Lighthouses and Hidden Treasures | Discover Nova Scotia

Days 1-2

Halifax

Fly from the UK to Halifax and on arrival, transfer to your hotel where you will spend the next two nights. This attractive city is a bustling hub of art galleries, shops, museums, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and vibrant nightlife, centred around the picturesque waterfront. On your second morning enjoy a city tour and take in the sights. In the afternoon you could take a Harbour tour or a visit the excellent Maritime Museum of the Atlantic with its collection of the memorabilia collected from the Titanic is strongly recommended.

2 nights Halifax.

Day 3

Halifax to Mahone Bay

Collect your car and drive the south shore along the Lighthouse Route. En route visit Peggy’s Cove, a picturesque fishing village surrounded by bare granite and coastal barrens and home to Nova Scotia’s most visited lighthouse. Continue on to Mahone Bay for your overnight stay, a relaxing seaside town known for its quiet beauty and pretty churches.  Make sure to visit the unique town of Lunenburg, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site; this is an alternative overnight stop as it is just a short distance from Mahone Bay.

1 night Mahone Bay.

Days 4

Mahone Bay to Yarmouth

Drive along the shore towards Yarmouth where you will overnight, but passing through Kejimkujik Park and the Seaside Adjunct, known for seals and the most beautiful coastline. The 22 sq.km of protected wilderness on the Atlantic coast offers pristine white sand beaches, astonishing turquoise waters, coastal bogs, and an abundance of wildflowers, rich lagoon systems, and coastal wildlife. Explore the hiking trails, equipped with interpretative signs and telescopes. Shelburne’s waterfront reflects the heritage of the days when wooden ships sailed from here to Europe, New England and the Caribbean.

1 night Yarmouth.

Days 5

Yarmouth to Digby

A short drive along the coast to overnight at Digby, one of the best places to see whales in the world; eight types of whales as well as dolphins are regularly seen, so a whale watching excursion here is a must. You should also visit some of the many lighthouses in the area.

1 night Digby.

Days 6

Digby to Wolfville

Today you will be driving a short distance to Wolfville and your journey will take you through the Annapolis Valley, which is the oldest settled part of Canada. This is reflected in the ornate, aristocratic wooden houses common to the area, a result of the 300 years of prosperity farmers and forest owners have enjoyed here. One of the best examples is Annapolis Royal, the oldest continuously settled town in Canada. Lobster dinners are a specialty of the area and we highly recommend a visit to the Grand Pre Winery for a Tour & Wine Tasting.

Wolfville is known as the cultural and intellectual centre of the valley and is home to many boutiques and good restaurants. Originally know as Mud Creek, it got its name in 1830 when two granddaughters of Judge Elisha DeWolfe convinced their postmaster uncle that a more suitable name was needed. The Robie Tufts Nature Centre, The Acadia University Art Gallery, Randell House Museum and the Grand Pre National Historic Site are all worth a visit.

1 night Wolfville.

Days 7-8

Wolfville to Tatamagouche

According to Mik’Maq legend, Glooscap was a giant god-like man who lived on the high bluffs of Cape Blomidon, overlooking the Bay of Fundy.  He was created by Gisoolg (the Great Spirit Creator) and brought to life with a lightning bolt striking sand. Today you follow the Glooscap Trail to Truro at the very tip of the Bay of Fundy. From Truro continue on to Tatamagouche, a vibrant community where old Victorian buildings mix with  the modern.

You will have two nights in Tatamagouche where you can explore the Sunrise Trail Heritage Trail.  For the more adventurous Tatamagouche is the water sports capital of Nova Scotia. Enthusiasts will enjoy sailing, kayaking, and wind surfing on the Bay.  There is an optional excursion of Tidal Bore Rafting as well, close to Truro. Aboard a powered zodiac, this is an exciting trip on one of the most powerful bodies of water in the world.

2 nights Tatamagouche.

Days 9-10

Tatmagouche to Cape Breton Island

Continue along the Sunrise Trail and over to Cape Breton via the Canso Causeway. You will have two nights in Inverness and will have time to explore the area including visiting  Baddeck whose most notable local resident was Alexander Graham Bell and you can visit the National Historic Site named after him.

Also spend time exploring the famous Cabot Trail, one of the most spectacular drives in all of Canada. The trail winds around the rocky splendours of Cape Breton’s northern shore, ascending to the incredible plateaus of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The park has 26 hiking trails ranging from 20-minute short walks to challenging hikes through stunning mountain and coastal landscapes. Waterfalls and swift running streams can be found near the road, and opportunities for seeing moose are excellent. Whales can often be spotted from the walking trails which overlook the coast but you can also take a whale watching tour.

 2 nights Cape Breton Island

Day 11

Cape Breton Island to West Bay

Today you can explore the southern shore of Cape Breton. Enroute visit Glace Bay which is the start of the Marconi Trail, named after Guglielmo Marconi who sent the first transatlantic wireless message from here. We also suggest you visit the Fortress of Louisbourg, Canada’s largest National Historic Site, and the strongest French fortress ever built in the Americas. Between June and September, costumed “animators” live in the fortress, making it come alive as it was in the summer of 1744.

You will overnight in a resort on the shores of The Bras D’Or Lake, which occupies the island’s heart, is one of the most striking features of eastern Canada… a huge inland sea, perfect for swimming, sailing, and sightseeing.

1 night West Bay.

Day 12

West Bay to Charlos Cove

Follow the shores of the Bras D’Or Lake, home to hundreds of Bald Eagles, back to the mainland where the Marine Drive leads through the forest at the head of the harbours and over low hills. Many excellent views are available from small side roads to the shore. Enroute to your home for the next two nights in Charlos Cove, you will pass through many picturesque villages and communities including Guysborough – an inviting community with distinctive architecture overlooking Chedabucto Bay.

2 nights Charlos Cove.

Day 13

Charlos Cove

Today you could take a cruise to offshore islands, try out ocean kayaking, spend a lazy day on the isolated beaches, or explore the “back roads” that wander through the forest. Or, why
not visit Sherbrooke Village – one of the largest “living museums” in the Maritimes which has been partially restored to its frontier days and a re-enactment of village life in old Nova Scotia.

Day 14

Charlos Cove to Halifax

Depart Charlos Cove and take a leisurely drive back to Halifax. You will have time to visit Goldboro, once the best goldmining district in the province and and Martinique Beach.

Make sure you enjoy a last lobster dinner in one of Halifax’s finest restaurants this evening.

1 night Halifax.

Day 15

Halifax

You will have time today to do any final shopping or sightseeing in Halifax before your late evening flight back to the UK; you will drop off your rental car at the airport.