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Driving tour along the Viking Trail in western Newfoundland

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Journey through time on this sightseeing tour along the west coast of Newfoundland

Overview

Learn about the birth of a continent and the death of an ocean on this historical tour along the Viking Trail in Newfoundland. Walk in the footsteps of the New World's first peoples and explore the home of the first Viking explorers.

Highlights

  • Viking Trail
  • Deer Lake
  • Gros Morne National Park
  • Red Bay
  • Appalachian Mountains
  • L'Anse aux Meadows

This exciting holiday starts and ends in Deer Lake, Newfoundland and explores the nature and geology of Gros Morne National Park -- a United Nations World Heritage Site. L'Anse aux Meadows, North America's only known Viking settlement and Red Bay, the Labrador home of over 1,000 Basque whalers during the 1540s, are also highlights of this unique vacation. 

In 2013 the Red Bay site became this holiday’s 3rd UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of how this 16th-century enterprise shaped the history of Europe and the world. Your Newfoundland and Labrador holiday also features the northern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains, an arctic lifestyle encounter at the Grenfell Interpretation Centre, lots of birds and wildlife, plus a short journey to the “center of the earth.” Enjoy Newfoundlanders, Labradorians, their culture, their distinctive food flavors, and their landscape on this unforgettable holiday. And you will help us remember the Vikings who walked the shores and explored the coast over 10 centuries ago.

Gros Morne National Park provides one of the world's great geology lessons. As Prince Edward noted, "What the Galapagos are to biology, Gros Morne is to geology." Hence, its United Nations World Heritage Site designation.  On this tour, you will also have the opportunity to travel to the center of the Earth. More specifically, you will visit the Tablelands where an 80 square kilometer slab of the Earth's mantle has been shoved upon the land from deep beneath the ocean floor. Some scientists say the Tablelands more closely resemble the surface of the moon than the rest of the Earth. 

You will also travel to L'Anse aux Meadows -- the only authenticated Viking site in North America. This package also includes a visit to Red Bay, the 16th Century's Whaling Capital of the World. This little-known part of North America had a population of over 500 European people when areas like Boston and New York were still wilderness.  

  • Personal Experience
  • Trusted Tour Operator
  • Local Guides
  • Small group
Availability June - Sept
Duration 8 days
Departs From Deer Lake, NL
Difficulty Easy / Moderate Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Group maximum 18
Meet on Location Yes
Pick Up Yes (from airport)
Region Newfoundland

From

2 842
Per
Adult
  • Best Price Guarantee
  • International number: +1 778 348 1676

Availability (2025):
Price: $3895 CAD per person
Based on double occupancy.
Single occupancy: $4295 CAD

  • June 8-15
  • June 22-29
  • July 6-13
  • July 13-20
  • July 20-27
  • August 3-10
  • Aug 31-Sept 7

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What's Included

Find out what is included and what to bring.

Included

  • All ground transportation
  • All admissions
  • All boat/ferry passes
  • Accommodations are in lodges, hotels, and inns along the route
  • All breakfasts and lunches

Suggested Clothing

  • Warm sweater
  • Rain gear
  • Light boots
  • Warm jacket
  • Long pants
  • Shorts
  • T-shirts
  • Hat

Suggested Items

  • Camera
  • Binoculars
  • Daypack
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle

Contact us for more Information about this tour

INTERNATIONAL NUMBER: +1 778 348 1676

You can also send an email to info@adventures.com, or use the contact form here below.

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Itinerary

Find out more details about the tour and its highlights

Information

Guide information: Your guides boast a great mix of local experience and knowledge. Some are authors, others are professors, and all sport a unique mix of knowledge, humor, and training. Expect a qualified, remarkable, and fun traveling companion.

Transportation: Trips originate and end in Deer Lake, Newfoundland. Airport picks up and drops off included.

Weather: Day-time summer temperatures can range from 10 to 25 degrees Celsius (50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit), while nights may go a few degrees lower. The weather is quite unpredictable, so be prepared.

Meals & Dining: All breakfasts and lunches included. Dinners are not included in the price but can be purchased at local restaurants along the route.

a view of area in gros morne national park

The program begins in the afternoon as we meet you at the airport in Deer Lake, Newfoundland (Airport code: YDF). In the early evening, we begin this Newfoundland and Labrador adventure with an overview of your vacation and perhaps a light hike in Gros Morne. Enjoy the coast and fishing communities. The region is rich with moose, waterfalls, orchids, mountains, songbirds, and wildflowers. The priority for the day is meeting you at the airport and getting you to our comfortable hotel. Tomorrow is when the fun — and your vacation — really begins.

Overnight Location: Gros Morne

a ferry in western brook pond in gros morne park

Gros Morne provides one of the world’s great geology lessons. As Prince Edward noted, “What the Galapagos are to biology, Gros Morne is to geology.” Hence, its United Nations’ World Heritage Site designation. This morning we enjoy the gentle 60-minute walk to Western Brook Pond for a 2.5-hour boat journey through a billion years of geological history. The gorge, the mountains, and the glacier-carved valleys viewed during this boat trip have been included among the scenic highlights in Canada’s tourism literature for decades. The level trail’s highlights include orchids, carnivorous plants, and sometimes moose and caribou. The afternoon features beaches, dunes, spectacular scenery, and more opportunities for sighting caribou and moose.We also take the time to enjoy the region’s fishing villages and lighthouses.

Overnight Location: Gros Morne

hiking path in tablelands gros morne

Today we travel to the center of the Earth. More specifically, we visit the Tablelands where an 80 square kilometer slab of the Earth’s mantle has been shoved up on land from deep beneath the ocean floor. Some scientists say the Tablelands more closely resemble the surface of the moon than the rest of the Earth. We will visit Parks Canada’s Discovery Centre and learn more about this UNESCO site’s intriguing history and geology. A poet on our Tablelands walk might claim that we are actually walking on the center of the earth, while photographers will marvel at the mountains and the visual spectacle of this glacier-carved landscape. This region features a unique collection of plants including high Arctic species, southern mountain top varieties, and carnivorous plants that are tolerant of the heavy metal rocks thrust up from deep inside the planet. Our leader will share his in-depth knowledge of geology and botany with you, or you can simply enjoy the rugged scenery and the local stories. We also take some time to remember the Cambrian as we show off some of our secret fossil beds.

Overnight Location: Gros Morne

Today we depart Gros Morne and take the dramatic Viking Trail highway north to St. Barbe and the Labrador ferry. Enroute we visit The Arches, where the ocean has carved dramatic tunnels in the limestone rocks. The ferry ride may require an early rise but it is a holiday highlight with whales, seals, icebergs, puffins, and pelagic seabirds all commonly seen (100 percent average so far). This is a local service and the schedule can be influenced by weather and other factors, but based on our previous years of experience, it is likely we will have a relaxing and memorable drive with time to watch for wildlife and to enjoy the mountains. We always spend some time outside during the 90-minute ferry ride to view the marine wildlife and to enjoy the scenery. This voyage is often included among listings of the planet’s best pelagic seabird watching trips but you don’t need to be a birder to enjoy the sights. This evening we have the option of sampling the delicious flavors of Labrador’s berries and seafood.

Overnight Location: L'Anse-au-Clair, Labrador

Today we visit Red Bay — the 16th century’s whaling capital of the world. Less than 50 years after Columbus, this little-known part of North America had a population of over 1500 European people whereas areas like Boston and New York were still wilderness. We visit the interpretation center, and weather permitting, we catch a boat ride to the actual dig site where we explore the trails walked by the Basques almost five centuries ago. The new world’s first written documents originated here with ships’ manifests, whalers’ wills, and other poignant remembrances of this past era being recorded and preserved. Our local leader is delighted to share this history and sense of place with you. We also visit Canada’s second tallest lighthouse at Point Amour. Another highlight is the oldest burial mound in North America — older than the pyramids. The entire Labrador Straits area is rich in birds of prey, wild flowers, and fossils. Everyone with a camera will want to try to capture the sweeping seascapes and the dramatic colors the sea itself takes on in this wild place. Our leader will show you the coastal sites where the land-based whale and seal watching is amazing

Overnight Location: L'Anse-au-Clair

aerial mountain top view of St Anthony town in canada

Today we travel to Blanc Sablon, Quebec and take the Labrador ferry back to Newfoundland. Along the way, we get our last look at Labrador’s whales, seabirds, lighthouses, and seals. Once we arrive in St. Barbe, Newfoundland we travel to L’Anse aux Meadows to visit the only authenticated Viking site in North America. From here we can look out at Belle Isle which is the northern extreme of the Appalachians in North America. The ground where you stand (and where the Vikings stood 10 centuries ago) is the most northerly portion of Appalachia, the backbone of this continent. Now we relive the early Middle Ages as Parks Canada with its historic enactors and recreated boats and buildings bring the story of the Norse in the New World to life. The staff of Wildland Tours works with Parks Canada to share the story of the families, researchers, and modern explorers who contributed to both the discovery of this site and to humanity’s knowledge of this long forgotten epic. Tonight we sometimes rejoin the historic enactors for a Viking feast in a great sod-covered hall overlooking the headland frequented by Lief Ericson over 10 centuries ago. We can also consider a boat trip to look at dolphins, whales, and wildlife of the dramatic coastline. In June and July, we often see icebergs in this area too.

Overnight Location: St. Anthony

St Anthony town in Newfoundland in canada

Today we explore St. Anthony for an hour or two before returning to Deer Lake and on to Corner Brook for the night. St. Anthony on the northern tip of Newfoundland was the staging point for many northern expeditions. Arctic explorers used its sheltered harbor to take on sled dogs and other supplies as the world raced for the North Pole. Another St. Anthony highlight is the Grenfell Interpretation Centre. In 1892 a young English doctor visited St. Anthony and founded the Grenfell Mission in order to bring medical aid to the native and fishing families along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. We visit the interpretation center that tells the inspiring story of Dr. Grenfell — a friend to Kings and Presidents — and we visit his actual home. Step back to the early days of the 20th century and enjoy the tales of dog teams, hardships, courage, and innovation that surrounded Dr. Grenfell. We also stop to explore the Maritime Archaic Indian exhibit at Port au Choix National Historic Park. This is the last archaeological site we visit on this holiday which is considered by some experts to be North America’s most diverse archaeological adventure. Learn about the trade, art, and artifacts of the ancient people that occupied this site 3,500 years ago.

Overnight Location: Corner Brook (Newfoundland's second city)

If your schedule permits you can explore some of Corner Brook from your well-located hotel. Your leader will have other exciting options for you to consider.

Payment Details

Deposit and Taxes
Pricing does not include: 15.00% HST.
A 20% deposit is required to hold your reservation.
Balance of payment is due 60 days before trip commencement.

CANCELLATION POLICY & DETAILS
Full payment is required 60 days prior to your holiday’s start date. If you decide to cancel anytime PRIOR TO the 60 days, your deposit and any payments made are 100% refundable. If you must cancel anytime BETWEEN 60 days and 7 days prior to your holiday departure date, you will receive an 80% refund. If you must cancel 6 days prior to and up to or on your departure date, you will receive a 50% refund. If after 60 days you must cancel, your 20% deposit will be applied to your future holiday booking