Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! Choose the route that suits you and contact us at info@totemaviation.com.

For online payments: 10% of the amount paid, regardless of notice. No fees for bookings paid on site.

Package paid online: 10% of the amount paid, regardless of notice. Paid on site: no fees. A no-show (including at the wrong departure location) is treated as a cancellation.

In July and August, at least a few days ahead — our aircraft carries only 3 passengers per flight. In May, June, September and October, things are much more flexible.

Yes, on request. Write to us at info@totemaviation.com with the flight you would like to offer and the recipient’s name; we will send you a printable gift certificate. The recipient then picks a date directly with us.

In July and August, book a few days ahead if you can, especially for a specific early-morning or late-day slot. Off season, the day before is often enough. Online booking shows real-time availability.

You can pay online by credit card when booking, or on site on the day of your flight. Prices shown are per person, before taxes (GST and QST).

All flights depart from the Escoumins aerodrome, located at 14 Chemin du Lac St-Onge, Les Escoumins, Québec G0T 1K0. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure time.

Aviation-style headsets are provided for every passenger. Don't forget your camera!

The Air portion departs from the Escoumins aerodrome (14 Chemin du Lac St-Onge — arrive 15 minutes early). The Sea portion departs from Croisières Escoumins (35 Rue des Pilotes — arrive 30 minutes early). The two sites are about 15 minutes apart.

Dress as you would for a hike, according to the day’s weather: cool days are cool in the air too. On sunny days, bring sunglasses. Avoid wide-brimmed hats and loose scarves, which are impractical in the cabin.

Yes, and we encourage it! Every passenger has a window. The pilot announces upcoming viewpoints through the headsets so you are ready. Bring a wrist strap for your phone and a charged battery. Drones are not allowed.

Yes. Through the aviation headsets, the pilot describes the scenery, the wildlife and the flight itself, and you can ask questions. Commentary is offered in French or English.

Yes, free parking is available next to the reception. The aerodrome is at 14 Chemin du Lac St-Onge, about 10 minutes from the village of Les Escoumins. Get directions.

The plane carries a maximum of 3 passengers per flight. A total weight limit applies depending on the activity (400 to 500 lbs for all passengers combined).

Yes! Children under 2 can travel on a parent's lap. From age 2, each child must have their own seat. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Flying is not recommended for pregnant women past 36 weeks. The total passenger weight limit varies by activity.

The plane carries a maximum of 3 passengers per flight, with a total weight limit of 500 lbs for all passengers combined.

Our scenic flights are smooth and fly at low altitude. Pick an early-morning or late-day slot, when the air is calmest, eat lightly beforehand and look at the horizon rather than your camera screen. Short flights such as Escoumins 15 or Fjord 30 are a good way to try it out.

No. For everyone’s safety and comfort, animals are not allowed in the plane, with the exception of service dogs by prior arrangement.

Boarding requires climbing one step and sliding onto the seat. With a little help, it works for many people. Write to us before booking at info@totemaviation.com so we can prepare for your arrival.

It depends on visibility and cloud cover. We offer scenic flights, so we favour the best possible conditions to provide a great visual experience. If possible, based on our availability and your schedule, we will reschedule the flight; otherwise you will receive a full refund.

Generally, conditions at the beginning and end of the day are more favourable for a calm flight experience.

It depends on visibility and cloud cover. If possible, based on our availability and your schedule, we will reschedule the flight; otherwise you will receive a full refund.

In calm conditions, the fewer the waves, the easier it is to find and clearly see the whales. At midday, the sun shines vertically and helps see deep into the water.

Early morning and late day are full of warm colours, and the shadows bring out the relief of the landscape. It makes for an extraordinary setting.

Yes, for the Sea portion: the 2-hour zodiac excursion with Croisières Escoumins comes with guaranteed whales. From the plane, whale and beluga sightings are frequent but depend on conditions.

Yes. Minke whales and seals are already around in May, and belugas live in the estuary year-round. Peak species diversity runs from mid-June to late September.

Historically, most sightings happened from late August to October. But for the past 2-3 years they have been arriving as early as June, alongside the fin whales — so one can cross your path all season long. No outing can guarantee one, which is exactly what makes every encounter memorable.

On the zodiac with our partner Croisières Escoumins, whales are guaranteed in season. From the airplane, sightings are very frequent, and the flight adds the fjord, the villages and the boreal forest — the scenery never cancels.

No. We respect the regulation altitudes of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, designed precisely to protect marine mammals. It is in fact the only way to observe belugas, which boats are not allowed to approach.

Often, yes: the route follows the St. Lawrence estuary where the rorquals feed, and belugas frequent the mouth of the Saguenay. The scenery itself is guaranteed on every flight.

The airplane, without hesitation: no rolling motion, and the 30-minute flight usually takes place in calm air. The big boat is a good second choice, far more stable than the zodiac.

The zodiac for telephoto close-ups; the airplane for one-of-a-kind images — silhouettes under the surface, the fjord, low-angle light. In the airplane every passenger has a window seat and aviation headsets to talk with the pilot.

The Fjord 30 (30 min) covers the coast between Les Escoumins and Tadoussac, including the mouth of the fjord. The Fjord 45 (45 min) adds the flight up the fjord to the mouth of the Sainte-Marguerite river — the fjord lover's choice.

You fly over the dam and the southern tip of the reservoir. The full ring is about 100 km across — even from a plane you only see part of it at a time, which is precisely what conveys the scale of the giant.

It is our most immersive flight: the landscape changes constantly — river, dams, forest, reservoirs — and the pilot tells the story of each structure through the headsets. Our passengers rarely land thinking it was long.

Two days minimum to cover the essentials (the village, a whale outing, a flight). Three days let you add the fjord and breathe. Outdoor lovers could easily fill a week.

Very much so: kids love the CIMM and the small farm at our campground, shore-based whale watching is free, and our flights welcome children (a seat is required from age 2; under-2s ride on a parent's lap).

Those are our favourite times: fewer people, superb light, whales already (or still) present, and spectacular fall colours in September. Just check for reduced hours at some attractions.

Not continuously: no road follows the rim. Route 172 (north shore) and Route 170 (south shore) come close in places, with specific access points — Baie-Sainte-Marguerite, L'Anse-de-Roche, Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, L'Anse-Saint-Jean. Which is exactly why the aerial view is so different.

Hydro-Québec usually offers free guided tours in summer at the Daniel-Johnson dam (access via Route 389). It complements the flight nicely: the tour shows the machine hall, the flight shows the entire system of harnessed rivers.

About 215 km and 3 hours of direct driving, ferry included. But the whole point of this itinerary is not to do it in one go: count on a full day with the Charlevoix stops.

It is free and first-come, first-served. It runs 24 hours a day, with very frequent departures during the day.

Yes: the Malbaie river cruise offers an accessible version, and our Hautes-Gorges 90 flight offers the aerial one — the massif, the Acropole and the manors of Charlevoix in 90 minutes from Les Escoumins.