Compare Whales & Bears of British Columbia by Exodus Travels vs Coastal and Mountain Hiking in Gros Morne National Park by Road Scholar

Day 1 Start Vancouver

The adventure begins in Vancouver on Canada's west coast. If you have time, we recommend a stroll around this cosmopolitan city to get a feel for it. Treat yourself to moreish maple cookies in Stanley Park, a 990-acre (400ha) green wonderland where you can see authentic totem poles put up in the 1920s or sit in one of the cafes and enjoy a spot of people watching. A welcome briefing may be held this evening or tomorrow morning, in which we gather as a group and meet our tour leader. Accommodation: Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown (or similar)

Day 2 Morning ferry to Vancouver Island

In the morning, we head to the port for a ferry to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, a 1hr 30min journey across the Strait of Georgia. On arrival in Nanaimo, we continue by road, stopping for a walk and picnic lunch at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. Rathtrevor is known for its majestic old-growth woodland, beautiful ocean sunsets and a wide, sandy beach with picnic areas nestled amongst the trees. We then continue our drive to Ucluelet, our base for the next three nights. Today's travel time is approximately six hours. Accommodation: Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina (or similar)

Day 3 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve; boat excursion to observe grey and humpback whales

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is nestled between the mountains of the Vancouver Island range and the Pacific coastline. We walk inside the park this morning to admire the rich natural heritage of the west coast of Canada. The reserve has almost 10mi (16km) of sand and a huge collection of driftwood, while the next stop is Japan! We usually take the Nuu-Chah-Nulth trail to the beach and visit during low tide to explore some of the intertidal pools and rocky islands. You may see lime-green anemones and purple, brown and orange starfish. In the afternoon, we board Zodiacs with a naturalist guide who leads a 2hr 30min to three hour whale-observation excursion (depending on the low-tide schedule, this activity may take place earlier in the day). Our goal is to see humpback and grey whales, but it is also common to come across orcas, seals and sea lions among the rocky headlands. Today’s driving time should not exceed two hours. Accommodation: Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina (or similar)

Day 4 Rainforest Figure Eight trail; boat excursion to observe black bears

Today our leader will take us on an easy hike on the Rainforest Figure Eight trail, an hour-long walk along wooden boardwalks through the majestic forest. This is a peaceful trail and we will be surrounded by a dense foliage of ferns, Western Red Cedar and Western Hemlock trees. Keep your eyes peeled for birdlife - our tour leaders have reported sightings of Steller's jays and Rufous hummingbirds! Late this afternoon, we board Zodiacs for a 2hr 30min expedition to observe black bears and bald eagles (depending on the low-tide schedule, this activity may take place earlier in the day). In the wilderness of Clayoquot Sound, black bears search for crabs and clams on the rocky beaches. We travel the fjord inlet by Zodiac, looking in sheltered bays and stopping to see any black bears we find from the comfort of our vessel. Accommodation: Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina (or similar)

Day 5 To Campbell River and Cathedral Grove Provincial Park

Depart Ucluelet and drive for four hours to Campbell River on the north shore of Vancouver Island. Campbell River is known as the salmon capital of the world for its hugely impressive salmon runs, where five species of Pacific salmon swim the river. It has been designated a Heritage River for its importance in British Columbia; following the fish are bears, seals, kingfishers and eagles. This afternoon, we stop at Cathedral Grove Provincial Park to see the last remains of the temperate rainforest that covered the island more than a 1,000 years ago. This is one of the most accessible areas of giant Douglas fir trees in the province and there are many trails enabling us to meander through Douglas fir, western hemlock, grand fir and western red cedar trees. Accommodation: Painter’s Lodge (or similar)

Day 6 Boat excursion to Orford River to observe grizzly bears

Board a covered boat for a full-day excursion to the Orford River area (on the mainland of British Columbia) to observe grizzly bears in their natural habitat. Conservative estimates suggest there are 10,000 grizzly (brown) bears in British Columbia, with 92 percent of the original habitat of grizzlies still occupied. The abundance of spawning salmon in the Orford River at this time of year brings grizzlies down to feast. A two-hour journey by boat with a spectacular backdrop of mountainous scenery brings us to the mouth of the Orford River. From here, we take a short bus journey inland, where there are five viewing platforms from which to spot the bears. We visit one or sometimes two of these platforms, where we hope to observe the bears catching and feeding on salmon, sometimes with cubs in tow. On the boat journey to and from the Orford River, we may also see black bears, orcas, humpback and grey whales, dolphins, porpoises and sea lions. Accommodation: Painter’s Lodge (or similar)

Day 7 Quadra Island for hiking or optional sea kayaking

Board a ferry for a 10-minute journey across the Discovery Passage to Quadra Island, where we spend the day exploring the island trails and beaches by foot. Our leader will determine the best trail based on the group's preference and ability, but options include the Shallaligan Pass Trail along Quadra Island's coastline, which offers panoramic ocean views, or the Heriot Ridge Trail that passes through the bush and out onto a ridge for coastal views galore. There is also an optional three-hour sea kayaking excursion from Quadra Island. Accompanied by kayak and marine life observation guides, there is never a dull moment as we paddle by kayak around Quadra Island – we could see soaring eagles, oystercatchers, herons, cormorants, gulls and, if lucky, seals, sea lions, dolphins and porpoises. The mountain views offer a stunning backdrop to this excursion, which is suitable for beginners. Accommodation: Painter’s Lodge (or similar)

Day 8 Transfer to Victoria; whale-watching in the Salish Sea

We drive for around four hours to Victoria, capital of British Columbia. Victoria is well-known for its colourful gardens, British architecture and arts scene. In the afternoon, we have one final wildlife-viewing opportunity as we embark on a whale-watching excursion from Victoria, where orcas, humpback whales and sea lions are often spotted in the waters of the Salish Sea. A certified marine naturalist will accompany us in the Zodiac boat, helping to spot wildlife and providing background information on the species we observe. Accommodation: Huntingdon Manor (or similar)

Day 9 Ferry to Vancouver; orientation tour and end Vancouver

It's an early start on our final day in British Columbia as we take the ferry (approximately 1.5 hours) across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver. Our leader will take us on a guided orientation tour of the city then there's free time to explore Vancouver at your leisure. Those on Land Only arrangements may choose stay longer in the vibrant city of Victoria. Please speak to your sales representative if you'd like to add post-tour nights in Victoria or Vancouver.

Day 1 Arrival and Check In/Welcome Dinner/Orientation Deer Lake, NL

Arrivals and transfers to the hotel in Deer Lake.. Meet your group leader between 4:00 - 5:00 to pick up your packet. If you arrive later, please ask the front desk for your packet.

Program orientation and introductions after dinner. You are embarking on an adventure in one of Canada's most celebrated National Parks - Gros Morne National Park. We will be staying in two small towns, Cow Head and Rocky Harbour, located right in the park, giving us easy access to many of the attractions, historically and culturally, that this World Heritage Site has to offer.

Welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant at 6:30 p.m.

Day 2 Geology of Gros Morne, Hiking the Tablelands, Woody Point Cow Head, NL

Hiking approximate 4.5 miles (7 km), easy terrain; 270 ft elevation gain; about 3 - 4 hours.

In a presentation with a Parks expert, we’ll learn why Gros Morne has been called the "Galapagos of Geology" and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. The park is a grand scale illustration of plate tectonics, and we will be walking on and touching evidence of the collision and separation of continent-sized plates of the earth's crust over millennia,, including the 1.5 billion year-old rock that forms the cliffs at Western Brooks Pond. After the presentation, we'll hike on the internationally known Tablelands, a rare outcrop of the Earth’s mantle pushed skyward half a billion years ago. The landscape here, with its peridotite and serpentinite rock, is similar that of Mars and what looks like a barren landscape is actually home to plants normally found in the Arctic. The trail ends in the glacially-carved Winterhouse Brook Canyon.

This afternoon we will be hiking on Woody Point community trail and through the historic community on the shores of Bonne Bay. Woody Point is a Registered Heritage District and has many heritage buildings. The trail provides spectacular vistas as it meanders through the hills of Woody Point, past the iconic Woody Point Lighthouse, and ending on the tranquil beaches of Woody Point. Many wild plants are featured on this walk including fields of pitcher plants. We will then transfer back to the hotel.

At leisure.

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch at a local Restaurant

Dinner at the motel

Day 3 Western Brook Pond, Fjord Cruise, Coastal Newfoundland Cow Head, NL

Hiking approximately 6 miles (9.5 km), on a flat terrain with little elevation gain; about 3 - 4 hours. The trail to Western Brook Pond is 2 miles (3 km) each way. The trail is boardwalk and gravel with some slight grades. Driving 60 miles over 1 hour.

Follow the trail to the shores of Western Brook Pond and its impressive backdrop of spectacular cliffs, fjords and the Long Range Mountains. Along the way you’ll cross the bogs and forested ridges of the parks’ coastal lowlands, once located below sea level. Then embark on a boat excursion on Western Brook Pond. The "pond" is the largest lake in the park. On board the boat, we will see the spectacular, land-locked Western Brook Pond fjord. The fjord is just one of numerous glacially carved fjords in the Long Range Mountains, the northernmost extent of the Appalachian Mountains. Waterfalls cascade from a height of 3,000 feet (900 meters), and we may spot some of the local wildlife. The lake is home to an unusual colony of cliff-nesting gulls.

Hike the limestone coastline near Cow Head. Enjoy spectacular coastal views, look for fossils buried in this ancient rock and learn of a journey from hundreds of metres below the ocean to its present day location. The trail winds through a thick medieval looking forest with tunnels of tuckamore lining the sides in between open areas. There are a couple of viewing platforms built along the way offering views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the expanse of the inland coastal lowlands and the Long Range Mountains. After the trail crests the top of the head it turns back towards the ocean and the lighthouse.

At leisure, option to attend a performance at the Gros Morne Theatre which is adjacent to the motel.

At the motel.

At the dockside at Western Brook Pond there is a sheltered waiting area, indoor washroom facilities, canteen services and a gift shop as well as several beautiful picnic areas where we will enjoy our boxed lunches.

At the motel

Day 4 Hiking Gros Morne Mountain - Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse Cow Head, NL

Hiking Gros Morne Mountain for approximately 5 - 7 miles (8-11 km) return on mountainous terrain with up to 1000 feet (305 meters) in elevation gain. About 3-4 hours. Moderate rating (rocky terrain in places). Hiking to Lobster Cove Lighthouse approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) on a paved trail.

Hike to the base of Gros Morne Mountain. It dominates the skyline and stands apart from the Long Range Mountains. Hikers are rewarded with spectacular views of Bonne Bay and the Long Range Mountains. Listen for songbirds and look for moose along the trail. The first 2.5 miles of trail wind through forest to a viewing platform at the mountain base. There are frequent stairs and a boardwalk from which we will enjoy amazing vistas.

After lunch we head for the Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse - an historic lighthouse and one of the best places in Gros Morne National Park to spot whales! We’ll learn how local residents fought to have these lighthouses built in order to protect loved ones out at sea fishing, see the lighthouse keepers’ tidal clock, and then hike the coastal trail.

At leisure.

Breakfast at motel.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

Dinner at the motel.

Day 5 Hiking Philips Garden Trail, Hawkes Bay Cow Head, NL

Hiking 5 - 6 miles (8-9.5 km), Phillips Garden trail has hilly terrain with some steep sections; hike at Hawkes Bay on flat ground; minimal elevation gain..

North of Gros Morne National Park is the fishing community of Port au Choix. The rich fishing grounds made this area and important source of food for Maritime Archaic Indian, Dorset and Groswater Paleoeskimo groups and other, more recent, Indigenous peoples. The Dorset people also hunted seals on passing ice flows for food, clothing and shelter. Walk in their footsteps along the trail and see a full-scale replica of one of their subterranean dwellings at the Port Au Choix National Historic Site. Explore the limestone barrens looking for rare plants and fossils. Keep an eye out for sculptures offering glimpses into ancient Indigenous ways of life.

We head to Hawke's Bay to hike the John Hogan Trail. The trail was built to commemorate the remarkable courage of Newfoundland Ranger John Hogan, who for over 50 days, survived in the wilderness and cared for a totally incapacitated companion. The boardwalk meanders along the Torrent River and ends in a spectacular waterfall. Visit the Torrent River Salmon Ladder and hear about Newfoundland and Labrador's most successful salmon- enhancement project.

At leisure.

At the motel.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

Dinner at the motel.

Day 6 Hiking Bakers Brook Falls Trail, Burnt Hills Trail Rocky Harbour, NL

Hiking Baker's Brook Falls Trail for approximately 5 - 7 miles (8-11 km) on flat terrain with little elevation gain. About 4 - 5 hours. Hiking Burnt Hills trail for approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) with an elevation gain of 750 feet (235 meters).

Hike across the coastal lowlands to an impressive waterfall at Bakers Brook. The trail offers great views of the Long Range Mountains and leads through balsam fir forest to the falls, a series of cascades over limestone ridges. This boreal forest is in several stages of regeneration, recovering from the natural effects of winds and insects. Heavy moose browsing has limited its regrowth in many places.

After lunch we hike Burnt Hills Trail, which is located on the waterfront of Norris Point. This trail will lead us to scenic views of Norris Point, The Tablelands and the eastern arm of Bonne Bay. A popular spot for photographers.

At leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

Dinner on own.

Day 7 Hiking Trout River, Green Gardens Rocky Harbour, NL

Hiking approximately 6 miles (9.5 km), some steep sections, elevation gain 900 ft; about 4 hours.

Today we hike in the Trout River area. Follow the trail to a spectacular coastline of cliffs, sea stacks, and the meadows of Green Gardens. Cross serpentine barrens, descend through forest, and reach the shore at Old Man Cove.

Hiking continues at the Tablelands with great panoramic views. Transfer to Rocky Harbour in time to freshen up for dinner.

There is no party like a Newfoundland Kitchen Party! Join a local musician for our own interpretation of this lively local tradition. Sing along, and even grab your own traditional NL instrument to play along with the band. And don’t forget to get Screeched in. No trip to our shores can be complete without partaking in this unique ceremony that will get your tongue in a twist and make you an honorary Newfoundlander in the process.

Breakfast in hotel dining room.

Box lunch.

Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Day 8 Program Concludes, Departures Rocky Harbour, NL

Group transfer to Deer Lake Airport after breakfast; approximate arrival at airport is 9:00 a.m. Check-out is 11:00 a.m. for those staying on independently. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network, where you can share memories, pictures and comments. Best wishes for all your journeys.

Final breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and goodbyes.