Newfoundland Adventure: Westbound
Experience Overview
It's time to explore North America’s most north-easterly point, where the dramatic coastline, mighty fjords and wonderful wildlife will take your breath away. With a knowledgeable leader to guide the way, on this eight-day adventure you’ll experience a landscape that has been shaped by the elements over thousands of years, meet with locals and stop into historic towns surrounded by the splendour of Newfoundland’s famous scenery. Watch huge icebergs bob past the town known as “The Iceberg Capital of the World” in the spring, go whale watching, and spot puffins at one of North America’s best viewing sites.
Highlights
- Meet locals on a historic walking tour of Trinity and hear about how Gander welcomed thousands of stranded travelers during 9/11.
- Marvel at Western Brook Pond, the spectacular glacier-carved landlocked fjord in Gros Morne National Park during a scenic boat tour that gets you closer to nature.
- Take a boat tour through pristine waters surrounding Twillingate, keeping an eye out for whales, seabirds and more.
- Watch puffins at Elliston’s renowned viewing site which offers one of the closest land views of these birds in North America.
- Admire spectacular coastal scenery and head out to historic lighthouses that mark the easternmost point of Canada.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2539
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private Vehicle,boat
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: SESN
Starts: St John’s, Canada
Finishes: Deer Lake, Canada
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (1), Dinner (1)Accommodation: Hotel (2 nights),Bed & Breakfast (2 nights),Inn (1 night),Cabin (2 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,345 ($543 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to St John’s! Meet your leader at the hotel for a group welcome meeting at 10 am before heading off on a leader-led tour of the city. Drive up Signal Hill to enjoy sweeping views of St. John’s Harbour and brighten your day with a stop at St John’s famous colourful houses on ‘Jellybean Row’. You’ll have free time to find some lunch, then head out to take in the views at Cape Spear Lighthouse and perhaps make it to Canada's easternmost point. Later, join your group for a welcome dinner at Celtic Hearth. Sample Jigg’s dinner pie, a classic Newfoundland dish, then head to a local pub for a traditional “screech-in” ceremony that involves a shot of screech (rum) and kissing a cod. It’s more fun than you might think!
Included Activities:
- St John’s – Local dinner
- St. John’s – Leader led walking tour
- St John’s – Cape Spear Lighthouse
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, head to the town of Trinity. There, you’ll join a local guide for a walking tour, learning about Trinity’s history and its Beothuk, French, Irish and English influences. After, you might like to hike up Gun Hill for a bird’s eye view of the town, or perhaps join your travel buddies for a dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Activities:
- Trinity - Walking tour with a local guide
Accommodation:
- Bed & Breakfast (Number of Nights: 1)
Today it’s time to spot puffins at Elliston’s renowned viewing site which offers one of the closest land views of puffins in North America. See if you can also spot the Puffin King, a rock formation which looks like a puffin sitting on a throne. After you’ve seen the puffins, drive 20 minutes north to visit the historic Cape Bonavista Lighthouse which is one of the most photographed places in Newfoundland. Climb the stairs to the top of the tower and see the seal oil-fuelled light that was used in the 1800s.
Included Activities:
- Elliston - Puffin viewing
- Bonavista - Lighthouse visit
Accommodation:
- Bed & Breakfast (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, head to the town of Gander. Here, you’ll meet with a local to learn about the role the unassuming town played in one of North America’s most significant events. Due to the closure of North American airspace on 9/11, around 6600 people were diverted to Gander – increasing the town’s population by 70% in a matter of hours. You’ll hear about what went into hosting those numbers, as well as the lasting impact it's had on the town. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to Twillingate. There, you’ll take an afternoon boat tour where you can scan the sea for whales and seabirds. In the spring, you might get to see icebergs floating down the stretch of water known as Iceberg Alley. After, head back to your hotel and take it easy or explore Twillingate which is known as “The Iceberg Capital of the World".
Included Activities:
- Gander - Chat with a local
- Twillingate - Seabird & Whale watching boat tour
Accommodation:
- Inn (Number of Nights: 1)
Start the day with a visit to the Beothuk Interpretation Centre, which tells the history of the Indigenous Beothuk people who used to live on Newfoundland. You might like to leave an offering at the nearby Spirit Garden, to help keep the memory of this lost culture alive. Then, continue on the road, stopping to stretch your legs at Norris Point and Green Point along the way. Arrive in Rocky Harbour in the afternoon, and then you might like to join your group for dinner.
Included Activities:
- Boyd's Cove - Beothuk Interpretation Centre
Accommodation:
- Cabin (Number of Nights: 1)
Start the day with a stroll along the Western Brook Pond Trail and take in the view before boarding the Western Brook Pond Boat Tour. Don’t forget your camera as you’ll want to capture the dramatic waterfalls, towering cliffs and abundant wildlife that can be found in this glacier-carved land-locked fjord. Then, take a scenic drive south to walk around the historic Lobster Cove Lighthouse and enjoy the view of the rolling waves and rocky beaches far below.
Included Activities:
- Gros Morne NP - Western Brook Pond Boat Tour
- Rocky Harbour - Lobster Cove Lighthouse visit
Accommodation:
- Cabin (Number of Nights: 1)
Make your final visit to Gros Morne National Park this morning, where you’ll get to do something pretty extraordinary – walk on the Earth’s mantle at the Tablelands. The orange landscape sits in stark contrast to the surrounding greens and blues, and there are plenty of unique plants in the area to make note of too. After, continue to Deer Lake, where you might like to join your group for dinner to celebrate your adventures.
Included Activities:
- Gros Morne National Park-Tableland trail
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, your Newfoundland adventure comes to an end and you are free to depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Roland - Traveled, June 2023
This was a fabulous tour that covered a huge amount in a short time – face to face encounters with puffins and icebergs particular highlights. Simon was an excellent and inspiring tour guide (many thanks Simon). If the tour could be extended to include a leg up to Labrador it would be close to perfect but even without that, worth every penny.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2023
Lynette - Traveled, June 2023
Loved the wildlife and natural scenery. Loved the quirky Newfoundlanders who made us welcome everywhere
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/26/2023
Gabrielle - Traveled, May 2023
Our trip through Newfoundland was excellent, we explored the natural beauty of the island and were embraced by the warm and friendly people who reside there. Our guide was insightful and flexible, allowing us to make the most of what we wanted from the trip. I would absolutely return to Newfoundland soon and recommend this trip to anyone looking to venture onto those rocky cliffs to see icebergs!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/13/2023
Dennis - Traveled, August 2022
A wonderful cultural and informational tour of Newfoundland. Mia was the best tour guide ever, and the people of Newfoundland most welcoming to tourists.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/04/2022
Merrell - Traveled, June 2022
We loved this trip. Newfoundland is amazing and lived up to all expectations. We saw amazing and dramatic north Atlantic coastlines. It was a perfect getaway from our urban home and appropriately balanced in terms of activity and relaxation. Definitely formative memories. Thank you so much!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/11/2022
David - Traveled, May 2022
Newfoundland was well under estimated. We loves every minute of it and Simon the guide help make it a trip to remember.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/09/2022
Terrance - Traveled, May 2022
Great trip....awesome hikes and spectacular scenery.....small international group made for a good bonding for entire trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/10/2022
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