Compare Nunavik: Wildlife & Inuit Culture by Audley Travel vs Best of the Canadian Maritimes by Intrepid Travel

Day 1 : Montréal

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Montréal. You will be met upon arrival by your guide and transferred to your airport hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax after your flight.

Day 2 : Quaqtaq

Fly from Montréal to Quaqtaq. You will be met upon arrival at Quaqtaq by your guide, and transferred to your hotel. There will then be time to freshen up before the group meets for a detailed trip briefing which will focus on your activities over the next few days. After this enjoy an informal walk, with your guide, through the village. You will visit Cape Hopes Advance, the abandoned weather station that operated from 1928 until 1970. From the top of the hill you may be able to spot some splendid icebergs that often drift past at this time of year. This will be followed by dinner at your hotel.

Day 3 : Quaqtaq

After breakfast at your hotel, and at high tide, travel by motorised freighter canoe to beautiful Diana Island. On the way keep a look out for jellyfish, seals or even minke whales. Having landed, you will then take a leisurely walk, of between one and two hours, across Diana Island, which is a landscape of gently rolling hills and dry, spongy tundra. The island is home to a population of musk oxen so do keep a look out for these shaggy, almost prehistoric-looking Arctic beasts. As you walk you may find small tufts of musk oxen hair which is very fine and soft. The terrain will be peppered with a variety of delicate and pretty Arctic flowers which your guides will point out to you. You will also see how the Inuit delicately remove the down from nests of eider ducks that they use to make their warm parkas. A picnic lunch will be served on the island, often in sight of musk oxen, and if you are very lucky you may see beluga whales off-shore. After a day of exploration, return by motorised canoe to Quaqtaq.

Day 4 : Kangirsuk

Fly to Kangirsuk where you will be met and transferred by motorised canoe to Kangirsuk Camp. Your route takes you along the beautiful fjord of Payne River where you are likely to see caribou roaming, or even crossing the river. The exact route will be determined by local tides and times. When you disembark, your guides will set up a temporary camp and light a fire to cook lunch that includes fresh local fish and bannock bread. Afterwards there is time to go for a walk with your guides on the spongy tundra, which is an experience in itself. Musk oxen have begun to return to this area so do keep a look out for them as well as foxes, Arctic hares, wolves, black bears and many species of birds. In the evening, when the wind has subsided, you will marvel at the utter silence and think how precious moments like these are away from everything. You will be transferred to your hotel where, this evening, dinner will be served.

Day 5 : Kangirsuk

After breakfast this morning you will set off in motorised canoes to travel the waterways of the Payne River. Your guides will try to locate the caribou migration routes which provide many superb photographic opportunities. A temporary camp will be made for a traditional Inuit picnic lunch of local fish and meats. After lunch, continue your exploration by motorised canoes whilst looking out for Arctic foxes, musk oxen, Arctic hares, wolves, and caribou. You will return to your hotel in Kangirsuk in time to freshen up before dinner and after this there will be a demonstration of throat singing by local Inuit women.

Day 6 : Tasiujaq

In the morning your guides will take you out for a hike on the spongy tundra. You should have a good opportunity of seeing birds and the fresh Arctic air is intoxicating. Musk-oxen are slowly establishing themselves in this area and you may once again have the chance to see these fascinating animals. Keep a look out for foxes, Arctic hares, wolves and black bears too. You will return to Kangirsuk later in the day to take your flight to Tasiujaq.

Day 7 : Tasiujaq

This morning, after breakfast, your guide will transport you to the dock where, at high tide, your local Inuit guides will be waiting for you with their large open-air motorised canoes. Your full day adventure takes you along the southwest coast of Ungava Bay, an area renowned for its high concentration of polar bears and high tides. With luck you will have good opportunities to see these magnificent bears in this breathtaking and pristine environment. A picnic lunch will be served and then you will continue to explore along the shore, going in and out of bays and fjords by motorised canoe, looking for further polar bear viewing opportunities. Return to your hotel in Tasiujaq for dinner.

Day 8 : Montréal

Fly from Tasiujaq to Kuujjuaq. Upon arrival there is time for a tour of the town and to buy some souvenirs of the north at Tiwi Galleries. All of their items are locally produced, and include Inuit sculptures, 'nassaq' (Inuit hats), mittens, slippers, Ungava cream made with Nunavik algae extract, Ookpik (owl figurines) made of seal skin, prints, jewellery, and Inuit clothing. Lunch will be taken at the Kuujjuaq Inn and you will then be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Montréal.

Day 9 : International return flight

The day is free to go shopping or explore cosmopolitan Montréal. The city boats a huge range of restaurants and cafés and we suggest you work up an appetite by taking a walking tour of old Montréal with its historic port and warren of cobbled streets. Don't miss a visit to lively Place Jacques Cartier, the spectacular Basilica Notre Dame, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Parc du Mont Royal. In addition, don't miss a Bateau Mouche cruise on the St. Lawrence River, the Botanical Gardens, the Biodome and the Planetarium. This evening board your onward flight.

Day 10 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.

Day 1 Halifax / Lunenburg

Welcome to Halifax! Your tour starts today with a welcome meeting at 10am before you head to historic Lunenburg on the South Shore, one of only two urban communities in North America designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore Mahone Bay and nearby Blue Rocks on a leader-led walking tour and learn about this old fishing community that’s become a hub for artists and photographers. Enjoy some free time exploring the old town centre, which is a National Historic Site of Canada. And since Lunenburg was a rum-running town in the days of Prohibition, make sure you take the time to sample of the local brews. Head back to Halifax in the late afternoon and meet later in the evening for an optional dinner if you wish.

Day 2 Halifax

Take a trip to famous Peggy’s Cove, a picturesque fishing village that is one of the most photographed places in all of Canada – for good reason! Rocky outcrops, the crashing Atlantic, colourful fishing boats and that famous red-tipped lighthouse are what you expect to see on Maritimes postcards. Follow your local leader along the Peggy’s Cove Rock Walk, which meanders along the barren coastline that glaciers created some 12,000 years ago. Grab lunch in the village (your own expense) – perhaps a creamy seafood chowder or fresh lobster roll.

Day 3 Baddeck

Today you will drive from Halifax to Baddeck, but not without a stop at the excellent Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Center. Located in the heart of a development owned by Millbrook First Nation, it tells the story of the Millbrook Mi’kmaq and the important role they played and continue to play in the Maritimes. Don’t miss the gift shop which sells beautiful traditional arts and crafts. On arrival in Baddeck, relax and settle into your hotel before we head for an included dinner together.

Day 4 Baddeck

Today offers a big day of discovery and adventure. Start with a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site to gain insight into the life and work of this inventor, scientist, and teacher who is arguably best known for inventing the telephone. Then drive along the Cabot Trail and stop for a leisurely hike within Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The Skyline Trail is the park’s signature hike, which leads out to spectacular sweeping views over the sea. If it’s a nice day for driving, your leader will take you further along the Cabot Trail – a 4 hours’ drive, but with plenty of beautiful stops along the way. Enjoy a picnic lunch while you’re out along the trail before returning to Baddeck for the night.

Day 5 Charlottetown

Drive from Baddeck to Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island and the smallest provincial capital in the country. It’s the perfect destination to explore on foot when you arrive in the late afternoon. Stroll alongside the picturesque harbour or take in the leafy parks and Victorian-era streets lined with gabled houses. Tonight you may like to join your group for an optional dinner and toast your adventure.

Day 6 Charlottetown

An orientation meeting will take place at 10am this morning to welcome any new travellers joining you for the next leg of your journey, then head out with your leader for a walking tour of the town. Finish with a tasting at Upstreet Brewing – a fellow B Corp business that brews a mix of classic, seasonal and experimental craft beers. Your afternoon is free to wander on your own before regrouping in the evening for a truly special dinner. Head out along the stunning Points East Coastal Drive (approximately 45 minutes) to meet a local fisherman and enjoy a traditional lobster and mussel boil on his private property.

Day 7 Charlottetown

Drive from Charlottetown to the Greenwich section of Prince Edward Island National Park, home to a rare parabolic dune system as well as miles of pristine white sand beaches. Located along the famous Points East Coastal Drive, Greenwich is the perfect place to discover the small towns, beaches and wildlife that make Prince Edward Island so unique. As you walk the dune trail and dip your toes in the surf, look out for rare coastal plant species and a variety of seabirds.

Day 8 Summerside

This morning visit Lennox Island First Nation to meet with a Mi'kmaq guide for a tour of the cultural center and St. Anne church. Immerse yourself in Mi'kmaq culture and history, and learn the traditional way of preparing bannnock at a campfire. Settle in with a cup of tea and soak up the stories about life on Lennox Island. Then drive to nearby Cavendish where L.M. Montgomery famously drew her inspiration for the “Anne of Green Gables” novels. Visit Green Gables Heritage Place and explore the area on a walking tour (with a focus on Anne, of course!). Then, check out the very cool Bottle Houses – a village of buildings, including a tavern, a chapel and gift shop, that are literally made out of thousands of bottles. At spectacular Thunder Cove Beach the sandstone cliffs, sea stacks and caves make for an otherworldly landscape that most visitors to Prince Edward Island totally miss. Spend the night in the coastal city of Summerside.

Day 9 Moncton

Enjoy a free morning exploring Summerside on your own. You may want to check out the local museums, galleries and cultural centres, or you can just wander through the neighbourhoods of historic homes. Then get your sea legs ready! Today you’re cruising the waters of Shediac Bay on a working lobster boat with local fishers. Get a hands-on demonstration of lobster fishing and enjoy a delicious freshly caught lunch on board. After lunch, drive to Moncton and your hotel for the night.

Day 10 Saint John

Cross over into New Brunswick and make your way to the postcard-perfect Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park. Arrive for low tide and join a naturalist guide for a walk right out onto the sea floor and get up close to the towering sandstone formations known as the Hopewell Rocks, or Flowerpot Rocks. When the tide comes in, waters in the bay can reach up to 16 metres, so a trip here is all about timing and your local leader will make sure you get the most out of your visit. In the afternoon, take a quick detour to spectacular Cap Enrage with its charming lighthouse before continuing on to explore Fundy National Park. Then it's a short drive onwards to the historic seaport city of Saint John, where you’ll stay for the night.

Day 11 Saint John

Your tour ends today, and you are free to leave at your leisure. Or, if you like, stick around and explore the city of Saint John and more of the Maritimes on your own.