Highlights of The Maritimes (Small Group) - 13 days

Arrive in Halifax and settle into your accommodation, situated in the heart of this vibrant, cosmopolitan city on the Atlantic Ocean. This evening, join your tour guide and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting.

Halifax - Moncton. Discover the Bay of Fundy and experience the world's highest tides as you travel along its vibrant coastline towards New Brunswick. Along the way, visit the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can view brilliantly exposed rock layers showcasing the most comprehensive fossil record of life from the "Coal Age," dating back 300 million years. Upon arriving in New Brunswick, indulge in an unforgettable culinary adventure with a delicious lobster dinner on a lobster boat. Finally, proceed to Moncton and settle into your downtown hotel for the night.

Moncton - Saint John. Discover a remarkable natural wonder this morning at the Hopewell Rocks along the Bay of Fundy coast. Be amazed by these towering flowerpot-shaped formations, crafted by the world's highest tides. Journey through Fundy National Park to visit Saint John, Canada's first incorporated city, located on New Brunswick's southern coast. Take an included city tour featuring the Reversing Falls, where the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy cause the Saint John River to reverse its flow twice daily. Settle into your accommodations in Saint John for a two-night stay.

Saint John - St Andrews by-the-Sea - Saint John. Spend a day exploring the enchanting town of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, known for its picturesque coastal charm. Begin with an included whale watching boat tour, if weather conditions allow. Afterwards, enjoy the afternoon at your own pace, discovering the friendly locals, stunning architecture, and vibrant marine life in this seaside treasure. We return to Saint John for the evening.

Saint John - Digby. We take the ferry back to Nova Scotia this morning, arriving in Digby. Digby is renowned as the scallop capital of the world. Enjoy the fresh sea air as we check into our accommodation, which offers stunning views of the Annapolis Basin on the Bay of Fundy. Dinner is included this evening.

Digby - Halifax. Explore the verdant Annapolis Valley, where the French Acadians established their first settlement at Grand Pre in the early 1600s. Discover how this landscape has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where history and legend intertwine to tell the story of the Land of Evangeline. Enjoy a tour and tasting at a local winery, then head back to Halifax for the night.

Please note: Some travellers may be ending their tour in Halifax, and others may join our group for the next part of our tour.

Explore the rustic appeal of the famous fishing village of Peggy’s Cove, where you can have breakfast with a view of one of the world's most photographed lighthouses. Journey along the South Shore to the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Lunenburg, celebrated for its Grand Banks fishing schooner fleets. Enjoy a walking tour to immerse yourself in one of the best-preserved colonial settlements in the New World, and visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic to discover the town's renowned seafaring legacy. We spend another night back in the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax.

Halifax - Charlottetown. Discover the Mi'kmaq culture at the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre before we travel across the Confederation Bridge, the longest continuous multi-span bridge globally, to reach Prince Edward Island. Settle into your accommodation in Charlottetown and experience a theatre performance by local entertainers at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, with the possibility of a substitute performance depending on the theatre schedule.

Spend a leisurely morning exploring Charlottetown, the birthplace of Canada, or take part in a complimentary walking tour of the city. In the afternoon, embark on a guided tour of the picturesque North Shore of Prince Edward Island. Witness the stunning red cliffs, white sandy beaches, gently rolling sand dunes, and lush green fields of Prince Edward Island National Park. Visit the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place, which inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved novels. In the evening, enjoy authentic Maritime hospitality with an included traditional hall-style lobster supper.

Charlottetown - Baddeck. This morning, we take the ferry across the Northumberland Strait, returning to Nova Scotia. We then head to Cape Breton Island, often referred to as the Scotland of North America, via the Canso Causeway. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck to explore the numerous achievements of this remarkable inventor who once lived on the island. Afterwards, we check into our accommodation overlooking Bras d'Or Lake, where we'll be staying for the next two nights. In the evening, enjoy a special sightseeing boat tour to view the stunning Bras d’Or Lake from the water.

We embark on a breathtaking journey through one of North America's most scenic routes by exploring the Cabot Trail. This drive takes us along Cape Breton's northern shore, revealing the rugged beauty of its rocky landscape and leading up to the magnificent plateaus of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Along the way, various lookout points provide unforgettable views of the island's dramatic coastline, so keep your camera ready.

Baddeck - Halifax. Today, we visit the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, an impressive reconstruction representing one-fifth of the 1744 New France settlement. Then, we continue along the shore of Bras d'Or Lake to the mainland, before returning to Halifax for our final evening in the Maritimes.

Our tour comes to an end today. Tuck into a final breakfast at the hotel before check out. We wish you a safe onward journey!