a bike fitting, take a spin along flat country roads and beside the sapphire blue lake in the Pointe Taillon National Park to the town of Dolbeau-Mistassini on the shore of the Mistassibi River.
Meals: lunch and dinner Lodging: Motel Chute des Pères.
Distance: 42 miles, elevation +895 ft / -833 ft
After breakfast, hop back on your bike to continue your way along the Véloroute des Bleuets (The Blueberry Route). Take a side trip to Les Délices, a blueberry museum celebrating the region’s culinary history, then pedal on to Hotel du Jardin in the town of Saint-Félicien where we spend the night perched on the shores of Lac Saint-Jean.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Lodging: Hotel du Jardin
Distance: 37 miles, elevation +827 ft / -869 ft.
Stop at La Vieille Fromagerie Perron to experience (and sample) a rural cheese factory’s hand-crafted wares. Pedal to Communauté Innu de Mashteuiatsh, the nation’s oldest Innu reserve, where descendants of the region’s indigenous peoples have lived for over 6,000 years. Explore the museum’s collective exhibit and cultural site celebrating thousands of years of life stories of these nomadic people. Enjoy lunch here. Then continue riding to the Historic Village of Val-Jalbert, a 1920s company town complete with 40 or so original period buildings. Its convent-school, general store, pulp mill and massive waterfall offer plenty to explore. Stay here tonight in a 20’s-themed room with contemporary comforts at Village Historique de Val-Jalbert.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Lodging: Village Historique de Val-Jalbert
Distance: 28 miles, elevation +695 ft / – 662 ft.
Don’t feel like you have to ride all the miles on today’s route, or tomorrow’s. Our guides can tailor the riding to suit your preferences. Ride from Val-Jalbert to Chicoutimi, an old French fur trading post on the banks of the Saguenay River. Now the central borough of the city of Saguenay, it’s a mecca for hikers, skiers and other active people. Along the way, visit the cheesemakers at La Fromagerie Lehmann. Taste the family’s artisanal cheeses made from milk produced by their little flock of Swiss Brown cows. Back on the bicycle, ride to visit The Little White House (La Petite Maison Blanche), a symbol of hope and perseverance which survived two floods, standing for four days with waters raging around its foundation. Overnight at Hotel Chicoutimi on the bank of the fjord.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lodging: Hotel Chicoutimi
Distance: 68 miles (or less), elevation: +2305 ft / -2763 ft (or less)
Ride east along the Saguenay River to La Baie, third of the Saguenay city boroughs. Pedal onto a ferry and cross to Sainte-Rose-du-Nord on the other side. Bicycle quiet roads through farms and fields bordering the Sainte-Marguerite River, soaking up the views of lakes, forest lands and mountain peaks. Finish today’s ride where the river meets the giant St. Lawrence River in Tadoussac. Spend tonight at the Hotel Tadoussac with its red roof and whitewashed walls, enjoying views of Tadoussac Bay and the St. Lawrence River.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lodging: Hotel Tadoussac
Distance: 68 miles (or less), elevation: +3294 ft / -3311 ft (or less)
The St. Lawrence estuary at Tadoussac is a feeding zone for three types of whales: the fin whale, the minke whale and the giant blue whale. This morning, take a 2-hour Wildlife Cruise through the heart of the Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park to see these majestic mammals. This afternoon, there’s a 38-mile out-and-back optional ride north beside the St. Lawrence River to the town of Les Escoumins. Or there is also a 2.5-mile hike to Anse à la Barque on the Sentier du Fjord. Lunch is on your own today.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner. Lodging: Hotel Tadoussac
A fabulous end to a fabulous tour! Shuttle to Saint-Tite-des-Caps after breakfast to pedal the historic “Avenue Royal.” Begin on a relaxing descent with impressive views of the Saint Lawrence River and surroundings. Continue past the lovely Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré basilica to view the magnificent Montmorency waterfall. At 272-feet, it’s one and a half times higher than Niagara Falls. Board the telepherique (cable car) for an unforgettable celebratory farewell lunch at Manoir Montmorency, right next to the falls. After lunch we head into Quebec City. Your lodging is included tonight at Hotel Le Concorde, but dinner is on your own, and this is where you will say farewell to your guides. Old Québec’s cobblestone streets and landmarks date from the 1600s and make for a wonderful exploring!
Meals: Breakfast and lunch. Lodging: Hotel Le Concorde
Distance: 33 miles, elevation: +1209 ft / -2441 ft.
* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.
Road bike and Hybrid included in the price, E-bike for an extra fee
Giant Defy Advanced 3
Ride farther and faster with an all-new composite frameset that’s engineered with endurance geometry and built-in compliance. Handcrafted with Advanced-grade composite material, it’s engineered with tube shapes that are optimized to absorb road shocks and vibrations. And the frame is still stiff in all the ways that matter—for pedaling efficiency as well as steering and cornering precision. It’s made with a specific carbon layup to give it just the right feel. And for added control, it features integrated disc brakes with flat mounts and 12mm thru-axles. The D-Fuse seatpost and handlebar system also help reduce road vibrations, adding to its smooth, compliant feel on the road.
Giant Fastroad SL 1
The perfect balance of road bike speed and city bike versatility. Built on a lightweight ALUXX SL aluminum frameset, this new flat-bar road bike puts the rider in a comfortable position that’s smooth and efficient. The fast-rolling 700c wheels and vibration-absorbing composite D-Fuse seatpost help smooth out rough roads. The fast-rolling 700c wheels can accommodate large tires up to 32c, perfect for tackling rough roads with confidence and control, while integrated ergo bar ends keep your hands comfortable on longer adventures. Powerful disc brakes give you added control in all types of weather, and easy-to-use rack mounts make FastRoad SL a smart choice for commuting, fitness riding and weekend adventures.
Giant Roam E+ GTS E-bike available for an extra fee of $200.00
Engineered with a lightweight ALUXX aluminum frameset and a new SyncDrive Core motor, Roam E+ is all about versatility. Blending the best qualities of a mountain bike and a road bike, it encourages you to explore more adventurous routes. It comes with wider tires and a 63mm suspension fork so you can comfortably ride rough roads or paths. Make the rough roads feel a little smoother and the hard climbs a little easier with the do-it-all Roam E+.
Motel Chute des Pères
Hotel du Jardin
Village Historique de Val-Jalbert
Hotel Chicoutimi
Hotel Tadoussac
Hotel Le Concorde in Québec City.
The hotels, inns, and B&Bs we use are always among the finest the area has to offer. Our smaller group sizes allow us to stay at some award-winning places that can’t handle groups of 25 or more. We work closely with the innkeepers to make sure they understand your needs and ours, whether that is having a place to store your bike, an early morning breakfast or a convenient place to park the van, they are as committed to your vacation experience as we are.
Lodging is based upon two people to a room with a private bath. If you’re traveling solo on any of our trips, we’ll assign you a roommate of the same gender and often of the same age bracket. There is no extra charge if we can’t find you a roommate, even if you sign up the day before the trip starts. You can guarantee yourself a private room and bath if you pay the Single Room Fee. Occasionally a room with two beds consists of one bed plus a rollaway bed or sofa bed.
Tour prices 2023: $ 4180.-pp single fee $1129.-
You can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider.
Extra option rental E-bike $200.- pp
Tour start dates 2023:
09 Jul – 15 Jul
16 Jul – 22 Jul
30 Jul – 05 Aug fully booked
Deposit 25%
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price
Meals and dining:
We know how important breakfast is to make sure your day starts off right. Most breakfasts are served at the inn where we spend the night and are either a set menu or a continental breakfast buffet. But if there is a local restaurant with a reputation for a great breakfast, we can guarantee we will find it and you will be treated to a nutritious meal to start the day.
Lunch is provided at a state park or similar scenic setting midway during the day’s ride. Guests are always surprised at the variety and quality of lunches we prepare. Besides sandwich fixings and cold drinks, we offer fresh fruits and vegetables and hot lunches such as tortellini with pesto or veggie burritos. If you prefer a certain item of food or drink, just let your tour guide know and we will be sure to prepare just the right lunch to keep your energy up for the rest of the day.
During the day water, fruit juices, soft drinks, energy bars, fruit, and snacks are available from the van. A cold beer from our cooler waits at the end of the day, and you can relive the day’s highlights at our wine and cheese party before dinner.
Dinner is eaten together at the best restaurant in the area. At most restaurants, you order what you want from the menu. Except for alcohol, everything is included, even appetizers, salad, soup, and dessert. If we have to shuttle everyone a short distance to get to that special place, we do it. We like to eat well.
If you have any special dietary requests, please let us know in advance. We regularly accommodate vegetarians and other restricted diets. All of our meals are carefully selected to provide you with the unusually high nutritional and caloric needs of your body on an outdoor adventure.