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A person in a blue jacket views a lush, moss-covered waterfall from a wooden bridge in Fundy National Park.
New Brunswick

Tides of Fundy: A Learning Journey on Foot

Program No. 25710RJ
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
15 meals ( 6B, 4L, 5D )
4 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Please remember to bring your Road Scholar nametag.
Afternoon:
Arrive independently in Moncton and check in to your centrally located hotel. Settle in and enjoy some free time to explore the charming provincial capital before gathering with your fellow participants. After checking in and receiving your room assignment, please join us at the Road Scholar table in the hotel lobby to register with the program staff, receive any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the orientation session. If you arrive later in the day, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
Enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow participants.
Evening:
Your Group Leader will welcome everyone and lead introductions. We’ll review the most up-to-date program schedule and discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, and emergency procedures, with time for questions. Throughout the program, you’ll enjoy lectures and presentations by local experts who will lead walks and field experiences. Please note that program activities, schedules, personnel, and distances may change due to local circumstances. Should changes occur, we will notify you as promptly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Enjoy getting to know your fellow Road Scholars and settle in for a good night’s rest. Please be prepared for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 105 miles total, about 2.75 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles on boardwalks and sand, uneven terrain, slippery rocks. There are flights of stairs to reach ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended (white footwear may stain).
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Begin with an introductory presentation on the history of New Brunswick, setting the geographic and cultural context for your journey. Then travel to Hopewell Rocks to meet a Parks Canada expert for a guided exploration of the area’s geology and tidal science. Walk on the ocean floor (tide permitting) among the iconic flowerpot formations, discovering how the world’s highest tides have shaped this dramatic coastline.
Lunch:
In Hopewell Rocks.
Afternoon:
Continue along the rugged Fundy coast to the picturesque seaside village of St. Martins. After checking in at your inn, take time to unwind and explore the village’s quaint streets, rocky shoreline, and harbor views, soaking in the atmosphere of this historic coastal community.
Dinner:
At the inn.
Activity Note
Walking up to 4 miles on sand (sometimes wet), uneven terrain, slippery rocks. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended (white footwear may stain).
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
Set out on scenic coastal walks around St. Martins, visiting the historic Quaco Head Lighthouse and a remote, seldom-visited tidal beach. Along the way, learn about historic shipwrecks on the offshore reef and the powerful currents known locally as “the race”, that continue to challenge navigation. Walks are timed with the tides, providing a firsthand lesson in the ever-changing Fundy shoreline.
Lunch:
In St. Martins.
Afternoon:
Continue your coastal explorations before returning to the inn. Gather for a pre-dinner presentation on the Black Loyalist families who settled in the region, exploring their resilience, struggles, and lasting contributions. Dinner follows at a local restaurant.
Dinner:
At the inn.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 110 miles total, about 3.25 hours riding time. Walking up to 2.5 miles on boardwalks, uneven terrain, sand, slippery rocks. Flights of stairs to reach Dickson Falls. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
Travel to Fundy National Park for in-depth guided walks along trails such as Caribou Plains and Dickson Falls. Stroll through upland forests and river valleys as your instructors interpret the Acadian forest ecosystem, highlighting dominant tree species, forest succession, and the ways climate and geology shape plant communities. Discover how glaciation sculpted the landscape and how water continues to shape it, from moss-lined streams to cascading waterfalls.
Lunch:
Picnic.
Afternoon:
Continue your guided exploration within the park, observing the transition from upland forest to coastal environments. Learn about ongoing conservation efforts, wildlife habitats, and the challenges of protecting fragile ecosystems in a region shaped by extreme tidal forces.
Dinner:
On your own.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 70 miles total, about 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles on sidewalks, boardwalks and gentle graveled paths. This is a seaside town so there are a few steep hills with sidewalks.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
This morning, we’ll travel to Saint John for a guided historic walking exploration, tracing the development of one of Canada’s oldest incorporated cities. Visit the UNESCO-designated Stonehammer Geopark and witness the dramatic Reversing Falls, where Fundy tides reverse the flow of the Saint John River.
Lunch:
On your own at the Saint John City Market.
Afternoon:
Join an Indigenous storyteller for a guided walk that offers Indigenous perspectives on the land, waterways, and the region’s living cultural traditions. Return to St. Martins later in the afternoon.
Dinner:
Saint John
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 110 miles total, about 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 6 miles on packed gravel, some uneven terrain with the possibility of exposed roots for a short distance. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
Embark on a full day of guided walks along the Fundy Trail Parkway, exploring trails such as Walton Glen Gorge, McCumber Brook Wetlands, and the historic Sea Captains’ Trail. As you walk, learn how coastal geology, tectonic forces, and erosion have sculpted gorges, cliffs, and headlands overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Your guides also share insights into the region’s maritime heritage, highlighting the lives of sea captains and coastal families whose stories are preserved in historic sites and burial grounds along the trail.
Lunch:
Gather on the beach for a custom seafood boil, complemented by local storytelling that links traditional foodways to the rhythms of coastal life. Hear how fishing, foraging, and seasonal harvests have long connected communities to the Bay of Fundy’s tides.
Afternoon:
Continue along the trail, exploring the relationship between human settlement and the demanding coastal environment. In Alma, witness fishing boats resting on the harbor floor at low tide and floating again as the water returns—an unforgettable demonstration of the Bay of Fundy’s extraordinary tidal range and its influence on daily life and local industry.
Dinner:
In Alma.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 90 miles, about 1.75 hours riding time to airport. Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
A group transfer by motorcoach to Moncton Airport will set off after breakfast. Approximate arrival at Charlottetown Airport is 10:00 a.m. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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