Three winter days around Quebec City, from Valcartier to Île d'Orléans
Quebec City makes a good base for a short winter trip, with all six outings on our site within about an hour's drive. This plan fits them into three days and ends warm at the spa. Swap the days around to match the weather.
How the three days fit together
The outing most likely to move with the weather goes on day 1, so a new date can still land later in the trip. Valcartier fills the middle, and the snowmobile with the spa closes the plan.
| Day | Main outing | Second half | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Snowshoe day in Jacques-Cartier, or the ice canoe | Old Quebec on foot (after the canoe) | Bus included (snowshoe); canoe in the city |
| Day 2 | Snow tubing at Valcartier | Hôtel de Glace at dusk | Own car or taxi |
| Day 3 | Snowmobile on Île d'Orléans | Strøm Nordic Spa | Own car or taxi to the island |
Two of the days need your own transport, since neither the Valcartier tickets nor the snowmobile ride include it. Our guide to getting there compares a rental car with taxis.
Day 1: snowshoes in Jacques-Cartier or the ice canoe
The Quatre Natures snowshoe day leaves Quebec City at 9 am and reaches Jacques-Cartier National Park at about 10 am. The guided walk follows the Belleau Creek valley and the Sautauriski River from 10:30 am to 2 pm.
Lunch and a hot drink come in a heated tent, and you are back in town at about 4 pm. The snowshoe day from ~$121 covers the bus and guide as well as equipment and park admission. It holds 4.7 from 130+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
The catch is the group size, with up to 60 people on the bus. The day also needs fair weather and a minimum number of guests, which is one reason it sits at the start of the plan.
The alternative is the ice canoe, about 3 hours from 1131 Boulevard Champlain, roughly 15 minutes from the centre. You paddle open water and push the canoe across floes in crampons, and a Nordic sauna with a river view waits at the end.
The ice canoe from ~$207 is the priciest outing on our list and takes ages 12 and up. Our ice canoe guide covers the kit list and the 4-day cancellation rule.
If you take a morning canoe slot, the afternoon is free for Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its steep lanes and stairways suit a slow walk in the snow, with a café stop to thaw your hands.
Day 2: tubing first, the ice hotel at dusk
Village Vacances Valcartier sits about 20 minutes' drive north of the city. Start on the slides while everyone has energy, then move to the Hôtel de Glace as the daylight fades and its lighting takes over.
The tubing ticket from ~$33 and the ice hotel visit from ~$29 are sold separately on GetYourGuide. Both include parking but no food, so eat before you leave or bring snacks.
Many visitors spend one to two hours in the ice hotel, though nothing stops you lingering. Our Valcartier day guide has more on timing, and our ice hotel guide walks you through the rooms and the chapel.
Wear ski-style clothing all day, since the tubing listing asks for snow pants and goggles and the ice hotel stays below freezing inside. One outfit covers both halves of the day.
Day 3: snowmobile on Île d'Orléans, then the spa
Île d'Orléans lies in the St Lawrence just downstream of the city, reached by a single bridge. Quebec Ski-doo Adventures meets riders at 186 Côte Lafleur in Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, which the listing puts about an hour's drive from Quebec City.
The guided ride from ~$153 lasts 1.5 hours with two people per snowmobile, and holds 4.9 from 230+ reviews on GetYourGuide. Drivers must be 18 or over with a valid driving licence, and late arrivals lose their place.
The frozen Montmorency Falls sit close to the road out to the island. We do not list a tour there, but with a car they make an easy stop on the way back.
Then return to town for Strøm Nordic Spa Old Québec at 515 Boulevard Champlain, by the river a few steps from Old Quebec. No time slot is needed, so you can turn up whenever the ride ends.
Thaw out by the St Lawrence
Strøm's thermal experience from ~$70 covers entry plus a robe and towel as well as a locker and parking. It holds 4.8 from 1,100+ reviews on GetYourGuide, while Viator sells a fuller package at a higher price. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead on GetYourGuide.
The spa stays open in any weather. Its circuit has outdoor whirlpools and thermal and Nordic baths as well as Finnish saunas and a eucalyptus steam bath. Food and massages cost extra.
Guests must be 16 or older. Phones and cameras are restricted inside, so take your souvenir photos on the snowmobile and bring a swimsuit and sandals.
Getting around without a car
The snowshoe day picks you up in the city, the ice canoe starts about 15 minutes from the centre, and Strøm sits near Old Quebec. Those outings work fine without a car.
Valcartier and Île d'Orléans need a rental car or a taxi. Winter tires are required by law in Quebec in winter, and it gets dark from late afternoon, so drive out in daylight where you can.
With a taxi or ride-hailing, agree on the return trip before the driver leaves you. Finding a ride back from a rural base can take a while once the outing ends.
What the three days cost
Per person, the two Valcartier tickets (~$29 and ~$33) cost far less than any one guided outing. The snowmobile at ~$153 and the spa at ~$70 make up most of day 3.
Day 1 costs ~$121 for snowshoes or ~$207 for the canoe. Car rental or taxis come on top, as do meals. See our cost guide for all six prices side by side.
Travelling with children changes the plan, since the spa takes nobody under 16 and the ice canoe starts at 12. Our family guide lists every age limit.
The whole plan hangs on the ice hotel being open, roughly January to March. Pick your dates with our guide to when to visit the Quebec ice hotel.
Book the weather-sensitive outing first. If the snowshoe day or the ice canoe moves, either of the next two days can take the change, because Valcartier needs no guide or minimum group.