Discover Newfoundland & Labrador (Natural Habitat Adventures)

Arrive at St. John’s International Airport where you’re met and transferred to our downtown hotel. Situated on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland in Atlantic Canada, St. John’s is North America’s easternmost city and one of the continent’s oldest municipalities. Its rich cultural heritage blends Indigenous, English and Irish influences, some of which are on view in the downtown Quidi Vidi Trail, a series of interpretive panels and artwork. If time permits, explore on your own before gathering this evening for a welcome dinner and orientation with our Expedition Leader.

Our adventure begins with a boat cruise around Witless Bay, where nutrient-rich waters attract large numbers of migrating humpback whales each summer that feed, breach and slap the water in exhilarating displays. Keep an eye out for minke whales, too, plus blue and sperm whales, though such sightings are less common. Prolific seabirds are also a highlight. The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve consists of four islands that are home to North America’s largest Atlantic puffin colony, with half a million puffins returning each spring and summer to nest. It is also a significant breeding site for about 50% of the Newfoundland and Labrador population of black-legged kittiwakes and home to the world’s second-largest storm petrel colony, with more than 620,000 nesting pairs. Among the hundreds of thousands of seabirds nesting in Witless Bay, we also find murres, herring gulls, Atlantic razorbills and black guillemots.

Ashore, walk Tinkers Point Path from the woods to the rocky coastline. As we cross cobblestone beaches, enjoy unimpeded views of rocky shores and distant islands before reaching the scenic fishing community of Tors Cove. After a picnic lunch, continue to Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, one of the oldest European settlements in North America. Continuously occupied since at least 1598, the town’s current population of about 950 sustains itself with fishing and ecotourism. There’s ample time to explore the maritime village on foot before a traditional Newfoundland seafood dinner and catching the sunset at the historic Cape Spear Lighthouse.

A scenic drive is in store this morning from St. John’s to Trinity, roughly three hours away. The coastal village where The Shipping News was filmed, Trinity’s rich heritage goes back more than 500 years. On a guided walking tour, learn about the history of the town’s many inhabitants over the centuries, including the Beothuk Indians, and French, Irish and English settlers. These captivating stories come to life with the aid of historic photographs, burial records, accounts of shipwrecks, and other archival details. After dinner, there’s an option to take in a show at the Rising Tide Theater, a renowned drama company in operation since 1978. Producing plays that celebrate the province’s storied past and contemporary voices, the company’s performances are equally entertaining and educational. Many performances take place outdoors and on Trinity’s historic streets and paths.

On a morning hike on the Skerwink Trail, take in stunning views of the rugged Newfoundland coastline, sea stacks, arches and beaches. Scan the deep blue ocean for humpbacks and minke whale as seals bask on the rocks at the base of cliffs. Seabirds abound, especially puffins, and we frequently spy bald eagles soaring overhead. The trail passes historic Green Island Lighthouse, built in 1857, and the abandoned community of Murphy’s Cove. Return to Trinity for lunch before an in-depth whale-watching excursion by Zodiac in Trinity Bay. With our boat’s low profile, we get close enough to humpback, fin and sperm whales to see barnacles on their underbellies as they breach, fish and play, putting on a truly awesome display of typical whale behavior. We might see orcas, and we’re certain to see puffins and other seabirds. Tides and currents are strong here, and we witness their power at work in the prominent sea caves and stacks carved over time by the elements.

Today’s focus is the extraordinary coastline of the Bonavista Peninsula. Exploring the geology and history of the area, we deepen our appreciation for the power of the ocean to relentlessly erode and reshape the landscape, comprised here of ancient and soft sedimentary rock. At Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, the Dungeon, a dramatic shoreline feature, illustrates this phenomenon. A large sinkhole formed by the collapse of two adjacent sea caves, The Dungeon is formally known as a "gloup."

The peninsula is also home to hundreds of nesting pairs of puffins that roost on a rocky outcrop, and a short walk puts us in close contact for the best land-based puffin viewing in North America. We also visit Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, one of the most photographed in Newfoundland. Built in 1843 and painted in the classic red and white style of the region, the lighthouse contains a rare 19th-century catoptric lamp system that once burned seal oil to produce light. And no visit to Elliston—also known as the Root Cellar Capital of the World—would be complete without seeing some of the 133 documented root cellar structures. Families built them to store locally grown crops fertilized with kelp, fish bones, offal and capelin. After an invigorating day outside, enjoy a fine dinner in a restored historic building before returning to Trinity for the night.

From Gander, a small town that gained international recognition after the 9/11 attacks when it welcomed stranded passengers whose planes were diverted due to the closure of American air space, we board a private chartered flight to Blanc Sablon, a small village on the north coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We transfer to a small bus and drive northeast along the Labrador coast to Mary's Harbour where we board a ferry for a scenic 9-mile ride through the waters of the Labrador coast. Weaving through narrow channels and passing various islands, our route takes us through calm inlets where seals, whales and other marine life congregate.

As we approach Battle Island, brightly painted cottages come into view, scattered along the hill overlooking the historic settlement. Ashore, step back in time as we explore this restored former fishing outpost. Despite its isolation and exposure to the harsh elements, Battle Harbour was once known as the “Capital of Labrador.” For centuries, it served as an economic and cultural stronghold for the region’s sparsely populated southeast coast, sustaining a thriving fishing community until the 1990s when the cod fishery drastically declined and the permanent settlement was abandoned. Restored by the Battle Harbour Historical Trust, Battle Harbour today is a car-free island without cell service or reliable Wi-Fi, offering overnight visitors (day tripping is not allowed) an uncrowded and immersive experience.

A tour of the settlement brings Battle Harbour’s past to life. From the shoreline, scan the horizon for whales or look for Arctic fox as you traverse the small island on one of the many hiking trails that wend among Arctic vegetation and quirky rock formations. A sanctuary from modern distractions, Battle Harbour provides time and space to truly appreciate this grand landscape that has captivated people for centuries.

Over the course of two days, delve into Battle Harbour’s origins as a fishery in the early 1770s, where fishermen would salt and preserve their catches. Witness its evolution into a thriving 19th-century fishing community and its modern incarnation as a living museum. Through interactive experiences and guided tours, we gain insight into the resilience and determination that allowed this isolated community to thrive in the face of harsh conditions as it relied on the bounty of the sea. Battle Harbour’s well-preserved buildings, including its red-and-white striped lighthouses, salt fish and merchant’s premises, offer a tangible link to the island’s rich heritage.

On a popular short hike, wander through once-thriving communities, now abandoned, which offer a glimpse into the past. Stroll to Cape St. Charles, the easternmost point in North America, for views that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Explore Battle Harbour’s maritime heritage on a private boat tour along the island’s shoreline, or participate in a hands-on baking experience, learning to create sweet buns that have been an island staple for generations.

Over the course of two days, delve into Battle Harbour’s origins as a fishery in the early 1770s, where fishermen would salt and preserve their catches. Witness its evolution into a thriving 19th-century fishing community and its modern incarnation as a living museum. Through interactive experiences and guided tours, we gain insight into the resilience and determination that allowed this isolated community to thrive in the face of harsh conditions as it relied on the bounty of the sea. Battle Harbour’s well-preserved buildings, including its red-and-white striped lighthouses, salt fish and merchant’s premises, offer a tangible link to the island’s rich heritage.

On a popular short hike, wander through once-thriving communities, now abandoned, which offer a glimpse into the past. Stroll to Cape St. Charles, the easternmost point in North America, for views that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Explore Battle Harbour’s maritime heritage on a private boat tour along the island’s shoreline, or participate in a hands-on baking experience, learning to create sweet buns that have been an island staple for generations.

An early morning ferry ride returns us to Mary’s Harbour, looking for whales along the way, with sightings that could include blue, humpback, beluga, minke, sperm and fin whales. Ashore once more, we turn south to follow the Labrador coastline to Red Bay National Historic Site. With UNESCO World Heritage status, Red Bay encompasses the remains of a major 16th-century Basque whaling operation. Between 1550 and 1620, Red Bay was among the largest whaling ports in the world. attracting nearly 2,000 Basque whalers from Spain and France. They hunted bowhead and right whales, both currently endangered species, for their oil, used primarily as fuel for lighting in Europe at the time. Today, the archaeological remains include shipwrecks, rendering ovens, cooperages, and a cemetery containing the remains of 140 whalers.

L’Anse Amour, our next stop, is the oldest known burial mound in North America. Located in one of the largest and longest-used Aboriginal habitation sites in Labrador, occupied by the Maritime Archaic people between 9,000 and 2,000 years ago, the low circular mound of large stones measures about 25 feet in diameter. We also see Atlantic Canada’s tallest lighthouse, at 109 feet. Then it’s time to return to Newfoundland as we board a ferry across the Strait of Belle Isle, watching for more marine life. Continue to the fishing village of Port au Choix, home to a small resident caribou herd accustomed to human presence, allowing for close observation and photo opportunities.

Gros Morne National Park is acclaimed for its dramatic geology that provides a rare visible illustration of plate tectonics and the process of continental drift. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park contains exposed rocks from the earth’s mantle and oceanic crust, which were thrust to the surface of the earth through a process called subduction around 500 million years ago. The geology also showcases events that occurred around 1.2 billion years ago when the ancient continental margin of North America collided with another continent and formed a vast mountain range. Explore this fascinating phenomenon this morning on a private boat ride on Western Brook Pond. Steep rock walls rising 2,000 feet high surround this spectacular fjord created by receding glaciers. Fed by Stag Brook and refreshed with numerous waterfalls, the pond formed when land rebounded following the melting of the glacier, creating a natural dam.

Continuing to Bonne Bay, we transfer to Gros Morne Inn for two nights. The remainder of the afternoon is free to enjoy the cedar sauna or hot tubs, or relax on the patio by the fire pit before dinner.

Today we get a rare glimpse into an intriguing slice of the planet’s geology at Tablelands, a glaciated landscape comprised of exposed mantle rock typically found deep within Earth’s interior. Orange-brown in color, the rock, called peridotite, creates a barren landscape that stands in stark contrast to the surrounding verdant hills and valley. The terrain is devoid of vegetation due to a heavy concentration of metals that are toxic to most—but not all—plants. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the otherworldly atmosphere of the landscape, several carnivorous plants thrive here, and we view the most prolific, which survive mainly on insects.

Continue to Trout River, a fishing hamlet at the southern end of Gros Morne National Park. Renowned for its natural beauty and waterfront vistas, the popular town has is home to one of Newfoundland’s most famous eateries, Seaside Restaurant. Tuck into a hearty lunch of fresh-caught seafood—lobster, mussels, crab and cod take center stage—sourced from the pristine cold waters that surround Newfoundland. After lunch, visit local artist studios or simply enjoy the serene setting of the Gros Morne Inn. Gather this evening for a festive farewell dinner, reveling in our shared discovery of this lesser-known side of Canada.

Transfer to Deer Lake Regional Airport for departing flights home.