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Difficulty Level
We will sail along coastlines steeped in history, float past the remains
of summer colonies of puffins and gannets, explore archeological sites
and abandoned outposts and keep our eyes open for marine life while examining
the unique culture and rich heritage of the area.
Included Highlights
10 nights aboard
Explorer
All meals on board
Zodiac and land excursions with our expert expedition team
Accommodation
10 nights onboard Explorer. Choose from triple, twin and superior cabins
or suites.
Food Included
All meals included while on board the ship, drinks extra. Our chefs produce
a hearty and varied international menu and there is a good selection of
beer, wine and spirits.
Duration
11 days
Notes
(1) Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies
according to weather conditions and water levels. Flexibility is the key
to the success of this expedition.
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What better way to see a place so shaped by sea
than by ship? We are pleased to be offering an exciting new destination:
Newfoundland and Labrador. The warmth, wit and hospitality of her people,
the soul stirring music and the rough beauty of her shores promise new
surprises and delights to greet us along the way.
We’ll encounter rich colours, imposing skies and majestic cliffs
aboard the M/V Explorer, a 108-passenger expedition vessel. Expedition
cruising is a wonderful way to experience remote regions in an informal
and relaxed atmosphere; close encounters are provided by the fleet of
Zodiacs onboard that take us to shore wherever we choose to explore or
to areas rich in wildlife.
Starting in the bustling international military community Of Goose Bay,
we will head down the breathtaking coast of Labrador, described in the
Norse Sagas. We’ll walk the footsteps of the Vikings along the sandy
beaches of Wunderstands and visit the Viking encampment at L’Anse
aux Meadows, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our adventure continues with
some of eastern Canada’s most beautiful and remote islands including
the Isles d’Anticosti and Mignan Archipelago in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence as will as the quaint French communities of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
We also have a chance to visit Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, where we find a spellbinding example of glacier action
and a rare glimpse of the earth’s mantle. The voyage ends with a
visit to the Louisbourg, one of Canada’s most ambitious reconstructions
and most engaging heritage sites.
Day 1 Goose Bay
Arrival at Goose Bay and board Explorer.
Day 2 Wunderstrand
Our first Zodiac landing is planned at Wunderstrand, where abandoned outpost
communities and endless miles of trackless sandy beach are the focus of
our morning. The Vikings describe this area in the Saga’s, and it
apparently served as a navigational aid enroute to Vinland.
Day 3 Battle Harbour and L'Anse aux Meadows
Enjoy a walking tour of the abandoned community of Battle Harbour, which
was once a bustling fishery. In the afternoon, we head for the northern
tip of the Great Northern Peninsula to visit L'Anse aux Meadows National
Historic Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important
archeological sites in the world.
Day 4 Ha Ha Bay
Head west of the narrow Strait of Belle Isle, to Quebec’s north
Shore and Ha Ha Bay, which gets its name from an old French term for a
dead end.
Day 5 The Mingan Archipelago
A Zodiac cuise of the islands is followed by a walk on the shore of these
beautiful and remote islands, featuring distinctive limestone formations.
An excellent opportunity to spot many of the 200 species of birds that
nest here, or to keep your eye out for blue whales in the waters off shore.
Day 6 Anticosti Island
Located at the mouth of the St. Lawrence the island was named “Anti
Costa” or “anticoast,” by Basque fishermen in 1542.
Anticosti is a natural history, marine wildlife, fishing and vacationing
paradise.
Day 7 Woody Point/ Gros Morne
It has been said that “Gros Morne is to geology what the Galapagos
are to biology.” Our day is spent exploring the Tablelands, a 600-metre
high plateau that forms one of the world's best examples of ancient rock
exposed from the earth's interior. The spectacular landscape is home to
moose, woodland caribou and giant Arctic hare, as well as over 30 species
of wild orchids.
Day 8 Iles-de-la-Madeleine
The Isles-de-la-Madeleine constitute a beautiful 65km long archipelago
of a dozen islands, many connected by distinctive red sand dunes. We will
visit isolated fishing communities and have the chance to learn about
the unique Madelinot culture.
Day 9 Grey River
Grey River is a rural community on the south coast of Newfoundland. Originally
called Little River until measles broke out here in the early 1900s and
many villagers perished when a wire to St. John's for medicine was accidentally
sent to another Little River community on the northeast coast. We’ll
have a chance to sample some local hospitality and tour this picturesque
community.
Day 10 St. Pierre & Miquelon
The islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon represent the sole remaining vestige
of France's once vast North American possessions. Brightly coloured houses,
fine cuisine, wine and delicious baked goods are the hallmark of this
French colony.
Day 11 Louisbourg to Sydney
One of the best-known historic sites in Canada, Louisbourg played a fundamental
role in the Franco-British struggle for North America. We visit historic
Cape Breton in the morning, then depart in the afternoon for Sydney.
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