Canada Maritime

Day 1 Halifax

Upon arrival at Halifax Airport collect your car and make your way to your downtown hotel. The day is at leisure where you can explorer Canada’s traditional gateway to the world, combining charming old wooden homes and Victorian parks with modern shopping centres. Ships, from tall ships to naval vessels, can still be seen in the harbour, and old warehouses and shipfitters’ shops have become part of the exciting boardwalk along the waterside. Overnight Halifax

Day 2 Halifax – Liverpool (160 km)

Rocky harbours with hidden bays and islands have made Nova Scotia’s south shore a pirate’s and smuggler’s paradise for over 300 years. Tiny fishing villages cling to the ocean edge and white sand beaches stretch endlessly. Each day small lobster boats go out to sea and return with Nova Scotia’s most precious export. Visit the much photographed Peggy’s Cove, elegant Chester, picturesque Mahone Bay and UNESCO World Heritage Site Lunenburg.

Day 3 Liverpool – Digby/Annapolis Royal/Saint John 1 (150 km)

Drive through inland Nova Scotia and stop at Kejimkujik National Park which contains 380sq.km of forests, lakes and rivers. The park is home to the greatest diversity of reptiles and amphibians in Atlantic Canada. A ferry (included) takes you from Digby, Nova Scotia to Saint John, New Brunswick carrying you across the Bay of Fundy. Watch for whales and seabirds on the 3hrs crossing.

Day 4 Digby/Saint John – Fredericton (120 km)

Saint John was founded in 1783 by refugees from the United States who wished to remain citizens of the British Empire. Visit the Old City Market or experience the Reversing Falls (located in an industrial area). Today you follow the Saint John River valley from the tidal seaport at its mouth, to Fredericton, the tranquil capital city of New Brunswick.

Day 5 Fredericton – Riviere-du-Loup (375 km)

Follow the Saint John Valley, past covered bridges and fertile farmland. After an optional visit to the gorge at Grand Falls, continue to the shores of the St. Lawrence River.

Day 6 Riviere-du-Loup – Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (300 km)

You follow the coastline, which gradually becomes more rugged as the St. Lawrence River valley enters the Gulf. Attractions en-route includes the Ile Verte, the “Parc du Bic”, and opportunities to watch for whales along the shore.

Day 7 Sainte.-Anne-des-Monts – Percé (290 km)

As you follow the coast of the St. Lawrence down the Gaspe Peninsula, you feel as though you are reaching the end of the world. At the very tip of the peninsula, you come to Forillon National Park, with its undulating topography, plant and animal life specific to the boreal forest and alpine tundra, as well as breeding areas for marine birds and mammals. Visitors can explore a network of nine trails to discover magnificent views of the ocean and mountains and observe the abundant wildlife. In the afternoon you arrive at “land’s end” where you find the giant Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island, home to great seabird colonies.

Day 8 Percé

Further explore Forillon National Park, with its quaint fishing villages, hiking and cycling trails, and splendid views. Or visit Percé, with its famous pierced rock lying offshore, and Bonaventure Island, a famous nesting site for Gannets. An optional 1½ hour cruise takes you to the island.

Day 9 Percé – Dalhousie (250 km)

The scenic highway along the rugged coast of the Baie des Chaleurs leads to the traditional vacation village of Carleton and Miguasha Provincial Park, a fossil site. Returning to New Brunswick, you stay near Sugarloaf Provincial Park.

Day 10 Dalhousie – Shediac/Sackville (350 km)

Kouchibouguac National Park has the warmest ocean water you will encounter on your trip. Lagoons and salt marshes attract seals and large numbers of wild Canada Geese in season. Shediac, with its warm water beaches, is also known as the “Lobster Capital” of Canada.

Day 11 Shediac/Sackville – Charlottetown (100 km)

A 13km-long crossing of the Northumberland Strait on the ”Confederation Bridge” brings you to Prince Edward Island, with its endless sand beaches, tiny farms, and picturesque country roads. The colour contrasts of red soil, green fields & forests and blue sky and ocean make for wonderful holiday pictures. Prince Edward Island National Park protects miles upon miles of beautiful coastline and features a 19th century wooden farmhouse, famous as the inspiration for the classic novel “Anne of Green Gables. Arrive in time to enjoy an evening in the vibrant city of Charlottetown.

Day 12 Charlottetown – Margaree (350 km)

Catch the ferry to Nova Scotia (not included). River estuaries in this region are rich with fish which attract large numbers of ospreys that can often be seen diving for a meal. The rolling hills give way to wilder scenery as you enter Cape Breton Island, home to the highest population of bald eagles in Eastern Canada

Day 13 Margaree – Sydney (300 km)

Take in an optional morning whale-watching cruise or enjoy a drive around the Cabot Trail. The Cabot Trail is one of Canada’s best loved scenic drives and follows the impressive coastline from sea level up to an alpine plateau 500m above the sea. Waterfalls and swift running streams can be found near the road, and opportunities for seeing moose are excellent. Whales can often be spotted from the walking trails which overlook the coast.

Day 14 Sydney –Charlos Cove/Sherbrook (300 km)

A side trip leads to the Fortress of Louisbourg, Canada’s largest National Historic Site, and the strongest French fortress ever built in the Americas. Between June and September, costumed “animators” live in the fortress, making it come alive as it was in the summer of 1744. The Marine Drive of the Eastern Shore leads you through a land of pristine coastal beauty, where quiet shoreline roads wind through scenic seaside villages.

Day 15 Liscomb/Charlos Cove – Halifax (200 km)

Further discover the Eastern Shore, where smoked salmon, mackerel and eels can be purchased in the area before arriving at Halifax Airport for your departure

Please Note: Park entrance fees, bridge tools and ferry crossings to and from Prince Edward Island are not included.

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