Wonders of Western Newfoundland

Relax with included airport lounge access before your flight to Deer Lake via Halifax, collect your rental car for your drive along the Viking Trail to Norris Point, your first destination located on the northern side of the Bonne Bay and adjacent to Gros Morne National Park, a world heritage site.

Next morning climb aboard a Bonne Bay catamaran cruise from Rocky Harbour and view the pristine waters, breath taking scenery, and treasures of the Bay, with commentary throughout the cruise highlighting the geological wonders, the rich cultural history, and the Bay’s fascinating diversity. It is a great opportunity to photograph the extraordinary wildlife such as bald eagles, moose, whales, and seabirds. 

Start your journey north along the Viking Trail toward St. Anthony. Enjoy spectacular ocean scenery as you drive along the coast line dotted with fishing villages. For the historical adventurer, make a stop in Port Au Choix and Port Au Choix National Historic Site where three ancient cemeteries of the Maritime Archaic People were discovered. The Visitor Centre offers great background to this culture with exhibits and artefacts. Continue to St. Anthony. Along the rugged ocean coastline you can witness the majestic wonder of whales and icebergs (note that the peak iceberg season is typically May/June and early July).

Stay: Grenfell Heritage Hotel & Suites, St. Anthony (Superior)

Awaken today in St. Anthony at the very tip of the Viking Trail. Visit the L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site comprising the remains of the oldest known European settlement of the New World. The colony of Vinland was excavated in the 1960s and the artefacts are on display supported by a film. Walk to the original village and discover the full scale replicas of Norse buildings. Return to St. Anthony for the night.

Stay: Grenfell Heritage Hotel & Suites, St. Anthony (Superior)

Today you will travel across the Straits of Belle Isle to the shores of Labrador, where in the early 1500’s whalers from the Basques regions of Spain and France established a major whaling port. On the shores of Red Bay, the Basques rendered whale oil that lit the lamps of Europe. Today, you can wander around the former whaling town and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Red Bay and immerse yourself in the traditional life of a Basques whaler. On the way back, hike up the wooden stairs of Tracey Hill Walking Trail and enjoy a breathtaking view of Red Bay area. Overnight in L’Anse Au Clair.

Stay: Northern Lights Inn, L'Anse Au Clair (Superior)

This morning, return to the island and make your way back down the peninsula to the Gros Morne National Park. The spectacular scenery all around you will hold your attention for the entire trip, but remember to watch out for fishermen in their boats or whales as they migrate north or south. Shaped by colliding continents and grinding glaciers, Gros Morne’s ancient landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest wonders of the world.

The morning is free to explore the area with your rental car. Enjoy a boat tour of the freshwater fjord of Western Brook Pond. The landlocked fjord is a rare sight. Carved by glaciers, and home to plenty of waterfalls and wildlife, it’s worth the trip alone. The rest of the day is free to explore the sites of the Gros Morne National Park.

Enjoy a day exploring all of Gros Morne National Park on your own viewing glacial valleys, intriguing rock formations, magnificent sea arches and numerous types of wildlife. Don’t miss the internationally known Tablelands, a rare outcrop of the Earth’s mantle pushed skyward half a billion years ago.

Depart and continue to Deer Lake airport for your connecting flight via Halifax to the UK, arriving on day 11