Snow Tubing in Mont-Tremblant: Our Family Experience

At the beginning of 2025, we decided almost at the last minute to spend 15 days exploring Montreal and the surrounding area in the middle of a Canadian winter. In this first article, we are sharing one activity the kids absolutely loved: snow tubing in Mont-Tremblant. Our friend Valérie, who is originally from Mayotte and now lives in Québec, recently wrote a complete guide to the best things to do in the Laurentians.

To be honest, after living in the French islands for nearly 15 years, we were not very familiar with Canadian winter activities and initially had no idea what snow tubing involved. While putting the trip together, we quickly realized just how many fun things there are to do in Québec during winter. Valérie had already tried several of them and wrote two detailed guides: where to go snowmobiling in Québec and the best places to go dog sledding in Québec. During our 15-day trip, we also had the chance to try both activities in partnership with Manawa, the booking platform we now regularly use to reserve activities in advance.

But back to snow tubing in Mont-Tremblant. For this trip, we also chose to rent winter clothing from Émilie at Tuque & Bicycle Experiences, which worked perfectly for us. You can read our full article about the experience and decide whether it might suit your trip too.

For our two-week trip to Québec, we booked accommodation for one week in the Laurentians and stayed in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, about an hour from Montreal and 45 minutes from Mont-Tremblant. As with the other activities on this trip, we decided to surprise the kids each day, so they never knew what was coming next.

We booked the snow-tubing activity through Manawa, which has become one of our go-to platforms for activities. Our reservation was for 10:00 AM, and we arrived early enough to look around. At first, we could not see the slopes where we would be spending the next two hours, but the kids immediately spotted the large inflatable tubes stacked outside.

Inside the reception building was a large dining area with tables, chairs, and a small snack counter—very convenient after spending time outside in the cold. We collected our two-hour passes and attached them to our jackets, just like ski passes. Since the kids had once again decided not to eat much that morning, we used the snack area to grab something before heading out.

We did not rent helmets, although they were available. I had trouble imagining the tubes overturning, but a helmet can still be reassuring if you are not completely comfortable. Once we were ready, we went outside, picked up a tube each, and climbed to the main starting platform. Snow tubing is exactly what it sounds like: you sit in a large inflatable tube, without being strapped in, and slide down groomed runs of varying steepness. There are no brakes, but the runout is long enough for the tube to slow down safely at the bottom.

For a different kind of winter ride, we also tried dog sledding in Arundel, in the Laurentians, not far from Mont-Tremblant.

With our four tubes in hand, we listened to the instructions on the starting platform. Several staff members explained the safety rules in either English or French. The process was simple: slide down, step out of the tube at the bottom, head to the tow lift, ride back up, and start again. You must stay seated in the tube throughout the descent. Because Téo was only 4, he was not allowed to ride alone, even though I am sure he would have loved to. He could either ride attached to one of us or share a tube with an adult.

Once the briefing was over, it was time to start. There were eight lanes in total: four steeper ones on the left and four gentler ones on the right, with the tow lift running between them. We began together on the far-right lane to get a feel for the activity and see what to expect. One useful feature is that the tubes can be linked together. Each tube has a plastic ring attached by a rope, allowing riders to connect while staying close to one another. The four of us were able to form a kind of square.

We set off on the first run without really knowing what to expect and were surprised by how fast we picked up speed in the middle. It was a real thrill. The kids laughed the whole way down, while Mélanie was a little nervous on the first run and even tried to slow herself near the end, haha. Louis loved it, and Téo proudly announced that he was not scared at all.

As explained during the briefing, the tube slows down naturally as the slope flattens, so there is no risk of overshooting the end. Once stopped, you climb out, carefully cross the other lanes while watching for riders, and reach the tow lift in the center. The system is simple and clever: a cable carries small metal hooks at regular intervals, and a staff member attaches the ring on your tube to one of them. The ride back up takes about a minute. You just keep your legs extended and face downhill.

At the top, we were surprised to arrive backward, and the first small drop immediately brought us onto the flat platform, which made us laugh. Louis was so excited that he quickly started exploring the more difficult lanes on his own. We gradually moved toward the left side, where the runs were steeper through the middle and started a little higher, creating more speed, stronger sensations, and a little more fear for Mélanie, haha.

In the end, we spent about 1 hour 30 minutes moving between the different lanes—some steeper, some gentler—sometimes all together, sometimes alone, and sometimes in pairs or groups of three. We had booked a two-hour session, which was enough for us because Téo started to feel cold near the end. One minor drawback was the number of visitors. It was a Sunday, and at times we waited 5 to 10 minutes before the next run. In cold weather, standing still for that long can make you freeze surprisingly quickly.

I asked Louis, our future blogger, haha, to give the final verdict. He thought it was great because the tubes went fast and the different lanes let you repeat a favorite run or try something quicker. He was also the only one in the family brave enough to take the far-left, most difficult lane.

Louis would happily have stayed longer, but the rest of us were getting cold. We are simply not used to temperatures like these. Mélanie and Téo went inside a little early to warm up, while I stayed outside to take photos for the article. While waiting for Louis to finish his last runs, I managed to warm up beside several outdoor fires.

We then spent about an hour eating on site, with soup, sandwiches, and poutine. It was not gourmet food, but it was practical, and the heated dining room made it easy to take a proper break.

Overall, this is an activity we wholeheartedly recommend, especially for families with young children. They are likely to love it.

Here is a quick overview of the practical information.

How you get there will depend on where you are coming from. Most visitors will likely arrive through Montreal, as we did. For our 15-day trip, we booked our rental car through Discover Cars, the comparison platform we use most often. From Montreal, the distance is about 130 km, and the drive generally takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic and winter road conditions.

As always, the best place to stay will depend on what you are looking for and on your budget. The AX Hotel is located nearby and has a strong reputation, with modern rooms and access to a year-round heated outdoor pool and Finnish sauna.

Here are three other nearby options:

• Hotel Vacances Tremblant: the property offers rooms and equipped studios, along with an indoor pool, dry sauna, and easy access to ski areas and outdoor activities.
• Le 900 Tremblant Inn Café and Bistro: a welcoming property with modern rooms, a well-regarded breakfast, and a convenient location for outdoor activities.
• Le Pimbina: a cozy B&B with comfortable rooms, a hot tub, a garden, and a reputation for excellent breakfasts and warm hospitality.

You can also use the map below to explore accommodation options in the Mont-Tremblant area.

That brings me to the end of this article about snow tubing in Mont-Tremblant. I hope it has inspired you to try the activity and enjoy a fun family experience of your own. We also tried a helicopter tour in Mont-Tremblant if you are looking for another idea.

See you soon,

Written by Sylvain PONS

I had the opportunity to explore the beauty of this country I love on several different occasions and in different places (Canadian Rockies, the Island of Newfoundland for 1 month, Yukon and Québec)!

Despite our care, a mistake may have slipped into this article. If you find any, please don't hesitate to let us know so we can correct it as soon as possible and keep our information up-to-date!