Day 1: Halifax (D)
Welcome to the East Coast of Canada and the beautiful harbour city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the first stop on our in-depth cultural tour through the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Our Tour Leader will join you for an evening pre-tour briefing and you will meet your fellow travelers at dinnertime.** Meet your Tour leader in the hotel lobby by 4 PM for meet & greet and for welcome dinner **

Day 2: Halifax (B)
Today we take a city tour of Halifax, which includes the Victorian Public Gardens, the Titanic Grave Site, and several historic sites in and around the city. We will also visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration on Pier 21, a former ocean liner terminal and Canada’s last remaining immigration shed, showcasing some of Canada’s immigration history. This afternoon, we visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic which is rich with maritime history and stories of the people that define Nova Scotia. The evening is at leisure to explore Halifax’s harbour front, walk along the promenade, or sample local cuisine at a city center restaurant.

Day 3: Halifax – Western Shore (B/L)
This morning we travel the rugged south shore of Nova Scotia, to the well-known town of Peggy’s Cove to visit Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, which sits high upon the smooth wave-worn granite of the coast. This is the most photographed lighthouse in Canada. Before departing Peggy’s Cove, we will visit the Acadian Maple Products shop, a family-owned business, and the largest producer of maple syrup in Nova Scotia. Continuing along Nova Scotia’s rugged coast, we visit picturesque Mahone Bay, showcasing three elegant churches on the sheltered harbour of this quaint village. We then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg, one of Nova Scotia’s most historic towns and home of the famed fishing schooner Bluenose II. Here we visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic to learn the history of commercial fishing in Atlantic Canada.

Day 4: Western Shore – Saint John (B)
Today we visit Grand-Pré National Historic Site and World UNESCO Heritage Site, where we learn about the tragic upheaval of the Acadians, descendants of French settlers, who were expelled from this area. The Grand-Pré site commemorates the area as a center of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755 and the Deportation of the Acadians, which began in 1755 and continued until 1762. We then travel to Annapolis Royal, on the Evangeline Trail, with over 150 heritage buildings including the oldest wooden house in Canada. We have some free time to explore the area and enjoy local cuisine before continuing our journey to New Brunswick on board the Digby ferry for a scenic crossing on the Bay of Fundy, the 27 km stretch of water that separates Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and is home to the world’s highest tides. We end our day in the city of Saint John located on the Bay of Fundy and have the rest of our evening at leisure.

Day 5: Saint John – St. Andrews by-the-Sea (B/D)
Our morning is spent exploring Saint John on a city tour where we see the natural phenomenon of the Reversing Falls, a series of rapids and whirlpools on the Saint John River that empties into the Bay of Fundy. The extreme tides of the Bay of Fundy reverse the flow of the falls as the waters rise and fall. This afternoon we travel to the quaint village of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, with a treasure trove of beautiful architecture, scenery, and rich marine life. Everything about this seaside resort town is special, including its status as a National Historic District and as one of the oldest and loveliest small towns in the Maritime Provinces. We visit the 27-acre Kingsbrae Gardens, with over 50,000 perennials in many themed gardens. After dinner, we will enjoy the rest of our evening at leisure.

Day 6: St. Andrews by-the-Sea – Fredericton (B/L)
This morning, we tour the Fundy Discovery Aquarium, which showcases the local marine life found in the Bay of Fundy. We will see harbour seals through the windows of an underwater viewing area and see some more in the gigantic touch pool. Before reaching Fredericton, we will visit the Kings Landing Historical Settlement, an authentic village, depicting the 100-year transformation of a young colony into the young nation of Canada. Enjoy a guided tour of the Historical Village and Museum, followed by some free time to explore the 40 exhibits with over 70,000 artifacts on your own. We then continue to New Brunswick’s capital city of Fredericton on the banks of the Saint John River. Time permitting this afternoon or on the following morning, we suggest a visit to Fredericton’s Beaverbrook Art Gallery to see some master artworks and Dali’s Santiago el Grande (viewed best by lying on the floor and looking up). Fredericton has a thriving art and cultural scene with more artisans per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Day 7: Fredericton – Moncton (B/D)
This morning we will have an entertaining and informative city tour with a local guide, discovering Fredericton through local eyes and all it has to offer. This afternoon, we travel through the Fundy National Park to the incredible Hopewell Rocks, home of the Flowerpots, peculiar rock formations that are shaped by tidal erosion and stand some 40-70 feet tall. These rocks are forested islands at high tide and resemble flowerpots at low tide. After visiting this incredible area, we continue to Moncton, located in southeastern New Brunswick, where we have the evening at leisure. Moncton boasts over 32 large scale contemporary murals in and around the heart of the city, a wonderful outdoor gallery, created by a mix of international and local muralists. At Resurgo Place, you will be able to visit Moncton Museum and Transportation Discovery Centre as well as take advantage of a variety of free services such as travel assistance, advice, access to maps and tourism guides, information about events, and attractions and festivals.

Day 8: Moncton – Charlottetown (B/L)
This morning we visit world-famous Magnetic Hill, a natural phenomenon unique to this area that completely defies the laws of gravity. We will see our own coach coasting uphill with no power at all. We then continue to the town of Shediac, known as the “Lobster Capital of the World”, where we see the World’s Largest Lobster before embarking on a lobster cruise to learn about lobsters and the local fishery while we savour a freshly cooked lobster lunch. Following our cruise, we make our way to the province of Prince Edward Island crossing on the Confederation Bridge. The curved, 12.9 km. (8 mile) long bridge is the longest in the world crossing ice covered water, linking mainland New Brunswick with Prince Edward Island, and continues to be one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century. After four years of construction using more than five thousand local workers, the Confederation Bridge opened to traffic on May 31, 1997. We arrive in the capital city of Charlottetown and have the remainder of our evening at leisure.

Day 9: Charlottetown (B/D)
Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island and is located on the southern coast of the province. Our city tour highlights some of the historical buildings including St. Dunstan’s Basilica and The Province House National Historic Site, where the Charlottetown Conference was held in 1864. We then explore some of Prince Edward Island’s treasures, including Cavendish National Park and the Green Gables Heritage Place, where you can walk through the memory-filled rooms of the beloved fictional character, Anne of Green Gables. We sample some of the best preserves in the world at the Prince Edward Island Preserves Company and visit the fishing village of North Rustico. Dinner will be held at the Musical Village, where you will experience the culture and musical fabric of the Evangeline region while enjoying a delicious traditional Acadian meal.

Day 10: Charlottetown – Baddeck (B)
Today we travel back to the mainland and drive along a scenic route to Baddeck, Nova Scotia, located on Cape Breton Island. Baddeck is a town situated in the center of Cape Breton, where the Baddeck River empties into Bras d’Or Lake, and is known for its tranquil beauty in the heart of the island. In the afternoon we will spend time at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site overlooking the Bras d’Or Lakes, where displays showcase the life of Alexander Graham Bell, and give us a look into his mind with many artifacts, photos, and replicas of his many inventions. Remainder of the evening at leisure.

Day 11: Baddeck – Cabot Trail – Sydney (B/D)
Today we experience the picturesque and renowned Cabot Trail and Margaree Valley. This 298 km highway weaves through The Cape Breton Highlands National Park, rewarding travellers with spectacular valleys and coastal sceneries all along the way. We will stop at Lone, Shieling, Pleasant Bay, and Neil’s Harbour, all with spectacular seascapes, sweeping beaches, rare plants, and abundant wildlife. We end our day in Sydney and enjoy the evening at our leisure. Sydney is the historic capital of the Cape Breton region and the largest urban center on the island. From the harbour front boardwalk complete with buskers, the visiting cruise ships, to the world’s largest fiddle, Sydney is a charming place where we have the evening to explore.

Day 12: Sydney – Louisbourg sightseeing – Sydney (B)
Today we visit the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, stepping back in time to a bygone era when the French and English fought for control of the New World, and when Nova Scotia was the battleground. We experience what life was like in the bustling French fortified town of Louisbourg in 1744. After a guided tour, we will have some time to explore the area at leisure. This afternoon we visit Cape Breton’s Miners’ Museum, paying tribute to the region’s long and rich coal mining history and home to the famous choir of miners – The Men of the Deeps. We take an underground tour of the Ocean’s Deep Colliery beneath the Museum’s building before returning to Sydney.

Day 13: Sydney (B)
Following breakfast, this part of our Maritimes adventure comes to an end. Many of our fellow travelers will take the 6 hours long ferry to Port aux Basques to start the Newfoundland part of their tour. For those ending their Maritime Mosaic experience today, a 20-minute taxi ride on own from the city center will take you to Sydney airport for your return flight connections.