Itinerary

Day 1: St. John’s, NL, Canada
Begin Your Adventure
Welcome to St. John’s—the vibrant capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Board the Ocean Endeavour for an evening departure and sail out of the historic port, looking out for Signal Hill as you exit the world-famous Narrows.
Photograph the charming houses of the Battery, always a hit with shutterbugs. Watch for icebergs, whales, and seabirds as you sail!

Day 2: At Sea
Learn Onboard
Listen to stories of the fascinating history and ecology of Sable Island as you sail towards its sandy shores.
Enjoy workshops and presentations, watch a documentary, and get your binoculars ready to watch for marine mammals and seabirds in the rich waters of the northwest Atlantic.

Day 3–4: Sable Island, NS
See World-Famous Wild Horses
Be among the lucky few to set foot on Sable Island, a sandbar as long as Manhattan but only about a kilometre wide.
See the world-famous Sable Island wild horses, the largest grey seal colony in the world, and its many varieties of birds—including the endemic Ipswich Sparrow.
Hike the island’s sand dunes, take a Zodiac cruise along its shores, and learn first-hand about its fascinating human history.
According to the unique weather conditions here, we'll maximize opportunities for you to explore.

Day 5: The Gully Marine Protected Area
Search for Whales and Dolphins
Sail through the Gully, a Marine Protected Area where the sea floor plunges two and a half kilometres into a submarine valley; it’s one of the most prominent undersea features in eastern Canada.
Learn about the significant coral communities and diversity of shallow and deep-water fish here, which draw whales and dolphins.
Join the onboard researchers out on deck to scan the waves for exciting sightings and to appreciate this abundance of marine life!

Day 6: Fortress of Louisbourg
Tour a Living Museum
Immerse yourself in re-enacted colonial history at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.
Learn about the many military tussles that took place here and wander through the halls of history at this reconstructed fort.
You’ll delight in this lively glimpse into the early days of Canada’s settlement.
Built by the French in 1720, the fortifications at Louisbourg were captured by the British in 1745, later returned to the French, captured again in 1758, and then destroyed.

Day 7: Bird Islands & Cape Breton Island
Enjoy Birdwatching & Zodiac Cruising
Take a Zodiac cruise at the Bird Islands, just off Cape Breton’s coast near Cape Dauphin, a critical seabird nesting and breeding area that includes the largest colony of great cormorants in Canada.
Be on the lookout for black-legged kittiwakes, razorbills, Atlantic puffins, black guillemots, and perhaps Leach’s storm-petrels, too.

Day 8: Chéticamp
Hike the Cape Breton Highlands
Call in at the fishing village of Chéticamp on the western shore of Cape Breton Island.
Enjoy the busy fishing harbour, rug-hooking museum, shops, and restaurants that all offer a taste of Acadian heritage.
Hike the spectacular Skyline Trail at nearby Cape Breton Highlands National Park, world-renowned for its wildlife and scenery of rugged highlands and wind-swept coasts.
Cape Breton Island is a bastion of Gaelic music and culture, sometimes called “more Scottish than the Scots.”

Day 9: Prince Edward Island
Visit Enchanting Communities
Meander through historic Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, known as the Birthplace of Confederation.
A charming town and the capital of Canada’s smallest province, Charlottetown offers access to all of PEI within a relatively short drive.
You might also opt for possibilities to explore Green Gables—the fictional home of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s famous Anne—or Lennox Island Mi’kmaq First Nation.

Day 10: South Coast Newfoundland
Explore Scenic Coastlines
Journey through the beautiful and windswept coast of southern Newfoundland, dotted with bays, coves, and a few remaining remote outport communities.
Admire outstanding geology and gorgeous botanical life.
Spot plentiful birds, whales, and other wildlife as you make the most of every opportunity for Zodiac and land excursions.
A visit here will be a highlight of your trip!

Day 11: Saint-Pierre, France
Savour European Shops & Cafés
Indulge in the colourful town of Saint-Pierre, a charming finale to your trip. Just off the shores of Newfoundland lie the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon—an official territory of the French Republic.
Wind through charming streets lined with shops, houses, and cafés that bring a taste of Europe to the east coast of North America.

Day 12: St. John’s, NL, Canada
Wave a Fond Farewell
Complete your journey by sailing back through the picturesque Narrows and into St. John’s harbour.
Say your farewells to Atlantic Canada in this cultural hotspot and North America's oldest city.

© ACA

© ACA

© ACA