Best of the Canadian Maritimes
Overview
Discover the beauty of Canada’s Maritime provinces on a 12-day journey through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Explore charming coastal towns, iconic landscapes, rich Indigenous heritage and historic sites, from Peggy’s Cove and Hopewell Rocks to Charlottetown and Green Gables. Along the way, enjoy local cuisine, scenic cruises and authentic cultural experiences that showcase the best of the region.
Format
Trip Highlights
Destinations that include planned activities and/or overnight stays.
- Canada
- Halifax
- Lunenburg
- Baddeck
- Charlottetown
- Summerside
- Moncton
- Saint John
- Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Fort Amherst, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Green Gables Heritage Place, Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- The Bottle Houses and Gardens, Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick, Canada
- Fundy National Park, Alma, New Brunswick, Canada
Inclusions
- Flight to Halifax, return from Saint John, N.B. (If Flight and Hotel option is chosen)
- 11 nights of accommodation
- 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners
- Professional English-speaking tour director, starting from Day 2
- Transportation by van as of Day 2
- City taxes
- More Moments Activities Included:
- Halifax - Leader-led orientation walk
- Lunenburg - Mahone Bay & Blue Rocks
- Lunenburg - Guided walking tour
- Peggy's Cove Visit
- Millbrook - Mi'kmaq Cultural & Heritage Centre
- Baddeck - Celtic music ceilidh
- Cape Breton Highlands National Park - Hike
- Cape Breton Island - Oyster experience
- Charlottetown - Leader-led orientation walk
- Points East Coastal Drive - Mussel and lobster shore boil
- Charlottetown - Leader-led walking tour
- Prince Edward Island National Park
- Saint Catherines - Winery visit and tasting
- Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site
- Cavendish - Bottle House Visit
- Cavendish - Green Gables Heritage Place
- Lennox Island First Nation experience
- Shediac - Bay cruise with lobster dinner
- Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park - Naturalist-led walk
- Bay of Fundy - Cap Enrage
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart for Halifax, Nova Scotia
Upon arrival in Halifax, you’ll make your own way to the hotel. You’ll meet your group and local leader at 5 PM for a welcome meeting, then head out for a leader-led orientation walk.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Halifax - Leader-led orientation walk
This city is known for its maritime history and hilltop Citadel, a star-shaped fort that was completed in the 1850s.
Day 2
Halifax: Visit
After breakfast, you’ll head for your full- day visit to historic Lunenburg on the South Shore.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Lunenburg - Mahone Bay & Blue Rocks
Visit the UNESCO-listed town of Lunenburg, one of only two urban communities in North America designated as a World Heritage Site.
-
Lunenburg - Guided walking tour
You’ll explore nearby Mahone Bay and Blue Rocks on a guided walk, learning about their fishing heritage and thriving arts scene. Enjoy free time to wander the historic town centre, a National Historic Site of Canada, and perhaps sample some local craft beverages inspired by the region’s rum-running past.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 3
Halifax: Visit
Today, you’ll journey to Peggy’s Cove, one of Canada’s most iconic and photographed fishing villages. You can enjoy some free time for lunch ($) in the village, with local favourites such as seafood chowder or a fresh lobster roll. The afternoon is yours to discover and soak up some local history.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Peggy's Cove
Admire the rugged coastline, colourful fishing boats, crashing Atlantic waves and the famous, red-topped lighthouse as you stroll along the Peggy’s Cove Rock Walk, shaped by glaciers over 12,000 years ago.
($) Optional Activities
-
Museum Visit ($)
Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to learn more about the region’s rich history.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 4
Halifax - Baddeck: Visit
Today, you’ll drive from Halifax to Baddeck, stopping at the Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Center along the way. Upon your arrival in Baddeck, you can enjoy the afternoon at your own pace.
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Millbrook - Cultural & Heritage Centre
Located on lands owned by Millbrook First Nation, the cultural centre shares the story of the Millbrook Mi’kmaq and their enduring contributions to the Maritime provinces. Be sure to browse the gift shop, featuring a selection of traditional Indigenous arts and crafts.
-
Baddeck - Celtic music ceilidh
This evening, enjoy dinner with your group before experiencing a traditional Cape Breton ceilidh, where local musicians bring the region’s rich Scottish heritage to life through music and storytelling.
($) Optional Activities
-
Alexander Granham Bell National Historic Site (entrance fee) ($)
Learn more about the inventor, scientist and educator renowned for developing the telephone.
Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5
Baddeck: Visit
Today, you’ll drive along the Cabot Trail for a leisurely hike within Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Cape Breton Highlands National Park - Hike
You’ll set out on the Skyline Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park’s signature hike, where spectacular coastal vistas await. If conditions are favourable, you’ll continue along the scenic Cabot Trail, with plenty of picturesque stops along the way.
-
Cape Breton Island - Oyster experience
Enjoy a picnic lunch before visiting an oyster hatchery in South Harbour for an authentic local experience. Learn how oysters are cultivated, try your hand at shucking, and savour freshly harvested oysters straight from the source.
Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6
Baddeck - Charlottetown: Sightseeing
After breakfast, you’ll depart from Baddeck to Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island and the smallest provincial capital in the country. You can discover the area at your own pace before meeting the group for dinner.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Charlottetown - Leader-led orientation walk
Head downtown and explore on foot when you arrive in the late afternoon.
Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7
Charlottetown: Sightseeing
This morning at 10 AM, you’ll attend an orientation meeting to welcome new travellers joining the next stage of your journey, followed by a guided walking tour of the town. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace before regrouping later for a special evening experience.
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Charlottetown - Leader-led walking tour
Stroll alongside the picturesque harbour or take in the leafy parks and Victorian-era streets lined with gabled houses.
-
Points East Coastal Drive - Mussel and lobster shore boil
Travel along the scenic Points East Coastal Drive to meet a local fisherman and enjoy a traditional lobster and mussel boil on his private property.
Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8
Charlottetown: Visit
Drive from Charlottetown to the Greenwich section of Prince Edward Island National Park, known for its rare parabolic dunes and long white-sand beaches. Continue to Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site and end the day with a visit to a local family-run winery.
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Prince Edward Island National Park
Explore the dune trails, coastal wildlife, and unique plant species.
-
Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site
Relish the views over Charlottetown Harbour and insight into the island’s first European settlement.
-
Saint Catherines - Winery visit and tasting
Visit to a local family-run winery for a tasting.
Meal(s): Breakfast and tasting
Day 9
Charlottetown - Summerside: Visit
After breakfast, you’ll kick off the drive towards Summerside, stopping at a few viewpoints along the way.
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Cavendish - Bottle House visit
Visit a unique group of buildings, including a tavern, chapel and gift shop, constructed from thousands of bottles.
-
Cavendish - Green Gables Heritage Place
Stop in Cavendish, where L.M. Montgomery famously drew her inspiration for the ‘Anne of Green Gables’ novels. Visit Green Gables Heritage Place and explore the area.
-
Lennox Island First Nation experience
Visit Lennox Island First Nation to meet with a Mi'kmaq guide for a tour of the cultural centre. Learn about Mi'kmaq culture and history, as well as the traditional way of preparing Bannock (quick bread) at a campfire.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 10
Summerside - Moncton
Depart Prince Edward Island, crossing the iconic Confederation Bridge and stopping at the informative Interpretation Centre to learn about this engineering marvel. Take a short walk near the old ferry terminal, which closed in 1997 when the bridge opened, for a glimpse into the past.
Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Shediac - Bay Cruise with lobster dinner
Head to Shediac, known as the Lobster Capital of the World. Weather permitting, there’s an optional lunch ($) at Parlee Beach before heading to see the famous giant lobster sculpture. Then take some time to wander around the charming village before boarding a boat to cruise scenic Shediac Bay, with dinner served on board.
Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11
Moncton - Saint John
Today, you’ll journey to the postcard-perfect Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, renowned for its dramatic tides and iconic rock formations. This evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a memorable farewell dinner to celebrate the experiences shared throughout your journey.
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
More Moments Activities Included
-
Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park - Naturalist-led walk
Join a naturalist guide for a walk right out onto the sea floor (tide permitting) and get up close to the towering sandstone formations known as the Hopewell Rocks, or Flowerpot Rocks. When the tide comes in, waters in the bay can reach up to 16 m, making it the highest tides in the world.
-
Bay of Fundy - Cap Enrage
In the afternoon, you’ll take a quick detour to spectacular Cap Enrage with its charming lighthouse before continuing through Fundy National Park.
Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12
Saint John
After breakfast, you’ll make your own way to the airport and board your flight home.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodations
Where you'll stay
Comfort Accommodation
Location
Hotel
Room details
Unless otherwise indicated, guests will stay in a Standard Room at all hotels during the trip.
Room occupancy: Maximum 2 people
Ideal for
Guided tours
Let us show you around. Tour packages include (varies by tour):
- Round-trip flight with Air Canada
- Private airport transfers
- Hotel accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Train transportation
- Motorcoach transportation
- Hotel-to-hotel luggage service
- Experienced guide throughout
- Aeroplan® points
Important Information
-
- May 23 & 30, 2027
- June 06, 13, 20 & 27, 2027
- July 04, 11, 18 & 25, 2027
- August 01, 08, 15, 22 & 29, 2027
- September 05, 12, 19 & 26, 2027
-
Not Included
- Airport Transfers
- Tips
- Meals & drinks, unless noted
- Additional activities and excursions
- Personal expenses
- Travel and medical insurance
-
- The More Moments activities/excursions mentioned in the itinerary are all included in the package but may be rescheduled to take place on an earlier or later day or replaced with an alternate option depending on availability, weather, seasonality and operational reasons beyond the supplier’s control.
- This itinerary includes Out & About suggestions for activities that are not included in your package, but are great tips for places to visit and things to do.
- Optional activities may be purchased locally with your tour leader.
-
Car/Van: Ford Transit E350 - 15 seater van or similar
-
- The sequence of the itinerary may be altered for reasons beyond the supplier’s control, such as accommodation availability, weather and national events.
- Excursions, optional tours, activities and other experiences booked through Air Canada Vacations as optional services are non-refundable and non-transferable once confirmed. Changes, cancellations or failure to participate will not qualify for a refund or credit.
-
Maximum group of 12
-
15 years old and up