Itinerary Expand all Day 1 Embarkation Day; Louisbourg, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia Our adventure begins in the historic port town of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, where we board our expedition vessel, RCGS Resolute. First visited in 1597 by the English, the town was fortified in 1713 by the French in recognition of its strategic maritime location. During the 18th century, Louisbourg was the third busiest seaport in North America. We board the ship in the late afternoon in time for a dinner of fresh, local lobster as we sail out past the lighthouse, into the North Atlantic - and onto the Grand Banks. Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Sable Island National Park Located on the edge of the Grand Banks, hundreds of kilometres from the coast, Sable Island has a storied history as a graveyard of ships, with more than 350 ships falling victim to the treacherous currents and sandbars. Sporadically inhabited by sealers, shipwreck survivors and salvagers, the island is now home to fewer than six year-round inhabitants, a herd of wild horses and one of the largest Grey seal colonies in the world. It is an important stopover for numerous migratory bird species as they make their way to and from the High Arctic regions. Sable Island forms one of Canada’s newest national parks and we explore the long sand beaches. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Bird Island & Englishtown We return to Cape Breton and continue our exploration of this beautiful island by stopping in Englishtown. We have a few options in this area. The Atlantic puffins and razorbills on Bird Island might call to us as we put the Zodiacs down in the water, or perhaps heading into the community of Englishtown will be of interest. The Gaelic College in Cape Breton is a short bus ride away from the beach where we disembark. The region can be explored by sea kayak, stand up paddleboard, zodiac or bicycle – all alongside our expert guides and naturalists who will share their excitement for the destination along the way. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Georgetown, Prince Edward Island This morning, we are anchored off Georgetown, Prince Edward Island. Today we have plenty of options and we split into several directions to explore this enchanting location. For the history buffs a visit to Charlottetown is a must. This is where the meeting took place to discuss Confederation among the British colonies in 1864. Three years later, the Dominion of Canada came into being. For the activity seekers there is a great bike ride along the Confederation Trail to the town of Montague. Dunarave is one of the jewels of the golfing scene on Prince Edward Island, so a round of golf here is another great option. A paddle on the Montague River in the sea kayaks provides even more choice. Otherwise, enjoy a walking tour of Georgetown sampling the local mussels and friendly atmosphere. Arriving back to the ship after a busy day, we enjoy a dinner of fresh Atlantic seafood as we navigate north towards the Magdalen Islands. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine (The Magdalen Islands) Sculpted out of sandstone, these islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are home to unique fishing communities with beautifully maintained waterfront houses and boats, flowing grassy plains and sandstone shorelines sculpted by the elements. In addition to the traditional fishing and sealing culture found in the islands, we will encounter a wide diversity of bird and sea life. Europeans first discovered the islands in the mid 15th century, though it’s thought indigenous Miíkmaqs had been visiting for centuries to hunt walruses. Quebecois and Acadian culture runs strongly through the towns and villages of the islands, through local cuisine, craft and language. The island’s gentle terrain is a cyclist’s paradise, while the sea kayaking and stand up paddle boarding through sea arches and into sandstone sea caves is superb. Otherwise you might enjoy a whale-watching cruise in the Zodiacs or head to the beach to soak up some sun or build sand castles! Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Bonaventure Island and the Gaspe Peninsula At Bonaventure Island we drop the anchor near the town of Percé and explore the island by Zodiac. This location has a rich natural, historic, and geological heritage. Sculpted over time by the sea, the island is situated at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula. The outstanding flora and fauna, including its famous colony of Northern gannets make it a must-see location. Almost 300 different species of birds have been recorded as visiting, migrating to, or living on Bonaventure Island. An afternoon visit to the community of Percé will provide a window into the rich fishing culture of French-Canada. Zodiac cruising, sea kayaking and stand up paddle boarding are all activities that can be undertaken here, weather permitting. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Anticosti Island At the mouth of the St. Lawrence River where the river water mixes with Arctic waters from the Strait of Belle Isle and the more temperate Atlantic waters, Anticosti Island is rich in marine wildlife. We plan to hike along the beaches near the eastern end of the island followed by a Zodiac cruise along the cliffs at East Point. We hope to observe several species of shorebirds and seabirds as well as whales and seals, which are frequent visitors to the island's waters. Bald eagles soaring along the shoreline, deer in the woods and whales just offshore are all common sights in this location. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Gros Morne National Park & Woody Point Sailing into majestic Bonne Bay, in the heart of Gros Morne National Park, the cliffs soar up out of the water and are covered in a green blanket of tuckamore forest – windswept spruce sculpted by the ocean breeze. At Woody Point we are welcomed ashore by a delegation from the community before hiking up to the excellent interpretation centre. From there, various guided walks take us into the World Heritage-listed Tablelands and to the lookout for a view over much of the park – a spectacular experience! A boreal wetland landscape, featuring dramatic rock ridges, pitcher plants, White-throated sparrows and perhaps even a moose could all be encountered as we explore the park. The twisting mountain road to Trout River makes for a challenging bike ride with our guides or a paddle along the shore of Bonne Bay in the sea kayaks provide yet another memorable activity. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Francois, Newfoundland The community of Francois (pron. Fran-sway) on the south coast of Newfoundland - was settled in the late 1700s. Small boat fishers harvested a variety of species during the summer fishing season. Francois’s rich fishing heritage also included operation of a whale factory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as an ‘out-port’, and accessible only by boat or from the air by helicopter, Francois has a deep harbour which is navigable year-round. When entering Francois harbour, we are first greeted by one of the few remaining manned light stations anywhere on the coast of Newfoundland. Once past the light, the narrow opening leading into the steep-walled rocky fjord amazes us. This is a spectacular location and for many, a highlight of the trip. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 St Pierre et Miquelon Saint-Pierre et Miquelon are a small group of islands situated off the south coast of Newfoundland. They were first settled by the French in the early 17th century and today, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France’s once vast North American empire. Walking down the streets feels like taking a stroll through a provincial French town. As a part of France, the area has much in common with Europe, but also with its Canadian and American neighbours. There's an excellent puffin colony here and, if weather permits, we cruise in the zodiacs to see these colourful birds. Tonight we enjoy a special dinner attended by the Captain to mark the end of our voyage through Canada’s spectacular Atlantic provinces. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Disembark in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia We sail back to Cape Breton across the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, heading again for the historic port of Louisbourg. We will disembark in the morning and, while some of us will head to the airport, many will add a few extra days in Cape Breton to enjoy one of the gems of Canada’s East Coast. Meals included: Breakfast
Canada The Government of Canada has an entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), for some international travellers flying into Canada. Citizens from countries other than the US who do not require a visa to enter Canada are required to obtain an eTA before entering the country. Eligible travellers will need to go online to apply for their eTA. To apply for your eTA you will need your passport, credit or debit card and an email address. At the time of publication there was a CAD$7 fee to process your eTA. Your eTA will be valid for a period of five years, or until your passport expires. We recommend you carry a print out of your eTA approval when you travel. Please visit www.canada.ca/eTA to apply. If you have not applied for and received authorisation via an eTA prior to travel you may be denied boarding, experience a delayed processing or be denied admission at the Canadian point of entry. However, neither possession of a visa nor meeting the basic requirements for travelling visafree on the eTA, guarantees admission to Canada. As with most countries, the final determination of admissibility is made by immigration officials at the point of entry.
Polar Adventure Ship The Canada's East Coast - Fins & Fiddles is offered on the Akademik Ioffe and the RCGS Resolute which are Polar Adventure Ships. Please visit our website to access Ship Information and Deck Plan. Polar Adventure Ships These are smal ice rated vessels well qualified for Polar waters. Intimate adventures are always more enjoyable with like-minded passengers and staff, so these voyages are for people who like flexible itineraries and plenty to keep them busy. Activities include frequent Zodiac excursions, trekking, kayaking and many hours on deck in areas that other ships only dream about accessing. Food and staff are superb and every guest benefits from the technical advances of this superb fleet. Rest assured our Polar Adventure Ships enable any traveller to maximize their experience sensitively in the Poles.
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