Circle Newfoundland & Labrador: Halifax, Gros Morne National Park, St. Anthony & More

Arrive at Halifax Stanfield International Airport and transfer independently to your downtown hotel. Depending on your time of arrival you might have some time to explore this bustling oceanside city. The city has a wonderful boardwalk, with lots of restaurants, bars, shops, and boutiques. Famous Pier 21 is home to the Canadian Museum of Immigration and the Maritime Museum, both worth a visit. Importantly though, you are invited to join a welcome reception at the hotel, a wonderful opportunity to get to know your travelling companions. Overnight Halifax

Today you travel via Truro and Antigonish, crossing over the Canso Causeway to beautiful Cape Breton Island. In North Sydney you then board a Marine Atlantic ferry for a relaxing overnight crossing to Port-aux-Basques, your port of entry into Newfoundland. Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight onboard ferry

Depending on the ferry schedule, passengers may overnight in Port-Aux-Basques (Hotel: St. Christopher’s Hotel).

Drive through the Cordroy Valley, framed by the Long Range Mountains, the Anguille Mountains, along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The journey continues through Gros Morne National Park and into the fishing community of Port au Choix where you check into your hotel. Port au Choix is a National Historic Site of Canada and considered one of the most important archeological finds in North America. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Overnight Port au Choix. 

Today you board a ferry at St. Barbe and cross the Strait of Belle Island on your way to Labrador. The landscapes are raw and dramatic and exude a beauty all their own. The fishing village of Red Bay was the location of a Basque whaling station in the 16th century and received a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2013. Numerous whaling ships, including large galleons sank around Red Bay which led to the designation and makes it a prime underwater archeological site, perhaps the most important one in the Americas. A visit to Red Bay National Historic Site, is part of the trip today. Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight L’Anse au Clair. 

Today is the return to Newfoundland and a visit to L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, an archaeological site marking the earliest known European settlement in North America. Now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, additional exhibits also highlight Viking artifacts and give a fascinating glimpse into the Viking lifestyle. Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight St. Anthony

This morning (weather-permitting) you embark on a whale watching boat tour hoping for sightings of these giant marine mammals. During certain summer months you can spot titanic-sized icebergs. Don’t forget your camera! Continue to Cow Head, your destination for the night. Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Cow Head 

Magnificent Gros Morne National Park, offering a rich variety of scenery, wildlife, and recreational activities is the focus of today. Embark on a scenic boat tour (weather permitting) to learn about the geology of the Tablelands, see the whales and bald eagles that frequent the deep waters of the fjord, and engage in the history of the small villages nestled along the shores. Breakfast, boxed lunch, and dinner included. Overnight Cow Head

Travel through central Newfoundland and arrive in Gander later in the day to check into your hotel to relax after a long day of travel. Gander International Airport use to be an important transatlantic refuelling stop. It is still a critical emergency option today and became famous after the 9/11 attack when the airport serviced thirty-eight aircraft and accommodated 6,700 passengers from several major European airlines. Breakfast included. Overnight Gander 

A scenic drive along the coast of Notre Dame Bay leads to the beautiful town of Twillingate. At the tip of the island, you visit the Long Point Lighthouse and local co-op. Before travelling to Clarenville, your overnight stop, you come back to Gander to visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Overnight Clarenville

The route today travels along the Trans-Canada Highway and through Terra Nova National Park, the most easterly of Canada’s national parks. Keep an eye out for a variety of wildlife! The day is capped off with a visit to Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Park and the charming town of Trinity. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Overnight at Clarenville. 

Today’s journey ends in the intriguing old seaport of St. John’s, your home for the next two nights. North America’s oldest city and Newfoundland’s capital boasts a stunning location in the granite cliffs and slopes of the Avalon Peninsula. You can enjoy a city tour featuring the Victorian architecture of the downtown area, the busy modern waterfront, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Confederation Building, and the panoramic view from Signal Hill. Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight St. John’s. 

In the morning, you travel to Bay Bulls for one of the highlights of the programme - a boat tour in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (weather permitting) to search for puffins and other seabirds. Afterwards you visit Cape Spear National Historic Site, the most easterly point in North America. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore the neighbourhoods and delights of St. John’s. Breakfast included. Overnight St. John’s. 

Time for last-minute shopping and farewells. Make your way to St. John’s Airport on your own to check in for your flight unless you plan to extend your stay in the area.