Day 1-2 ARRIVE HALIFAX (2 NIGHTS)
Welcome to Halifax, home to the first British town in Canada! A complimentary transfer is provided to the tour hotel. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.
Day 2-3 HALIFAX SIGHTSEEING & FREE TIME
Founded in 1749 by the British as a bulwark against French settlement, Nova Scotia’s capital has grown up to be a thriving, multicultural city. On a city tour today, learn about Nova Scotia’s intimate ties to the Titanic and visit the massive Halifax Citadel Historic Site, formerly one of the principal naval bases of the British Empire. This afternoon, soak up the salt air and traditional maritime atmosphere as you travel southwest to St. Margaret’s Bay and the lovely little fishing village of Peggy’s Cove. Return to Halifax for an evening at leisure.(Full Breakfast)
Day 3-4 HALIFAX - SHERBROOKE VILLAGE - BADDECK (2 NIGHTS)
Head north to Jeddore Oyster Pond and the Fisherman’s Life Museum, a restored house once home to Ervin and Ethelda Myers — and their 13 daughters. Smell the fresh salty air, see the lovely garden and imagine the joys and struggles of a typical fisherman’s family in the early 1900s. In the winters, fishermen sometimes worked in the forests, and Sherbrooke Village is a meticulously re-created lumber town from the late 19th century. Stroll along the River Walk, chat with the blacksmith and visit town’s post office. Then cross the Canso Causeway, an engineering wonder built with some 10 million tons of rock, to explore gorgeous Cape Breton Island. End your travels for the day in the pretty little town of Baddeck on the shores of the enchanting Bras d’Or Lake.(Full Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 4-5 CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS - CABOT TRAIL EXCURSION
Begin the day with a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site where the inventor of the telephone chose to build his Canadian estate, saying “I have travelled the globe… for simple beauty Cape Breton outrivals them all.” Get a taste of that natural beauty on the famed Cabot Trail, a breathtaking journey around the tip of the island. Pass by sparkling blue bays and emerald-clad hillsides and quaint Margaree Harbour. Look out for black bear, moose and bald eagle as you travel past the majestic cliffs and canyons of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Return to Baddeck in the late afternoon.(Full Breakfast)
Day 5-6 BADDECK - WOOD ISLANDS FERRY - CHARLOTTETOWN (2 NIGHTS)
Traversing the scenic Nova Scotia countryside, spot little farms, glittering stretches of blue water and rocky headlands before arriving at the “Birthplace of New Scotland,” lovely Pictou, which got its nickname from the waves of Scottish emigres who settled here. Ferry across the Northumberland Strait to magical Prince Edward Island — the home of the beloved Anne of Green Gables; then skirt the coast before travelling inland to picturesque Charlottetown.(Full Breakfast)
Day 6-7 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND SIGHTSEEING - FREE TIME
Join a Local Guide today for an insider’s tour of Prince Edward Island. Begin with a visit to the fishing village of North Rustico with its pretty red-and-white lighthouse, built back in 1876. Then explore a 25-mile stretch of some of Canada’s most spectacular coastline set aside in Prince Edward Island National Park. Relish the sparkling waters, the striking red sandstone cliffs, the chattering shorebirds and the rolling sand dunes festooned with gently waving beach grass. Visit the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company and learn the secrets of making delicious fruit preserves. Join your hosts for a Be My Guest Lunch featuring authentic local cuisine. Later, pay a visit to the quaint township of Cavendish and discover the gabled house that provided inspiration for the classic children’s story about a little orphan girl. Return to Charlottetown this evening for some time at leisure.(Full Breakfast / Be My Guest lunch)
Day 7-8 CHARLOTTETOWN - SHEDIAC BAY - MONCTON
Return across the Northumberland Strait, this time via the Confederation Bridge – the longest bridge in the world over ice-covered water. Back in New Brunswick, head out onto the waters to learn about the art and science of lobstering; then enjoy a lobster Highlight Lunch onboard the boat (weather permitting). Return to land and visit a local winery, tasting their famed fruit wines, before ending your day’s journey in Moncton, originally settled in 1766 by Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants from Philadelphia. This evening, join your travelling companions for a festive Farewell Dinner.(Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch / Farewell Dinner)
Day 8-9 MONCTON - HOPEWELL ROCKS - DEPART HALIFAX
Get out your Guinness Book of World Records this morning for a visit to the Hopewell Rocks in the Bay of Fundy, site of the world’s highest tide. Your local guide explains everything you need to know about these magnificently eroded rocks that tower above the churning sea. Bid farewell to your fellow travellers in Moncton where you will take a complimentary transfer to Halifax International Airport or to the tour hotel if you want to extend your stay in Nova Scotia.(Full Breakfast)