This comprehensive tour features the best of “the Far East of the Western World”. Travel from the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland to the most easterly point in North America through national parks, including Gros Morne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn of ancient peoples (the Maritime Archaic, Vikings, and Basques) as you travel to coastal fishing communities to meet the friendly and hospitable people of today. Boat tours provide the opportunity to see whales, thousands of seabirds and, depending on the time of the year, icebergs!
Below is a sample itinerary.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN DEER LAKE & CORNER BROOK
Arrival in Deer Lake marks the beginning of your Newfoundland journey. After picking up your rental car, continue to Corner Brook, where the day settles into a gentle start on the island’s west coast. By the time you arrive, the small coastal city’s harbour setting and relaxed pace provide an easy introduction to Newfoundland. Your centrally located hotel makes it simple to stroll downtown streets, explore the waterfront, or settle into a local restaurant for the evening.
Accommodation: Glynmill Inn (or similar)
DAY 2: PORT AU CHOIX & ANCIENT COASTAL CULTURES
The drive north along Route 430 brings you into a more exposed coastal landscape, where flat limestone barrens shaped by wind and sea stretch toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence. At Port au Choix National Historic Site, walking trails cross these open headlands overlooking the water. Beneath this shoreline lie more than 5,000 years of human history, including Maritime Archaic, Groswater, and Dorset Paleo-Inuit communities who relied on these marine waters. The interpretation centre showcases artifacts that illuminate these early cultures before you return to the harbour village for the evening.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sea Echo Motel (or similar)
DAY 3: FERRY TO LABRADOR & ARRIVAL IN L’ANSE AU CLAIR
Continue north to St. Barbe, where you board the ferry for the 1.5-hour crossing of the Strait of Belle Isle to Labrador. The journey follows waters once travelled by Norse explorers and later 16th-century Basque whalers. Upon arrival, settle into L’Anse au Clair, a small coastal community near the Quebec–Labrador border. The afternoon allows time for an initial visit to the nearby UNESCO-designated Red Bay National Historic Site or a quiet walk along the Labrador shoreline.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Northern Light Inn (or similar)
DAY 4: RED BAY & BASQUE MARITIME HISTORY (UNESCO)
Today is devoted to Red Bay National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the remains of a 16th-century Basque whaling station. Exhibits detail the seasonal maritime trade that flourished here in the 1500s, while archaeological remains and preserved shipwrecks reveal the scale of this early transatlantic enterprise. Coastal walking trails offer views across the harbour toward Saddle Island, where optional boat access allows further exploration of whaling-era remains (additional cost). You may also visit nearby Point Amour Lighthouse, standing prominently along the Labrador shoreline. With a full day, there is time to explore at your own pace before returning to L’Anse au Clair for the evening.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Northern Light Inn (or similar)
DAY 5: RETURN FERRY & ST. ANTHONY
An early morning ferry returns you to Newfoundland in time to continue north to St. Anthony, a town rich in history and northern charm. Visit the Grenfell Properties to learn about Sir Wilfred Grenfell, a medical missionary who dedicated his life to improving the health, education, and living conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador. Spend two nights in St. Anthony, with time to settle into the community and enjoy its northern coastal setting.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Haven Inn
DAY 6: WHALE WATCHING & L’ANSE AUX MEADOWS (UNESCO)
Enjoy a whale watching boat tour (weather permitting), with the opportunity to see humpback, minke, and fin whales in the waters off the northern coast. Early summer departures may also encounter icebergs drifting south from Greenland. Then, visit L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the first cultural discovery in the world to receive recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn of the Vikings who walked here over a thousand years ago, and explore the reconstructed Norse settlement overlooking the windswept coastline.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Haven Inn
DAY 7: COASTAL DRIVE TO COW HEAD & GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK
Begin the scenic drive south along Route 430 toward Cow Head, passing fishing communities and stretches of open coastline shaped by wind and tide. Continue into Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that reveals some of the clearest evidence of plate tectonics on Earth. At the Tablelands, rust-coloured mantle rock normally found deep beneath the crust lies exposed at the surface, creating a stark, desert-like terrain.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Shallow Bay Motel & Cottages
DAY 8: GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK & UNESCO LANDSCAPES
Today, you may choose between two distinct ways to experience the park. The classic option is a boat tour on Western Brook Pond, the iconic freshwater fjord often featured in images of Newfoundland, where cliffs rise up to 600 metres. Reaching the dock requires a 45-minute walk along a flat boardwalk trail each way. Alternatively, a boat tour on Bonne Bay pairs coastal scenery with time at the Tablelands, allowing closer exploration of this rare geological feature. Guests select their preferred experience in advance, as tour admissions are arranged prior to arrival.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Shallow Bay Motel & Cottages
DAY 9: ACROSS CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND TO GANDER
Leaving Gros Morne behind, the journey continues east across the island’s interior toward Gander. The drive passes through forested landscapes and inland lakes that characterize much of central Newfoundland. Upon arrival, the North Atlantic Aviation Museum provides insight into Gander’s role as a major transatlantic aviation hub during the early jet age and the Second World War. Your overnight stay here offers a comfortable stop along the cross-island route before continuing toward Newfoundland’s eastern coast.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sinbad’s Hotel & Suites
DAY 10: TWILLINGATE & NOTRE DAME BAY
The road north leads toward Twillingate, a traditional Newfoundland outport community overlooking Notre Dame Bay. Fishing stages, working harbours, and colourful houses reflect generations of life tied to the North Atlantic. The town’s Long Point Lighthouse stands above rugged cliffs and sweeping ocean views, while the Prime Berth Fishery & Heritage Centre shares the story of Newfoundland’s fishing traditions. In spring and early summer, Twillingate is also known for iceberg sightings drifting along the coast. Later in the day, continue south through Terra Nova National Park before arriving in Clarenville.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Quality Hotel Clarenville
DAY 11: BONAVISTA PENINSULA & TRINITY
The Bonavista Peninsula reveals one of Newfoundland’s most scenic coastlines. Rugged cliffs, open headlands, and sweeping ocean views define the landscape. Coastal roads reveal dramatic Atlantic vistas, green meadows overlooking the sea, and small communities shaped by centuries of fishing heritage. Cape Bonavista Lighthouse stands on a windswept headland above the rocky shoreline, offering expansive views across the North Atlantic. Continue to the picturesque town of Trinity, where brightly painted wooden buildings, quiet streets, and a sheltered harbour create one of Newfoundland’s most charming coastal settings. Return to Clarenville in the evening.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Quality Hotel Clarenville
DAY 12: AVALON PENINSULA TO ST. JOHN’S
The route east crosses the Avalon Peninsula toward St. John’s, one of North America’s oldest cities and the cultural heart of Newfoundland and Labrador. As you approach the Atlantic coast, the road leads to a harbour that has welcomed fishing fleets, explorers, and traders for centuries. Spend the afternoon exploring colourful row houses and historic Water Street, walking the harbourfront, or visiting nearby Quidi Vidi Village, a small fishing community tucked within the city. By evening, local pubs and live music bring the city’s distinctive culture to life. You may even encounter the traditional Newfoundland screech-in.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Delta Hotels by Marriott St. John’s
DAY 13: WITLESS BAY SEABIRDS & CAPE SPEAR
A short drive south of St. John’s brings you to Bay Bulls, departure point for boat tours into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. The islands here host North America’s largest colony of Atlantic puffins along with hundreds of thousands of other seabirds nesting along rugged coastal cliffs. The boat excursion brings you close to these lively colonies while offering views of the dramatic Atlantic coastline. After returning to shore, continue to Cape Spear National Historic Site, the easternmost point in North America. Late afternoon return to St. John’s leaves time to enjoy the city at your own pace.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Delta Hotels by Marriott St. John’s
DAY 14: DEPART ST. JOHN'S
Your Newfoundland journey concludes in St. John’s today. Drive to St. John’s International Airport, return your rental car, and prepare for your onward travels. If time allows before your flight, a final stroll along the harbourfront or through the historic streets of downtown offers a relaxed way to close the trip
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
