My itinerary for a 5-day family road trip all along the Fjord in Saguenay!

If you’re planning your next vacation and wondering what the must-see spots are in Saguenay, or what to do and see around the Fjord with kids, you’re in the right place. This week, I’m taking you to explore the absolutely magnificent Saguenay region, with its majestic Fjord that’ll make you feel like you’re travelling to the ends of the earth!

Saguenay is a dream destination for a family road trip. Between charming inns, cozy hotels, and log cabins, they all offer a total escape right by the fjord.

In this 5-day itinerary, get ready to come face to face with black bears, sail the waters of the Fjord, savour the local cuisine, and play on endless beaches — not to mention my ultimate favourite; you know, a place that feels like summer camp for the kids AS MUCH as the parents (I’ll tell you all about it at the end!!).

Day 1: Meeting the black bears at Bec-Scie, a hotel with a panoramic view of the Fjord, and a boreal dinner at Battures – Hôtel Fjord Saguenay

A magical encounter with the black bear, a hike, and a canoe ride

Your getaway starts off strong at Centre Plein Air Bec-Scie. Get ready to experience a magical family moment: if luck is on your side like it was for us (because the bears roam free) you’ll get to observe black bears in their natural habitat. The experience was simply incredible for us: we had the amazing luck of seeing a mama bear with her three little baby cubs! Our guide was truly passionate — a biologist by training, a forest guide, and a survival expert. Thanks to him, we got a wealth of captivating explanations about the surrounding nature, his life experiences, and bear behaviour.

• The waterfall hike: The activity also includes a lovely forest walk (a short, accessible trek of 2 km max) to go admire the waterfall of the magnificent Rivière-à-Mars that runs through the outdoor centre. It’s a salmon river offering spectacular viewpoints and superb trails.
• The excursion on the water: During the activity, the guide also takes us out to the lake for a canoe ride. It’s a super relaxing moment where you soak up fascinating information about the boreal environment.
• Green transportation: The trip up to the lookout is done either by electric vehicle to limit greenhouse gas emissions when possible, or by bus at other times. Don’t forget to arrive 15 to 30 minutes early with good closed-toe shoes, water, sunscreen on, and dressed for the season.

Battures – Hôtel Fjord Saguenay

For accommodations, we stayed at Battures – Hôtel Fjord Saguenay. It’s a refined, charming hotel, with comfortable beds and cozy bathrooms. Its greatest strength? It offers a 180-degree panoramic view of the Saguenay fjord that takes your breath away!
Our room looked out directly over the water. The site offers a large parking area and a little outdoor fire pit spot, perfect for lounging and grilling s’mores in front of the bay. Feel like walking along the shore? You just have to cross the road to find yourself with your feet in the Baie des Ha! Ha! An incredible checkpoint!

A gourmet boreal dinner (without getting back on the road!)

It’s really pleasant and convenient that dinner and the overnight stay are in the same place, because it lets you relax more and avoid getting back on the road after a big day.

So we have dinner right on site at the inn’s restaurant, « Resto des Battures». The chef offers delicious cuisine inspired by the boreal zone. The customer service is impeccable, from the welcome all the way to the tables.

We treated ourselves to an excellent beef tartare, an ultra-juicy wagyu burger, and flavourful seafood pasta. A flawless boreal experience!

Day 2: A gourmet breakfast, the Musée du Fjord, and off to L’Anse-Saint-Jean

Breakfast with a view at « Resto des Battures»

We start the day off on the right foot with breakfast right at the hotel. It’s the same restaurant as the night before, so we get the same incredible panoramic view of the fjord, service that’s just as attentive, and delicious food. The kids loved their plate of French toast served with real maple syrup, whipped cream, and fresh fruit. A real treat to give the whole gang some energy before getting back on the road!

An interactive visit to the Musée du Fjord

After fuelling up on energy, we head to the Musée du Fjord for an indoor activity for kids in Saguenay that’s nice and simple. It’s a great half-day outing to plan: in an hour and a half or two hours max, you have plenty of time to see it all. It’s thorough, but not overloaded, which means you get to see everything without wearing the kids out. The museum is very interactive, and we loved the lively explanations given by the guides who are there on the floor to answer all your questions.

The scenic drive to L’Anse-Saint-Jean

We then hit the road toward L’Anse-Saint-Jean. The drive between Saguenay and the village is truly magnificent, taking us through breathtaking green valleys. It was my second time going, and the charm worked its magic all over again!

A Breton lunch at Café du Quai

For lunch, settle in at Café du Quai, which — once again — offers a stunning view of the fjord. You can enjoy delicious Breton crêpes there, the house specialty.

• Don’t miss the charming little shop Rebelles des Bois located just below Café du Quai — it’s really worth the detour!

A cruise on the waters of the fjord

We then board a 2-hour-45-minute cruise with Navettes Maritimes du Fjord to sail at the foot of Cap Éternité and Cap Trinité.

• My mom tips for the boat: Arm yourself with water, snacks, sunscreen, small games for the kids, and a cap. On our end, we boarded one of the enclosed sightseeing boats. Since there’s little room outside to stay cool, it can get hot inside on a (too) sunny, beautiful day. Dress according to the weather!
• My honest opinion: Last year, I did the same cruise and we had commentary the whole way through, and the boat was bigger. This year, on our end, there was no commentary on board, which I found a little less engaging for the kids. It’s still one of the best ways to see the capes from the water!
• The sweet stop: Getting off the cruise, we find the village creamery, La Cabane à Glaces, where we had a nice ice cream before getting back on the road.

Days 3-4-5: My favourite part of this road trip in the Saguenay Fjord: Village-Vacances Petit-Saguenay (VIVA)

Perched on a hill facing the fjord, Village-Vacances Petit-Saguenay is a genuine parent-and-kid summer camp that’s been around for 40 years!

It’s a favourite discovery here and the perfect spot to unplug in the forest in a log cabin or while camping, play on the immense beach facing the Fjord, and live to the rhythm of the tides.

The concept of Village-Vacances Petit-Saguenay is magical: a summer camp schedule is available to everyone (parents AND kids), counsellors organize activities for the kids, for the teens, parent-and-kid moments, as well as activities for the parents (!! Yes, summer camp activities for the parents while the kids are also in activities) and, best of all 😉, time slots where the kids have fun while the parents get a break.

You can then take the chance to relax, go hiking, biking, hit the pool, the beach, play volleyball, or even work (why not!). In short, a summer camp where the parent is included in the picture!

In summer, stays are booked for 2 nights or more. You can choose the all-inclusive package (breakfast and dinner provided at the cafeteria) so you can really relax, and you can also cook in your cabin, which is fully equipped for that.

Psst… they even offer promos and adjusted, advantageous rates for single parents!

In short, a too-well-kept secret that I’ve made it my mission to help more people discover — add it to your next family vacation.

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