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Nova Scotia

The Best of Nova Scotia: Highlands, History and Halifax

Program No. 23038RJ

Explore the seaside villages of Nova Scotia from Halifax to the Highlands to see whales and puffins, and experience the Celtic and French roots of this spectacular region.

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10 days

9 nights

24 meals

9B 8L 7D

Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia History, Halifax, Maritime Museum

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, Fisheries Museum, Peggy's Cove

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Transfer to Digby, Grand Pre, Annapolis Royal Gardens

Digby, Nova Scotia

Whale Watching Cruise, Digby Scallops

Digby, Nova Scotia

Burntcoat Head Park, Ceilidh

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Acadian Culture, Cape Breton Highlands Park, Chéticamp

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Fortress of Louisbourg, Alexander Graham Bell Museum

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Highland Village

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Program Concludes

Halifax, Nova Scotia

View Full Itinerary

At a Glance

From the bustling harbor of Halifax to the colorful row of historic sea captains’ homes in Lunenburg—discover the best of Nova Scotia! Experience Peggy’s Cove, where a historic lighthouse balances on giant granite boulders and Cape Breton, where forested cliffs drop spectacularly to the ocean below. Explore the island’s fascinating Celtic influences and French roots as you savor culinary delights and learn about the local seafood industry, including Digby’s scallops and fresh lobster.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Boarding transportation and walking up to two miles on varied terrain.

Best of all, you’ll…

Travel along the world-famous Cabot Trail as it skirts along the edges of the stunning Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and learn about the wildlife and history of Cape Breton Island.
Enjoy a study cruise with a chief naturalist to watch for whales and seabirds near Brier Island in the Bay of Fundy, where the local residents are outnumbered by seals and migrating birds.
Visit the Highland Village and learn what life was like for the Scottish settlers from the mid-1700s through early 1900s.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Shelley Lonergan

Whales have been Shelley Lonergan’s passion since she was young. It was this passion and her photography background that led her to the Bay of Fundy for her first whale watch. From the moment she saw her first whale fin, she was hooked! Shelley is the Chief Naturalist for Brier Island Whale & Seabird Cruises, a career obtained through volunteering. I enjoy the research and seeing the first humpback of the season best. Of the latter, it’s like seeing the first robin of spring.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

James White View biography

James (Jay) White is an expert in history, having earned his PhD in Canadian History from McMaster University in 1994. After a two-year stint at Western Washington University, Jay migrated home to Nova Scotia where he has lived ever since, teaching a variety of historical subjects. He even instructed members of the Canadian Armed Forces in military history. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and photography, is a Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Canadiens fan, and is of Loyalist and Acadian descent.

Shelley Lonergan View biography

Routes Adventures Mobile Phone View biography

Please call the toll free line at 1-866-745-1690 during regular business hours or for non-urgent matters (Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30 EST). The mobile phone #1-613-331-5777 is for after hours and weekends for emergency use only. The phone is carried by a staff member.

Colleen McNab View biography

Colleen McNab was born and raised in Truro, Nova Scotia and lived the majority of her life in Halifax. She now lives on Cape Breton Island with her husband. She enjoys nature, being outdoors, oceans/water, animals, adventure, meeting new people, and enjoying their culture. Colleen has spent four decades in the travel industry, working as a travel agent and branch manager, then in business travel management; in recent years, she began leading groups.

Jocelyn Bethune View biography

Jocelyn Bethune is a storyteller at heart. She is a writer, researcher, and local historian. She has been a reporter, an interpretive guide, and is the best-selling author of 'Historic Baddeck.'

Cheryl Bray View biography

Cheryl Bray's work is deeply rooted in Cape Breton's rich history, weaving ancestral tales of resilience and hope. From the French era at Louisbourg to the journeys of Highland Gaels and Irish immigrants who shaped the island's identity, their stories are a testament to the land's enduring spirit. As a Gaelic learner, singer, and active member of the island’s theatre community, Cheryl serves as a set designer for Cape Breton University’s Boardmore Theatre.

Suggested Reading List (6 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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The Best of Nova Scotia: Highlands, History and Halifax

Program Number: 23038

Lonely Planet Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island 6th Ed.

by Oliver Berry, Adam Karlin, Korina Miller

A comprehensive guide that extensively covers all that the region has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Explore the Bay of Fundy’s mud flats, walk around Halifax and follow The Viking Trail; all with your trusted travel companion.

The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History

by Harry Thurston (Author), Wayne Barrett (Photographer)

The Atlantic Coast draws upon the best and most up-to-date science on the ecology of the region as well as the author’s lifetime experience as a resident, biologist, and naturalist. The book explores the geological origins of the region, the two major forest realms, and the main freshwater and marine ecosystems, and describes the flora and fauna that characterize each habitat. It ends with a look at what has been lost and how the remaining natural heritage of the region might be conserved for the future.

The Acadian Diaspora: An Eighteenth-Century History

by Christopher Hodson

The Acadian Diaspora tells the extraordinary story of most successful military campaigns in North American history, capturing and deporting seven thousand French-speaking Catholic Acadians from the province of Nova Scotia. Using documents culled from archives in France, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States, Christopher Hodson reconstructs the lives of Acadian exiles as they traversed oceans and continents, pushed along by empires eager to populate new frontiers with inexpensive, pliable white farmers.

Nova Scotia: A Pocket History

by John Reid

This book provides a concise history of the province to the beginning of the 21st century. “The history of Nova Scotia,” says the author, “is not quaint. It is made up of the efforts of people of many backgrounds to make their way as best they could.

Birds of Atlantic Canada

by Roger Burrows

Full of interesting facts and useful information, Birds of Atlantic Canada has something for anyone with an interest in birds, from the casual backyard observer to the keen naturalist. There are 284 of Atlantic Canada's most abundant or notable birds species featured.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

In a rich braid of reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, Robin circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.

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