Self Guided Dates: You choose! Best times are mid-May (spring flowers, maple syrup)to mid-October (autumn leaves). Wildflowers are amazing mid-summer. The gently rolling, quiet country roads on the southern shore of the mighty Saint Lawrence River takes you to quaint Quebecois villages including 5 of the ‘25 Most Beautiful Villages in the Province.’ You will rest in truly unique places, from a lighthouse on Île Verte, to a cozy, wood-floored mansion set in beautiful gardens. In Trois Pistoles, when the fog rolls in from the river, the jazz bar is a favorite retreat, and your idiosyncratic inn will charm you with its rural flair. This is where, the locals say, you can meet the devil if you go to the cross on the night of the full moon. As you cycle along the St. Lawrence River banks, observing the shorebirds and wildlife, admiring the waterfront homes reminiscent of turn-of-the-century seaside resorts, and marveling at the traditional eel nets reaching out to sea, you might even catch a glimpse of passing whales. In the evening, you can enjoy the sun setting over the Charlevoix Mountains north of the river - rated by the National Geographic as one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Tour Highlights: Quebecois Cuisine – bakeries and delicious food throughout the tour. The island – Île Verte is always a hit. The scenery and the people are beautiful too. Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Quebec City - L'Islet. The tour starts with a late afternoon complimentary transfer (60 minutes) from the Quebec City Airport or Auberge Saint Antoine to L'Islet; gateway to Bas Saint Laurent. Introductions and bike familiarization will precede dinner. BLD (Meal inclusions provided for guided trips. Self-guided trips include breakfast only) Lodging: Auberge des Glacis, L'Islet. Day 2: L’Islet or La Pocatière to Kamouraska 50km/31 miles; 90km/50 miles advanced option Follow quiet country roads to St Pacôme, the first of several of Québec’s “25 Most Beautiful Villages” you will ride through this week. Follow the banks of the St. Lawrence, one of the biggest rivers in the world, to Kamouraska, famous for its medieval festival and the archipelago off its shores. The water retreats so far at low tide that some of the islands can be reached on foot. Try not to get caught by the rising tide, or you’ll spend the night alone! BL La Grande Voile; or La Villa Saint-Louis, Kamouraska Day 3: Kamouraska - Notre Dame du Portage (40km/25miles). Leave Kamouraska for some coastal and rural riding to St André. Stop for lunch at ‘les Battures Ecologiques’, and enjoy a spectacular view of the Laurentian Mountains. Follow the flow of the river to Notre Dame-du-Portage, another of ‘the Most Beautiful Villages in Quebec’, and the end of the great canoe portage between the St. Lawrence River and Acadia - the Maritime Provinces. BLD Lodging: Auberge du Portage or Le P’tit Paradis, Notre Dame du Portage. Day 4: Notre Dame du Portage - Île Verte (40km/25miles). Today’s ride takes you to Cacouna, another of the Beautiful Villages. It’s name derived from an Indian word for “land of the porcupine". Along the coast, you may catch sight of the whales frequently seen offshore. Better viewing is sometimes the reward as you cross the ferry to step back in time on Île Verte, an island of 45 inhabitants. You will stay in the oldest lighthouse keeper’s residence in the province. The island is renowned for its salt marsh lamb, raised by a resident non-profit co-op. The salt marsh gives the meat a distinctive flavor, unique but similar to that of lamb raised on the salt flats near Mont St. Michel in Brittany, France. BD Lodging: La Maison du Phare, or Gîte Au Chant du Coq, Île Verte. Day 5: Ile Verte to Trois Pistoles 55km/35miles + options Enjoy the peaceful roads of Ile Verte, then take the ferry back to the mainland and cycle to Trois-Pistoles, marked by the tall steeple of the enormous church of Notre Dame-des-Neiges. Cycle the green forest path to see waterfalls, and then follow the Trois Pistoles River back to the St. Lawrence. Stop at the government wharf to take in the view of Ile aux Basques, where Basque fishermen rendered whale fat long before Jacques Cartier arrived. BL Auberge le Bocage; or Le Gîte la Rose des Vents, Trois-Pistoles Day 6: Trois Pistoles to Le Bic 60km/38miles Inland exploration of The Basque Highlands followed by a stop to stock up on local specialties such as maple-based drinks. Enjoy the spectacular look off on your way to Saint Fabien, home to the wild falcons frequently seen flying from the cliffs. Then cycle to the village of Bic, and enjoy the miles of hiking/biking trails in Le Bic Provincial Park. Tonight dinner is included even on self-guided trips. BLD Le Mange Grenouille, Le Bic Day 7: Le Bic exploration, or optional trip to Reford Gardens, followed by a return to Quebec City by approximately 5:00 pm. Includes: B. Notes: Prices: 
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