Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Canada – Nova Scotia – Cape Breton Island – Lobster Bay
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Your coastal adventure through the wild and wonderful landscapes of Nova Scotia starts today. Head to the airport, breeze through security and enjoy some refreshments in the airport lounge before your departure. Your flight to the provincial capital of Halifax can take as little as seven hours, but may be longer if there’s a layover in an East Coast city.
On arrival, collect your hire car and drive to your first hotel, where you’ll be staying for the first two nights of your trip. The rest of your afternoon and evening is yours to play with. You could turn to our destination-specific Dossier for the best eateries in the area, or simply relax and enjoy the facilities at the hotel after your day of travel.
Make the most of your one day in Halifax by rising early and enjoying a hearty breakfast to fuel your morning. Today you have tickets for Pier 21, a fascinating and beautifully-curated museum that details the history and ongoing story of immigration to Canada.
Pier 21 was the gateway to Canada for nearly a million people who arrived on the shores of Nova Scotia between 1928 and 1971 in search of a better life. The hangar, which long served as the initial reception and orientation place for immigrants (mostly Europeans), is now a thoughtful and sensitive space where locals and visitors alike can reflect on and learn about Canada’s melting-pot identity.
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. You’ll be hitting the road to Cape Breton tomorrow, so be sure to tick off any Halifax sites you don’t want to miss this afternoon.
It’s time to get some miles under your belt on this epic road trip through Nova Scotia. After breakfast this morning, hit the road north-east to your next destination: the charming lakeside town of Baddeck, a four-hour drive away on the serene island of Cape Breton. Your home for the next two nights is close to the scenic shores of Bras d'Or Lake, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the area’s slow-paced way of life. Spend your first evening here settling in and exploring your new surroundings ahead of an exciting day tomorrow.
Today’s excursion into nature is a sea kayaking adventure on the Murray River; the world’s third-longest navigable river (behind only the Amazon and the Nile). After a filling breakfast, meet your experienced instructor-guide and head to the St. Ann’s Bay area, where you’ll hop in a kayak and head straight out on the water. Drift down the river, paddling as much as you need to, stopping at an old lumberjack post that pays homage to the region’s historic era of logging.
After a tiring morning, the rest of the day is yours to relax.
Pack up your hire car this morning to continue up the coast of Cape Breton Island to Ingonish Beach, a charming coastal enclave an hour’s drive from Baddeck. On arrival, settle in for two nights at your charming hotel, before spending the rest of today at your leisure.
We recommend stretching your legs with a gentle walk along the beach and (weather dependent…) taking a dip in the water, before heading back to enjoy a delicious evening meal.
Ingonish Beach offers more than just enchanting coastal scenery. It’s also a gateway to the beautiful Cape Breton Highlands National Park. For a first visit to the park, we recommend taking the Middle Head Hiking Trail – a lovely route that offers spectacular views without being too technically difficult. Wind along the island, admiring the emerald landscapes of the peninsula on one side and the crashing waves of the Atlantic on the other. Keep an eye out for both wildlife and marine life; seals are known to hang out here, while a variety of seabirds dominate the skies.
Another good (and fairly gentle) hiking option is the Skyline Trail, which begins on Cabot Trail at French Mountain, and ends on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Furnished terraces provide a comfy perch for observing the whales who roam the seas here between April and October, so you could be rewarded with a sighting of these majestic mammals.
Hit the road again this morning, skirting right around the edge of the national park towards Chéticamp, a two-hour drive away. This beautiful fishing village is nestled on the western shores of Cape Breton and is renowned as one of the best places for whale watching in Nova Scotia (don’t worry, you’ll have the chance to spot some tomorrow). Settle into your home for the next two nights, ready to enjoy the wild natural environment that surrounds you.
The biggest attraction here in Chéticamp and along the wider Cabot Trail is whale watching. A whole host of majestic species can be found dancing in the waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, including humpback whales, fin whales, blue whales, right whales, minke whales and short-finned pilot whales. You can also spot myriad other marine life, like harbour porpoises and white-sided dolphins. Head out on a small-group excursion along the picturesque coast of the island, in the company of a knowledgeable guide, to encounter these gentle giants from a respectful distance.
Bid Cape Breton a warm farewell this morning as you embark on the journey back to the mainland of Nova Scotia. Your next stop is Pictou, a bustling seaside village beloved for its scenic and cultural delights. On arrival, check into a relaxed and cosy hotel for two nights, and spend the rest of the day settling into your new environment. We recommend getting a taste for local history with a visit to the Hector, a replica of the ship that transported the first Scottish settlers here in 1773.
Known as the ‘Birthplace of New Scotland’, Pictou is a great place to delve into Nova Scotia’s fascinating history. This charming fishing village acted as the first port of call for Scots arriving in Canada, and this heritage can be seen in the various 19th century architectural relics. One of the best examples is the home of Presbyterian pastor, teacher and writer Thomas McCulloch, who came to Pictou in 1803 and raised his family in a quaint Scottish-style property.
We also recommend making a stop at the Northumberland Fisheries Museum to learn about the region’s rich economic and cultural history as a major fishery. If you fancy exploring the area’s culinary heritage, we can instead arrange for you to spend the day preparing regional dishes with a local chef.
Your coastal road trip across Nova Scotia continues today with a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Wolfville. This picturesque town is nestled on the edge of the Minas Basin, located in the north-east of the Bay of Fundy, and is your base for one night.
Spend the rest of the day soaking in the scenic delights of the Minas Basin, which is said to have the highest tides in the world, with tidal ranges reaching 50ft. We also recommend visiting Grand Pre, a National Historic Site and UNESCO World Heritage site. The village is known for its rich Acadian culture and painful history of deportation during the Expulsion of the Acadians, when the British forcibly removed the inhabitants of Acadia – the descendants of French settlers. On a lighter note, the village is now a renowned producer of wine and cider, so make sure to stop at one of the many delightful bars in town for a refreshing beverage.
Today, your road trip takes you along the coast all the way to Yarmouth, near the beautiful Lobster Bay, a three-hour drive away. Your base for the next two nights is in Argyle, a scenic village perched close to Yarmouth. Settle into your cosy lodgings and enjoy a laid-back afternoon and evening ahead of an early start tomorrow.
Get up bright and early this morning to enjoy the mesmerising sunrise (weather permitting) over the Cape Forchu lighthouse, as well as the splendid ocean views from the tip of the peninsula. Follow this with a gentle morning walk through the Leif Erikson park, which is named after the Viking explorers who arrived here at beginning of the 11th century, half a millennium before Christopher Columbus.
The rest of today is dedicated to exploring Yarmouth, a colourful port town founded by settlers from Massachusetts in the 18th century and later inhabited by the Acadians from Grand Pré. Today the town is lively and atmospheric, making it popular among travellers seeking laid-back coastal fun. If you fancy delving deeper into the fascinating history and heritage of Yarmouth, then our team can arrange a private tour of the city this afternoon.
You only have one more full day on this epic journey across Nova Scotia, so let’s make the most of it. After breakfast this morning, hop back in your hire car and travel two hours along the peninsula’s southern coast to Lunenburg, a charming seaside town that has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for being the best-preserved British colonial settlement in North America. On arrival, check into your final hotel and get set to meet a knowledgeable local guide for a private walking tour of the town. This is the best way of admiring the well-preserved houses, commercial buildings and churches, as well as learning more about what life was like here in the 19th century. As you explore, note Lunenburg’s Germanic influences, which date from the influx of German settlers here in the mid-18th century.
Sadly, the time has come to wave goodbye to the scenic and serene coastal landscapes of Nova Scotia and begin your journey home. After breakfast this morning, drive an hour-and-a-half to the airport in Halifax, stopping for a bite to eat along the way in Peggys Cove, St. Margarets Bay – a classic Nova Scotia town that’s full of character. On arrival at the airport, drop off your hire car, whizz through security and take the opportunity to stock up on any last-minute souvenirs before boarding your six-hour flight back to the UK.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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