Welcome to Cape Breton Island
Rugged, wooded and genuinely wild, the northwestern region of Nova Scotia almost feels like a province apart. Famous for its circuitous coastal road, the 297km-long Cabot Trail, which dips and dives round the edge of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, it's a dream destination for road-trippers, and figures pretty high on everyone's must-see list – so expect traffic jams aplenty in summer. The best time to visit is in fall, when the area's roads are quieter and the forests light up with color.
Top experiences in Cape Breton Island
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Cape Breton Island activities
Cabot Trail and Cape Breton Tour
ItineraryDay 1: Baddeck, Cape BretonStop At: Baddecks Welcome Centre, Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia- Hike the Salt Mountain Trail to scenic look-offs overlooking Bras D'or Lakes and rolling hills. - Early evening in lakeside town of BaddeckDuration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Silver Dart Lodge - 4 star Canada Select accommodations*Outdoor pool, bar & restaurant Day 2: Cabot Trail, Cape BretonStop At: Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia- Drive first portion of Cabot Trail - Hike the 9km round-trip Skyline Trail- Whale Watching Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: MidTrail Motel - 3 Star hotel *Located next to a beach with mountain viewsDay 3: Cabot Trail, Cape BretonStop At: Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia- Sea Kayaking in morning in South Harbour Lagoon- Hike the White Point trail in afternoon- Drive scenic Cabot Trail in late afternoonDuration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Silver Dart Lodge - 4 Star Canada Select accommodations *Outdoor pool, bar & restaurant Day 4: Halifax, Nova ScotiaStop At: Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia- Boat Tour to Bird Islands to view Puffins, Eagles, Murres & Seals- Afternoon picnic lunch in Baddeck- Drive back to HalifaxDuration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.
Cape Breton & Newfoundland Tour
ItineraryDay 1: Baddeck, Cape BretonStop At: Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs, Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Nova ScotiaDeparting from Halifax we drive to Cape Breton Island where we spend our first day together; travelling past rolling hills and the open waters of the Bras D’or Lakes to the base of Salt Mountain. Here at the Whycocomagh Provincial Park a 4 km trail climbs to series of look-offs with views to the town below, the surrounding highlands and the lakes below where bald eagles frequently soar through the skies. We then make our way to the lakeside town of Baddeck where we will catch a live evening Ceilidh to enjoy traditional and Celtic influenced tunes.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Silver Dart Lodge, Baddeck4 Star Lodge*Outdoor pool, bar & restaurantDay 2: Baddeck, Cape BretonStop At: Baddecks Welcome Centre, Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Nova ScotiaA short drive in the morning brings us to the Usige Ban Falls trail which leads to a 50 ft waterfall tucked away in a glorious valley. This easy 4 km hike winds through a mixed forest mostly dominated by white and yellow birch and the ever present sounds of song birds and the brook make for a pleasant morning hike. In the afternoon we board a vessel that takes us to the Bird Islands where from our boat we witness flocks of puffins, bald eagles, cormorants, murres, guillemots and seals. Rated as a “must-see” destination in the “Unforgettable Atlantic Canada” guidebook.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Silver Dart Lodge - 4 Star Accommodations*Outdoor pool, bar & restaurant Day 3: Port Aux Basque, Newfoundland Stop At: Port aux Basques Channel Lighthouse, Newfoundland and LabradorToday is our travel day by ferry to the island of Newfoundland. Boarding the car ferry in the morning the crossing is approximately 7 hours. We will arrive in Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland around dinner time. After dinner you will have the evening to explore the town.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: St Christopher Hotel - 3 Star HotelDay 4: Corner Brook, NewfoundlandStop At: Corner Brook Stream Trail, Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and LabradorJust outside of town the Long Range Mountains begin which stretch almost the entire length of western Newfoundland. Most of the drive from here to Corner Brook could easily be mistaken for a national park it’s that beautiful. We will make numerous stops for photos along our journey. Once in Corner Brook we head to Marble Mountain to try our hand at zip-lining or the spider challenge. The zip-line consists of 9 runs, with one almost 2000 ft long and 285 ft in height crossing over the 200 ft Steady Brook Falls. Adrenaline junkies line up! The alternative for those interested in something a little less adventurous is the spider challenge – a three-storey high obstacle ropes course which is suitable for the entire family. Our evening will be spent in the town of Corner Brook.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Glynmill Inn - 3 Star Hotel Day 5: Gros Morne, NewfoundlandStop At: Gros Morne National Park, Rocky Harbour, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and LabradorPrepare to be amazed! Today we enter Gros Morne National Park which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site; renowned for its’ captivating and raw natural beauty. Hundreds of millions of years have shaped and sculpted a landscape unlike anything else found on the planet. Here the earth’s mantle has been forced to the surface to reveal an unworldly desert-like landscape known as the “Tablelands.” An easy pace during this 4 km hike allows for great photo opportunities and time to lose yourself in thought imaging the great forces behind creating such a unique and wild landscape.In the afternoon we hike the 9 km Green Gardens Trail where the wild open waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence are on full display. Here lush green mountains meet the sea where a coastline full of adventure awaits! Here we will be rewarded by waterfalls, sea-caves and spectacular sea-cliffs after crossing over serpentine barrens and coastal forests; a very diverse hike that will fill your heart and cameras with memories for years to come.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Ocean Atlantic Cottages - *Each cottage offers kitchen, dining room and a living room with TV/ DVD and internet accessDay 6: Gros Morne, NewfoundlandStop At: Gros Morne National Park, Rocky Harbour, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and LabradorToday’s boat tour is a “bucket list” experience. The Western Brook Pond is a landlocked fjord where the sheer rock walls rise nearly 2000 ft towards the sky – that’s nearly 400 ft taller than the CN Tower, Canada’s tallest building. An easy 4 km hike along a flat path and boardwalk brings us to the waters edge where we board our vessel and cruise the 16 km long fjord where waterfalls leap from the granite cliffs showing off rainbow coloured misty veils before touching down thousands of feet below. The folks at BonTours are always willing to share their knowledge of the natural history of the area and eager to get everyone on board stomping their feet to some local tunes. Newfoundlanders are well-known for their humour and showing people a good time and today’s journey is no exception.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Ocean Atlantic Cottages - *Each cottage offers kitchen, dining room and a living room with TV/ DVD and internet accessDay 7: Gros Morne, Newfoundland Stop At: Gros Morne National Park, Rocky Harbour, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and LabradorThe national park is named after the very mountain we are setting out to climb today, that being Gros Morne which means big lone mountain. This is the 2nd highest point on the island of Newfoundland and is a difficult and demanding trek even for an experienced fit hiker. The trail conditions are rocky with many exposed roots and the hike involves a lot of climbing to the exposed sub-arctic alpine summit, which stands 2645 ft (806 metres). As we near the summit the views of Ten Mile Pond and across the fjord towards Bonne Bay are unsurpassed in all Atlantic Canada. This unique arctic-tundra like mountain is home to some interesting wildlife in the form of rock ptarmigan, woodland caribou and arctic hare which are usually found in the far northern parts of the country. This hike will take us 8-10 hours to complete which will allow us enough time to rest and enjoy one of eastern Canada’s most spectacular landscapes.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Ocean Atlantic Cottages - *Each cottage offers kitchen, dining room and a living room with TV/ DVD and internet accessDay 8: Deer Lake, Newfoundland Stop At: Deer Lake Beach, Deer Lake, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and LabradorOur last day in Newfoundland together so let’s make it a good one! In the morning we will take a 2 hour paddle in sea kayaks on Bonne Bay. Here we will not only learn about the aquaculture of the area and its livelihood to many of the local residents, but also have stunning views of the Tablelands across the bay and Gros Morne Mountain peeking over the trees in the distance; offering us a chance to admire our accomplishments we have earned during our time in Gros Morne. As we make our way out of the park we will stop at Southeast Brook Falls to marvel at this 120 ft waterfall before heading to Deer Lake airport to say our final farewells.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.
Cape Breton Island
Wednesday – DAY 1 – Arrive Halifax, NSArrive in Halifax and check in to your accommodations which are ideally located in the downtown core of this vibrant and cosmopolitan urban centre on the Atlantic Ocean.Thursday – DAY 2 – Halifax to Baddeck, NSDepart Halifax on your included transfer to New Glasgow where you will meet your Tour Director or Driver/Guide and fellow travelers. Proceed to Cape Breton Island, the Scotland of North America, via the Canso Causeway. Visit Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck to learn of the many accomplishments of this genius who made his home on the island before checking into your accommodations on the Bras d’Or Lake where you will spend the next two nights. (Continental Breakfast, Dinner)Friday – DAY 3 – Cabot Trail TouringExperience one of the most stunningly picturesque drives in North America today as you tour the Cabot Trail which winds around the rocky splendor of Cape Breton’s northern shore, ascending to the incredible plateaus of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Look-offs offer unforgettable vistas of Cape Breton’s rugged coastline so be sure to have your camera on hand. Your day is complemented by a Whale Watching Boat Tour. (Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner)Saturday – DAY 4 – Baddeck to HalifaxFortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site awaits today and words cannot do justice to this reconstruction depicting one fifth of the settlement of 1744 New France. Roam the streets and chat with authentically costumed guides. Proceed along the shore of the Bras d’Or Lake to the mainland, and back to Halifax for one last night in the Maritimes. (Breakfast)Sunday – DAY 5 – Depart HalifaxArrangements end upon check out from the hotel. (Continental Breakfast)