Traveler's guide
Event package
Travel documents
TWO WEEKS before the event you have registered for, you will receive the following documents by mail:
- The trail booklet, including daily route maps and a web link for all the latest event information;
- Two numbered wristbands: one marked MEAL, the other BAGAGE;
- A green wristband for participants requesting vegetarian meals;
- A white wristband for participants who have requested gluten-free meals;
- If you have rented a tent, you will receive a luggage tag bearing the number of the tent allocated to you;
ONE WEEK before the start of the event, you will receive by e-mail :
- GPX data of your route and last-minute details;
- The link to the newspaper Le déchaîné or Le petit déchainé with all the information about the event.
If you have booked the Under the Duvet package at the Grand Tour, you will receive the following on the FIRST DAY of the event:
- A numbered bracelet bearing the inscription REPAS;
- A luggage tag listing the hotels where you will be staying;
- Contact details for the hotels where you will be staying;
- More information day by day.
If you have booked the Day Tour at the Grand Tour, you will receive information on how to get to the starting point by e-mail, one week before the event. On the morning of the event, go to the INFO booth to pick up your wristband for the day.
Day-to-day operations
Your bracelet: your vacation passport
To obtain all the services offered as part of the Vélo Québec travel-events, each participant must wear his or her wristband at all times and ensure that the wristband on his or her luggage is securely fastened. No bracelet, no services.
A typical day
At La Petite Aventure and Le Grand Tour, you're on vacation and can make the most of your day.
The support team is on the road as early as 6:30 a.m., so you can set off at your own pace and at a time that suits you. Please note, however, that if you set off outside the suggested times, we cannot guarantee our assistance in the event of a problem.
Meals are planned according to the number of participants enrolled, and meal times are sufficiently extended to spread out the traffic. Don't worry, you'll always find enough to fill you up if you arrive at the lunch stop at 1:30 p.m., or if you'd like to have dinner at 8 p.m.
A typical day
- 6:30 to 9 a.m.: Breakfast
- 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Departure
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Lunch at the drop-in centre
- 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Arrival at the stage town (until 6 p.m. at the Grand Tour)
- 5 to 9 p.m.: Dinner in the Village
- 1 to 10:30 p.m.: Bistro, activities and entertainment in the Village
Luggage
Information and weight limits
Vélo Québec Voyages will transport your luggage from one stopover to the next. We accept only one piece of luggage per person, including camping gear. We advise you to opt for waterproof luggage, which will protect your belongings from water in the event of rain, as luggage is stored outside. For the sake of your back and that of our baggage handlers, please ensure that the weight of your luggage complies with the following guidelines:
- 22 kg for the Sous les étoiles package
- 15 kg for the Under the Duvet package (Grand Tour only)
On the Grand Tour, you will be required to submit your luggage to a compulsory weight check at the time of departure, before boarding the trucks. Any excess weight must be returned to your vehicle. This weight limit must be respected throughout the trip.
At La Petite Aventure, it's just as important to respect this limit, although there will be no systematic weighing at the time of departure. However, we reserve the right to refuse any luggage that exceeds the acceptable limits. At La Petite Aventure, it's important to remember that all family members, including children of all ages, are entitled to one piece of luggage. That's why it's possible to divide up the equipment and balance the weight of each piece of luggage.
We invite you to consult the Practical information ↓ section for tips and advice on preparing your trip and your luggage.
Luggage transport schedule
We transport your luggage from one stage town to the next. You can pick up your belongings when you arrive at the Village, every day from 1 p.m. onwards.
From 6 a.m. on the mornings we change Village, after dismantling your tent and packing your bag, you must drop it off at one of the numbered trucks.
Valet service (subject to change)
To transport your bag from the parking areas to the start/finish site, or from the camping areas to the baggage trucks, local sports teams or organizations offer a valet service at a cost of $2 per bag. The money raised helps fund their activities.
Meals
Most meals are included in our Under the Stars packages. Please refer to the package purchased for details of the various inclusions. While lunch is served at the lunch stop, breakfast and dinner are always served at the Village.
Lunch stop
Unless otherwise indicated, lunch is served only at the lunch stop, whose location is clearly marked and indicated on the route maps. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until the last cyclists arrive). Please note that cyclists who arrive before the lunch stop opens cannot get their lunch at any time.
Toilets, first-aid, water and a mechanical breakdown service are all available at the lunch stop. Access to the rest area and the services offered there are for the exclusive use of registered event participants.
Massage therapy
After a good day's cycling, think about relaxing by reserving your place for a 30 or 55-minute massage. You must reserve your place at the start site or directly in each Village, at the massage therapy room. Fees apply.
Bicycle and property safety
Although the Village is under surveillance throughout the night, we strongly recommend that you lock your bicycle at all times. Tie two or three bikes together near your tent, or to a fence when one is available. For obvious reasons of peace and quiet, we do not allow the use of bike alarms in the Village. Remember, you are always responsible for your belongings during the event.
Visitors and recreational vehicles
It's not possible for visitors, either motorized or cyclists, to follow you on the road or at the lunch stop. You can, however, welcome them for a few hours at the Village, where they can accompany you to the Bistro only. However, we cannot allow them to camp on site, nor can we offer them dinner, as this service is reserved exclusively for registered event participants.
Le Village
La Petite Aventure and Le Grand Tour are a veritable village on wheels, which we assemble and disassemble every day (except when we sleep in the same place two nights). The Village is your campsite, your starting point and your destination all in one. At the Village, you have access to a wide range of services: bike repair, first aid, massage therapy (for a fee), etc.
Activities at the Village include a cinema, yoga sessions, local specialties and snacks. There's plenty to do every day, too. In addition to La Petite Aventure , there's a wide range of entertainment and activities for children of all ages. To find out what's on, check out the digital newsletter Le déchaîné.
Tourist information kiosk
To find out more about what's on, what's on and what's available, visit the information kiosk in each Village.
At the tourist kiosk, you can obtain information about the stopover town and its attractions (beaches, parks, restaurants, museums, historic sites, outdoor activities, etc.). Be sure to stop by to learn about all the surprises and little extras our hosts have in store for you, and to sign up for any activities on offer.
Mechanical kiosk
During events, we work in tandem with a team of experienced mechanics. Every day in the Village, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. (7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at La Petite Aventure) and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., they can remedy minor problems (free of charge, except for parts) or major ones (charges apply for labour and parts). Tires can also be inflated at the mechanics' booth.
Le Déchaîné
Le Déchaîné is the official digital newspaper of the Grand Tour, while you'll find Le Petit Déchaîné at the Petite Aventure. Published a week before your event and updated right up to the start, it includes the latest news on the route (changes or places not to be missed), activities and the evening menu in the Village.
Bistro and wine bar
From 1pm onwards, the Bistro is the meeting place for travellers. Discuss the day's adventures and relax with a drink. The stage also comes alive in the evening to the sound of live bands and DJs. In the dining room, you can enjoy the fine selection of products on offer at the wine counter every day.
Campsite
Sections are clearly identified for early risers (before 7 a.m.) and late risers (after 7 a.m.). La Petite Aventure also has a "family" section. Whichever section you camp in, whispering is the order of the day between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Rental tents are set up and grouped together in a single location in the camping area.
We also reserve a small section of the campsite for our employees, cycling coaches and volunteers. Most of them stay up late and wake up when the rooster crows. Finally, we remind you that recreational vehicles are not allowed on the Village grounds.
Toilets and showers
You have access to showers and toilets in the establishments where the Village is set up, as well as to 2 Festidouches - shower trailer trucks accessible daily on the Village site. Portable toilets are also available in camping areas.
On the road
You're on the road network, and the roads are not closed to motorized traffic. So be careful!
Road Safety Code
As a road user, you are subject to the Highway Safety Code. You must :
- Respect road signs (traffic lights, stops, etc.)
- Drive on the right-hand side of the road, in the direction of traffic
- Queueing
- Equip your bike with mandatory reflectors
- Have an active lighting system (white light at the front, red at the rear) if you plan to ride at night.
We've noticed that some cyclists are making themselves at home on the road and mobilizing the carriageway by riding 3 or 4 wide. This complicates the work of our escort vehicles and is detrimental to everyone's safety. Not to mention that it doesn't put the police authorities on our side. Thank you for thinking about this. Please also watch out for cyclists going slower than you.
If you're bringing your kids to La Petite Aventure, introduce them to the basics of bike safety and insist that they ride close to you.
Signs and optional routes
Traffic signs
The route is signposted to make it easy for you to find your way. Our signs announce the lunch stop. Some indicate restrooms and water points. It's also worth mentioning that all support vehicles on the route always have water on board. Don't hesitate to flag them down if you need to.
Last-minute detour may occur, due to unforeseen roadworks or poor road conditions. In such cases, we will inform you with signs bearing the word DETOUR.
Optional courses
Each day, you can do more by following optional routes. These routes allow you to see magnificent sites or panoramas, but they imply a longer route or a higher level of effort. They are for cyclists who really want more. Be aware that they are only signposted at bends, and that patrols are less frequent. Using the maps in your logbook or your route on the Ride with GPS app, however, you should easily find your way.
Civility and courtesy on the road
Every year, many municipalities and their residents welcome us along our routes with warmth and enthusiasm. To leave them with a good impression, we ask you to be civic-minded and courteous on the road at all times. A pretty apple tree, a shady flowerbed or a garden hose are always tempting, but they certainly belong to someone else. Please respect private property.
Need help?
Need a hand? Thumbs down!
If you need help, just give us a thumbs-down. Organization-identified vehicles and certified cycling coaches - recognizable by the red pennant attached to their bikes - are present all along the route. Our vehicles are linked by communication systems and we can intervene promptly to provide assistance.
If you can't make it through the day, you can take a seat in a support vehicle with your bike. Don't hesitate to use it in case of a serious problem.
Children who give up on the course
In the event of abandonment on the course, a child under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent in the support vehicle.
Vélo Québec certified cycling coaches
Vélo Québec's certified cycling coaches are travelers selected for their recognized skills in first aid, bicycle mechanics and road cycling coaching. Through their commitment, they combine a sense of helping others with the pleasure of traveling.
IMPORTANT: Insurance coverage
It is your responsibility to arrange adequate insurance coverage for your luggage, bicycle and cancellation insurance. Vélo Québec Voyages assumes no responsibility for loss, theft or damage to your luggage or personal effects (including your bike) during your entire trip, including transportation of your bike by our services, if applicable. Note that many home insurance companies cover property damaged or stolen outside the home. Check with your company.
Practical information
Preparing for your cycling trip means maximizing your chances of making it an enjoyable experience. Vélo Québec offers a few tips to help you make the most of your vacation!
Luggage
Choosing your luggage
Remember that the ideal piece is light and easy to handle, both for you and for our baggage handlers.
Tip: when choosing your piece of luggage, weigh it to choose the lightest models.
If you're staying in a tent, choose a sports bag without wheels or rigid frames, with a capacity of around 100 liters and sturdy handles that can support a maximum weight of 22 kg when full.
If you're staying at a hotel, use a piece of rolling luggage weighing no more than 15 kg when full.
Identify and personalize your luggage
Please include your name, address and telephone number. And don't forget: we'll only transport it if it's wearing the luggage bracelet.
Keeping your luggage dry
Because of the sheer volume of luggage and the space required to store it when we arrive at a stopover town, luggage is always left outside, come rain or shine. That's why it's important to place your clothes, personal belongings, sleeping bag and tent in several waterproof plastic bags before packing them.
Cycle touring toolbox
Vélo Québec shares more tips and tricks in its Bicycle Touring Toolbox.
Here you'll find :
Additional services
Tent rental services
Tent number and luggage identification
Two weeks before the event, you will receive a luggage tag bearing the number of the tent assigned to you for the duration of your stay. Only luggage bearing this tag is transported in the trucks assigned to the tent rental service.
Tent availability and luggage delivery
Tents are available at 1 p.m. each day. Your luggage is deposited inside your tent. On each day of travel to a new stopover town, you must vacate your tent by 9:30 a.m. at the latest. Your tent will be available again from 1 p.m., and your luggage will be stored inside. Tents for hire are set up and grouped together in one place in the camping area. Please note that the tents are not designed to house your bicycle. Please lock your bike outside.
Day-to-day baggage transport
At the departure site, drop off your luggage at one of the two cubic trucks assigned and identified to the tent rental service. The tent rental service team is on site from 6:30 a.m. each day. On sunny days, you must leave your luggage outside your tent, in front of the door. Luggage is collected on site by the tent rental team. On rainy days, you must leave your luggage inside your tent (door and mosquito net closed) and notify the on-site tent rental team when your luggage is ready for pick-up (mention your tent number).
Comforter package at the Grand Tour
(Not available at La Petite Aventure)
When you check in on the first day of the event, you'll receive a list of hotels and their contact details, as well as a personalized label with your name on it, showing your hotel assignment for the week. This same label is affixed to your luggage identification.
You'll also receive details of hotel shuttles, breakfasts and bike lockers in the Village, if applicable. All hotels booked by the Grand Tour will be indicated on the route maps included in the tour booklet you will receive two weeks before the event.
Hosting
The Grand Tour Sous la Couette package offers accommodations, generally of the motel, hotel, inn or B&B type, which vary from one stopover town to another, depending on the region visited. Accommodation is usually within a few kilometers of the Village. You can easily locate your hotel on the route maps in the hiking booklet, and follow the signs to get there.
What about your bike? Your bike spends the night in your room or in a safe place designated for this purpose. We strongly recommend that you lock it at all times.
Luggage transport
We transport your luggage from hotel to hotel. Your bag is waiting for you in the lobby of your hotel. On the mornings when we change stopover towns, you can leave it at the location indicated on site. Only luggage marked as such is transported from one site or hotel to another.
Hotel check-in and check-out
Rooms are generally available from 3 pm, sometimes from 4 pm. Please check in before 10 p.m., as some hotels do not offer a reception and key delivery service after this time. When you leave the hotel, you must return your key to reception and, if applicable, pay the bill for products and services purchased at the hotel (e.g. telephone calls, minibar, etc.).
Breakfast
When a hotel does not offer a catering service, breakfast is served in a nearby restaurant and, in some cases, at the Grand Tour Village. You will find the appropriate coupons in the envelope given to you at check-in. Breakfast
in the hotel restaurant are usually served between 6.30 and 9 am.
Information board
An information bulletin board posted at your hotel's reception desk provides you with the following information:
- Where to pick up your luggage;
- Where to leave your luggage when you leave;
- Where to store your bike;
- Breakfast time and place;
- The schedule and details of shuttle buses to the Grand Tour Village;
- Activities at the Grand Tour Village;
- Organizational messages, if any.
Shuttle bus between village and hotel
Shuttles run daily between your hotel and the Village. In some cases, due to the remoteness of certain hotels from the Grand Tour Village, a bicycle locker may also be set up at the Village due to the distances involved. These details will be sent to you when you check in. The full schedule will also be posted on your hotel's information board. Each municipality also has a cab service, details of which are available at the information desk and at the hotel.