Canadian Maritimes

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, The Prince George Hotel. A transfer is included upon arrival from Halifax Airport to The Prince George Hotel in the heart of downtown, within walking distance of the beautiful Public Gardens. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the Citadel, a 19th-century fortress on a hilltop overlooking the city and the harbor. Stay Two Nights: The Prince George Hotel (D)

From cosmopolitan, eclectic Halifax, drive to Peggy's Cove – population 76 – truly a world apart; nestled on a rocky coastline with stunning vistas, it is a magnet for artists and photographers.

Enjoy free time to explore before continuing to Mahone Bay, a picture-postcard maritime town, and then the fishing village of Lunenburg for a walking tour with a local guide, or a visit to the Fisheries Museum. Old Town Lunenburg was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as one of the best surviving examples of a planned British Colonial settlement in North America. This town once excelled at wooden shipbuilding, and its masterpiece was the Bluenose, a fishing schooner that was a legendary racer. Return to Halifax this afternoon and have dinner at your leisure at the hotel this evening. (B/D)

Your day begins with an early morning ferry ride across the Bay of Fundy to Saint John, New Brunswick. Fundy, derived from the french word, fendu, meaning split, is named after the extreme tidal ranges that occur here, with a disparity in some parts being as high as 38 feet (for reference, the tidal range along the U.S. coast averages between 3 and 6 feet).

You'll arrive in Saint John early this afternoon, first driving to your hotel before heading off on a walking tour of Uptown Saint John, learning about the area's heritage and seeing its key architectural sites and geological points of interest before returning back to your hotel for dinner. Stay Two Nights: Delta Hotels Saint John (B/L/D)

First appearing over 250 million years ago, sturgeons evolved over time from the famous apex predator, sharks. Today, sturgeons have become an important part of the caviar industry in Saint John. You'll have an opportunity to learn all about them during a caviar tasting at the Acadian Sturgeon & Caviar Academy at Carter's Point Hatchery.

Here, you'll taste a variety of different sturgeon caviars (prepared in a variety of different ways), learn about the hatchery's sustainable practices, learn which caviars best pair with different ingredients and of course, enjoy a tasting of sturgeon, prepared multiple ways. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Saint John however you like. Known for its historic streetscapes, various cultural attractions and natural wonders, there's plenty to do here. (B/L)

Torrential tides and surface water carve towering rock formations out of the cliffs at Hopewell Cape on the Bay of Fundy; at low tide, they stand on the beach like sculptures in a vast outdoor gallery. View firsthand this land of giants to feel the awesome power that shapes these stones, tunnels through them, and covers them at a depth of 50 feet or more when the tide comes in.

Continue onward for a photo-op at one of the region's picture-perfect covered bridges, then return to Moncton for an evening spent as you please. Stay: Delta Hotels Beauséjour (B/L/D)

Embark on an interactive cruise that reveals the time-honored secrets of lobstering on the pristine waters of Shediac Bay. You will have the opportunity to participate in the actual fishing and catching of the area's prized lobsters and a local tutorial on the proper process of cracking and eating a freshly caught and cooked lobster. Your destination this afternoon is Charlottetown, inviting with Victorian architecture, heritage homes and maritime delights. Dinner is included tonight at your hotel, ideally located close to the scenic harbor and landmark attractions. Stay Two Nights: Delta Hotels Prince Edward (B/L/D)

Arrive in Charlottetown this morning and enjoy some free time to explore as you please. Late morning, travel to New Glasgow and the PEI Preserves Co. for lunch, with an opportunity to spend some time to enjoying their preserves production area and gardens. Red-sand beaches line the shores of Prince Edward Island National Park, along with wind-sculpted dunes, salt marshes and broad inlets that provide safe harbor for seabirds and seafarers. Explore the park, taking note of its fragile ecosystem and gentle beauty.

Continue on to the fishing village of North Rustico Harbour to see its iconic lighthouse and scenic views, embodying a way of life that has flourished on the island since 1790. Step back in time on a visit to Green Gables Heritage Place, the site of the home and farm that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's literary masterpiece, Anne of Green Gables. Go inside "Anne's" home and view rooms set up as they were described by the author. Stroll the grounds to learn more about rural life in the early 20th century, before savoring a taste of island life at a local restaurant renowned for its lobster dishes. (B/L)

Board a ferry bound for Nova Scotia and drive to the town of Frankville for lunch at local restaurant. Then it's on to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck. Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell summered here after he and his family moved to Canada from Scotland, and he later set up his laboratory in this picturesque village.

Enjoy a presentation that is a "virtual walk" through the exhibits, focusing on the people, experiments and inventions, from the telephone to kites, hydrofoils, airplanes and a metal detector – that make the Bell Story so compelling. Continue to your hotel in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, with historic connections to Alexander Graham Bell. Stay Two Nights: The Corson House at Keltic Lodge (B/L/D)

Experience breathtaking coastal landscapes on the Cabot Trail, a serpentine highway that is one of the world's most exciting and scenic drives. The winding road is carved into the side of mountains along unforgettable ocean vistas, ascending to the plateaus of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Drive through a landscape rich in rugged barrens, waterfalls, cliffs, and panoramic views of canyons, highlands, and seacoast.

Photo stops in Acadian fishing communities lead the way to a rug hooking museum, a showcase for "talking" rugs that speak volumes about a pioneer art that quietly discloses the trials and tribulations of the women who challenged the wilderness with their families and settled in new frontiers. Then stop in Chéticamp, an Acadian fishing community on Cape Breton Island, for lunch and a taste of their long-cherished cultural heritage. Return along the Cabot Trail to your hotel, where this evening you'll take part in a unique, lively Cape Breton tradition – a "kitchen party" featuring local cuisine, regional spirits, tastings, and Celtic music. (B/L/D)

A highlight of this trip is today's visit to the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts at Englishtown, where you'll learn about Nova Scotia's Scottish Gaelic culture. Watch a kilt-making demonstration, and learn a little Gaelic – through song – while learning about the fabric milling tradition. Have lunch at a lakeside village and perhaps some free time to enjoy the pleasantries of Canada.

Tonight, please join us for a farewell reception followed by dinner at the resort. Stay: Liscombe Lodge Resort & Conference Centre (B/L/D)

Depart Liscombe Lodge Resort this morning and return to Halifax; travel along one of the most scenic drives in North America, stopping en route in Lake Charlotte to visit a general store that takes you back in time. Tour ends: 12:00 noon, Halifax International Airport. Fly home anytime after 1:30 PM. For guests wishing to extend their stay in Halifax, Tauck can arrange additional nights at The Prince George Hotel; a transfer to Halifax International Airport is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in. (B)