North America's oldest operating lighthouse, viewed from a perfect crescent of white sand beach. Trails along the granite shoreline snake through the sparse beauty of a skeleton forest. Splendid old homes line the steep streets of Lunenburg, overlooking a colourful harbour rich in history. Tidal ponds on a centuries-old shore road play host to over one hundred species of birds...a favourite dining spot for the Osprey and Great Blue Heron. Resplendent old-growth hemlocks border a peaceful lake at Kejimkujik National Park; majestic whales breach the waters of the Bay of Fundy. Annapolis Royal's lush historic gardens and sea captains' mansions, stately tributes to a bygone era. Grand Pré, the soul of Acadie, immortalized in the haunting verses of Longfellow's 'Evangeline'.
Highlights:
- Lunenburg: UNESCO World Heritage Town
- Seaside Adjunct Park: Piping Plovers
- White Point Beach Resort
- Kejimkujik National Park: old growth forest
- Whale Watching Cruise
- Acadian dykes at Grand Pré
Tour Details:
Level: easy to moderate walking;
Daily walking: 4 to 6 miles per day;
Tour dates: July 8-13, July 22-27, Aug 5-10, Aug 19-24*, Sept 9-14, Sept 30-Oct 5 Departure from Halifax, Nova Scotia;
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1:
We will pick you up at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax at 10 am. If you have time in the morning, before pickup, be sure to wander through the Victorian style, Halifax Public Gardens, across from the hotel. We'll travel out to Chebucto Head and start our day's walk on Crystal Crescent Beach, looking out at the oldest operating lighthouse in North America, The Sambro Light. We'll continue along this incredible granite shoreline, through a skelton forest to Pennant Point. This driftwood looking forest is a hidden haven for photographers and painters. These granite shores, with rocks as large as houses dropped along the way, are a visual reminder of a shore carved by glaciation some 10,000 years ago. After our picnic lunch alongside the Atlantic Ocean, we'll travel to Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its magnificent collection of heritage homes, churches that are clustered on its steep street overlooking the harbour. After our dinner we'll be entertained during our lamp-lit stroll through the history and tales of Lunenburg. Tonight we'll enjoy the hospitality of the Kaulbach House Inn. (Walk up to 10 km or 6 miles, drive up to 2 1/2 hours)
Day 2:
We'll walk out to Gaff Point and savour the sand between our toes on the great stretch of isolated white sands of Hirtle Beach. Gaff Point is the last undeveloped headland within 70 miles in either direction and was purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada to ensure its natural state. After our picnic lunch, we'll travel down the coast and settle into the luxury of the White Point Beach Resort with its trails and white sand beach. There is an option to enjoy some of this resort's Spa services. (Walk up to 7 km or 4.5 miles, drive up to 1 hour)
Day 3:
We'll walk the trail to the stunningly beautiful coast of the Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct Park. Harbour seals are a common sight, basking in the sun on the rocks close to shore.The Seaside Adjunct is home to about 10 pairs of endangered Piping Plovers who nest here in the spring. The area is well known for its unique vegetation, dramatic rock formations, secluded coves, spectacular beaches and rare plant life. The wild rose, abundant pitcher plants, beach peas, irises and scented bayberry scatter the landscape of dense scrub alder and sheep laurel that dominate the coastal tundra-like vegetation. The trail ends at the secluded St. Catherine's River Beach with its white sands and turquoise waters. We'll return to White Point for the evening. (Walk up to 9 km or 6 miles, drive up to 1 hour)
Day 4:
Today we'll head inland and visit Kejimkujik National Park, home to deer, black bear, fox, coyote, bobcat, porcupine and the rare Blanding turtle. "Keji" also plays host to humans seeking a wilderness experience as we wander some of its many nature trails. We'll walk through an old growth forest of 300 year old hemlocks to a peaceful lake and through a beech grove on a lazy river. We'll travel to the historic town of Annapolis Royal with its streets lined with sea captains' mansions. Tonight we will stay at the elegant Hillsdale House Inn. There is also an optional evening Candlelight Graveyard Tour in the oldest English graveyard in Canada. (Walk up to 9 km or 6 miles, drive up to 1 1/2 hours)
Day 5:
We'll travel to Digby Neck, jutting out into the Bay of Fundy and discover the astounding Balancing Rock, a huge column of basalt, seemly perched on a ledge by a hair. This afternoon we'll have the opportunity to take a thrilling whale-watching cruise, with a local whale research team, in the Bay of Fundy. A rich aquatic supermarket of plankton and herring combine to attract high concentrations of Fin, Minke and Humpback Whales as well as dolphins and porpoises. Sightings of the rare Right Whale are common here. For those who prefer to keep their feet on dry land, a walk around the peaceful trails of Brier Island offers abundant opportunities to enjoy wildflowers and seabirds. We'll stay at the same inn this evening. (Walk up to 3 km or 1 1/2 miles, whale watching up to 4 hours, drive up to 3 hours)
Day 6:
This morning we'll explore the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, or stroll along the boardwalk on the scenic waterfront. We'll also visit Port Royal fort, the first permanent European settlement in North America, north of Florida (in 1605). After a picnic lunch, we'll continue to Wolfville and walk along the historical dykes, first created by the Acadians in the 17th century. These dykes will lead us to Grand Pre National Park, the site of the deportation of Acadians in 1755, immortalized by Longfellow's epic poem "Evangeline". We'll return to Halifax and the end of our adventure at approximately 5 pm. (Walk up to 6 km or 4 miles, drive up to 3 1/2 hours)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
- All meals
- Lodging at comfortable and often luxurious accommodations
- Knowledgeable and friendly regional guides
- Transportation in modern air-conditioned vans
- All park entrances and other entry fees for museums included in our itinerary
- Fares for ferries
- Whale and seabird watching cruises and tidal bore rafting, where offered
- Gratuities at inns and restaurants
- All taxes.
Not included: airfare, alcoholic beverages, and gratuities for guides.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
Nova Scotia
Walking Tours
Wildlife Viewing
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