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The Odyssey of Coste 13 days
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The Coste Odyssey, 12 nights/13 days by car, outboard, seaplane and airplane
A complete tour of Minganie and the Lower North Shore with an incursion into Labrador. Discover the last frontier of Quebec with its pictoresque villages, the Innu, francophone and anglophone people who for centuries have taken pride in their corner of the country. An outstanding journey with breathtaking scenery!
FRIDAY DEPARTURES IN JUNE-JULY-AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2011
Day 1: Rivière-au-Tonnerre
Visit Manitou falls. Welcome to Minganie cocktail in the oceanfront home of Coste. Private guided tour of the one and only historical wooden church, in the Normand style, in Quebec. Visit the falls of Rivière-au-Tonnerre just a few kilometres into the hinterland. Dine, with a choice of menus, at the restaurant. Accommodations for 1 night.
Day 2: Rivière-au-Tonnerre / Havre Saint-Pierre
Breakfast and then drive through the villages of Magpie (possibility of visiting the hydro electric dam) and Rivière-Saint-Jean. Arrive in Longue-Pointe-De-Mingan for a guided boat tour of the Mingan Archipelago national park (sector west) to observe the magnificent monoliths and disembark on L'Ile aux Perroquets. Visit the Roland Jomphre museum and accommodations in Havre Saint-Pierre.
Day 3: Havre Saint-Pierre / Natashquan
Depart along route 138 towards Natashquan, stopping at the round mountain for a unique view of Havre Saint-Pierre. In Baie-Johann Beetz, visit their historical "chateau". Guided boat tour and "portage" along the river to the spectacular "Traie de scie" canyon. Picnic on site. Arrive in Natashquan and settle in at the hotel. Enjoy oceanfront dining at L'Échourie with a local who will tell stories about the history of the village.
Day 4: Natashquan
Breakfast. A day at the beach, one of the warmest in Quebec, and/or visit: the boutiques of Les Galets, the market of Mr. Petitpas, the general store (interpretation centre Le Bord du Cap), the historic schoolhouse of Natashquan with its exhibits of the works of art of Gilles Vigneault and the Innus camp Manteo Matikap. Cocktail, near Les Galets, with an Innu resident of Natashquan.
Day 5: Natashquan / Harrington Harbour
Take flight in a seaplane along the coastline and fly over the remote communities of Kegaska, La Romaine and Chevry to arrive in the charming village of Harrington Harbour, made famous in the film "Seducing Dr.Lewis". Transfer into one of the two bed and breakfasts of this anglophone community. Take a guided walking tour and discover this unique village with its wooden sidewalks, Christ Church, the Jacques Cartier monument, Marguerite's cave and the Rowsell House interpretation centre while being pointed out the main locations shot while filming "Seducing Dr. Lewis". Supper.
Day 6: Harrington Harbour / Tête-à-la-Baleine
Breakfast at the B&B. Free time to appreciate the day to day living of the locals. Departure at the end of the morning towards Tête-à-la-Baleine in a private outboard. Enjoy lunch in the francophone village at the lookout point of Morne André for a spectacular view. Settle in for 2 nights at the Saint-Anne chapel bed and breakfast on Providence Island.
Day 7: Tête-à-la-Baleine
Visit, by outboard, the islands, the intrepretation centre of the legendary Jos Hébert, the Chapel of Saint-Anne on Providence Island and discover the old motorboats. Free time in the afternoon and a maritime supper on our isolated island.
Day 8: Tête-à-la-Baleine /Mutton Bay / La Tabatière
Excursion by outboard (45 min) to the charming fishing village of Mutton Bay, neighbouring village to La Tabatière. Minibus tour of Mutton Bay and La Tabatière to discover the particularities of this area. Sleep at the Auberge du Village.
Day 9: La Tabatière / St-Augustin
Spectacular tour of the rigolets, small fjord-like sheltered arms of the sea. Bird and whale watching. Lobster lunch. Arrive in the village of Saint-Augustin, early afternoon, and visit the Innu community of Pakua Shipi and their artisans. Conference in the evening to learn about the history of the community.
Day 10: Saint-Augustin / Blanc-Sablon
Fly with Air Labrador (20 minutes). Pick up your rental car. Visit along highway 138 all the way to Old Fort (museum, scallop farming, Brador falls) and the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes boardwalk for a spectacular view of the region. Maritime supper.
Day 11: Blanc-Sablon / Battle Harbour (Labrador)
Breakfast. Enter into Labrador. Travel through the various coastal villages. Dine at 11:00am and transfer onto the M/V Iceberg Hunter (1 hour and 25 minutes) through the Strait of St.Lewis to Battle Island where we travel back in time 200 years in the historic village of Battle Harbour. Accommodations in one of the restored buildings. Supper included. A truly unique experience!
Day 12: Battle Harbour / Blanc-Sablon
Breakfast. Return by boat at 9:00am. Stop in Red Bay, situated 88 kilometres from Blanc Sablon. Here we find an interpretation centre, operated by Parks Canada, that pays tribute to this area which is recognized by Unesco as a world heritage site. From the XVI century, hundreds of whale hunters from France and Spain came here to hunt whales. Sleep and farewell supper in Blanc-Sablon.
$4,179 p/p double occ.
Includes:
- 2 or 3-star accomodations for 12 nights with private bathroom
- 36 meals: 12 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 12 suppers
- All of the vists indicated in the program (value of $487 p/p) including both cocktails
- The transfer of your vehicle from Natashquan to Sept-Iles
- The rental of a mid-size vehicle in Blanc-Sablon/Labrador
- All air travel from Natashquan to Harrington Harbour by seaplane, from Saint-Augustin to Blanc-Sablon and from Blanc-Sablon to Sept-Iles (value of $950 + tx)
- All maritime transfers
- The meetings with the "Coastliners" of Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Aguanish, Saint-Augustin, Tête-à-la-Baleine, Blanc-Sablon and Natashquan
- Membership to "The Friends of Coste" in support of this cooperative for a sustainable tourism environment ($20)
Not included:
- Airfare from Montreal or Quebec to Sept-Iles (Pascan Aviation)
- Car rental from Sept-Iles to Natashquan
Accommodations: (rooms with private bathroom except in Harrington Harbour and Tête-a-la-Baleine with ocean view where available)
Minimum of 4 passengers per departure.
© 2012 Voyages Coste
Coste is an travel agency holder of a licence of the office de la protection du consommateur of Quebec