This weekend, Exo, in collaboration with Tourisme Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Tourisme Montérégie, will be rolling out for the very first time the new "escapades touristiques" experience, designed to introduce public transit users arriving at the Vaudreuil station to our region. 

On the weekends of July 6, October 12 and 19, shuttles departing from the station will enable participants to discover the must-see sites of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

The project offers a variety of itineraries, with stops at one or more tourist sites. Participants will be able to book a day of activities tailored to their preferences by choosing the tour that suits them best.

They will have various options for getting to the Vaudreuil station: by train (via line 11-Vaudreuil/Hudson), by bus (via line 40 - Express Vaudreuil - Terminus Côte-Vertu), by bike (bike stands for OPUS cardholders or outdoor bike racks for all) or by any other means of their choice.

From this departure point, shuttles will take participants to pre-selected tourist sites, where they can enjoy memorable experiences in emblematic natural settings. 

"This project is a great opportunity for our region to shine a spotlight on the Montreal clientele, who will be able to discover Vaudreuil-Soulanges thanks to public transport. We're delighted to be working with exo and Tourisme Montérégie to promote sustainable mobility, as well as the structuring of an attractive tourism offer that capitalizes on our destination's key attractions," says Joanne Brunet, General Manager of Développement Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

Themes and itineraries

The first weekends of the project, under the theme Wine and Summer Relaxation, will take participants to the Village des Écluses, located in Pointe-des-Cascades, where they can bask in the sun, sample local flavors and enjoy a fantastic view of Lake St-Louis.

This combination of nature, culture and resort is located at the eastern mouth of the Soulanges Canal, the first canal built in North America, the first 23.5 kilometers of which are skirted by the 35-kilometre Soulanges bicycle path. 

What's more, you'll be able to enjoy guided tours and tastings in the historic country setting of Le Bourg des Cèdres vineyard, located on the grounds of the oldest house in the municipality of Les Cèdres.

In autumn, Rigaud is the destination for our Hiking and Autumn Colours tours: a visit to the Sucrerie de la Montagne, a veritable village of yesteryear and a Quebec Heritage Site, as well as a distinctive Canadian experience, including access to the Sentiers de L'escapade for a hike and a lift to Mont Rigaud to admire the blaze of colors.

"The tourist escapades offered by this partnership are a great opportunity for our customers to develop the "exo reflex" that leads them to use public transit for all kinds of trips, not just those related to work. For our part, we continue to innovate at exo by developing our offer to meet the varied needs of the communities we serve, and we're delighted to be doing so with local tourism partners," said Marie Hélène Cloutier, exo's Executive Director Mobility, Customers and Partners.

"We're delighted to be taking part in this project, which promotes sustainable mobility and the region's tourism businesses. This initiative will give them greater visibility, while making them more accessible to a new clientele," emphasizes Mario Leblanc, General Manager of Tourisme Montérégie.

An online ticketing service is available to reserve your place. The cost of the shuttle service for the day is $5 for those aged 12 and over, and free for those aged 11 and under.

Please note that the cost of public transportation to the Vaudreuil train station and for paid activities at attractions must be covered by participants, in addition to the cost of shuttle tickets. 

Reservations for fall tours will be available later in the summer.

Information on the project, proposed itineraries and reservations is available on the Tourisme Vaudreuil-Soulanges website.