Quebec’s Fins, Feathers & Fall Colours
September XX-XX 2027
This 7-day autumn expedition takes you to Québec’s wild North Shore, where the St. Lawrence River meets boreal forest at the height of fall. Timed for peak whale activity, migratory birds, and vibrant autumn colour, this journey explores one of eastern Canada’s most dynamic seasonal landscapes, with opportunities to photograph fin, minke, humpback, and blue whales alongside raptors and seabirds. Traveling between coastal viewpoints, zodiac excursions, and forested inland settings, we’ll immerse ourselves in a fleeting moment when ocean giants, migratory birds, and fall colour converge along Québec’s dramatic shorelines.
Untamed Landscapes
Québec’s North Shore is a little-known paradise for photographers, where rugged coastlines meet rolling hills, vast seascapes, and seemingly endless natural beauty. Exploring this region feels like stepping back in time, echoing the experience of early explorers as they first encountered North America’s wild edge. From the water to the mountains, we’ll uncover hidden corners of the landscape, moving slowly through the region and bathing each scene in the rich, fleeting light of autumn.
Epic wildlife
Revel in the presence of gentle giants as they glide through the St. Lawrence, the world’s largest estuary and home to the largest animal ever to have lived, the blue whale. From humpbacks to minkes, we’ll immerse ourselves in peak whale season while raptors, owls, and songbirds stream south overhead. The rugged Québec coastline becomes our canvas, where ocean and sky converge, offering rich opportunities to photograph wildlife behaviour, seasonal movement, and the raw beauty of autumn along the North Shore.
Custom Workshops
Our custom workshops are designed specifically around your skill level and passions. Whether it’s understanding your camera settings, mastering composition, or perfecting post-processing, you’ll elevate your photography in a personalized, hands-on environment crafted to help you grow. We focus on your creative goals—whether you’re hoping to tell a compelling story, capture wildlife behaviour, or simply return home with images you're proud of.
Trip details
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Total Cost is $9695CAD (+tax) per person. Due to permit limitations, we allow a maximum of 9 Guests with 2 photography guides.
A non-refundable deposit of $2500CAD (+tax) is due upon booking.
The remaining balance ($7,195 CAD + tax) is due 90 days before your departure date.
This expedition brings you to one of the most remote places on the planet, which leads to inherent costs. See What’s Included below.Given the nature of our seasonal business and the relatively small window of operation, cancellations within 90 days of departure are non refundable unless the dates in question are able to be filled. We will make every attempt to try and fill your spot in order to issue a full refund (minus a 10% transaction fee), but if unable we reserve the right to keep payment. Travel insurance is required.
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Night one is spent at the XX Hotel in Québec City, immersed in vibrant history and striking architecture; the perfect gateway to our autumn adventure.
The following two nights are at the historic Tadoussac Hotel. Perched above the St. Lawrence since 1864, this iconic wooden hotel—one of the oldest in Canada—has long served as a gateway to the whale-rich waters and storied landscapes of Québec’s North Shore.
As we move inland, we settle into a mountain residence near La Malbaie, tucked among glowing fall foliage—a quiet, restorative base surrounded by autumn colour.
Our final night returns us to the XX Hotel, where we’ll say au revoir, carrying home full memory cards and lasting impressions of Québec in autumn.
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Québec’s food scene is internationally celebrated for its European influences, and this journey is designed to savor it fully. Guests will enjoy standout local specialties, such as the refined dishes at Chez Mathilde, alongside simple field meals that keep us flexible and in the moment while photographing.
Later in the trip, we retreat to our private mountain residence, where a dedicated private chef beautifully crafts meals to match the setting.
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Accommodations: all accommodations including hotel stays and AirBnB.
Food: From the first welcome dinner until our very last night, all food is covered during our expedition.
Activities: Full days of wildlife viewing, including whale watching, bird viewing, and transportation.
Photography: Hands-on photography workshops and field sessions, led by guides with deep naturalist knowledge and years of on-the-ground experience in the region.
Permits: Applicable permits, park user fees, and First Nations protocol fees. -
Transportation to/from Quebec City, travel or cancellation insurance (required, see below for more information), accommodation and meals prior to welcome dinner on day one, alcohol at restaurants, or if you would like to extend your stay in the area. Guide and crew gratuities.
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Quebec City is easily accessible by plane, train, and car.
Plane: Jean Lesage International Airport, only 20 minutes from downtown.
Train: Gare du Palais station is conveniently located in the downtown areaCar: drive to XX hotel
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Prior to departure, passengers must have in place, comprehensive insurance coverage including medical and emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and interruption, and baggage insurance - this is at your expense; we will require proof of insurance. Any losses experienced because of incorrect travel planning or not securing adequate insurance will also be the full responsibility of the passenger.
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This is a soft-adventure expedition, designed to be accessible and unhurried, with minimal hiking and no little travel over strenuous terrain.
Québec’s North Shore is famously dynamic, and autumn weather can shift quickly. Cool temperatures, coastal winds, and changing ocean conditions mean that proper layers and waterproof gear are essential for comfort and safety throughout the trip.
Participants should be comfortable traveling together by shuttle bus between locations, with some longer driving days. Regular rest stops are built in, and travel time is treated as part of the experience, offering scenic views and opportunities to rest and review images.
To make the most of peak light and wildlife activity, select outings will take place in the early morning and late evening, when conditions are best for photography.
Accommodations include shared hotel rooms and a shared mountain residence, with shared bathrooms. Single supplements are available for hotel stays for those who prefer private accommodations.
Our 8-day sailboat expedition begins and ends in Prince Rupert, carrying us north along a remote stretch of British Columbia’s coastline into the heart of the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary—Canada’s first protected area dedicated specifically to grizzly bears. Established to safeguard one of the most significant coastal bear populations in the province, this vast wilderness offers exceptional opportunities to observe and photograph grizzlies as they graze on sedge meadows along the tidal flats.
Beyond the Khutzeymateen, we explore the outer northern islands, a rarely visited maze of rugged shorelines and exposed headlands. Here, we’ll step ashore to wander wild beaches, photograph wind-sculpted landscapes, and search for birds nesting among rocky outcrops. The ever-changing light, dramatic coastlines, and sense of true remoteness make this region a photographer’s dream. Traveling by sailboat gives us the flexibility to slow down, follow wildlife movements, and fully immerse ourselves in one of British Columbia’s most spectacular and untamed marine environments.
Where We’ll Go
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Prince Rupert! Our adventure begins with a group meet-up at our hotel in Prince Rupert. We'll kick off the journey with a Welcome Dinner, where we’ll share a few details of the exciting voyage ahead and get to know our fellow travellers.
Days 2-3: We board the Island Roamer and set off into the intricate waterways of Chatham Sound and beyond. As we weave through island-dotted channels, we’ll keep our cameras ready for seabirds, eagles, humpback whales, sea lions, and perhaps even a glimpse of the elusive coastal sea wolves. Your photography guides will offer tips on capturing motion, light, and storytelling while shooting. If conditions allow, we may explore a remote island on foot—taking in the smaller details of the coast: wildflowers, towering Sitka spruce, curious fungi, and intertidal life. We'll anchor in sheltered coves each night, the sounds of nature echoing off the rainforest-covered slopes.
Days 4-6: We arrive at the Khutzeymateen Inlet, anchoring the Island Roamer at the mouth of the estuary. Known for its lush sedge meadows, ancient forests, and mirror-like estuary waters, this remote region offers intimate and respectful bear viewing opportunities from zodiac boats. Over these days, we’ll have multiple chances to observe and photograph grizzlies grazing, digging for clams, or even interacting with one another. With your guides’ insight into animal behaviour and light conditions, you’ll refine your skills in anticipation, composition, and the art of capturing quiet moments in the wild. We begin our return journey on day 6, but the adventure is far from over.
Day 7: As we continue our journey of the outer islands, we’ll continue scanning the horizon for humpback whales and orcas, with cameras ready for any unexpected encounters. We’ll photography Green Island, home to a remote lighthouse still maintained by resident lightkeepers—a rare glimpse into life on the edge of the Pacific. If conditions allow, we’ll land on a nearby beach to explore tidepools, windswept trees, and rugged shorelines—capturing the textures and wild beauty that define this part of the coast.
Day 8: Our final morning includes a visit to a culturally significant Tsimshian site, home to the petroglyph known as "The Man Who Fell from Heaven." A local guide will join us to share traditional stories and cultural knowledge, deepening our connection to this place. We will return to Prince Rupert via the narrow Venn Passage by late morning.
Itinerary may vary slightly depending on external factors, but inclusions are the same.
