Compare Discover the Canadian Rockies - Eastbound by G Adventures vs Wonders of the Maritimes & Scenic Cape Breton by Globus
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 12 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 4,504 | $ 3,008 |
| Price Per Day | $ 375 | $ 334 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included | 11 breakfasts, 1 dinner | N/A |
| Description |
Discover the awe-inspiring scenery and legendary wildlife of western Canada on a voyage across the craggy Rocky Mountains. Explore historic Banff and Whistler, marvel at the astonishing natural beauty of Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier, take the ferry to Vancouver Island, and breathe in fresh mountain air while soaking in hot mineral springs and hiking in Jasper National Park. Along the way, gain fascinating insights from knowledgeable local experts and First Nations people. |
This tour of the Canadian Maritimes and Cape Breton has cooked up plenty of unique experiences in this picturesque part of the world. Get your camera ready for Canada’s most photographed lighthouse in Peggy’s Cove, your windbreaker zipped for the highest and widest tides at Hopewell Rocks, and your taste buds ready for a traditional fish cake breakfast, sugar camp lunch, and fresh lobster dinner. Visit the world of a red-headed girl in a straw hat and braids to meet one of Canada’s most loved fictional characters, Anne of Green Gables. Throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, tiny fishing villages, giant whales, and the grandest of scenery will be calling your name, as will Cape Breton’s historic Alexander Graham Bell Museum. Hello, coastal Canada! |
Day 1 Vancouver
Arrive at any time.
Please make your own way to the joining hotel.
If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.
Day 2 Vancouver/Victoria
Head downtown to explore the lush gardens, beaches, woodlands, and miles of trails around Stanley Park, considered one of the world’s greatest city parks. Venture to historic Gastown, and stroll cobblestone streets past Victorian buildings that now house lively restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Then board the scenic ferry to Victoria.
Take a stroll around the city with your CEO to get familiar with your surroundings before you can enjoy the evening on your own.
Day 3 Victoria
Today is free to explore the charming city of Victoria. Wander along the waterfront and choose among an array of optional activities. Discover the stunning floral displays at the famous Butchart Gardens, peruse the Royal British Columbia Museum, or enjoy high tea at a historic hotel. Or opt to cruise the sea in a Zodiac boat in search of gray whales, sea lions, seals, orcas, and other marine creatures.
Day 4 Victoria/Whistler
Catch the ferry back to the mainland and drive the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the village of Whistler, host of some of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Enjoy a G for Good experience at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a showcase for First Nations customs, art, and music. Join an indigenous guide on an interpretive walk through the forest, hear how First Nations people lived off this land, and learn about local flora used for food and medicine. Then take part in a traditional tea ceremony to sample teas and bannock while listening to ancestral stories and legends. Continue to the mountain resort of Whistler, co-host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Day 5 Whistler
Spend today exploring Whistler and the surrounding parks on your own. Stroll through the village, and opt to ride the gondola up the mountain for 360-degree views. Or choose to hike one of the many beautiful trails in the area, go ziplining through the rain forest, or set out on an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip.
Whistler and its surrounding provincial parks are places you must discover. It is also a great place to try one of the many optional mountain activities.
Day 6 Whistler/Blue River
Pass through the Coastal Mountains into the Caribou Mountains on a route once marked by gold prospectors. Sit back and enjoy dramatic changes in your surroundings, the mountains to sweeping grasslands. Enjoy stops at Kamloops Lake, an oasis amid an arid landscape, and the turquoise Seton Lake, a freshwater fjord ringed by towering peaks. Arrive in the small community of Blue River.
Following this extraordinary route, once marked by the gold prospectors, we leave the Coastal Mountain Range and set foot into the arid and dry land of the Thompson Okanagan region. Aboriginal peoples led a semi-nomadic life moving between hunting and fishing grounds in the summer and settling into pit houses for the winter. Europeans came at first for fur trading and later on to establish cattle ranches, farms, and mining operations. The scenery changes dramatically and could even make you feel as if you were in a western movie.
Day 7 Blue River/Jasper National Park
Cross the Rockies into Jasper National Park and follow in the historic path of fur traders on a scenic float trip down the tranquil Athabasca River, encountering a few gentle rapids along the way. Look out for wildlife, which can include bears, moose, eagles, ospreys, and mountain sheep. Later, gaze up at the highest peak, Mount Robson, during a stop at the visitor centre.
Day 8 Jasper National Park
Spend the day at leisure enjoying Jasper’s friendly mountain hospitality. Choose your own adventure among an array of optional activities: Hike to Maligne Canyon, cruise glacially fed Maligne Lake, or rent a bike or canoe to explore on your own. This evening, rejoin your fellow travelers for an unforgettable soak in Miette Hot Springs, where spacious pools of hot mineral springs offer panoramic views of the spectacular Fiddle River Valley.
Jasper's friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful atmosphere, and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable.
Day 9 Jasper National Park/Lake Louise
Pass lush coniferous forests, soaring mountains, turquoise lakes, and epic glaciers as we travel the winding Icefields Parkway—considered one of the world’s most scenic drives—to Bow Lake, stopping along the way to enjoy photo opportunities and wildlife encounters. At the Columbia Icefield, step foot on the lower Athabasca Glacier with an expert guide for a firsthand experience of this active glacial landscape. Continue to magnificent Lake Louise, an alpine lake legendary for its emerald-blue waters.
Along the 300km (186.4 mi) ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, turquoise lakes, high-falling cascades, and humbling glaciers. Numerous stops will be planned along the way for photos, observation, and wildlife encounters.
Day 10 Lake Louise/Banff
Enjoy the morning at Lake Louise, taking in the scenery of the Victoria Glacier. Opt to join a hike to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House, following a forested trail past Mirror Lake and cascading waterfalls to the shores of Lake Agnes, where a remote tea house built in 1901 serves loose-leaf teas and other refreshments. Continue to Banff. Go on a walk back in time through this historic resort town alongside an expert from the Whyte Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the Canadian Rockies. As you explore local landmarks on foot, discover how the construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad served as a stepping stone towards opening up western Canada.
Day 11 Banff/Calgary
Spend the morning in Banff, then drive to Calgary for a day at leisure. Experience the city’s Western spirit at lively honky-tonk bars, go museum-hopping, or opt to visit the Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, where you can luge down the bobsledding track in a wheeled cart or soar through the sky on a zipline.
Famed for its entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population, Calgary prides itself on being the heart of the new west while honouring its cowboy heritage.
Day 12 Calgary
Depart at any time.
If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.
Day 1: ARRIVE IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Welcome to Halifax! At 6 pm, meet your travel companions for a welcome drink.
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Day 2: HALIFAX. EXCURSION TO PEGGY’S COVE & LUNENBURG
Lighthouse Beams, Bites & Brews Visit Peggy’s Cove, one of Canada’s most charming fishing villages. Enjoy a traditional [LF] Nova Scotian Breakfast. We then venture to Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a walking tour with a Local Guide. During your free time, explore the quaint Main Street, shop for souvenirs, or spend time at the Fisheries Museum to learn more about this major fishing port. The rest of the day is at leisure. Maybe visit the Maritimes Museum, which explains the area’s seafaring past, or perhaps tour Alexander Keith’s Brewery, which has been making the home-grown favorite since the early 1880s. (Breakfast)
LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES & TRADITIONS Discover the tastes and traditions in the charming fishing village of Peggy’s Cove to select from local specialties of fish cakes and a traditional Nova Scotian breakfast. You’ll find many magnificent views for taking photos of the famous lighthouse and panoramic sea views.
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Day 3: HALIFAX–SUGAR MOON FARM–MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK
Nova Scotia Treats & Treasures Take an orientation tour of Halifax, including the public gardens and harbor area. Before arriving in New Brunswick, we’ll stop at [LF] Sugar Moon Farm to enjoy a Maritime sugar camp lunch, along with a guided tour and traditional sugar camp treat. Spend the evening in Moncton, originally founded by a group of Acadians and then Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants from Philadelphia. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for the best way to spend your evening. (Breakfast,Lunch)
LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES Indulge in the sweet tradition of Nova Scotian sugar shacks! Each year when maple syrup is produced, locals frequent “sugar shacks” for sweet treats and hearty meals that really stick to the ribs! Join a Maritime sugar camp lunch at Sugar Moon Farm in the woods of Nova Scotia and see why locals love it. True comfort food!
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Day 4: MONCTON–HOPEWELL ROCKS–CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI
Low Tides & Local Treats Travel to Hopewell Rocks to explore the dramatic sculpted landscape on the sea. Then, drive across 8-mile-long Confederation Bridge, the longest of its kind. Cross onto Prince Edward Island, stopping for a local treat at Cow’s Ice Cream Factory before continuing to Charlottetown. Tonight, enjoy a [LF] lobster supper at a local restaurant this evening. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITE SEA TREASURE For more than 150 years, Prince Edward Island lobster fishers have been waking up before the dawn to set their traps and haul in the sea’s bounty of delicious, red-shelled crustaceans to share with customers around the world. More than one thousand hearty island lobster fishers continue the tradition today out of more than 40 ports to share these sea treasures as they have for generations. Put on your lobster bib and get your butter ready to dive into a cracking good feast! TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Discover the ever-changing seascape on the beaches of Hopewell Rocks. Learn about the highest and wildest tides in the world, which rise and fall up to 52 feet each day. Time and tide have carved from the cliffs and coves distinctive sandstone formations topped with trees.
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Day 5: CHARLOTTETOWN
Folk Songs & Sand Dunes A tour of the island includes a drive to the fishing port of North Rustico Harbour to learn about lobster fishing, the sand dunes and lovely beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park and a visit to the Green Gables Heritage Place with a Local Guide. Later, enjoy lunch at Prince Edward Island Preserve Company. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore on your own, do some shopping, or relax in one of Charlottetown’s fine restaurants. (Breakfast,Lunch)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTLEGENDS & LORE Visit the world of a red-headed girl in a straw hat and braids to meet one of Canada’s most loved fictional characters, Anne of Green Gables. Relive her mischievous escapades and mishaps within the nostalgic rooms of her home at Green Gables – where local author Lucy Maud Montgomery drew inspiration from the idyllic woodland farmstead.
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Day 6: CHARLOTTETOWN–BADDECK, NOVA SCOTIA
Inventions of New Scotland This morning, board a ferry that whisks you across the Northumberland Strait, known as the “Birthplace of New Scotland.” It was here that the first ship of Scottish Highlanders landed in Nova Scotia in 1773. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site to learn about the famous inventor. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Explore the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, where fascinating exhibits trace the life and achievements of the iconic inventor of the telephone who spent his last years on Cape Breton.
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Day 7: BADDECK. EXCURSION TO CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Legendary Landscapes Travel along the Cabot Trail, considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. Proceed along the coast, savoring magnificent vistas of the rocky shoreline and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Enter Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a landscape that strikingly resembles Scottish coastal regions. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Discover one of Canada’s most enchanting natural landscapes by the sea, where the mountains meet the ocean in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. As you hug the world-famous Cabot Trail coastline you'll wind through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where lush, forested river canyons carve into the ancient plateau, edged by rust-hued cliffs. Keep an eye out for wonderful wildlife that lives here, including moose, bald eagles, minks, or even pilot whales breaking the surface of the Gulf of St. Lawrence!
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Day 8: BADDECK–HALIFAX
Strongholds & Celebrations Cross over the Canso Causeway and continue across Nova Scotia to Halifax and visit the Citadel Hill National Historic Site. Tonight, join your Tour Director and new friends at a festive farewell dinner—the perfect finale to your Maritimes vacation. (Breakfast,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOT Visit the Citadel National Historic Site in Halifax with its early 19th-century, star shaped fort, majestically commanding an expansive hill overlooking the city. A series of forts highlight an evolution of defensive designs that protected Halifax Harbour from 1749 to 1906 - and never once attacked! Get a fascinating look into the region’s colonial past where the 78th Highlanders keep watch in their period uniforms of the day. The call of the bagpipes and rhythm of the drums harken back to a spirited Scottish tradition.
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Day 9: HALIFAX
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
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