Newfoundland Adventure: Westbound
8 Days Starting in St. John's and ending in Rocky Harbour
Visiting: St John’s, Trinity, Twillingate, Rocky Harbour, Deer Lake
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SESN
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
It's time to explore North America’s most north-easterly point, where the dramatic coastline, mighty fjords and wonderful wildlife will take your breath away. With a knowledgeable leader to guide the way, on this eight-day adventure you’ll experience a landscape that has been shaped by the elements over thousands of years, meet with locals and stop into historic towns surrounded by the splendour of Newfoundland’s famous scenery. Watch huge icebergs bob past the town known as “The Iceberg Capital of the World” in the spring, go whale watching, and spot puffins at one of North America’s best viewing sites.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: St John’S
Location: St John’s
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Welcome to St John’s! Meet your leader at the hotel for a group welcome meeting at 10 am before heading off on a leader-led tour of the city. Drive up Signal Hill to enjoy sweeping views of St. John’s Harbour and brighten your day with a stop at St John’s famous colourful houses on ‘Jellybean Row’. You’ll have free time to find some lunch, then head out to take in the views at Cape Spear Lighthouse and perhaps make it to Canada's easternmost point. Later, join your group for a welcome dinner at Celtic Hearth. Sample Jigg’s dinner pie, a classic Newfoundland dish, then head to a local pub for a traditional “screech-in” ceremony that involves a shot of screech (rum) and kissing a cod. It’s more fun than you might think!
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Trinity
Location: Trinity
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast, head to the town of Trinity. There, you’ll join a local guide for a walking tour, learning about Trinity’s history and its Beothuk, French, Irish and English influences. After, you might like to hike up Gun Hill for a bird’s eye view of the town, or perhaps join your travel buddies for a dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Trinity
Location: Trinity
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today it’s time to spot puffins at Elliston’s renowned viewing site which offers one of the closest land views of puffins in North America. See if you can also spot the Puffin King, a rock formation which looks like a puffin sitting on a throne. After you’ve seen the puffins, drive 20 minutes north to visit the historic Cape Bonavista Lighthouse which is one of the most photographed places in Newfoundland. Climb the stairs to the top of the tower and see the seal oil-fuelled light that was used in the 1800s.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Twillingate
Location: Twillingate
Accommodation: Inn
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
This morning, head to the town of Gander. Here, you’ll meet with a local to learn about the role the unassuming town played in one of North America’s most significant events. Due to the closure of North American airspace on 9/11, around 6600 people were diverted to Gander – increasing the town’s population by 70% in a matter of hours. You’ll hear about what went into hosting those numbers, as well as the lasting impact it's had on the town. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to Twillingate. There, you’ll take an afternoon boat tour where you can scan the sea for whales and seabirds. In the spring, you might get to see icebergs floating down the stretch of water known as Iceberg Alley. After, head back to your hotel and take it easy or explore Twillingate which is known as “The Iceberg Capital of the World".
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Rocky Harbour
Location: Rocky Harbour
Accommodation: Cabin
Meals Included: breaksfast
Start the day with a visit to the Beothuk Interpretation Centre, which tells the history of the Indigenous Beothuk people who used to live on Newfoundland. You might like to leave an offering at the nearby Spirit Garden, to help keep the memory of this lost culture alive. Then, continue on the road, stopping to stretch your legs at Norris Point and Green Point along the way. Arrive in Rocky Harbour in the afternoon, and then you might like to join your group for dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Rocky Harbour
Location: Rocky Harbour
Accommodation: Cabin
Meals Included: breaksfast
Start the day with a stroll along the Western Brook Pond Trail and take in the view before boarding the Western Brook Pond Boat Tour. Don’t forget your camera as you’ll want to capture the dramatic waterfalls, towering cliffs and abundant wildlife that can be found in this glacier-carved land-locked fjord. Then, take a scenic drive south to walk around the historic Lobster Cove Lighthouse and enjoy the view of the rolling waves and rocky beaches far below.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Deer Lake
Location: Deer Lake
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Make your final visit to Gros Morne National Park this morning, where you’ll get to do something pretty extraordinary – walk on the Earth’s mantle at the Tablelands. The orange landscape sits in stark contrast to the surrounding greens and blues, and there are plenty of unique plants in the area to make note of too. After, continue to Deer Lake, where you might like to join your group for dinner to celebrate your adventures.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Deer Lake
Location: Deer Lake
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast, your Newfoundland adventure comes to an end and you are free to depart at any time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Bed & Breakfast (2 nights), Inn (1 night), Cabin (2 nights) -
St John’s – Local dinner
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St. John’s – Leader led walking tour
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Trinity - Skerwink Trail hike
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Elliston - Puffin viewing
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Bonavista - Lighthouse visit
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Twillingate - Seabird & Whale watching boat tour
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Rocky Harbour - Lobster Cove Lighthouse visit
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Gros Morne National Park - Walk
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Gros Morne NP - Western Brook Pond Boat Tour
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Rocky Harbour – Complimentary departure transfer to Deer Lake Airport
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
- We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.
- NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES
- Our large fleet of 15-passenger vans are fully equipped with air-conditioning system, V8 engines and any camping or cooking equipment needed for your trip. Most have cloth-upholstered seats and carpeted interior with radio or CD players. Your luggage is typically transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly serviced by a well-established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the continent. However, unforeseen maintenance problems can still occur while on the road and we appreciate the patience of our travellers as we make necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
- While your group will have a van for all included activities on the trip, the services of the van and leader may not be available for your use during free time, or after you have arrived for the day. If you need a special trip into town you may need to arrange transport or a taxi.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 10 am. Please make your own way to the Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
- 2. Please be careful when booking flights to St. John's, Newfoundland; make sure you fly into St. John's Airport [YYT]. Please do not book flights to Saint John, New Brunswick [YSJ] as this is in another province.
- 3. Your adventure ends on Day 8 after breakfast.
- 4. A single supplement is available for this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
- NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES
- Our large fleet of 15-passenger vans are fully equipped with air-conditioning system, V8 engines and any camping or cooking equipment needed for your trip. Most have cloth-upholstered seats and carpeted interior with radio or CD players. Your luggage is typically transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly serviced by a well-established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the continent. However, unforeseen maintenance problems can still occur while on the road and we appreciate the patience of our travellers as we make necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
- While your group will have a van for all included activities on the trip, the services of the van and leader may not be available for your use during free time, or after you have arrived for the day. If you need a special trip into town you may need to arrange transport or a taxi.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Some of the best scenery in Newfoundland is found on hikes. So, while this trip doesn't require a high level of fitness, it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to partake in all activities.
This itinerary also runs in reverse, from Deer Lake to St, John's: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/canada/newfoundland-adventure-eastbound-144935 -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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