Questions and security - sea kayak

How do I prepare for the 3-hour and 1-day tours?

You must arrive at the boutique 30 minutes prior to your departure time. There, you meet with your guide who lends you all the required nautical equipement for the kayak tour. Once all the members of your group have arrived (maximum of 8 persons), the 15-minute basic training session begins. Following that introduction, you take your kayak to the water. Finally, your guide checks to ensure everyone's comfort and kayak stability before leaving for a nice adventure on the Saguenay.

What distance do we cover during a tour?

For the 3-hour and the 1-day sea-kayak tours, we always paddle facing the wind upon leaving, then with the wind at our back upon returning. Also, L'Anse-Saint-Jean has a few small coves that are well protected from the wind. These allow for a safer and easier trip. We paddle between 6 and 8 km during the 3-hour tour, and between 15 and 25 km a day during the one-day or any sea kayak expedition that last 2 days or more, depending on the group's strength and the wind.

Is the water cold?

In L'Anse-Saint-Jean, the water temperature rises up to between 15-20 Celcius from the end of June until the Labour Day weekend. During hot summer days, the water is sufficiently comfortable to swim in. The closer we get to Saguenay Fjord Delta, the colder the water gets. The arctic currents that reach the Fjord at Tadoussac bring the water temperature to 4 Celcius year round. Fjord en kayak requires that water-proof clothing be worn when you book an excursion in this area.

What does Fjord en kayak do if it rains?

We provide paddle jackets and pants for adults and children of all ages. If it begins to rain while you are in the sea kayak cockpit, you will wear a paddle jacket in addition to the flotation device, a cap hat and some gloves if required. We guarantee your comfort, so that you may enjoy a wonderful experience in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park.

Should I choose a single kayak,
or a double kayak with my friend?

For short tours, we suggest a single kayak to people who are in fairly good physical condition, autonomous and who love to learn new sports. We suggest a double kayak to beginner paddlers who are a bit less confident and in less good physical condition.

For long excursions (2 or 3-day trip), the effort required may be somewhat exhausting, and so the double kayak is probably a better idea in order to take advantage of the stroke rate of the two paddlers. You can choose a solo kayak when you have already some experience kayaking the sea.

Can a sea kayak capsize?

You would be surprised how stable a sea kayak can be. During the briefing session that we provide for all our tours, your guide teaches you the basic skills so that you may enjoy the best possible kayak stability.

A single kayak will capsize more often then a double kayak. People often try to test the limits just for the experience. The guide then recovers the person within 5 minutes. You will not get stuck in the cockpit; it takes about 5 seconds to get out. Our guides practice recovery techniques every week during their first 3 seasons with us.

The double kayak is much more stable. We only had to recover a tandem less than 10 times, since the opening of Fjord en Kayak in 1996 . It takes 10 minutes to recover the two persons and keep going.

Can anyone go on a long expedition?

If you like nature and have some camping experience, you can come sea kayaking for a few days. If you do not feel sufficiently confident to go on a few days' expedition on the Fjord, then we suggest that you try the 2 day/1 night sea kayak excursion.

What is the difference between the two 3 days / 2 nights kayak trips?

Both offer the same beautiful scenery and cover the same distance. Here is what differentiates them: The 3-day trip to Tadoussac: you navigate one way, stay one night in a beautiful cottage and the other in a camp site. The return trip is made by zodiac (24 passengers). When you arrive in Tadoussac, you meet both rivers, that is, the St. Lawrence river and the Saguenay Fjord where you often can see minke whales (distance restriction of 200 meters).

The other 3-day expedition makes a loop: you come back to L'Anse-St-Jean by kayak. Let me assure you that the scenery is entirely different from one shore to the other. You will discover the wildest part of the Fjord with the Beluga whales (distance restriction of 400 meters). Both nights are spent in a camp site.