Welcome to Newfoundland The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the town or relax at your hotel
Island Wonders This morning, meet your travel companions and Tour Director during a welcome breakfast. Then, enjoy an orientation tour of Corner Brook. Travel along Humber Arm to the Bay of Islands, with excellent photo opportunities on the way to Frenchman’s Cove. Enjoy a stop at Lark Harbour. Soak in the great views of Guernsey, Tweed, and the Pearl Islands on the return to Corner Brook. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
The garden city of Corner Brook on the western shores of Newfoundland lies at the mouth of the Bay of Islands, a spectacular mix of mountain landscapes and seascapes. Renowned explorer Captain James Cook surveyed Corner Brook during his explorations in the 1760s
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
National Treasures Skirt the shores of Deer Lake and head north to Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its exceptional beauty and unique geological features. At Lobster Cove Head, visit the lighthouse and the fascinating marine displays. Depart for St. Barbe, a small coastal fishing community and the gateway to Labrador. Continue to Port au Choix National Historic Site, and view glacier-carved gorges en route. Discover more than 6,000 years of Indigenous history at Port au Choix National Historic Site, where ancient archaeological sites meet rugged limestone barrens and Newfoundland’s wild northern coast. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Mother Nature knows you can’t rush a good thing, taking 485 million years to create the wonders of Gros Morne National Park. The park is a paradise of raw beauty and geological wonders with stunning fjords carved by glaciers amid towering cliffs and roaring waterfalls covering more than 1,110 square miles (2850 square kilometers)
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sea Treasures Across the Strait Board your ferry to cross the Strait of Belle Isle. Visit Red Bay National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized as the first major industrial complex of the New World and home to a 16th-century Basque whaling station exhibit. Journey to the Point Amour Lighthouse on the south coast of Labrador, the second tallest lighthouse in Canada and consider climbing to the top for panoramic views of the Strait of Belle Isle. Continue to L’Anse-au-Clair, the southernmost community in Labrador. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Explore remarkable Red Bay, recognized as the first major industrial complex of the New World and home to a 16th-century Basque whaling station exhibit. This historic fishing village in Labrador holds one of the most precious underwater archaeological sites in the Americas. Relics from ancient whaling ships lie below the surface, and even pieces of whale bone believed to be from the Basque era can be found on the shores of Red Bay
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Norsemen Sites & Nature Sights This morning, take the ferry back to St. Barbe. Visit L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site for a look at a rediscovered Viking settlement. Return to St. Anthony and enjoy dinner with lively entertainment. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Visit L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the only known Viking settlement in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore with a Local Guide and step inside reconstructed sod huts, uncover how the Norse lived, and see remarkable artifacts dating back to 1000 AD
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Iceberg Ahead! This morning, take a scenic cruise in search of icebergs and marine wildlife (weather permitting). Then, visit the Grenfell Historical Society and enjoy a free afternoon to celebrate the coming of spring in the north and the annual arrival of icebergs. End the day with a [LF] Great Viking Feast & Theatre Experience. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Step back 1,000 years at the Great Viking Feast, where Norse-inspired food, traditional storytelling, and entertainment bring Newfoundland’s Viking history to life. Become an honorary Viking and take away a certificate to prove it!
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
A Bonny Day on Bonne Bay Travel along the Viking Trail, with a stop at Arches Provincial Park to see the two large arches carved by the pounding sea. This afternoon, board a boat for a [LF] scenic cruise on Bonne Bay. Savor a seasonal Newfoundland seafood dinner and the flavors of Gros Morne’s coastal fishing heritage this evening.After dinner, consider stargazing under the dark skies beneath the blanket of stars with the sound of waves meeting the shore in the background. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
A scenic cruise on Bonne Bay reveals a pristine world of two fjords and the deep waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Enjoy live commentary throughout your cruise to learn about Gros Morne Mountain, the geology of the Tablelands, and the whales that frequent the deep waters of this fjord. Keep an eye across the water’s surface as well as the sky above to spy an array of bird life and bald eagles
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Historic Airships & Honored Friendships After breakfast, depart for Gander, once the international aviation crossroads of the world, for a visit to the North Atlantic Aviation Museum. Discover the history of North Atlantic aviation from the 1930s to its unexpected role in the days following the 9/11 tragedy. Join [LF] a Local Guide to learn of the important role Gander played days after the tragic event. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Experience a moving tour in Gander, a storied aviation hub where streets honor fearless flyers such as the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart. When North American airspace closed following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Gander and surrounding communities opened their doors to nearly 6,700 stranded travelers. A decade later, steel remnants from the World Trade Center were presented to the town in heartfelt recognition of their compassion and generosity
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
Fish Stories & Whale Tails Drive along the Road to the Isles. The local predilection for colorful language is evident in place names such as “Too Good Arm,” “Virgin Arm,” and “Crow Head.” Visit Prime Berth, Twillingate’s Fishery and Heritage Centre in Iceberg Alley and continue to the rugged, coastal Terra Nova National Park. Enjoy dinner in Clarenville, situated in beautiful Trinity Bay. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Bait your hook or browse arts and crafts at Prime Berth Fishery & Heritage Centre. This beloved interpretive fishing center and craft studio was created by David Boyd in tribute to his fisher forefathers and proud traditions. Like its name, Prime Berth is a favorite “best spot” in Iceberg Alley
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
History on the Harbor Travel to Cape Bonavista to admire the beautiful cliffs and coastlines. In Bonavista, learn how modern North America began taking shape when John Cabot made landfall here in 1497. A visit to Ryan Premises National Historic Site commemorates the prosperous fishing industry from the early 1500s to today. Later, continue to historic Trinity, one of the oldest communities in North America. Enjoy a [LF] regional lunch at a local restaurant followed by a walking tour with a Local Guide to hear stories that bring this picturesque village and scenic harboralive. (B,L)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Meander down narrow lanes lined with 19th-century merchant homes in one of the best-preserved historic communities in the province. Get a multi-sensory snapshot of Trinity’s 300-year history as a mercantile hub of a thriving salt fish trade for 150 years and savour a taste of Newfoundland with a regional seafood lunch served along the waterfront
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
For the Birds in Witless Bay Today, travel to Witless Bay, where whales and puffins abound. Board your boat for a narrated cruise around the three islands in the renowned Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Then, visit Cape Spear National Historic Site, the most easterly point in North America. Enjoy free time this evening in St. John’s. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Newfoundland has the largest concentration of humpback whales in the world and is known as the “Seabird Capital of North America,” with the largest Atlantic puffin sanctuary in North America. Discover their stunning habitat on a memorable Witless Bay cruise through the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve – home to over 2 million seabirds, including 500,000 Atlantic Puffins, nesting in one of Newfoundland’s best whale-watching sites
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
Toasts on the Coast Tour one of the oldest settlements in North America with a Local Guide. Visit Signal Hill National Historic Site, Cabot Tower, and the Old Town area. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. You may wish to visit The Rooms, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture through history, heritage, and artistic expression or spend time browsing the many boutiques and galleries of St. John’s. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner that includes a traditional [LF] Screech-In ceremony. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your tour. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Even if you have ‘come from away,’ you can become an honorary Newfoundlander with a shot of screech, a short recitation, and the kissing of a cod! Screech is the local rum that, while packing a punch at 40% alcohol, is an important part of the screech-in ceremony – especially when kissing the cod! Yes, b’y!
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Extra nights are available for purchase to explore more in St. John’s. (B)
