New England and Canadian east coast tours
Highlights
Nova Scotia | Halifax | New Brunswick | St John | Acadia NP | Baxter State Park | Fundy NP | Prince Edward island | Cape Breton Highlands NP | Coastal walksDescription of New England and Canadian east coast tours
This coastal odyssey takes you far off North America’s tourist trail through Canada’s most underrated Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island await and then down into Maine in the USA. Travelling with a small group, by private bus, this is far from just a ‘coach’ tour, however, taking time to delve deeply into the cultural and natural heritage highlights en route.Starting and finishing in Halifax, the capital of Canada’s Nova Scotia province, this is a beautiful maritime city to lose yourself in, be it in museums, art galleries, waterfront restaurants or boutiques. Then we head south into USA for two days in Maine’s Acadia National Park. The state’s only national park, it is located on a collection of rugged islands, such as Mount Desert Island, where hiking is a treat following rocky shoreline trails, through littoral woodland and, for those who enjoy more of a challenge, up to some magnificent granite peaks.
From here we move on to Maine’s Baxter State Park, where we have another couple of days to enjoy some of its 800 square kilometres of hiking trails, canoe trails and peaks. It is also home to the highest summit in Maine, Mount Katahdin at 1,605m, famously the end point for those taking on the famous Appalachian Trail.
Moving back into Canada, Fundy National Park is famous for its conifer covered Caledonian Highlands that descend down to the Bay of Fundy. More beauty awaits on Prince Edward Island where, even though it is Canada’s smallest province, it is packed with prettiness. We spend two days exploring its stunning red sandstone coastal rock formations, glowing pink sandy beaches and cycling along its backroads. All very Anne of Green Gables. Which it should be. It was set here.
Just as you think the natural beauty can’t be surpassed we take you to Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Again, we have two days to explore in any way you see fit. Saunter along its dramatic cliff seascapes by foot, or take them in from the water going on a guided sea kayaking expedition. Or hike through the stunning Acadian and boreal forests, with trails that lead you into the landscapes of black bear and bald eagles.
Staying in small, locally owned hotels along the way, with superb maritime influenced food everywhere you go, this trip is a unique way to see stunning landscapes across both sides of the North American border.
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 rosy@responsibletravel.comResponsible tourism


Responsible tourism: New England and Canadian east coast tours
We are committed to offering low impact tours that benefit both the places and communities we visit as well as our travellers. It is important for us all to be aware of the delicate balance that exists in the variety of natural wonders you will visit. National Parks and monuments, archaeological sites and other sensitive areas should and must be treated with respect.
We have created a 'Travellers' Code of Conduct' to help prepare and inform our groups of the various positive or negative effects they could have on a destination. The code includes tips on everything from handling wildlife encounters to how you can help to conserve precious natural resources. Our tour leaders will explain this code of conduct during the first night’s orientation talk and encourage you to follow it throughout the tour.
This code includes following the ‘Leave No Trace’ ethic, this is an international campaign that is designed to help us minimise the impact on the National Parks and other wilderness areas that we visit. Some key guidelines we follow include keeping to existing trails, staying in official campgrounds and disposing of all waste responsibly and recycling whatever we can.
We are proud supporters of Bay Area Wilderness Training (www.bawt.org) a charity based in Oakland California which works to connect disadvantaged children in the local urban area with the great outdoors. Their work helps to provide these young people with life changing experiences which they can
apply to everyday life. Everyone booking with Grand American Adventures has the option to donate £1/$1/€1 to support this well-deserved charity and we will match this donation.
Whenever possible, we use local accommodation and activity providers. We also shop locally for groceries, eat in small family-run restaurants and visit local shops whenever possible. This all brings economic benefit to the local communities that we visit.
We spend a significant amount of time at various National Parks on this tour, the included entrance fees help to preserve the status and upkeep of the park on a continued and sustainable basis. Interaction with National Park Rangers helps to preserve this role as an employment opportunity for local people and future generations
Our tour leaders will educate travellers on how best to interact with the wildlife in the parks, for example advising people not to feed the animals to stop them becoming dependent on hand-outs from humans. They will also advise all groups to keep to the path to avoid upsetting the balance of nature.
1 Reviews of New England and Canadian east coast tours
Reviewed on 19 Sep 2016 by Jill Powlettbrown
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Whale-watching in the Gulf of Maine ... amongst the most memorable of other memorable moments, including Pier 21 Immigration Museum in Halifax, the ceilidh at Cavendish, and the few birds that were around.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be aware that
- there are long days travelling between each location, and that the transport used may not be all that comfortable; in the kind of wonderful, hot and sunny weather that we were lucky enough to have throughout the trip, good-quality air conditioning is essential.
- this is a very busy trip with little time in some locations.
- the meal plan (breakfast only, and not in every location) is limited in some locations to continental provision (grudgingly provided in Cheticamp!)
- the single supplement is very high.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
There was no overt focus on this, and I would question whether we reduced the environmental impact in any meaningful way, but as tourism is a central economy in Maritime Canada then I hope we made a small contribution.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall, excellent, especially the excellent leadership from Gem; but I would hesitate to recommend for the following reasons :
- transport was inadequate for the long days' travelling
- the timing of the whale-watching trip meant there was no time to visit Acadia NP. Extra time would have been good in Cape Breton to do more of the Cabot Trail (but please don't use Merry's Motel, where the owners are clearly disinterested in having guests)
- the single supplement is punitive and discriminatory. Had I had to pay full single supplement (£739), I would not have proceeded with the booking.
Read the operator's response here:
The vehicle used on this trip was from our brand new fleet of luxury vans. Feedback from clients this year has been very good so we are sorry you found the transport inadequate.
Timings for the whale watching are less frequent outside the summer months, although there was still time to do a loop around Arcadia NP. According to the tour leader those participating in the whale watching chose not to opt for a quick visit to Arcadia. Anyhow your comments are welcome and have been noted by the operations team in the US.
Thanks,
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