Newfoundland and a Taste of the Maritimes

Meals Included:  None

Today is your travel day to St. John’s NL.  Your motorcoach driver and Pro Tours guide will be waiting and welcoming the group flight to Newfoundland. Get settled in downtown St John’s, the  Jag Hotel where we enjoy a 2-night stay and prepare for tomorrow’s start of a wonderful journey.

Overnight – Jag Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Cape Spear, Signal Hill and St John’s city are some of your first day of adventure while a local guide shows you the city and sights.  Cape Spear – North America’s most easterly point; Signal Hill – high above the town!

Overnight – Jag Hotel

Meals Included:  Breakfast, Welcome Dinner, Screech In

Today we depart St. John’s and take part of the famous Gatherall’s Puffin and Whale Watching Cruise where we may even spot some more Icebergs.

Learn about Newfoundland’s incredible natural heritage during this top-rated wildlife cruise that will detail the lives of the birds & whales along with the journey of the icebergs

After and exciting boat tour we will depart for Clarenville. We will all join together this evening for the official Welcome Dinner and Screech In ceremony.  Will you kiss the cod fish?

Overnight – Clarenville Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch

After a wonderful breakfast we will do a driving tour up to  Bonavista NL where John Cabot first set foot in North America in 1497.

We will visit the Ryan Premises National Historic Site and the Bonavista Museum showcasing the salt fish trade – the cornerstone of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy for centuries. We will also visit the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse For generation of mariners along this coast, the light at Cape Bonavista was their only connection to land while out on the dark sea. Built in 1843, the light at Cape Bonavista is one of the few in the world where you can still climb up the stone tower and see the same seal oil fueled catoptric light apparatus that was used in the 1800s. One of the most photographed places in Newfoundland and Labrador, this is a prime location to view whales, icebergs and puffins.

On our way to Gander stop for a photo stop at Joseph Smallwood’s Lookout, and then the Silent Witness Memorial. Get checked into our comfortable Sinbads Hotel for the next two evenings

Overnight – Sinbad’s Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Embark on a day trip to Twillingate, starting with a Beothuk Interpretive Centre tour and a walk in the Ancient Gardens. Explore Iceberg Alley’s heart with an included lunch, and a scenic Ocean Quest iceberg tour. Cap off the day with a stop at Long Point Lighthouse for iceberg views and a sweet treat at the fudge store before returning to Gander.

Overnight Sinbad’s Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will depart for Gros Morne National Park. We will visit the Humpback Whale Pavilion and Kings Point Pottery and enjoy a lunch break at Kings Point at By The Sea Inn and Cafe. Then we will make our way to the Gros Morne Visitor Center for a brief overview of Gros Morne National park. Next we check into The Ocean View Hotel with some free time to explore the town and a stroll by the ocean. Time for dinner and then the evening culminates with the popular Anchors Aweigh Show, a highlight of Newfoundland culture featuring local music and humor.

Overnight – Oceanview Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

Embarking on a Gros Morne adventure, the tour begins with the historic Lobster Cove Lighthouse, followed by the majestic Arches. Savor a delightful lunch at Cow Head, complemented by a serene beach stroll, from here we will make our way to Corner Brook for the evening.

Overnight – The Glynmill Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning we make our way to Port aux Basques and board the Marine Atlantic Ferry to the mainland, on this 7 hour crossing you will enjoy your lunch and dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants and lounges. On arrival to North Sydney we take a short drive to Baddeck where we check in at the Lynwood Inn for the next 2 evenings.

Marine Atlantic Ferry: From lighter fare to full hearty meals, choose from a wide variety of dining options sure to satisfy any traveler’s tastes. Fuel up at a restaurant or cozy café, grab a refreshment from the bar, or scoop a cool treat from the ice cream shop! There’s no shortage of entertainment at sea. Stroll the decks and enjoy breathtaking panoramic ocean views and fresh air or check out the modern amenities indoors.

Amenities vary by vessel and cabin, but highlights include:

• TV
• Deck access for stunning ocean views
• Personal headphone jacks in reserved seating areas
• Full accessibility ship-wide
• Games for kids and teens
• Internet café
• Retail store

Meals Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, High Tea

Embarking on a scenic journey, today’s tour features the breathtaking Cape Breton Island and the renowned Cabot Trail, lauded by Lonely Planet. As we circle the trail, we’ll pause for photos, enjoy a picnic in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and High Tea late afternoon at the Keltic Lodge.
The trail, named after explorer John Cabot, links diverse communities and celebrates over 500 years of history with the Mi’kmaq people.

The Cabot Trail, named one of the best road trips in the world by Lonely Planet, is a trail that winds through stunning landscapes, along the Margaree River, a Canadian Heritage Salmon River, and through spectacular rugged highlands of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada.

The history of the Cabot Trail is a long and interesting one. The trail was named after Italian explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) who reached our shores in 1497, sailing on a mission for King Henry VII of England. The name also celebrates the meeting of Cabot and the Mi’kmaq people, the original inhabitants of Cape Breton Island, at Aspy Bay over 500 years ago.

The Cabot Trail, completed in 1932, joined previously isolated fishing villages along an approximate 300-kilometre loop. Today the Cabot Trail connects eight major communities with intriguing histories, ranging from the Acadian Region to Irish and Scottish settlements.

Overnight – Lynwood Inn

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Departing Baddeck after breakfast, we journey to Charlottetown, pausing to explore the Canso Causeway, a vital 1,385-meter rock-fill structure connecting Cape Breton Island to mainland Nova Scotia. We’ll traverse this engineering marvel, which supports road and rail, before boarding the Wood Islands Ferry. Our day concludes with check-in at the Quality Inn and Suites in downtown Charlottetown.

The Canso Causeway crosses the Strait of Canso, connecting Cape Breton Island by road to the Nova Scotia peninsula. Its crest thickness is 40 m (130 ft), carrying the two-vehicle traffic lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway, Nova Scotia Highway 104 on the mainland side, and Nova Scotia Highway 105 on the Cape Breton side, as well as the single track mainline of the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway. The Canso Causeway is a 1,385 m (4,544 ft) rock-fill causeway in Nova Scotia, Canada. Constructed in an “S” shape, the causeway has a base width of 244 m (801 ft) in waters having a maximum depth of 65 m (213 ft).

Overnight – Quality Inn Downtown

Meals Included:  Breakfast, Dinner

Embarking on a Charlottetown tour, we’ll visit the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place, stroll Cavendish Beach, and enjoy a traditional PEI Ceilidh with oyster shucking. The day includes a lavish lobster dinner at Fishermans Wharf, famous for its extensive salad bar and seafood delights. Evening brings free time to discover Charlottetown’s charm, while the heritage site offers a deep dive into L.M. Montgomery’s world, complete with historical exhibits and picturesque trails.

Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place: Walk in the footsteps of one of Canada’s most celebrated authors and immerse yourself in the landscape that inspired the setting of Anne of Green Gables. Part of L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site, Green Gables tells the story of both the author, L.M. Montgomery, and her most famous heroine, Anne Shirley. Explore the new visitor center, original house, 19th-century gardens, farmyard, and walking trails – including the Haunted Wood and Lovers Lane – Gift Shop, and The Cordial Café.

Overnight – Quality Inn Downtown

Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, we’ll explore Gateway Village and cross the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. A photo op awaits with the world’s largest lobster in Shediak before we head to the Hopewell Rocks for a guided tour and lunch, marveling at the world’s highest tides. The day concludes with the mind-bending Magnetic Hill experience in Moncton, followed by a restful evening at the Rodd Moncton Hotel.

Overnight – Rodd Moncton

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Leaving Moncton, we return to Nova Scotia for a two-night stay at The Atlantica Halifax. Upon reaching Halifax, we’ll explore Pier 21, a historic gateway for immigrants, where records of ancestral arrivals are available. Guests can pre-arrange document viewing. The itinerary includes free time for lunch at a preferred pier restaurant, followed by a visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in downtown Halifax.

Overnight – Atlantica Hotel

Day 14 – Tuesday – June 17, 2024 – Peggy’s Cove – Luneburg – Halifax City Tour

Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Today’s journey includes the iconic Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, the charming streets of Mahone Bay, and the well-preserved British colonial architecture of Lunenburg, before returning to Halifax for a Farewell Dinner. Peggy’s Cove, with its picturesque lighthouse, Mahone Bay’s vibrant artisan scene, and Lunenburg’s historical layout, offer a rich tapestry of Nova Scotia’s coastal heritage to explore with newfound companions.

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse: Also known as Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, is one of Nova Scotia’s most well-known lighthouses and may be the most photographed in Canada. Located in the quaint fishing village of Peggy’s Cove along the South Shore, Peggy’s Point Lighthouse was built in 1915.

Mahone Bay: Boasts a simple yet extraordinary way of life. Experience it all from history to unique shops, artisans to culinary experiences, along the colorful and quaint streets.  Mahone Bay is a must-see town famous for its picture-perfect Three Churches photo-op.

Lunenburg: The best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America. Established in 1753, it has retained its original layout and overall appearance, based on a rectangular grid pattern drawn up in the home country. The inhabitants have managed to safeguard the city’s identity throughout the centuries by preserving the wooden architecture of the houses, some of which date from the 18th century.

Overnight – Atlantica Hotel

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Today is your day to fly home unless you have arranged to stay in Halifax longer. We will transport you to the airport in time for the group flight departure.  If you choose to stay longer all transportation is on your own.