This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
In recent years, the tourism sector has been overflowing with imagination to offer different accommodations, as original as they are cozy, to spend the night in a natural setting. Here are the novelties and summer trends that caught the attention of our collaborator, from the floating chalet to the birdhouse.
Floating accommodations
The small Mwak floating chalets are the latest of this type of accommodation. Located on Cliff Bay, with a breathtaking view of the cliffs and Lake Waconichi, isolated in nature and yet only twenty minutes from the small town of Chibougamau, they allow you to fully appreciate the tranquility of the place. To get there, you borrow a rowboat or a kayak and bring your luggage and food with you. In the evening, enveloped by the waves of the lake and cut off from all civilization, the chalet-hotel offers the most beautiful nights of sleep and the sweetest awakenings.
The future floating yurts of the Pourvoirie du Lac Saint-Pierre, in Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, should also be all the rage this summer when they open on June 30. Located in the Lac Saint-Pierre archipelago, an hour and a half from Montreal, they will allow you to appreciate a bucolic landscape made up of several small islands at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. The setting is idyllic for a well-deserved vacation, in the comfort of a fully equipped yurt accessible by rowboat.
On rental sites like Monsieur Chalets, you can also find this type of accommodation. The “Flottante 2” is a good example of these hybrids between a boat and a chalet, offering all the desired comfort, with a rustic appearance, all covered with wooden slats. Located thirty minutes from Quebec, in Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, thanks to its large bay windows, it offers a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and the lake. For lovers of ecological accommodation, it is equipped with solar panels and runs on propane.
Something new on the side of the domes
Sleeping in a bubble, with all the conveniences offered by a luxurious hotel room: if the first prototypes of domes were rather rustic, today the offer is more careful.
Experience Equinox is a brand new domed accommodation offer in the Lanaudière region. Available for rent since 1er March, the two domes are the first accommodations of their kind in the region. In the heart of nature, very close to Saint-Donat, enjoy the fresh air while lounging in your private spa. Warm up with the outdoor fireplace while admiring the sunset over the mountains. After admiring the spectacle of the stars, slip under the soft sheets of your comfortable bed from where you can continue to contemplate the sky from inside your room.
The Eeyou Istchee Baie-James region is located an eight-hour drive from Montreal, north of Lac Saint-Jean. Less frequented by vacationers than the other regions of Quebec, it nevertheless offers very beautiful and unusual accommodation options, such as the magnificent domes of Chibougamau-Aventure. Luxurious, with stove, fridge, bathroom and geodesic canvas covering, each has a private spa on its large wooden terrace. After enjoying the spectacular view of Lac Caché, you have the choice between several outdoor activities: kayaking, paddlefishing, swimming, cycling or hiking.
High cabins and cozy nests
From the cabin perched high above the forest to the one placed on the ground, in the shape of a barrel, the experiences are as diverse as they are original!
Somewhere in the forest of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, in Charlevoix, strange cabins with a futuristic appearance rise ten meters in the air! The newly built Uhu cabins at Repère Boréal offer a nature experience that combines spectacular views and five-star comfort. Climb the stairs of a wooden tower and enter the small dwelling with obtuse angles which reveals a full kitchen, a toilet, a counter with stools, a modern shower, a ceramic floor and a queen bed. The windows give an almost 360 degree view of the majestic St. Lawrence River.
Sleeping in a birdhouse, is it possible? Yes, thanks to the giant nesting boxes in the Pointe-aux-Outardes nature park. Here, we pushed the experiment by decorating the small chalets like birds’ nests! Both comfortable and original, each accommodation is unique. Whether it’s the colorful Le Grand Pic or the Great Gray Owl cabin, they are equipped and designed with 100% eco-responsibility in mind. In addition, they are nestled in a bird sanctuary, which is good to visit, while being close to the shores of the St. Lawrence.
For the illusion of living in a tree trunk, stay at the “L’Épervier” chalet, located in Sainte-Émélie-de-l’Énergie, offered on the Monsieur Chalets website. The shape of this unusual accommodation is reminiscent of a log! You enter through a large bay window and inside you discover a warm decor with circular walls and a small kitchen with modern equipment. This micro-cottage even has a washer, dryer, TV and fireplace. Take advantage of the spa overlooking the river to end the day in a most inviting natural setting.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.