Grand Tour of Atlantic Canada's National Parks

Itinerary Highlights

Discover the diversity landscapes and history while visiting all four of Atlantic Canada's provinces
Experience the World's Highest Tides in New Brunswick and Hike a section of the new 700km Island Walk at Prince Edward Island
Spend a day on one of Canada's most spectacular scenic drives - The Cabot Trail
Spot the incredible humpback whales in Newfoundland and Labrador
Best time to travel May - September

What's Included

Accommodation Throughout
Car Hire
International Flights

19 nights from £3,799 per person

Jackie

Travel Specialist

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This three-week self-drive holiday visits all four provinces of Atlantic Canada. Discover a variety of highlights including seven magnificent national parks, historic sites, fascinating museums, wildlife reserves and lighthouses while travelling through New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Explore the attractive waterfront of Halifax and discover the wildlife, natural beauty and world’s largest tides of Fundy National Park and Hopewell Rocks. Visit Avonlea – made famous by Anne of Green Gables and spend a day on one of the world's most spectacular scenic drives, the Cabot Trail. Cross over to Newfoundland & Labrador by ferry to explore the south-west region of Cape Anguille and discover the beauty of Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the outstanding coastal beauty of Twillingate and the Bonavista Peninsula before ending your Atlantic Canada adventure in St. John’s.

Itinerary

Day 1 UK – Halifax

Depart the UK aboard your flight to Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Provincial Capital. Upon arrival, collect your rental vehicle and make your way to your downtown hotel. Settled by the British in 1749, the city’s history dates back even further, to the times of the Mi’kmaq natives, European fishermen and the early Acadians, who were here long before the settlers. The city is now a bustling hub of sidewalk cafes and vibrant nightlife, art galleries and museums, most of which are centred around the attractive waterfront.

Staying at

Patio garden at Halliburton Hotel, Halifax

Day 2 Halifax

Take in the sights of Halifax as you stroll past its historic architecture; make sure to visit the excellent Maritime Museum of the Atlantic with its unique collection of memorabilia collected after the tragic Titanic disaster. Visit Pier 21, a National Historic Site, where you will find the fascinating Canadian Museum of Immigration. In the evening we recommend you experience the Grafton Street Dinner Theatre – a unique evening of dining, music, comedy and interactive characters.

Staying at

Day 3 Halifax – Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (102 miles)

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, Nova Scotia

Today you will drive along the Lighthouse Route, stopping at the picturesque fishing village of Peggy’s Cove and at Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting a beautiful setting and historic architecture. Drive inland to Kejimkujik, a spectacular National Park that you can explore on foot along walking trails or via the waterways by canoe. Tonight, you will stay in rustic chalets in a forest setting close to the park. Accommodation: Kempt Country Inn

Day 4 Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site – Annapolis Valley (40 miles)

Enjoy a leisurely morning in the park. Learn more of its history at the excellent visitor centre where you will find replicas of native tools used by archaeologists dating back 4,500 years. Drive to Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley Region on the north coast where you can stroll along the delightful waterfront boardwalk and visit highlights such as Fort Anne National Historic Site and the O’Dell House Museum. Accommodation: Queen Anne Inn

Day 5 Annapolis Valley – Fundy National Park (132 miles including ferry crossing)

Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick

This morning board the ferry at Digby for the three-hour crossing to Saint John, New Brunswick. Saint John is the province’s largest city and is steeped in history, with sites including the Carleton Martello National Historic Site and Old City Market. Saint John is most famous for the Reversing Falls - the falls change direction with the changing tides! Drive along the scenic Fundy Coastal Drive to Fundy National Park. Accommodation: Artisan Suites

Day 6 Fundy National Park

Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick

Enjoy a full day at leisure to discover the natural beauty of Fundy National Park, with 80-sq m of steep coastal cliffs, forest clad hills and deep rich valleys. The park is renowned for its hiking trails and is a haven for cyclists, bird watchers, canoeists and naturalists. Other sightseeing highlights include Cape Enrage Lighthouse and Mary’s Point Bird Sanctuary. There is opportunity for you to take a sea kayaking adventure here to explore the spectacular coastline from the water. Accommodation: Artisan Suites

Day 7 Fundy National Park – Kouchibouguac National Park (110 miles)

Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick

Drive along the fascinating Hopewell Cape, home of Hopewell Rocks where you can witness the natural phenomenon of the highest tides in the world at 14-metres. Thousands of years of tidal forces have carved away the cliffs and created the fascinating Flowerpot Rocks. Continue along the Acadian Coastal Drive through quaint coastal towns and villages to Kouchibouguac National Park. Accommodation: La Ancrage B&B

Day 8 Kouchibouguac National Park – Cavendish Area (130 miles)

Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Depart Kouchibouguac National Park and drive back along the Acadian Coastal Drive via Shediac and Cap Pele to the dramatic Confederation Bridge, your gateway to Prince Edward Island. Be sure to visit Gateway Village conveniently located at the end of the bridge. A unique adventure awaits as you experience the legends of the land, sea and people of this small Province. Drive along the Green Gables Shore which offers the perfect combination of island scenery and culture. Continue on to Cavendish - the home of Anne of Green Gables and Avonlea - the village of Anne of Green Gables. Visit Anne of Green Gables Chocolates – they are handmade before your eyes at Avonlea Village Accommodation: The Graham Inn B&B

Day 9 Prince Edward Island Exploring

Today explore the island further. Suggest visiting Anne of Green Gables Museum in Park Corner and the Green Gables L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site. Also be sure to visit one of the three areas of Prince Edward National Park to view the spectacular sand dunes that PEI is famous for. Accommodation: The Graham Inn B&B

Day 10 Dalvay Bay – Baddeck (209 miles)

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

A longer drive today takes you from Prince Edward Island to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Stop at Charlottetown, Prince Edward island’s capital, where you can visit Founder’s Hall, or the National Historic Street called Great George. Take a ferry from Wood Islands Ferry terminal for the 75-minute crossing to Caribou. Drive along Sunrise Trail via the historic town of Pictou – the birthplace of new Scotland. Continue to Baddeck. Accommodation: Lynwood Inn

Day 11 Cabot Trail

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Wake to views of Baddeck’s beautiful Bras d’Or Lake. This area’s most notable resident was Alexander Graham Bell, who had an estate nearby. Spend a day on the famous Cabot Trail, one of Canada’s most spectacular scenic drives. Wind your way around the rocky splendour of Cape Breton’s northern shore, ascending to incredible plateaus in Cape Breton Highlands National Park as you hike through stunning mountain and coastal landscapes. Accommodation: Lynwood Inn

Day 12 Baddeck – Cape Anguille (182 miles including ferry crossing)

Cape Anguille, Newfoundland & Labrador

Drive to North Sydney for the seven-hour crossing aboard Marine Atlantic Ferry to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. Drive through the spectacular Codroy Valley to Cape Anguille, a headland at the westernmost point of Newfoundland. Accommodation: Cape Anguille Inn

Day 13 Cape Anguille – Humber Valley Area (129 miles)

Humber Valley, Newfoundland & Labrador

Visit the Wetlands – home to a diverse waterfowl population. Head east, with a diversion along the French Ancestor’s route to Port au Port Peninsula, a mecca for nature lovers, artists and photographers. Continue to Corner Brook; highlights here include the Newfie Bullet Historical Train and the Captain James Cook Monument, where you will be rewarded with impressive views of the city. Accommodation: Hew & Draw Hotel

Day 14 Humber Valley Area – Gros Morne National Park (72 miles)

Drive to Gros Morne National Park – designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 for tis impressive geological features. The park covers 700 sq m and offers beauty and adventure unsurpassed by anywhere else in the world. Visit the picturesque communities of Woody Point and Trout River or put your hiking boots on and set off on one of the 19 hiking trails on offer. Accommodation: Bonne Bay Inn

Day 15 Gros Morne National Park

Enjoy a full day exploring the north side of Gros Morne National Park. Visit the scenic community of Norris Point and Rocky Harbour as well as Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse. In the afternoon you will take a cruise on Western Brook Pond Fjord and soak up the spectacular scenery where the dramatic ravine-like sides tower over 600-metres above you. Accommodation: Bonne Bay Inn

Day 16 Gros Morne National Park – Twillingate (267 miles)

Twillingate

Head east from Gros Morne National Park to Newfoundland’s central region through lush forest on your way to Notre Dame Bay, and along the ‘Road to the Isles’ to Twillingate. There is plenty to do here including sea kayaking, coastal hikes, visiting lighthouses and museums, watching icebergs float by or whale watching (seasonal). Accommodation: Iceberg Alley B&B

Day 17 Twillingate – Trinity (249 miles)

Today’s drive takes you the beautiful Terra Nova National Park, home to quintessential Newfoundland landscapes. The park is a paradise for hiking and exploring. Continue to the Bonavista Peninsula along the scenic coastal route; this is where John Cabot first discovered North America in 1497. Explore the attractive waterfront and Bonavista Museum before you continue to Trinity.

Staying at

Day 18 Trinity – St John’s (168 miles)

Trinity is the cultural and architectural capital of Newfoundland, featuring the impressive St. Paul’s Anglican Church and beautifully restored saltbox houses as well as fantastic coastal walking trails and boat tours to explore the rugged coastline. Stop at the small fishing town of Brigus where you can visit Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site, the family homestead of Arctic Explorer Captain Bob Bartlett. Continue to St John’s, the capital of Newfoundland. Accommodation: Alt St John’s

Day 19 St John's

Take a tour of St John’s, the oldest city in North America. Visit the Historical Site of Cape Spear and enjoy beautiful views from the top of Signal Hill. Stop at the picturesque fishing village of Quidi Vidi, Government House and the Roman Catholic Cathedral. Take a cruise around Witless Bay Ecological Reserve where you might spot humpback whales, puffins and other marine wildlife. Accommodation: Alt St John’s