We give you all the tips and advice you need to visit the Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant differently in this post from our travel blog OneDayOneTravel. We give you lots of ideas for outdoor activities, two ideas for accommodation in the Laurentians, and some gastronomic inspiration. This is the last stop on our Quebec road trip before heading to Montreal. We're staying here for 4 days - 3 nights.
The Laurentian region is an essential stop-off for recharging your batteries in the heart of nature, just 1 hour from Montreal.
The Laurentians is a 4-season paradise for mountain lovers. In fine weather, it's the ideal place to enjoy a range of sporting adventures on an electric bike, zip-line, jeep or helicopter. We'll show you all about it!
In winter, the Laurentians region dons its thick, beautiful blanket of snow, and is home to a host of Nordic activities such as downhill skiing and snowshoeing. And whatever the season, it's always fun to visit the picturesque Laurentian villages of Mont-Tremblant and Val David, but that's not all.
By the way, we're Franck and Richard. We're travel bloggers who've been exploring the world by sharing our inspiring stories, itineraries, city guides, practical advice and alternative tips with you on OneDayOneTravel since 2008.
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After a stay in Montreal, a road trip in the Eastern Townships, whale-watching in Tadoussac, a sublime road trip along theSaguenay Fjord and around Lac Saint-Jean, a visit to Quebec City and the surrounding area, and finally the discovery of the Mauricie and Lanaudière regions, we've arrived in the heart of Quebec's wilderness in the Laurentians.
What does this next stage of our Quebec road trip have in store for us?
In January 2023, we returned to the Laurentians, but this time in the snow! The Laurentians in winter are a completely different place. The landscapes are covered in white, allowing us to discover the joys of the white season. Snowmobiling, dog sledding, skating, snowshoeing, helicopter flights... We'll tell you all about them in our blog post on the Laurentians in winter.
A different way to visit the Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant
1. Video of our adventures in the Laurentians
In the previous video about Mauricie and the Laurentians we set off to explore these two beautiful regions of Quebec from Quebec City. Now we've come to the end of our adventures in Quebec by taking our first steps in this beautiful region of the Laurentians. It's early November, the dawn of winter, and the arrival of the first skiers.
Hold on tight, because in this last VLOG in Quebec we promise you superb accommodation but above all action and thrills. Take a deep breath. We'll take you on a different tour of the Laurentians and the village of Mont-Tremblant, with activities that include zip-lining, electric-assist cycling, off-road jeeping in the middle of the forest, hiking, the Nordic spa and a helicopter flight (without the doors!) over Mont-Tremblant. That's it!
2. Map and itinerary for visiting the Laurentians
Here's the interactive map of the route we took to discover the Laurentians.
We set off early in the morning from the Auberge du lac Taureau in Mauricie, heading for Lac Morency in the Laurentians. A 140 km drive awaits us. Without stopping, it takes about 2 hours 40 minutes to reach our destination. Of course, we're not driving very fast, because we're enjoying the scenery on the one hand and taking photo breaks on the other.
We first took route 131 south to the village of Sainte-Emilie-de-l'Energie, then headed west on route 347 and then south on route 343. A few kilometres before reaching the village of Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, we turn right and head west.
The road winds around numerous lakes and through thick forests. It's really quite pleasant. At the end of this picturesque road, we rejoin Route 125 at the village of Chertsey, heading due south. Soon after leaving the village, we turn right onto route 355 to Lac de L'Achigan, which we follow north to the village of Saint-Hippolyte.
For the last few kilometres, we take the Chemin du Lac Morency, which runs alongside the lake. The Auberge awaits us at the end of the road. We'll be staying there for 1 night. We'll tell you more about this establishment a little further down in this travel blog post.
The next morning, we hit the road again, or rather the A15 motorway as it climbs north from Montreal. On the way, we stopped to go zip-lining and then take a helicopter flight over Mont-Tremblant.
More on that below. Then it's on to our second accommodation, where we'll spend the last 2 nights of our Quebec trip before returning to Montreal to return our hire car and board our flight to Paris.
3. What to do in the Laurentians: Outdoor activities
Mont-Tremblant, one of the main peaks in the Laurentian mountains, is also the best-known resort village in the Quebec region and one of Canada's most popular ski destinations. With its breathtaking scenery and multitude of year-round activities, Mont-Tremblant and its nature park attract large numbers of visitors every year.
There's more tothe Laurentians than Mont-Tremblant and skiing. We'll show you just how manyother activities are availablein the region.
An exhilarating holiday awaits us in the Laurentians.
So fasten your seatbelts and take a deep breath!
3.1 Off-road jeeping in the Laurentian forests
It was off-road that we had the time of our lives in an all-terrain Jeep in the middle of the wild Laurentian forest with Gabriel from Aventures Plein Air. In fact, they're the only company in the whole of Quebec to offer this original, thrilling activity.
And what's more, it's easy to find them, as their agency is located in Saint-Hippolyte on the grounds of the Auberge Morency (Club Lookéa), where we're staying. You can be driven or take control of the car. It's your choice. You know us, we decide to drive. In fact, it's Richard who's doing the driving!
It rained all night. The road we're about to follow is very wet. It's going to be an even sportier experience! The session starts with a reminder of the basic safety rules and a few explanations on how the Jeep' s 4-wheel drive works and how the gear lever is a bit unusual.
Then we set off for our first drive in the forest, a warm-up lap that reveals the driver's capabilities in an off-road environment. We were really shaken up, especially when we had to drive through mud and over rocks and tree trunks. The gradient of the road, however, remains gentle. Phew!
Then the serious stuff starts. We knew that visiting the Laurentians wasn't going to be easy ^^.
Lac Morency is surrounded by forests on more or less steep slopes. We decided, with Gabriel ahead of us in his own Jeep, to climb the high hill overlooking the estate and the lake.
It's an impressive climb, especially when you have to negotiatehuge boulders in the mud. When the path floods, it's even scarier but so much fun at the same time.
Once at the top, we stop neara beaver lake, which is absolutely magical. Gabriel tells us some wonderful stories and anecdotes about the region.
A little further on, another break. And here we enjoy a sublime panoramic view over the whole of Lac Morency and the Auberge too. Lac de Maurency is unusual in that it is shaped like a fish.
The descent to the estate is just as epic as the ascent through rocks and mud. You'll be shaken but you'll have fun from start to finish!
We highly recommend this unusual activity in the heart of nature, which also allows you to explore and visit the Laurentians in a different way.
We had a great time in a Jeep!
In the summer months, the agency also offers quad biking and mountain biking. Water sports and fishing are also available on site. In winter, outdoor activities include snowmobiling and dog sledding. All these activities are accompanied by experienced guides.
Prices and further information on the Aventures Plein Air website
Address:42 Rue de la Chaumine, Saint-Hippolyte
3.2. The MEGA Tyroliennes at Tyro Parc near Mont-Tremblant
The sun is back out on this second day in the Laurentians, but the temperatures are freezing. But it doesn't matter, because with the adrenalin flowing, it won't be so cold after all!
On our second day in the Laurentians, we're off to Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts to visit the Tyroparc an enchanting and picturesque site. Tyroparc has been offering visitors the chance to try out Quebec's highest zip line, which is also the second longest zip line in the Canadian province, all year round since 2014.
The entire course is made up of 4 mega zip lines that are among the 5 longest and highest on the American continent over a total distance of 2.6 km, a course that we tested. This outdoor activity is great fun, and what's more, you get to enjoy some truly exceptional views of the surrounding countryside.
One of the 4 mega zip lines is 900 metres long and as high as a 33-storey building. It's really impressive, especially when Richard starts off upside down!
It's a top-notch experience, just the way we like it, and one we'd recommend if you're in the Mont-Tremblant tourist region. What's more, the staff are all dynamic, competent and very friendly. It's definitely a more sporting activity than the flying bike we tried out in the Eastern Townships a few weeks ago.
More information and prices on the Tyroparc
400 Chemin du Mont Catherine, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
Tel: +1 819-324-2002
3.3. Visit the Laurentians with a helicopter flight over Mont-Tremblant
The thrills don't stop there in the Laurentians: on the way up to Mont-Tremblant, you can stop off at Héli-Tremblant We'd made an appointment with them at the last minute. A helicopter tour over the Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant awaited us. The opportunity to get some great shots, but it's never easy with the reflections in the windows.
The resort village of Mont-Tremblant from the air
Nathan, our young but experienced pilot for the day, suggested that weremove the helicopter doors to avoid reflections on our shots and also to get some thrills. To our great surprise, we agreed, despite the cold. Above all, we're excited to be having such an experience!
And off we go for 10 minutes of madness around the village and the mountain of Mont-Tremblant! We're doing great and we're both tripping. A little extra compared to the helicopter flight over Quebec City we talked about in this travel blog post.
Héli-Tremblant is a helicopter base that also offers an air taxi and transfer service. In fact, you can create your own personalised flight programme, for a birthday, wedding or honeymoon, for example.
Helicopter base Héli-Tremblant
Rue du Mont Saint Jovite, Mont-Tremblant
Tel: +1 819 425 5662
3.4. E-bike to the Domaine Saint-Bernard to see Mont-Tremblant from a different angle
The next day, we wanted to visit the Laurentians by discovering the area around Mont-Tremblant in a different way. We set off to explore the Domaine Saint-Bernard, just a stone's throw from our hotel, Le Grand Lodge, on an e-bike.
With an electric bike, everything is easier and the distances seem shorter. If you've been following us, you'll know that we love cycle touring. We've already tried this activity in Montreal, but also in Switzerland, Burgundy and along the Via Rhôna between Lyon and Valence. You can find all our articles about these experiences on our travel blog.
AE cycling allows you to climb more, tire less and cover more distances. Unfortunately, this activity is not very well developed in Quebec. So when we came across the agency D-Tourwe jumped at the chance.
The agency offers a wide range of outdoor activities (snowshoeing, hiking, dog-sledding) andintroductory mountain biking courses. An immersion in the forest and wildlife guaranteed.
3.5. Visit the Laurentians: Relax at the Scandinave Spa
And then, to relax and recover from these pure emotions, we stop off at the Spa Scandinave located in the heart of the forest just before the entrance to Mont-Tremblant village. The establishment is magnificent, surrounded by pine trees and on the banks of the Rivière du Diable, in which you can swim.
The setting is enchanting, especially at the end of the day when the sun's rays play with the branches of the fir trees. We weren't allowed to take any photos, but the management agreed to let us come back the next day before the sauna opened so that we could take a few shots before the guests arrived.
The sauna is a place where silence is king and where couples, families and friends come together.
We put on our swimming costumes and off we go to visit the Scandinavian Spa.
The concept? We're advised to follow a hot cycle (sauna/hammam/jacuzzi), a cold cycle (river/waterfall/cold bath) and then a relaxation session to experience all the well-being that hydrotherapy brings. You'll feel soothed after 3 cycles. What's more, the site is surrounded by pine trees, with squirrels winking at us. What bliss!
Recharge your batteries in the age-old tradition of Scandinavian baths.
Scandinavian Spa de Mont-Tremblant
4280 Montée Ryan, Mont-Tremblant
Tel: 514 288 2009
4. Where to sleep and eat in the Laurentians?
4.1. Staying at the Auberge du lac Morency in the Laurentians
L'Auberge du lac Morency is an establishment offering rooms ranging from flats to luxury rooms in buildings built over the years on the Auberge's estate. 40 rooms and 80 flats are harmoniously distributed throughout the estate. The whole complex has the feel of a small hamlet. Everyone sleeps facing Lake Morency!
At the Auberge du lac Morency, you book more than just overnight stays. Travelers and tourists staying at this resort nestling on the shores of the lake in an intoxicating landscape prefer all-inclusive packages (even for one night) to enjoy the Laurentians in an authentic way and visit the Laurentians in a different way.
The Auberge is ideal for a romantic getaway. We also recommend it as a place to recharge your batteries in the heart of nature, with friends or family. The Auberge also offers a Spa service since 2004. And don't forget the excellent cuisine offered by Auberge's restaurant, Chez Hippolyte. More about that below.
Our room is very spacious and comprises an entrance lounge with sofa, television, coffee table and storage space. The tour continues in the sleeping area, which is laid out like a suite with a very comfortable king-size bed, a Jacuzzi and an open shower.
Our room is decorated in a rustic chic style and is very pleasant.
What we loved: the car park just 10 metres from the room.
In the evening, it was off to the gourmet restaurant Chez Hippolyte at the Auberge du Lac Morency where we ended our emotionally-charged day with a good meal, washed down with a glass of wine and the excellent advice of the restaurant's sommelier.
Richard's menu began with a surprising starter: tuna tartare with guacamole. Then it's thechef's inspiration that guides the dish. It will be elk served with an old-fashioned mustard sauce and leek purée. A word of advice: ask for your meat rare, as it's best served pink. The meat isn't absolutely tender, but it's very tasty. Good to know too: there's quite a lot of garlic in the dish. For dessert, Richard is tempted by a Bayles crème brûlée accompanied by a 12-year-old Scotch with a caramel and walnut flavour. Ranked in the TOP 10 scotches in the world. And that's just the beginning! A pure delight.
For Franck, the gastronomic discovery begins with a crème brûlée with foie gras. A sweet and savoury starter that both appeals and surprises (in a good way). An excellent surprise. The rest of the meal is centred around venison, served very tender. An appropriate choice of dish when dining in a restaurant in the Laurentians. The dinner ends on a high note with tangerine ice cream accompanied by 12-year-old Scottish Scotch with a hint of dried apricots. An excellent conclusion.
A unique and convivial gastronomic experience offered by renowned chef Luc Gilbert and his entire team that you won't soon forget. What's more, the service is impeccable.
During the meal, all our dishes are accompanied by a fine glass of wine. We were lucky enough to take a tour of the cellar, or rather the 2 cellars, with their 3340 listed bottles, a tour of the world's best red and white wines. Italy, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Portugal, etc. We even came across the same bottle we drank on our trip to Lisbon a few weeks ago. Auberge du lac Morency and booking link to compare offers
Link to our article on theAuberge du lac Morency aux 4 saisons
42, rue de la Chaumine, Saint-Hippolyte
4.2. Staying at Le Grand Lodge hotel in Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentians
We stayed at one of the charming Tremblant Hotels on mont-tremblanthotel.com. On the evening of the second day, we arrive in Mont-Tremblant at the Le Grand Lodge hotel just in time for sunset. We took the time to admire it from the balcony of our room facing Lake Ouimet. A magical moment...
Our room is more like a flat. There's even a fireplace. The first thing we do is turn it on and enjoy a cuppa on the sofa. Once again, the atmosphere is rustic chic. The rooms will be spruced up very soon, which will make the flat even cosier. But frankly, it has everything you need to feel at home.
The flat has a hallway entrance, a huge living room with open-plan kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a bedroom with a double bed and plenty of storage space. We're not going to step on each other's toes.
We're spending our next two nights at the Grand Lodge. They are also our last two nights in Quebec. We're very happy to end our first trip to Quebec on a high note by staying in such a beautiful establishment.
We also tried out the restaurant at Le Grand Lodge on our first evening.
Franck chose the artisan's salad, a tartar of smoked duck breast, then a sirloin with chips. All very well presented brasserie-style dishes with unfortunately redundant accompaniments.
Richard was tempted by a creamy mushroom soup with truffle accents, a courgette salad and penne with mushrooms. A very hearty and tasty dish.
The menu didn't knock our socks off and the room service was average that evening. We should point out that we came out of season, on an evening when the restaurant was empty and the chef was clearly absent.
The Grand Lodge and booking link to compare offers
2396, rue Labelle, Mont-Tremblant
Other things to do in the area
Grab a poutine for 6 CAD and drink a beer at the micro-brasserie la Diable in the resort village of Mont-Tremblant and wander around the town centre, home to numerous restaurants, pubs and hotels. What's surprising is to realise that the village is at the foot of the slopes, with its gondola right in the centre. It's all very authentic and very charming.
But do not forget that rest is just as important as walking around the city, for example, you can consider conveniently located Chase Field Hotels
Contemplating a waterfall. To find it, the Diable waterfall is on route 327 when you arrive at Lac Mont-Tremblant on the way to the Mont-Tremblant village resort.
5. End of the road trip to visit the Laurentians,
Yes, unfortunately everything comes to an end, and our 1-month trip to Quebec is coming to an end. If you want to find all our travel blog posts about Quebec, click on this link: visiting Quebec for the first time. You'll find us in Montreal, the Eastern Townships, Tadoussac, the Saguenay Fjord, Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec City, Mauricie and Lanaudière, as well as all our tips.
Other itineraries in the Laurentians
Road trip in the Laurentians in summer (August 2017)
The Laurentians in winter. We've since returned to Quebec also in the snow between Montreal, Quebec City and our favourite region in Quebec: the Laurentians. Adventures on snowmobiles, dog sleds, skates, snowshoes and even fatbikes on snow, to be found in our dedicated article (January 2018).
La route des Explorateurs (August 2018): New tourist route in western Quebec, ideal for a road trip off the usual trails between the 3 regions of Laurentides, Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscaminque.