La Belle Province’ is not only beautiful, it is also gigantique. It is Canada’s largest province, containing more fresh water than any other province, its forests representing 26% of all Canadian forests and 2% of the world’s forests. Not surprisingly, it is also Canada’s main producer of maple syrup!

The province is divided into 3 geological regions and a further 21 tourist regions. The St. Lawrence River Valley is the most fertile and developed geological region, by far. In fact, the name "Quebec" pronounced correctly as kay bek is derived from the Algonquin word "kepék" meaning "the place where the river narrows” – referring to this major waterway, which opens up to the Atlantic Ocean.

The majority of the population of Quebec lives in these lowlands, mainly in and between Montreal and Quebec City. The cities, themselves, are the highlights of this region; world-renowned for their European vibe, cobblestone-lined ‘old/vieux’ neighborhoods and lively festivals. South of the valley, is the Appalachian Mountain region, which extends from the Gaspé Peninsula, across the US/Canada border, and all the way down to Alabama. Gaspésie is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with contrasting landscapes ranging from undulating countryside to mountains overlooking the sea. 650km/404mi of the International Appalachian Trail traverses the region, passing through National Parks, the Chic Choc Mountains, along shorelines and capes, and through villages until reaching Cap Gaspé at the eastern end. The peninsula is also home to the largest colony of gannets in the world; at breath-taking Percé Rock & Bonaventure Island bird sanctuary.

Just north of the St Lawrence Valley, a huge expanse of Canadian Shield covers almost 90% of the province all the way up to the Arctic. It is a vast region composed of thousands of lakes, thousands of square kilometres of forested area, and mountainous regions including the Laurentians (Les Laurentides) which are home to fantastic summer and winter trails, including the start/end of La Traversée de Charlevoix (part of the Trans Canada Trail) and Le P’tit Train du Nord linear park, the longest park of its kind in Canada, a 232km/144mi cycle path built over old railway line also part of The Trans Canada Trail. Further north, leisure cyclists from around the world come to enjoy the trails along immense Lac-Saint-Jean and the majestic fjord lands surrounding the mighty Saguenay River. And even further north, ultimate adventurers come to explore the truly wild tundra, taiga forest, and scenic mountains of the Arctic Inuit region called Nunavik, not to be confused with the Canadian Territory of Nunavut, which covers the northern third of the province – An area larger than the state of California.

Finally, a unique highlight of Quebec lies far off its coast. In fact, it’s closer to the province of PEI than it is to Quebec, and therefore not part of the aforementioned geological zones. The Magdalen Islands is an archipelago composed of elongated landforms with sweeping sand dunes, rolling green hills, ochre cliffs plunging into the sea. Brightly painted farmhouses and pretty lighthouses dot the landscape adding to the already inviting atmosphere, great for cycling and day hikes.