Navigate, observe, breathe
Discover the team of enthusiasts behind your whale watching cruises in Tadoussac and Les Escoumins. Naturalist captains devoted to the St. Lawrence River for over 20 years.
We are passionate people, in love with our river.
Du Fleuve was born from a simple conviction: there is a better way to run whale watching cruises. More intimate, more respectful, more honest. Not a promised spectacle — an encounter with the river, exactly as it presents itself.
In July 2024, Robin Mérédith and Simon Beaudry took over Les Écumeurs du St-Laurent, a company founded in 1997 that originally operated out of Trois-Pistoles before establishing itself on the Côte-Nord in the late 2000s. A company that already ran the same 12-passenger zodiacs, with the same friendly atmosphere and the same respect for the environment. In taking over, Robin and Simon did not reinvent the wheel — they chose to continue what worked, while putting their own vision into it.
A story that starts on the water
Simon ran his first cruises in 2018 aboard the zodiacs of Les Écumeurs du St-Laurent, the company they later took over. Robin and he both worked for several operators in the region, accumulating years of experience on the river before deciding to do things their own way.
What pushed them to take the leap: the desire to create a great working environment, to surround themselves with people as passionate as they are, and to give every outing the attention it deserves — without trying to fill boats, without promising what nature cannot guarantee.
A team of locals, passionate and experienced
The Du Fleuve team is made up of captain-naturalists — the majority of whom live on the Côte-Nord year-round. These are not passing guides: they are people who know the river in every season, who can read the current, anticipate the fog, and spot a spout on the horizon before passengers have even raised their binoculars.
Robin and Simon recruited their friends — experienced captains who share the same passion for the St. Lawrence and its inhabitants. It is this team cohesion that gives each cruise its particular character: you are not on a tourist boat, you are with people who do this because they cannot imagine doing anything else.
Also part of the team is Alice Cloutier-Lachance, who has brought Du Fleuve's identity to life from the very beginning — through her talent as a photographer and her creative presence on social media, she captures what words sometimes struggle to describe: the raking light on the river, a distant spout, the unique atmosphere of each outing. She is the one who translates into images what the team experiences every day on the water.
We believe that there is a river for everyone.
The richness of the St. Lawrence goes far beyond whales. Our river is the stage for impressive biodiversity: fin whales, minke whales, harbour porpoises, grey seals, northern gannets, murres — every outing is different, every season has its own surprises. We believe it is our duty to share all of these wonders with you, not just the most spectacular ones.
That is why we also offer birdwatching cruises in partnership with the Tadoussac Bird Observatory, wildlife photography workshops with nature photographer Jocelyn Praud, hydrophone explorations, and guided sea kayak excursions — so that everyone can find their own way to inhabit the river, for the duration of an outing.
Human experience in small groups
Our mission is to raise your awareness of the beauty and fragility of the ecosystem. For us, the best way to do that is from our 12-passenger zodiacs. We are all experienced captain-naturalists who share a deep passion for our river and its whales.
Our crew
Why leave Les Escoumins rather than Tadoussac?
Les Escoumins is located directly within the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, about twenty kilometres from Tadoussac. This positioning allows us to reach the whale observation zones in under 15 minutes — more time on the water, less time navigating.
Unlike departures from Tadoussac, where dozens of boats share the same zones, our cruises from Les Escoumins take place away from the crowds. With a maximum of 12 passengers per zodiac, we prioritize quality of observation, silence on the water, and a respectful approach to wildlife. We are in the same waters as the large operators — literally — but with a very different state of mind.
What we say about our whale watching cruises
Discover why our zodiac approach, in small groups of 12 passengers, is appreciated by our customers and the media.
Thinking about whale cruises differently in the Saguenay-Saint-Laurent Marine Park
Thanks again 🤩
A hydrophone to listen to whales in the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park
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Du Fleuve : observer les baleines autrement
Observer et entendre les baleines sur le Saint-Laurent
Our river cruises.
Forfait kayak de mer et croisière aux baleines
Explorez le littoral en douceur, puis partez à la rencontre des baleines en mer. Réservez les deux activités en même temps et obtenez 10 % de rabais sur votre expérience complète.
3h de kayak, 2h30 de zodiac
Duration
Places
à partir de 176$ par personne
Whale watching cruise
Small-group zodiac excursions (maximum 12 passengers) to observe whales and marine wildlife, following the rhythm of the river and guided by a respectful approach to the natural environment.
2:30
Duration
12
Places
Starting at $91/person
Guided Sea Kayaking on the St. Lawrence River
Guided sea kayak excursions to discover the coastline and wildlife of the river, in small groups and in a calm and immersive approach.
3 hours
Duration
8
Places
$93/person
