Travel to Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec – Episode 946

Hear about travel to the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jennifer Doré Dallas from Chasing Poutine about this out of the way road trip.

Why should you go to Abitibi-Témiscamingue?

Jennifer says, “Most people don’t really know about it outside of Quebec. But in our province, it’s really well known, especially for nature. It’s a true paradise for nature lovers. It’s also historical, bringing us back to log driving and fur trading times. I’ll take you from gold mines to microbreweries to pristine lakes. Basically, you’re off the beaten path, and what I love about this region is that everybody thinks it’s remote, but it’s so accessible and it’s so easy to travel to.”

Jennifer recommends a one-week road trip itinerary to explore Abitibi-Témiscamingue, starting from Montreal and looping through five key regions (MRCs), each with its own blend of nature, history, Indigenous culture, and food. Here’s a breakdown of her recommended route:

Day-by-Day Itinerary for Abitibi-Témiscamingue Road Trip

Day 1 – Drive from Montreal to Val-d’Or (Gold Valley)

• Distance: ~6 hours from Montreal
• Highlights:
  • Cité de l’Or – Become a miner for a day; descend 91m underground
  • Bourlamaque – A living historic mining village
  • Geocaching activity at the mining site
  • Optional: Mine tour in Malartic (open-pit gold mine)
  • Rotary Tower – Sunset with a synchronized soundtrack
  • Craft beer, chocolate, and historical museum options

Day 2 – Val-d’Or to Amos

• Distance: ~1 hour
• Highlights:
  • Pure glacial water wells
  • Moment Factory multimedia experience on water and Anishinaabe culture
  • Pikogan – Visit if timing coincides with the June Pow-Wow
  • Refuge Pageau – Wildlife rehabilitation center (meet Chewbacca the porcupine)
  • Optional stay in cabins on-site at Refuge Pageau

Day 3 – Amos to La Sarre (Abitibi-Ouest)

• Distance: ~1 hour
• Highlights:
  • École du Rang II in Authier – Living history lesson in a 1950s schoolhouse
  • La Maison Turgeon – 1940s–60s home full of vintage objects
  • A quieter region, focus on local culture and history

Day 4 – La Sarre to Rouyn-Noranda

• Distance: ~1 hour
• Highlights:
  • Rouyn-Noranda Art Museum
  • Lake Osisko – Free bike rentals and lakeside trails
  • Dumulon General Store – Living history experience
  • Saint-Georges Russian Orthodox Church
  • Festival de musique émergente (FME) in late August
  • Top restaurants:
    • Restaurant deuxparquatre (2×4) for gourmet poutine
    • Le Saint-Exupéry for brunch

Day 5 – Rouyn-Noranda to National Parks

• Distance: ~45 mins to Aiguebelle National Park
• Highlights:
  • Aiguebelle National Park – Known for its moose population and billion-year-old rocks
  • Hike, canoe, or camp in rustic shelters or cabins

Day 6 – Rouyn-Noranda to Témiscamingue

• Distance: ~2 hours to Notre-Dame-du-Nord / Ville-Marie area
• Highlights:
  • Le rodéo du camion (truck rodeo) in Notre-Dame-du-Nord (if in season)
  • Foire Gourmande in Ville-Marie (food fest with regional tastings)
  • T.E. Draper Historic Tugboat
  • Reconstructed logger camp
  • Domaine DesDuc Winery – Located on an island
  • L’Éden Rouge – Farm-to-table dining
  • Fromage Au Village – Fresh cheese curds

Day 7 – Fort Témiscamingue & Opémican National Park

• Distance: Short drive from Ville-Marie
• Highlights:
  • Obadjiwan–Fort Témiscamingue National Historic Site
  • Opémican National Park – Canoeing, Indigenous heritage, and varied access zones
  • Great final day for nature immersion and history

Ending the Trip

• Loop back to Montreal, Ottawa, or head west into Ontario (e.g., North Bay, Toronto)

Tips from Jennifer

• Best time to visit: Late June to early September
• Bring bug spray (especially in June/July)
• Download offline maps due to spotty cell coverage
• Expect limited English in rural areas – learn a few French phrases or bring Google Translate on your phone
• Consider a Sépaq pass (~$10 CAD/day) for provincial parks

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Show Notes

Chasing Poutine | A Quebec Travel Guide
Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Val-d’Or
Cité de l’Or
Bourlamaque: Quebec’s living national historic site
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Amos
Pikogan
Pow-Wow de Pikogan
Refuge Pageau
Miellerie de la Grande Ourse
Le Labyrinthe des insectes
La Sarre
Rural school in Authier
10 places that tell our story | Abitibi-Témiscamingue
La Maison Turgeon
Réseau Muséal Abitibi-Témiscamingue
École du Rang II
Rouyn-Noranda
Rouyn-Noranda art museum
FME – Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue – Tourisme Rouyn-Noranda
Dumulon General Store
Saint-Georges Russian Orthodox Church
Restaurant deuxparquatre (2×4)
Restaurant Le Saint-Exupéry
Le rodéo du camion de Notre-Dame-du-Nord
Truck Rodeo is reborn in Lorrainville, remaining in Témiscamingue
Foire Gourmande
T.E Draper Historic Tugboat
Gatineau parks, trails and places to visit. – Quebec, Canada adventure travel
Domaine DesDuc Winery
L’Éden Rouge
Fromage Au Village
Fort Temiscamingue
Obadjiwan–Fort Témiscamingue National Historic Site
Discover our National Parks Through these Must-See Activities Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Aiguebelle National Park
Opémican National Park
What to do in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
7-Day Itineraries in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

Community

Comments on Travel to Victoria, British Columbia – Episode 945

Hi Chris,

I just finished listening to your podcast on Victoria, BC.  This episode was especially meaningful to me as I am a resident of Victoria.  I found your episode really interesting, and not unlike your other travel episodes, I learned something new.

I just wanted to write and tell you that I am a fan of your show, and I always look forward to listening to your podcast.

If you ever come back to Vancouver Island I would suggest you head up north to Tofino.  There are many other amazing places to visit on our Island.

Penny

Hi Chris,

Thanks for this podcast on Victoria. I really enjoyed it.

We were in Victoria last year, and I wanted to add a few things that people might want to do there.

The first is the Abkhazi Garden and Teahouse. We have been to the Butchart gardens several times and love it but this is a different type of garden. It is in a mostly residential neighborhood in Victoria and is much smaller, about an acre and a half, but very well done. A lovely selection of plants nicely arranged on a gentle hillside.

The teahouse experience is also lovely, a quieter and more intimate place than the Empress Hotel tearoom. The food and tea selection is very nice.

If you have a few days to explore more of Vancouver Island, I recommend staying in the small town of Duncan about halfway up the island. Nice town, good food and a great walking tour of many many totem poles that are distributed throughout the downtown area. Duncan is a good location to start a driving loop around the central part of the island, past Lake Cowichan, down the west coast to the town of Sooke and back up the east coast with a stop at Niagra Falls.

We really wanted to take to seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria but their luggage capacity is pretty limited so we ended up taking the ferry which turned out to be a very pleasant ride.

Cheers,

Bruce

Amateur Traveler Trips