by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 4:10 PM ET, Tue September 1, 2026
There are plenty of places in Canada to see the leaves change. Charlevoix, Quebec, has something most of them don't: A landscape with a story that began hundreds of millions of years ago.
The region, designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, sits within the remnants of a massive meteorite impact that struck roughly 400 million years ago. Today, mountains descend toward the St. Lawrence River, creating the kind of dramatic elevation changes that make autumn look particularly good from above.
And that's where Club Med Charlevoix comes in.
Known to many Canadian travellers as the country's only all-inclusive ski resort, the property operates year-round and is making a case for the weeks between summer vacation and ski season.
When Quebec Turns Red, Orange and Gold
Fall colours in Charlevoix typically reach their peak between late September and mid-October, when the surrounding maple forests turn shades of red, orange and yellow.
The combination of mountains and the St. Lawrence adds another dimension to the usual leaf-peeping road trip. From higher elevations, travellers can look across layers of changing forest toward the river below.
Guests at Club Med Charlevoix can take in those views from the gondola or get into the landscape itself through guided hikes in the surrounding forests.
The resort's autumn activities also include an alpine coaster and golf, while spa treatments offer a less strenuous way to spend a fall afternoon.
The Other Side of an All-Inclusive
The setting also offers a distinctly Canadian interpretation of a vacation category more commonly associated with Caribbean beaches.
Club Med Charlevoix's rate includes accommodations, meals, drinks and a selection of activities, meaning travellers can book an all-inclusive getaway without getting on a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean.
In autumn, that translates to hiking rather than snorkelling, mountain views instead of palm trees and fireside drinks replacing the swim-up bar.
It's also another example of how Canadian resorts and destinations are looking at the traditionally quieter periods between peak travel seasons.
For Charlevoix, that window is relatively short before the landscape begins its transition toward another season the resort knows particularly well: Winter.
Club Med Charlevoix: Quick Reference Perks
All-inclusive rate: accommodations, all meals, and drinks included
Located above the St. Lawrence River in Quebec's Laurentian Mountains, prime fall foliage territory
Peak leaf season typically late September through mid-October
Guided hikes through maple forests in full fall color
Scenic gondola ride overlooking the valley
Alpine coaster
On-site golf
Spa treatments and wellness offerings
Warm, social après-activity atmosphere (fireside lounges, communal dining)
One rate covers lodging, food, drinks, and activities. No piecing together logistics
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