To book call us on:

020 7590 0726

Make an enquiry

At a glance…

An independent road trip though eastern Canada's most iconic seaside communities and National Parks

» 15 day self-drive

» Price from: £2,940

The best way to enjoy Atlantic Canada is as the locals do, and that means taking your time to enjoy to small villages, fishing communities, National Parks and coastal drives that make this one of the world's great travel destinations. Take a self-drive through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to get to know local indigenous cultures, colonial history, and natural landmarks from the tide-sculpted Hopewell Rocks to the sweeping curves of the seaside Cabot Trail.

Day by day itinerary

  • Days 1-2 » Depart the UK for Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Depart the UK for Halifax, and transfer to your hotel. You'll enjoy a full day in the capital of Nova Scotia, where you'll find a welcoming city filled with art museums and galleries, cafes, vibrant indigenous culture and world-class seafood restaurants. Originally this land belonged to the Mi’kmaq tribe, before French and later British settlers made it home. Take a guided tour of Halifax before enjoying time at leisure to explore the city independently.

    Stay: The Halliburton

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Day 3 » Lunenburg

    Pick up your rental car today and depart Halifax for the Nova Scotia's Lighthouse Route. Drive to Peggy's Cove, home of an iconic example of Atlantic lighthouses, and enjoy ambling through this charming fishing town. Continue to Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a scenic beauty of a town boasting colourful wooden fishermen's cottages and classic high street shops – look for mid-century ice cream shops, folk art galleries and picturesque church steeples piercing the sky above the tree line.

    Stay: The Mariner King

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Day 4 » Annapolis Valley

    Set off today for Annapolis Valley via the Kejimkujik Scenic Drive, driving through the National Park of the same name. Kejimkujik National Park is an excellent stop for a scenic picnic or leg-stretch, featuring as it does walking trails alongside bubbling creeks, canoeing on placid crystalline waters and a backdrop of old-growth forest. Later today, you'll arrive in the town of Annapolis Royal, a picturesque example of Atlantic Canada's seaside communities. One of the oldest European settlements in Canada, the town now is a National Historic District and boasts a lively artistic community, a scenic boardwalk, the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens and O'Dell House Museum.

    Stay: Queen Anne Inn 

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Days 5-6 » Fundy National Park

    Board a ferry this morning bound for Saint John, New Brunswick, for a pleasant and scenic journey that will take approximately three hours. Once you reach Saint John, be sure to explore the city a bit – it's a working port town that takes great pride in its maritime heritage, and the visitor will find plenty to enjoy here, from the Saint John City Market to the Handworks Gallery. Continue driving the Fundy Coastal Drive – a picturesque way to steep yourself in the local landscape – to reach Fundy National Park. The park is a favourite spot for hikers of all ability levels, as well as birdwatchers, cyclists and other outdoorsy travellers. The deep soft greens of the mossy trees are matched by the craggy coastal cliffs, and the entire park is haven for photographers, providing new view around every bend. Take your time here to really soak up the special atmosphere of the park.

    Stay: Falcon Ridge Inn

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Day 7 » Summerside

    Today, depart for Hopewell Rocks, where the tides have worn away local sandstone spires up to 70 feet tall. Try to ensure you get to see the rocks at low tide for the best view – high tide can be up to 46 feet. After stopping here, where you'll find an educational centre to help you understand the geological phenomenon of 'The Rocks', continue via the Acadian Coastal Drive to Confederation Bridge and on to friendly, pretty Summerside on Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province.

    Stay: Summerside Inn B&B

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Days 8-9 » Charlottetown

    Explore more of Prince Edward Island today as you depart Summerside along the Green Gable Shore – yes, this is the setting for the iconic novel Anne of Green Gables, and you'll find many sites in honour of the book and its author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. You may choose to stop at the Anne of Green Gables Museum in Park Corner, or visit Cavendish, the true home of the story. Later, make your way to Charlottetown, capital of PEI and historical centre where Canada's founding fathers gathered to begin joining together British North America into one nation.

    Stay: The Great George

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Day 10 » Tatamagouche

    This morning, you'll leave Charlottetown and take a ferry from Wood Islands back to Nova Scotia, a journey of about 75 minutes. Drive to Tatamagouche, a small village boasting strong Mi'kmaq history and, nowadays, plentiful art galleries and museums. It's also a good jumping-off point for outdoor activities, as it has a lively marina for water-based exploration, and is a great destination for bird watching as well as cycling and there are walking trails for all levels. Spend the night here, enjoying the relaxed pace of life and informal neighbourly community.

    Stay: Train Station Inn 

  • Days 11-12 » Baddeck

    Drive the Sunrise Trail this morning on your way to historic Pictou, where 'New Scotland' was formed after the landing of many Scottish settlers in 1773. Perhaps you'll choose to stop here for lunch and take in the old Pictou Railway Station or Hector Heritage Quay. You'll then head onward to explore Cape Breton via the famous Cabot Trail, rightfully one of Canada's greatest gems and a scenic drive to remember. This gorgeous coastal route will likely require many stops for photographs of the green hills diving into the vibrant Atlantic, so you'll want to give yourself plenty of time. You'll travel through Cheticamp, an Acadian fishing village worth a stop for some fresh seafood or a stroll,  before continuing on to Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

    Stay: Lynwood Inn 

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Day 13 » Louisbourg

    Be sure to give yourself time to explore more of Cape Breton Island before driving via Sydney & Glace Bay, and the Marconi Trail, to Louisbourg. The Fortress of Louisbourg is a must-see while here, as it is a National Historic Site and a major landmark during the battles that ultimately led to an independent Canada.

    Stay: Louisbourg Harbour Inn

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Day 14 » Liscomb Mills

    Depart Louisbourg, driving along the Eastern Shore to the Marine Drive Route. The Marine Drive Route is a designated scenic route, and it's easy to see why as the Atlantic Coast here yields views of quiet fishing villages, isolated, windswept lighthouses and white wooden churches alongside rolling green farms and rocky coastal cliffs. For a historical take on the area, Sherbrooke Village makes a worthwhile stop to meet the period actors in 1860s costumes recreating daily life here. You'll end your drive in the town of Liscomb Mills tonight.

    Stay: Liscomb Lodge

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Day 15 » Depart Halifax for the UK

    Today, head to Halifax, leaving time to stop at Musquodoboit Harbour & Valley, home of Nova Scotia's longest beach. You'll then depart on your overnight flight for the UK, arriving home the next day.

To book call us on:

020 7590 0726

Make an enquiry

At a glance…

An independent road trip though eastern Canada's most iconic seaside communities and National Parks

» 15 day self-drive

» Price from: £2,940

Share: