Newfoundland Viking Trail From Halifax

Arrive in Halifax and check in to your accommodation, ideally located in the downtown core of Nova Scotia's capital. This evening, there is a welcome meeting with the tour guide and the rest of the group, so we can prepare for the adventure that lies ahead.

Halifax - North Sydney - Port aux Basques. We travel through Truro and Antigonish, crossing over the Canso Causeway to reach Cape Breton Island.

In North Sydney, we board the ferry for a relaxing overnight crossing to Port aux Basques, our port of entry for the island of Newfoundland.

Please note: The Marine Atlantic ferry schedule varies annually, so a daytime crossing may be required, which could necessitate an overnight stay in Port aux Basques. This accommodation will be included in your tour price, if required.

Port aux Basques - Port au Choix. Disembarking the ferry in Newfoundland this morning, we head through the Codroy Valley and the stunning Gros Morne National Park, which we will have the opportunity to explore later on during our tour.

Our destination today is the fishing community of Port au Choix, where we will learn about the ancient cultures that have inhabited the Port au Choix Peninsula. This area, which juts slightly into the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Newfoundland’s northwest coast, has been home to people for 5,500 years.

Please note: Some members of the tour may have started their tour in Corner Brook, instead of Halifax. The whole group will link up today, but the maximum group size of the tour will never be exceeded.

Port au Choix - L'Anse au Clair. We board the ferry from St. Barbe across the Strait of Belle Isle to reach Labrador this morning. Our next stop is Red Bay National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Basques operated a whaling station in the 16th century. We're spending the night in Labrador.

L'Anse au Clair - St Anthony. We return to Newfoundland and travel to L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the first cultural discovery in the world to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, we will learn about the Vikings who roamed this area over a thousand years ago. After our visit, we will proceed to our accommodation in St. Anthony for the night.

St Anthony - Cow Head. We begin our day with a morning whale-watching boat tour off the coast of St. Anthony (weather permitting). We will enjoy wonderful views of the coastline and hope to spot species including minke whales, humpbacks and white-sided dolphins.

Afterwards, we will head to Cow Head in Gros Morne National Park, where we will stay for two nights. The months of June and early July offer the best opportunities to see icebergs as large as the Titanic!

Today we are exploring UNESCO-listed Gros Morne National Park, beginning with a scenic boat tour on Bonne Bay. We’ll be on the lookout for bald eagles that are frequently spotted near the deep waters of the fjord.

Additionally, we will visit the Tablelands, an impressive flat-topped mountain made of rock typically found deep within the Earth’s mantle, which offers a truly awe-inspiring sight. Today promises to be unforgettable, as many believe the scenery in Gros Morne is unparalleled in Eastern Canada. We spend a second night in Cow Head.

Please note: You may request when booking that instead of today's included Bonne Bay boat tour and Tablelands visit, you take a scenic boat tour on Western Brook Pond and visit the Broom Point Fishing Premises instead. There is a 45-minute walk (3 km/2 miles) from the parking lot to the dock and a 45-minute walk back. This option must be requested on booking.

Cow Head - Deer Lake. Have your camera at the ready as we enjoy our final drive through Gros Morne National Park. You will be dropped at Deer Lake regional airport, where our tour concludes.

Our tour is expected to return to Deer Lake at approximately 11:30, so we recommend scheduling your departure flight no earlier than 13:30.