100% Nature in Quebec
DOG SLEDDING TREK, SNOWSHOES TREK, SKI //
This
program, which is as close as possible to nature, will delight purists. It's a
great breath of fresh air and an active immersion in Quebec in winter. You will
discover the wild environment of Lake Taureau thanks to the ancestral
techniques of polar explorers. You live two exceptional days during a dog
sledding raid in the middle of the boreal forest, you go for a day on skis and
learn orienteering techniques. Finally, it is during a two-day snowshoe trek this
time that you explore the region: the boreal forest will no longer hold any
secrets for you. It is an ideal and
environmentally friendly package.
Itinerary
-
Day 1 Arrival in Montreal
Welcome at the airport by a member of our team, and transfer to the Lac Taureau Regional Park, a wilderness area of Quebec. Installation at the inn. We offer you a dinner with local flavours on the first evening. The program of your week (order of activities) will be presented to you at that time.
- Transport : Minibus
- Duration: 2h30 (230km)
- Accommodation : Inn -
Days 2 to 3 Cross-country skiing and orientation
Journey of discovery easy for all despite some technical passages. The landscapes around Lac Taureau are splendid and very varied.
Today, wandering in the heart of the boreal forest, orientation initiation: you will lead the group one by one.- 4 to 6 h of activities
- Accommodation: Inn -
Days 4 to 5 Snowshoeing Trek
After a good breakfast, we will continue our raid through frozen lakes and the boreal forest. We will have lunch by the fire and then return to the inn at the end of the afternoon.
- 4 à 6 h of activities
- Accommodation:Inn -
Day 6 Dog sledding Trek
After your breakfast, you will leave for the mountainous paths in the surroundings. Still by dog sled, you will cross mountains and rivers in an ever more picturesque landscape, with no other noise than the whistling of the sled's skates on the snow. Lunch in the forest and return to the kennel at the end of the day. Transfer to Montreal at the end of the day.
- 4 to 6 h of activities
- Accommodation : Hotel
- Transport : bus to Montreal
- Duration: 2h30 (230km) -
Day 7 Journée vie en forêt - devenez trappeur le temps d'un instant
Nous parcourons aujourd'hui la forêt en raquettes ou à pied, à la découverte de la faune et de la flore variées du territoire canadien. Nos guides vous enseignent comment repérer et identifier les traces d'animaux dans la neige, construire des abris ou encore faire du feu. Si le temps n'est pas bon, nous aurons la possibilité de nous abriter sous une tente prospecteur. A l’origine utilisé par les indiens montagnais (peuple innu), cet habitat a été modifié et utilisé par les prospecteurs notamment au Canada. C’est pourquoi la tente est également appelée « tente canadienne ». Une belle journée riche en apprentissages !
-
Day 8 Montreal / Departure
You have a full day to discover Montreal. You can discover the view of the city from Mount Royal, visit old Montreal, discover the biodome and its real living museum or simply stroll down the streets of this cosmopolitan city. Flights back to France in the early evening.
You can now opt for a transfer to Quebec City by adding an extension to this stay (Ask your advisor). -
Day 9 Arrivée en France
Arrivée en France en matinée des souvenirs polaires plein la tête.
Dates & prices
Departures for French-speaking groups:
| From | To | Price per person | Guaranteed | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €2,595 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,595 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,595 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,595 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,595 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,745 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,945 | Yes | Book now! | ||
| €2,945 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,745 | No | Book now! | ||
| €2,595 | No | Book now! |
Trip code: UCAMA3
Included
- Welcome at the Montreal Airport by a member of our team
- On-site transfers
- Activities mentioned in the program
- Accommodation: 3 nights in a Hostel, 2 nights in a cabin and 1 night in a hotel in Montreal
- 15 meals
- Winter clothing rental against cold temperature for the week: wetsuit, boots, helmet and mittens. With a deposit that will be paid on the spot
- Applicable taxes
Not included
- Air transport (Available on request)
- Personal expenses
- Drinks (except for tea,coffee and for the meals included)
- Tips for the guide
International flights
On request, ask your advisor at canada@altaibasecamp.com
Terms and conditions
Booking conditions
By registering for one of our travel, the customer bindingly accepts the General Terms and Conditions of Sale. Each customer must complete a registration form. The booking is definitively recorded when the customer has settled the payment of a deposit of 30 % of the total travel price (subject to availability at the time of registration). In case of short term bookings – within 30 days prior to the travel departure – the full travel price is due immediately. Payments can be settled via bank transfer (SWIFT code/IBAN number) or online, directly from our website (soon available). You will receive an email with a booking confirmation as quickly as possible
Invoice procedure
Once your booking is registered, we send you an email with the invoice. Full payment is required at least 30 days before your arrival. If the customer does not settle the payment of the travel price within the period agreed upon, Altaï Canada reserves the right to cancel the booking free of charge.
Cancellation policy
If for any reason, you decide to withdraw from a journey, the amount already paid will be refunded subject to the following exceptions:
- Cancellation up to 45 days prior to the agreed beginning of the journey: You will be charged 20 % of the travel price, in addition with every non-refundable expense for additional services booked on request (internal flights, site entrance tickets, activities…)
- Cancellation between the 44th and 15th day prior to the agreed beginning of the journey: You will be charged 50 % of the travel price, in addition with every non-refundable expense for additional services booked on request (internal flights, site entrance tickets, activities…)
- Cancellation less than 14 days to the agreed beginning of the journey: You will be charged 100 % of the travel price, in addition with every non-refundable expense for additional services booked on request (internal flights, site entrance tickets, activities…)
Any cancellation shall be notified in writing (email, letter or fax). Notice of cancellation will be effective upon receipt by us of your written communication.
If it comes apparent at an earlier point in time that the minimum number of participants cannot be reached for a travel, Altaï Canada is to exercise his right of withdrawal immediately. In such a situation, you will be informed of the cancellation of your travel no later than 21 days prior to the agreed beginning of the journey. Altaï Canada can also cancel a travel in case of circumstances amounting to "force majeure": volcanic eruption, civil disturbances, strikes, weather and climate conditions, travellers’ security… In such cases, you are immediately refunded any payments on the travel price; however, you shall not be entitled to any compensation.
Changes to travel contract
If a change to travel contract is made at the customer’s request, any fee that might arise from this change shall be paid by the customer. In any cases, every request for changes shall be notified in writing. In case of external events that could not be foreseen, Altaï Canada might change some aspects of the travel contract. We will endeavour to advise you of any changes as quickly as possible.
Pricing
All group travel prices on our website have been calculated for the indicated number of participants for each trip. The price list is confirmed after the booking. If the number of participants is lower than expected, an additional payment charge might be applied. For each travel and program, we mention the price per person – valid for the minimum number of participants – and we provide you with detailed explanations about the services included or not. Any change in the exchange rates or in the price of travel services in particular regarding the cost of the fuel, might entail price revision.
Contract transfer
In case of transfer of the contract by the customer to an assignee, modification and cancellation conditions apply.
Insurance
On request, ask your advisor at canada@altaibasecamp.com
Practical info
Staff
Supervision by a guide specialist in the Canadian environment.
Food
We will usually have a picnic for lunch (Your guide will introduce you to survival in the forest and every noon, you will light a fire in the snow with branches of spruce and birch bark to cook your grill). In the morning we offer a buffet-style breakfast and in the evening, a hot meal is prepared with products purchased on site. Cooking equipment are provided. Your help will be welcome when preparing meals.
Accommodation
- 1 night in a hotel with breakfast based (double or triple room) in Montreal.
- 3 nights at the hostel (our hostel is secluded far from any civilization for a unique experience with all the comforts you will need). Electricity, heating.
- 2 nights in a rustic cabin (standard comfort, collective sleeping, wood stove and dry toilets). No electricity.
Transportation
Transfers by bus from Montreal to the Base Camp.
Budget & exchange
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere. You can also change euros. 1 Euro = CAN $ 1.50 to 11/04/2019
Tips
In the United States and Canada, service is never
included in the prices. In bars, restaurants and all places where a service is
provided, you are expected to leave a tip between 15 and 20% of the total
amount. Many employees in service
occupations only pay themselves with tips. It would be very wrong to not give
tips, or not give enough. Even
when paying by credit card, you will indicate the amount of the tip you wish to give. On this type of trip, it is usual to leave 6$ per person per day for the
driver guide and 20$ per group for the city guides.
Supplied equipment
Equipment included in the tours for the whole week:
winter boots (Sorel type), jacket for extreme cold, over-mittens.
For the snowmobile
activity: helmet.
When
you make your reservation, you will be asked for your height, shoe size and
weight in order to reserve the appropriate equipment in advance.
Vital equipment
From head to toe
- A pair of warm shoes or a pair of padded boots
- Slippers or light sneakers for the chalet
- Pair of wool socks
- Anorak
- Warm trousers
- Warm sweaters or fleece furs
- Underwear made of fine technical fibres
- Swimsuit
- Gloves, hat, scarf (depending on the season)
Material
- Toilet bag
- Pair of sunglasses
- Sun protection cream (face and lip)
- Pocket knife
- Flashlight or front light with spare batteries
- 1.5 litre minimum flask, light and isothermal.
You can also provide a 2-litre water bag. The latter has the advantage of allowing direct consumption thanks to its pipette. So you don't have to drop the backpack to grab the flask. This way you drink more regularly and in small quantities, which is recommended for a good hydration. Tip: having two containers allows you to consume one while the other is being processed.
Luggage
Your entire luggage must be divided into 2 bags:
1- A travel bag or suitcase (maximum 20kg in the hold)
2- A backpack (25/30 L capacity) for your daily belongings
Plan a flexible travel bag with
side zipper for easy access to its contents. During
the trip, it will contain the things you will not use during the day. A small
backpack (capacity about 40L) for your things of the day sweater, spare tee
shirt, gourd, glasses, lunch picnic etc. In case your checked baggage is delayed, please bring
something in the cabin suitcase to survive the first few days (toothbrush,
T-shirt, walking shoes, etc.).
Passport
Consular formalities for
Europeans and Swiss nationals:
Upon your registration,
please transmit your passport information (name, first name, passport number,
date of issues and expiration). Currently, to stay as a tourist for less than
six months, a visa is not mandatory and a valid passport is sufficient with a
validity exceeding by one day your stay in Canada.
Travelers must imperatively
have an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. You will have to
fill the form online and individually (one application per person) on http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/ave.aspIt is essential that you
have a valid email address. The 7 CAD fees are payable by Visa, Mastercard or
American Express credit cards. The eTA is granted in just a few minutes but we
advise you to apply for it as soon as your trip is confirmed. The eTA is an
electronic document linked to your passport and stays valid for 5 years or
until the expiration of the passport, depending on the first of these
eventualities to occur. You must then travel with the passport used to apply
for it.
CAREFUL: for French women, the eTA must be filled with your maiden name.
Hence, to facilitate the check-in at the airport, we ask travelers in Canada to
indicate their maiden name for the booking of their tickets.
You
travel with children:
Children and adults are
submitted to the same obligations regarding passports and visa described above.
Registration of minors on parents’ passports is now impossible; children must
hold an individual passport. It is compulsory to apply for an eTA for each
child individually.
CAREFUL,
from January 15th 2017 onwards, for all French minors traveling
abroad alone, an authorization to leave the country is compulsory.
The child will have to
submit the three following documents:
- The minor’s valid
passport
- A photocopy of the
signatory’s identity card, valid or expired for less than 5 years and the birth
certificate
- The form, signed by one
of the legal guardians, available online on https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1359
Concerning other
nationalities, seek the Canadian consular authority of your country.
ARRIVAL IN
CANADA VIA A TRANSIT THROUGH THE UNITED STATES :
CAREFUL, we can
exceptionally use American airlines for travels bound for the American
continent (North and South).
They stop over in the US:
you must possess an electronic or biometric passport which is still valid 6
months after your departure from the US (under ‘’passport’’, a rectangle under
a circle meaning a secure symbol).
You must also apply for an
electronic travel authorization (ESTA) on the official website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Valid for a duration of two years or until the
expiration of the passport, this authorization must be requested at the latest
72h before your departure: we advise you to apply to it as soon as your trip is
confirmed. It has to be paid for (14 USD online by credit card). The name you
put on the form must be the same as the one that figures on your plane tickets
and must of course appears on your passport. If the name used on the ESTA form
is different from the one on your tickets, the airline can deny your boarding.
Minors must also fill out an ESTA authorization.
The Visa Waiver Program
allows French nationals to enter the American territory without a visa, either
via transit or for a stay of 90 days to the maximum. A visa is nevertheless
necessary if you only have an emergency passport. Furthermore, travelers who
went to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen or Soudan since March 11th
2011 and people who are national of Iran, Iraq, Syria or Soudan cannot benefit
from the Visa Waiver program anymore: more information on http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/etats-unis/
ARRIVAL
IN THE US OR TRANSIT THROUGHT THE US :
Upon your arrival, the
immigration service will take your photo and fingerprints. You’ll have to wait
behind the yellow line and not cross it unless you’re told to, it can take some
time. Customs controls will take place at the first access point to the territory
(in case of a transit through a Canadian airport, it will be considered as a
first access point to the US and the following process must be applied). Once
you’ve been through the immigration service, you’ll get your luggage back from
the conveyer belt and go to the customs. In case of a continuation of your
trip, you’ll have to get your luggage back and bring them the baggage conveyer
which serves.
Health information & recommendations
Pharmacy :
It is suggested
that participants bring their own medication:
- Aspirin
- Intestinal antiseptic
- Small scissors
- Tricosteril
- Sun protection cream for face and lips
- Mosquito repellent cream or lotion
Also think of your feet : elastoplast, eosin
etc.
Recommendations : No vaccination required.
Hygiene : Tap water is safe to drink.
Weather
In Quebec, in
summer, weather conditions are very changing and unpredictable and have a
considerable influence on the level of the circuits. On average, in winter, the
temperature is -10 degrees and -19 degrees at night. A trip indicated
as easy will therefore require more effort if the appropriate weather
conditions are not met. You must be ready to face the snow, the wind and even
the blazing sun... Some activity may change due to conditions and lack of snow.Spirit of the trip: This trip is participatory: your help will be
requested to load and unload the equipment necessary for the smooth running of
the trip as well as for its cleaning; on itinerant tours, you must regularly
set up and dismantle the camp. All this will not take much
time on your entire journey, your guide knows the circuit well, but your
involvement helps to create a climate of mutual support and establish links
between you and your guide, for a friendly and peaceful atmosphere.
For more information:
https://www.meteomedia.com/ca
Electricity
As everywhere in the US, voltage runs at 110 Volts/60 cycles. New electric devices can be adapted o the current. It’s preferable to check whether or not your device is equipped with a current transformer. In general, it is a black box located between the electric plug and your device. If your device isn’t compatible with the 110-volt current, you’ll need to get a current transformer sold separately. As electrical plugs are flat, you’ll also need an adaptor to plug your device in. you’ll find it easily on the spot or before departure in a shop specialized in travels. A waterproof Zip Lock bag is a good way to keep your equipment in a dry place.
Sustainable tourism
Since the outset, Altai
works for an eco-tourism and an organization of trips that respects equitable
and sustainable principles.
The harmonization of
practices assures:
- A fair economical repartition
- The improvement of local teams’ working conditions and their awareness of the protection of the environment
- The information of travelers about respecting the local population and environment and the collection of their feelings at their return.
You can also act in favor
of an eco-tourism by adopting simple green gestures during your trips:
- Avoid letting waste out, throw it in the trash can or bring it with you
- Use potable water sparingly (take a shower instead of a bath and report any leaks) and avoid wasting it (use biodegradable soap to wash yourself)
- Avoid damaging cultural sites: don’t touch the statues, don’t move the stones and objects
- Exchange instead of giving (too Important gifts can destabilize the local economic stability of the country depending on their living standards)
- When taking a walk, especially in some fragile ecosystems, observe the fauna from afar, do not go beyond beaten roads, limit stamping and do not bring any souvenirs: give up picking rare flowers picking fossils...
- In some hotels, you can have individual air conditioning. It is advised to systematically switching it off when you’re out of the room to avoid energetical overconsumption and greenhouse gas emission.
My local agent
Max
- Passionate about the great outdoors
- Sportsman
- Like to discover new cultures
- Always looking for new challenges
- Region
- Eastern Canada
- Activity
- Nature - Adventure Winter Winter multi-activities
- Duration
- 9 days
- Group
- 2 to 10 people
- Code
- UCAMA3
- Price
- From €2,595
- Level
- 3/5
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Language(s)
- French