Acadia Adventure | Atlantic Canada Road Trip

Enjoy a leisurely Atlantic Canada road trip around Nova Scotia and Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island. Following a circular route from Halifax, you’ll encounter picturesque fishing villages, scenic hiking trails, fabulous seafood and remote lighthouses. See the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg, enjoy a whale watching excursion and marvel at the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy. Then, explore Prince Edward Island’s sandy beaches and rolling farmland before ending the trip with a drive on Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail. 

Day 1 Halifax to Annapolis Royal | 322 km/200 mi

Head south to Lunenburg, visiting Peggy’s Cove along the way. Peggy’s Cove is a small village with houses built right into the granite rock and a lighthouse overlooking the Atlantic. Old Town Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a lovingly restored Victorian town that begs you to wander and explore. Make a stop at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, renowned for its hiking trails and incredible canoeing on wilderness lakes and rivers. Arrive in Annapolis Royal, a quaint settlement housing Victorian mansions on the banks of the Bay of Fundy.

Day 2 Whale Watching Fishing Villages Exploring | 206 km/128 mi

Today drive 65 km along the Digby Neck to experience a whale watching excursion in the nutrient rich waters of the Bay of Fundy. You will likely see finback and Minkes, humpbacks or even the rare North Atlantic right whale. Spend the afternoon exploring Annapolis Royal and Fort Anne. (breakfast included)

Day 3 Annapolis Royal to Charlottetown | 475 km/295 mi

Bound for Prince Edward Island today, follow the curvature of the Bay of Fundy and stop for lunch at ‘the Library’ in the university town of Wolfville. Make time to stop at the Grand-Pré National Historic Site, commemorating the Grand-Pré area as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755 and the Deportation of the Acadians, which began in 1755 and continued until 1762. (breakfast included)

Day 4 Tour PEI – The Land of Anne | 100 km/63 mi

Explore Charlottetown, the site of Canada’s birthplace – Province House National Historic Site was the scene of meetings that led to the formation of Canada as a country in 1867. You can explore picturesque Prince Edward Island National Park on the island’s north shore – see sand dunes, beaches and Green Gables, fictional home of Anne, the character created by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery and beloved by millions worldwide. (breakfast included)

Day 5 Charlottetown to Cape Breton Island | 274 km/171 mi + Ferry

Depart Charlottetown stopping at the Orwell Corner Historic Village 30 km to the east. Orwell, an early Scottish settlement, contains a historic graveyard and a cluster of buildings which have been restored to create a sense of life in the 19th century. Continue to the ferry crossing at Wood Islands to Caribou, Nova Scotia then make your way east to Cape Breton Island, a little piece of Scotland in North America. Ar-rive in Baddeck. (breakfast included)

Day 6 Cabot Trail | 300 km/187 mi

Explore the fabulous Cabot Trail around Cape Breton Island for awe- inspiring views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The route winds through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. There are 28 beautiful hiking trails in the National Park between Cheticamp and Ingonish – the most recommended would be the Skyline Trail located about 15 minutes drive from park entrance. Along the way visit the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, Glenora Distillery, Acadian Cultural Center & Museum (Les Trois Pignons ), or St. Ann’s Gaelic College of Arts & Crafts.

Day 7 Louisbourg | 220 km/137 mi

This morning drive north to discover the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. This incredible “living museum” largest historical reconstruction in North America; is an impressive restoration of a French garrison town dating from the 1700s, complete with costumed interpreters who re-enact daily life from the French colonial period. You can even sample period food in the restaurant, or take part in a mock battle. Also, don’t miss a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in the village of Baddeck, a museum dedicated to the life and inventions of this fascinating man – who spent his summers here on the shores of the Bras d’Or. You may also want to visit the Highland Village Museum in Iona.

Day 8 Baddeck to Halifax | 357 km/222 mi

A full day for the return trip to Halifax along the scenic Bras d’Or Lakes Drive to the Canso Causeway to enter mainland Nova Scotia. At the community of Antigonish, travel southwest along Marine Drive to Halifax.