Saguenay private tours

In Saguenay, nature intertwines with the unassuming appeal of small-town life. Picture a landscape where the fjords cut through the earth and forests stretch endlessly. This part of Quebec offers an ever-changing canvas with each season. Your guide, with deep knowledge of Saguenay’s nuances, will show you the essence of this remarkable place. You’ll find yourself on private tours that veer away from the usual tourist paths, walking in the stillness of Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay. In Chicoutimi, a stroll reveals the everyday rhythm and culture of the town. A taste of the region unfolds on a food and wine tour, where the fla...

In Saguenay, nature intertwines with the unassuming appeal of small-town life. Picture a landscape where the fjords cut through the earth and forests stretch endlessly. This part of Quebec offers an ever-changing canvas with each season. Your guide, with deep knowledge of Saguenay’s nuances, will show you the essence of this remarkable place. You’ll find yourself on private tours that veer away from the usual tourist paths, walking in the stillness of Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay. In Chicoutimi, a stroll reveals the everyday rhythm and culture of the town. A taste of the region unfolds on a food and wine tour, where the flavours of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean come alive. With your guide, expect to bypass the queues and delve into the narratives and customs that craft Saguenay’s identity, a blend of nature’s spectacle and cultural depth. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at our curated list of things to do in Saguenay.

Explore Saguenay your way

At ToursByLocals, we believe that how you explore is just as important as where you go. That’s why every Saguenay tour is private, flexible, and built around you: Move at your own pace, skip the crowds, make connections and follow your curiosity. Find local guides offering private tours in Saguenay for every interest, including:

History tours: Explore Arvida’s planned company town, a National Historic Site, as your guide points out aluminium-era worker homes and the former Alcan facilities, then step inside La Pulperie de Chicoutimi to trace the pulp-and-paper boom. You can also visit La Petite Maison Blanche to hear the story of the 1996 flood, or add a day trip to the preserved company village of Val-Jalbert.

Food and Drink tours: Browse the Marché public de Chicoutimi with your guide to taste squeaky cheese curds and local berries before sitting down to a slice of tourtière du Lac-Saint-Jean at a neighbourhood bistro. Cap it off with flights at La Voie Maltée or HopEra, or drive to Distillerie du Fjord for a Km12 gin tasting and a behind-the-stills chat with the distillers.

Architecture tours: Walk Arvida’s garden-city streets to see streamlined Moderne homes and civic buildings, then compare them with the stone and brick ensemble around Cathédrale Saint-François-Xavier. Round out the tour at La Pulperie’s industrial buildings and the tiny, stubborn La Petite Maison Blanche.

Chicoutimi and Jonquière cores are walkable, and local buses run, but distances between sights and fjord viewpoints can be long; if you want to link multiple areas or plan day trips, ask your local guide about tours with private transportation or book a chauffeured tour.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all itinerary, you can tailor your private tour to match your interests, pace and personality with a local who knows Saguenay inside and out.

Walking tours & neighbourhoods

Day trip ideas from Saguenay

Use Saguenay as your base, then head to nearby fjord villages and St. Lawrence viewpoints for easy day trips that fit your interests and pace.

- Tadoussac: Watch for whales where the Saguenay meets the St. Lawrence, with lookouts on the dunes and short coastal walks that keep the focus on wildlife and wide water views; if you like marine life, boat-based whale watching and shore-based wildlife tours both work well here, and photographers get clean sightlines from several public viewpoints.

- Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay, Baie-Éternité sector: Hike to classic fjord lookouts like Cap Trinité or choose shorter trails along the water, and add sea kayaking if you want time on the fjord; this area suits hikers, casual walkers, and paddlers who want big scenery without a long drive from the city.

- L’Anse-Saint-Jean: A small riverside village with a covered bridge, artisan shops, and access to gentle trails and scenic pullouts over the fjord, so you can mix cafés and views or plan a longer walk if you feel like stretching your legs.

- Sainte-Rose-du-Nord: Quiet lanes, a small harbour, and overlooks that open to the fjord make it a good pick for a calm day, and you can add easy coastal paths or a short paddle for a bit more movement without committing to a full trek.

- Lac Saint-Jean loop: Drive the lakeshore for beaches, blueberry country, and bike segments of the Véloroute des Bleuets, which lets you choose relaxed stops or longer rides; this loop meshes well with food-focused day trips and active tours that still leave time for swims in summer.

A private tour with a local guide is the best way to really get to know a place. Skip the crowds, follow your interests, and see a side of Saguenay most travellers miss.