This is a real, rugged Canadian motorhome adventure set in some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world. The trip kicks off in Halifax and takes you through the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. These are places with an inseparable bond with the ocean – you’ll explore an endless coastline split open by craggy inlets and marshy creeks, you’ll relax in idyllic harbours and on white sand beaches.
You’ll venture through mountain passes and vast forests, with the reward of magnificent sea views at every turn. And, of course, some of the finest lobster and seafood on the planet. This is pioneer country with a European heritage dating back to the 17th century. You will have the chance to step back in time while immersing yourself in a beautiful, pristine landscape that has changed little in centuries. The perfect ingredients for a spectacular road trip.
Duration: 23 days
Holiday Type:
Independent & Tailor-Made Motorhome Holidays
Departure dates:
On arrival in Halifax you’ll be whisked to your hotel, ready to spend a little time getting to know this small, appealing city.
It’s tiny compared to Vancouver and Toronto but has plenty of charm with its heritage buildings, attractive parks and the distinctive hilltop citadel, a star-shaped fort that was completed in the 1950s. Stroll the majestic 4km boardwalk with sweeping seaviews, sample donair (the local delicacy of Halifax) and explore the harbourside with its easy going night life, craft breweries and restaurants. Pier 21 is both inspiring and poignant, the spot where over a million immigrants arrived in Canada.
Distance: 60km (38miles)
Time to collect your motorhome and head out of the city.
Take the Lighthouse Route along to Peggy’s Cove on St Margaret’s Bay where the jaunty white-with-a-red-cap lighthouse stands resolute on a granite cliff. Built in 1915, it is one of Canada’s most photographed tourist locations.
Distance: 130km (81miles)
Today is a day for cruising along the scenic Lighthouse Route passing sandy beaches washed by the white-capped waves and gazing out to the beautiful bays sprinkled with picturesque islands. The craggy coastline shelters little fishing villages like Mahone Bay, once famous for shipbuilding, with its jaunty Victorian buildings, elegant heritage gardens, and its distinctive trio of churches standing on the waterfront.
The Nova Scotia fishing port of Lunenburg is a must-see stop off point on the South Shore. With its neat lawns, cheerfully painted weatherboard houses, slate roofs and grid layout, it has the look of a scale model – in fact it was laid out in line with the guidelines for 18thcentury British colonies and little substantial has changed.
Distance: 130km (81miles)
Crossing the LaHave River you’ll be heading toward Kejimkujik National Park. This is a vast area of pristine wilderness in the heart of Nova Scotia – lush forests, island dotted lakes, meandering rivers all create a natural playground. Follow the hiking trails or take to the water in a canoe before continuing to Granville Ferry, your base for the next two nights.
Distance: 145km (91miles)
Today you will travel up to Hall’s Harbour on the Bay of Fundy in the stunning Annapolis Valley. This is a picturesque natural harbour with one of the highest tides you’ll find anywhere in the world. It’s also an amazing place to enjoy the seaside atmosphere of a lobster fishing port and, yes, to tuck into amazing lobster.
The Grand Pré National Historic Site is a UNESCO World Heritage site, celebrated as a centre where you can learn about the Acadian people, their origins as descendants of 17th century French colonists, their deportation in the mid-18th century and their role in creating Cajun culture in Louisiana. Grand Pré was established in 1680, its rich land reclaimed from the sea to create an eerily beautiful, atmospheric landscape.
Distance: 195km (122miles)
The road ahead today leads around the Minas Basin on the Bay of Fundy to Five Island Provincial Park.
With 300 ft high cliffs rising majestically from the rocky shores of the Bay of Fundy, and some of the world’s highest tides, a dramatic backdrop is assured for your stay here. The park takes its name from the brooding off-shore islands and is renowned for its hiking trails, beach walks and sweeping seascapes.
Distance: 255km (159miles)
Head on passing the gorgeous beaches and lighthouse of Parrsboro and on to Joggins Fossil Cliffs, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here an encounter with creatures that lived 300 million years ago is a must. You’ll meet the world’s first reptiles, early dinosaurs and giant dragonflies and explore 15km of cliffs which preserve some of the world’s most important fossils.
Fundy National Park offers 28 hiking trails to suit all abilities, with some following the shoreline and others threading through the ancient forests. Some lead to stunning, secluded waterfalls. The park is on the Atlantic migration route for a huge variety of birds and there are over 260 species to be seen at different times of the year.
Distance: 250km (156miles)
A few photo opportunities today, starting with the Hopewell Rocks, known locally as Flowerpot Rocks, formed by tidal erosion and great to explore during low tide. No doubt you’ll want a selfie with the world’s largest lobster in Shediac before crossing the 8 mile long Confederation Bridge to Canada’s smallest and least populated province, Prince Edward Island.
The island is easy to navigate, being so small, with rich, verdant pastures and sandy shores wherever you travel. Charlotteville is the picturesque provincial capital, an attractive blend of leafy streets, colourful houses and bustling boardwalks. A popular destination is the Anne at Green Gables Heritage Place, the inspiration for L.M. Montgomery’s classic 1908 children’s novel.
Distance: 115km (72miles)
Take the morning at your leisure, explore Prince Edward Island before catching the ferry to Pictou, Nova Scotia in the afternoon. There you can stroll along the historic waterfront, admire the original Scottish architecture, the wild beaches, excellent trails, browse the museums and be tempted by the seafood restaurants.
Distance: 265km (166miles)
Follow the Ceilidh Trail, a scenic trail approximately 62 miles long which snakes along the west coast of Cape Breton Island providing stunning views across the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The trail is named after its Scottish legacy, with a history of settlers, ceilidhs, Celtic evenings and, naturally, the inevitable whiskey distillery.
The trail ends in Margaree Harbour where it meets the Cabot Trail, an epic road that loops and dives for 300 km around the north of Cape Breton. It’s breathtaking stuff: pounding seas, mountain passes, dense forests, with the occasional moose, whale or eagle thrown in for good measure. It really is a road trip in itself.
Chéticamp, a traditional Acadian fishing village, is the first stop along the dramatic Cabot Trail, with a chance to visit St. Peter’s Church. Don’t miss Les Trois Pignons, a fascinating cultural centre with a hooked-rug museum and antiquities, or why not join a whale watching cruise.
Distance: 115km (72miles)
This is a 115 km stretch of the wild Cabot Trail, climbing through the stunning Cape Breton Highlands National Park from where you are rewarded with sensational mountain views and ocean vistas. Expect cliff-hugging roads, rolling hills, windswept plateaux, pretty villages and moose sightings all along this memorable route.
There are over 25 hiking trails to choose from, but a highlight is always the Skyline Trail (about 8.2km, 2-3 hours). This takes you through silent forests and along rugged cliffs to an astonishing ridge with an incredible vantage point from the viewing platforms. Look out for eagles, moose, and maybe even whales cavorting in the Gulf of St Lawrence.
Ingonish is a good place to stop – a spot with something for everyone: warm sand, pleasant beaches, a world class 18-hole golf course and fantastic walking trails. The seafood comes highly recommended! A popular option here is to book a whale watching cruise for the chance to see blue, fin, minke, humpback and pilot whales.
Distance: 105km (66miles)
It’s a good day to enjoy the local wildlife in its spectacular natural habitat. Take a ferry trip to Bird Islands where you can see puffins and various sea birds, as well as seals and bald eagles.
The small resort town of Baddeck is dwarfed by the vast 1,000 sq km expanse of Bras d’Or lake on whose shores it sits. This large inland sea is part freshwater and part saltwater, with a resulting diverse ecosystem and wildlife.
Also of note is the fact that the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, lived here in a large country estate.
Distance: 150km (94miles)
The early Scottish settlers led hardy lives and were instrumental in opening up this rugged land. Discover what life was like in these primitive times at the Highland Village Museum in Iona, a 43 acre living history museum. You’ll be greeted in Gaelic so come prepared!
Louisbourg is a remote spot out on the coast. The main draw here, apart from the sheer unspoilt scenery, is the Fortress of Louisbourg, a National Historic Site. This living museum is the largest historical reconstruction in North America of a 1700s French garrison town, complete with costumed soldiers, dancers, bakers, sailors and fishermen going about their business. Around 60 buildings have been restored, making this one of the largest and most evocative National Historic Sites of Canada.
Distance: 270km (169miles)
Head along the south shore of Bras d’Or Lake, perhaps pausing to visit St. Peter’s Canal Historic Site. Here you can discover how the canal has linked the Atlantic Ocean and the Bras d’Or Lake for over 140 years.
Visit Sherbrooke Village and step back in time. Nova Scotia’s 19th century heritage is brought to life across 80 buildings by costumed blacksmiths, potters, weavers and printers. This region of Nova Scotia is wonderfully untamed, a nature lover’s paradise with miles of hiking trails and lots of wildlife.
Distance: 192km (120miles)
The shoreline is distinctive for the wildness of its coastline, with working fishing ports and endless ribbons of spotless beach stretching to the horizon.
Hike the Liscomb River Trail or follow a trail in Taylor Head Provincial Park, relax with an al fresco picnic at Marie Joseph Provincial Park, unwind with a stroll along the 3 mile white sand beach of Martinique Beach Provincial Park. Whatever you do, it’s a great opportunity to relax and reflect on the experiences you’ve enjoyed over the past days in this most beautiful of wildernesses.
Distance: 30km (19miles)
Time to drop off your motorhome at the depot and take the shuttle to Halifax airport for your flight home.
Price per person is based on two people sharing, prices for solo travellers are available on request.
Duration: 23 days
Holiday Type:
Independent & Tailor-Made Motorhome Holidays
Departure dates:
