Access to the region

Bus

You can take it easy during the trip as the bus gets you from major urban centres to AbitibiTémiscamingue, although it is slightly more expensive and slightly longer. Let it transport you, and prepare your best playlist or your favourite podcasts, or finally watch the best episodes of the Chambres en ville series. In AbitibiTémiscamingue, Autobus Maheux connects the region to the rest of the province, offering direct trips to Montreal or Gatineau, with stops in different municipalities along the way. Every day, two departures are available: one during the day, one overnight. To make the transport at night more comfortable, it is strongly recommended to bring a small blanket. Departures or arrivals in other cities or regions might require to do business with more than one transportation company. 

Bus transportation is also available between the region’s cities. Departures, however, are sometimes limited to one a day. Therefore, the stay has to be planned accordingly.

Carpooling 

Every day, several people travelling from AbitibiTémiscamingue to the rest of Québec (or vice versa) will generously let someone take the seat next to them. The website amigoexpress.com lists the offers from its members and ensures quality control, providing some assurance that transportation options are reliable and safe. There are also carpooling groups on social media for trips between major urban centres and AbitibiTémiscamingue, but the use of this tool is more informal. The bottom line, however, is that carpooling is one of the most affordable ways of travelling, which can lead to inspiring encounters, in addition to reducing your ecological footprint. 

Air Travel  

Air travel is the fastest, but also the most expensive, way to go to AbitibiTémiscamingue. However, it does not service the entire region. For instance, you can fly from Montreal to RouynNoranda or Vald’Or. It is important to note that airports are located on the outskirts of the urban centres and that you must arrange transportation (taxi, bus, or a benevolent acquaintance) to drive you downtown after the landing.

Cycling or Walking  

Why should you cycle the EuroVelo cycling routes or walk to Santiago de Compostela when you can simply walk or cycle through Réserve La Vérendrye and experience the discovery of AbitibiTémiscamingue? Sure, you do have to be physically fit, to bring mosquito repellent for the ride or the walk, to carry your tent and all that stuff. But why not? This might just be the challenge you need right now (hoping that it is not winter).

CrossCountry Skiing

All this snow has got to serve a purpose! With appropriate planning and proper equipment, a crosscountry skiing trip from RouynNoranda to Montreal (or vice versa) is perfectly achievable. A case in point is good old Guillaume Rivest, our outdoor recreation reference par excellence, who did just that last year! His adventures, well documented, might inspire a future adventurer!

Scooter, Pogo Stick and Other Eccentricities

The achievements of Guillaume Rivest are all very well, but can we think outside the box too? Revolutionary, affordable and ecofriendly means of transportation such as the scooter, the pogo stick or the crab walk are, in 2022, underutilized. Yet, what could be better than walking at heights, on stilts, through this good old La Vérendrye wildlife park, or than rolling on your longboard with your hair blowing in the wind? It is hard to imagine a more charming scenario. If you ever think about putting this into action, write to us, because we want to track your adventures closely.