The Best of Saguenay

Duration: 4 hours

Tour Code: sag-001

Discover the unique qualities of the land and people around Saguenay by visiting several unusual museums devoted to the Saguenay Fjord, soap making and paper pulping.

Departing from the pier, you will immediately be struck by the natural beauty surrounding Saguenay, which sprawls along the Saguenay River, a tributary of the mighty St. Lawrence. Its fjord, deeply chiseled in the Laurentian Mountains, is one of the world's largest and was discovered by French explorer Jacques Cartier in the mid 1530s. Marine life thrives here, including Beluga whales, Minke whales and Greenland sharks.

Arriving at the Fjord Museum, you will discover how the waterway was formed, its importance to the province, and why the museum's strange Ha! Ha! Pyramid monument was created out of more than 3,000 traffic yield signs. Later, you'll walk across the street to the Olivier Soapery, a one-of-a-kind museum devoted to the art and evolution of soap making.

Then, it's on to the Chicoutimi Pulp Mill, a beautiful natural stone mill that has become a museum. Inside, you'll find the Arthur Villeneuve House, which the former owner, a local barber, painted with primitive scenes and figures. Interestingly, including the house in the museum caused a controversy among those who thought it was an eyesore, not art. Finally, you'll visit Le Chevrier du Nord, a farm that raises angora goats for mohair clothing. It's quite the enterprise and a memorable end to your tour before driving back to the pier.

Please note: This tour includes approximately 2-hours of moderate walking/standing. There will be various gradients and surfaces to negotiate, including dirt/gravel paths at Mount Battie. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who have a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the coach and have an able-bodied companion to assist them. There is limited accessibility at the goat farm and a flight of stairs at the Olivier Soapery. Scooters under 60 lbs. are permitted. Those with mobility concerns are cautioned to carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. A light sweater or jacket and flat, comfortable walking shoes are suggested. The tour sequence may vary.