Stay & Play

Montebello, Quebec: Luxuriate in an Immersive Wilderness Experience at Parc Omega

Article and photography by Jennifer Merrick

All three of us collectively gasped as we opened the door to our panoramic chalet. We dropped our bags, pulled out our phones, and hurried towards the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up the entire back wall of this beautifully designed accommodation. Outside was a large patio with a hot tub surrounded by evergreen trees, their boughs glistening with a dusting of pure white snow.

But that wasn’t the only reason we were awestruck. Right below us, among the trees, was a herd of five deer foraging on the shrubs.

“It’s Bambi,” my daughter whispered, pointing at the fawn still speckled with white spots. We forgot about unpacking and watched until the deer wandered off. And this was only the beginning. There would be many more wildlife encounters and magical moments during our stay at Parc Omega.

Olivier Favre opened the park to the public in 1991 to showcase the wonders of the Canadian wilderness he fell in love with as a European.

“Parc Omega is completely different from a zoo,” he said. “A zoo has exotic animals in a small space, and we have native animals in a big space.” In addition to accommodation, the 2,225-acre property features hiking trails, picnic areas, and an unforgettable safari driving trail. Entrance fees are included with a stay in the chalets, but there is an optional admission cost. Carrots. Lots of them.

As soon as we entered the gates, two deer ambled up to the car, stuck their noses in the window, and demanded payment. We giggled as we handed over the carrot, and drove a little further, only to repeat this routine again and again. The deer came in all shapes and sizes with many species: fallow deer, white-tailed deer, red deer, caribou (also known as reindeer), and elk. One massive buck was double the height of our car with antler racks that almost spanned the size of our windshield. He also wanted carrots, so we gave him two just to be sure he was happy.

We then rolled up the windows to drive through the other sections of the safari that sheltered black bears, moose, bison, mountain goats, foxes, and wolves. We also walked the scenic Indigenous trail, which features interpretive signs about the history and culture of Quebec’s First Nations.

Dinner was at OmegaBon Restaurant inside the park, where we saw wolves as we enjoyed the Boreal-inspired meal. Access to the park offerings was a definite highlight of staying on the property, but so was just hanging out at our cottage.

The 14 panoramic chalets are modern, luxurious, and comfortable. They have two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a living area with a fireplace, and amenities that include a Nespresso machine, BBQ, hot tub, and fire pit. Of course, its best features are the windows that look out to the forest and its ‘deer’ inhabitants.

When you go: The closest airports are Ottawa (a 60-minute drive) and Montreal (a 90-minute drive). Accommodations on the property include luxurious wolf cabins and panoramic chalets as well as more economical rustic cabins, sleeping pods, tipis, and tents. It’s recommended that you book well ahead of your visit, especially during peak periods.

www.parcomega.ca