Silversea Luxury Cruises A SEPT-ILES (Quebec)

A cruise of the archipelago offers visitors front-row seats to a unique spectacle, with the blue sea and sky as a backdrop and the cries of the seabirds as the musical accompaniment to complete this magic tour. Discover the flora, fauna, history and mysteries of the archipelago during an unforgettable adventure.

Zodiac Cruise

Depart the pier and walk to the marina where you will board the zodiac. Don a life jacket and get ready for an unforgettable two hour zodiac experience. During the tour your guide will tell the sad history of two shipwrecks that occurred in the area, the Le Corossol and the Jean-Marc Soucy. Navigate around Manowin Island, also a bird sanctuary. This island is known not only for its unique bird-nesting cliffs, but also for its limestone rock formations and it owes its name to the Innu word manouan, meaning "where we collect eggs."

Panoramic Views, Local Wildlife

Marvel at the myriad seabirds (murres, eiders, ducks, razorbills, Atlantic puffins, auks, black guillemots, long-tailed ducks) that occupy the Île du Corossol bird sanctuary. This sanctuary is one of the most important protected marine bird sanctuaries in Eastern Canada because of the diversity of species present. Corossol Island also has one of the many lighthouses built in the area to help navigate the mighty St. Lawrence, one of the last vestiges of the golden era of maritime trade. Pass by Petite Basque and Grande Basque Islands which were named in honor of the Basque people, who for more than one hundred years came to the region to fish, hunt whales and trade furs.

Return to the marina and walk back to the pier.

'La Ferme Maricole Purmer' is a unique concept in Canada. Find out what it's like to farm blue mussels scallops and seaweeds on one of the seven islands forming the archipelago. Come taste the sea! A warm welcome, an enchanting site, and a delicious food -that's what this tour is all about!

Panoramic Boat Ride to Île Grosse-Boule

Your tour begins with a crossing via inflatable boat to Île Grosse-Boule. During the crossing, the Captain will entertain you about the environment, about the landscape and won't hesitate to slowdown for wildlife interpretation. The island owes its name to its shape and also to Jacques Cartier, who in 1535 saw it from afar and named it Ysle Ronde or Île Ronde (Round Island).

'La Ferme Maricole Purmer' Sea Farm Visit & Seafood Tasting

This unique sea farm is harvesting scallops, seaweeds and mussels in the Sept-Îles archipelago. Upon arrival, start your guided walking tour with onsite biologist who interprets and explains the process of mussel and seaweed farming. Following your tour, proceed for a mouth-watering tasting of the farm's seafood.

Free Time

Following this not-soon-to-be-forgotten culinary encounter, the island's visitors are given time to discover the site on their own and take pictures. Walk to the lookout point that features an unobstructed view of the archipelago and city or simply relax in the sea air. During your return journey, keep your eyes peeled in case a whale comes to greet you.

Capture the exquisite beauty of Sept-Iles through the eyes of professional photographer during this picturesque photo excursion.

Sept-Iles, Photography Tour and Techniques

Depart the pier with your guide, professional local photographer, for a unique photo tour of this beautiful city. Jean-Philipp specializes in landscape photography and astrophotography. Following a six-month road trip a few years ago in the United States, he fell in love with photography, and has been training and working professionally ever since.

Sept-Iles Bay, Rapid Lake Belvedere, Monaghan Beach

During your photo tour, Jean-Phillip offers unique, in-the-field, photographic experiences and techniques. He also shares his best shooting spots, and provides technical advice about lighting, shutter speed, aperture and angles. Depending on the weather and time-of-day, some of the possible viewpoints to be visited may include Sept-Iles Bay, home to approximately 29 miles (about 47 kilometres) of splendid waterfront views, the Rapid Lake Belvedere, which features breath-taking panoramic landscapes, and Monaghan Beach, which offers exquisite views of the many islands surrounding the city.

At the conclusion of your tour, commence the short drive back to the pier.

Surrounded by sea and forest, Sept-Îles boasts breathtaking scenery and a rich history that has been forged over centuries. The Sept-Îles region has been known and visited by Europeans for almost 500 years and the presence of Native tribes dates back more than 7,000 years.

Old Trading Post

Depart the pier by school bus and drive to Old Trading Post via the Innu community. Ever dreamed of traveling back in time? Relive the past by visiting a unique site: the Vieux-Poste (Old Trading Post). Immerse yourself in 1842, at the time of the Hudson's Bay Company, in the replica of the old trading post occupied successively by the French and English from 1673 to 1842. This fur trading post was the first European establishment in Sept-Îles. It was initially used for trading fur with Innu hunters. Later, during its heyday, fur was exported to European markets as well as salmon from the Moisie River and oil from seals hunted in the Sept-Îles archipelago. In this place of meeting and trade, you will discover the daily life of the postmaster, woodsmen and Innu hunters.

Regional Museum

Next visit the Regional Museum. The rich and fabulous history of the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River is told at the Musée régional de la Côte-Nord. The museum's permanent exhibition, Land of Discovery: The Great Journey, invites you to explore 8,000 years of history. Whether your interests tend toward nature, industry or culture, the exhibition will help you discover the true character of the region, providing a glimpse into the courage, tenacity and pride of the local inhabitants.

Enjoy brief photo stops at the magnificent sandy beaches-one reason the city of Sept-Îles is renowned for its beauty. Only minutes from downtown, with the sea on one side and the forest on the other, Sept-Îles's enchanting beaches stretch endlessly along the shore.

Return to the pier where the ship is awaiting.