5 Ways to Connect With Nature Near Québec City

Photo de Marylin Préfontaine
Marilyn Préfontaine
Updated on April 12, 2024
Méditation dans un dôme du Centre de l'Hêtre
Centre de l'Hêtre, Simon Clark

Travelling makes us feel alive and gives us a chance to slow down. But what if we took things even further? What if we made wellness the main goal of the trip? It doesn’t take an exotic destination to feel grounded and connected. At just 20 minutes from Québec City, La Jacques-Cartier is an excellent wellness destination.

When surrounded by mountains, forests and lakes, the feeling of peace comes naturally. It’s proven: there’s a wealth of health benefits that come with being out in nature, including bringing down our heartrate, our blood pressure, and our stress hormone levels. So say goodbye to noisy traffic and stress and hello to the sounds of chirping birds with these 5 great nature retreats near Québec City.

  • 1

    Reconnect at Centre de l’Hêtre

    Massage therapy, ecopsychology, meditation, yoga, and coaching await at Centre de l’Hêtre. Set in a forest by a lake, the centre offers complete wellness packages, feminine coaching, and custom packages.

    For overnight stays, there are geodesic domes, yurts, a tiny house, a tiny cabin, a hemp house, and a teepee. All of the activities at the centre aim to promote a sense of connection with ourselves and the world around us.

  • 2

    Go on a Guided Spiritual Retreat at Gîte des Belvédères

    Want an easy introduction to wellness tourism? The personal guidance at Gîte des Belvédères is just the thing! Guests will receive guidance throughout their stay, with advice on which activities would be a good fit: energy healing, meditation exercises, and mindful hiking. Located in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, the inn features rooms with breathtaking views of the mountains.

  • 3

    Find Inner Freedom at Oanaqa

    Ready for a transformational retreat? It’s time to take a trip to Oanaqa, a wellness centre in an old barn in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury that’s been fully renovated, mostly using recycled and eco-friendly materials.

    Hũna offers yoga, meditation, and drum therapy sessions as well as hũna coaching, which seeks to attune body, mind, and spirit and restore a sense of harmony and balance. Guests spend the night in a gorgeous minimalist building in a valley surrounded by mountains, fields, and a river.

  • 4

    Relax in the Baths at Le Nordique Spa Stoneham

    In need of self-care, but without the major introspection? Le Nordique Spa Stoneham is just the place! This gorgeous spa on the banks of the valley river has baths, saunas, and relaxation areas, all in a gorgeous riverside setting where guests can also book time with a certified massage therapist. Best of all, there’s no need to get back on the road after all that relaxing thanks to the charming tiny cabins for two. It’s perfect for enjoying the peace and quiet of nature.

  • 5

    Attend a Workshop at Temple Sanctuaire

    Tucked away in the mountains of Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, Le Temple organizes workshops and wellness retreats on different themes, with or without accommodation. Would-be guests can check the calendar and sign up for a Temple event or rent space there as a group.

    This inspiring complex features comfortable rooms, a relaxation area with hanging chairs, a foyer, a mezzanine with meditation swings, a yoga studio with Himalayan salt walls, a glass greenhouse with tropical plants, and outdoor decks.

    Ready to book your wellness retreat in La Jacques Cartier?


Photo de Marylin Préfontaine
Marilyn Préfontaine

Marilyn is a proud Québec City local and a contributor for numerous magazines, blogs, and newspapers. She has also published a novel, plays, and board games, and always has something on the go! Marilyn is a hardcore foodie and serial traveller with a passion for discovering new places and telling the world about them. 

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