Canada, Nova Scotia: Fundy Hike
Five nights, six days of walks and hikes around the Bay of Fundy, showcasing dramatic coastal landscapes, the world’s highest tides, and rich local history.
“The incredible scenery, great food specialties, and quiet (some super-quiet) roads are under-rated…a secret gem that rivals the Cabot Trail. What I love is that through the week, it just gets better and better!” – Alana Y.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- The Bay of Fundy truly lives up to its name with the world’s highest tides and spectacular scenery along its coasts.
- This is a lesser travelled route, and you can expect quiet hikes.
- Visit historic Grand Pré, where Acadians built 400‑year‑old dykes to hold back the mighty tides and learn about their resilient history.
- Take a break in Wolfville, a charming university town known for its delightful eateries and welcoming local vibe.
- Hike up to the clifftop at Cape Split for breathtaking views of swirling currents and the force of nature below.
- Stop by Burntcoat Head—famous for recording the world’s highest tide measurements.
- Wander along Partridge Island, where the changing tides reveal colourful semiprecious stones along the beach.
- Enjoy a cosy stay in a clifftop lighthouse at Cape d’Or, complete with fresh, abundant seafood.
- Explore the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with ancient natural history.
- Marvel at the dramatic sea stacks in Eatonville, a picturesque reminder of the region’s storied shipbuilding past.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Click here to learn about our difficulty rating system.
Hikes traverse rugged wilderness trails with steep hills and soft surfaces. Sturdy footwear and a steady pace are essential.
Daily Distance:
- 1: Introductions; Walk the Acadian dykes ~7km (+25m / -25m); visit Grand Pré.
- 2: Hike Cape Split ~14km (+270m / -270m).
- 3: Visit Burntcoat Head; hike Thomas’ Cove Trail ~6km (+50m / -50m); and/or hike at Five Islands Provincial Park ~5km (+190m / -190m).
- 4: Walk Partridge Island ~2km (+70m / -40m); hike Ward Falls ~6km (+120m / -120m).
- 5: McGahey Brook Canyon and Red Rocks ~10km (+240m / -240m); optional sea kayaking available.
- 6: Eatonville and Three Sisters ~5km (+100m / -100m); visit Joggins Fossil Cliffs.
(Click image to enlarge)
Activity Levels
The easiest routes we offer, these are generally flat and cover relatively relaxed distances. You will be comfortable riding a hybrid bike, walking in sneakers, or paddling a light kayak, and will normally have time to take many photos and enjoy extended lunches.
This is primarily an easy route, but some days may fall into the moderate category. You can expect time to stop and smell the roses, but some of the rides may be on more hilly terrain.
Requiring moderate fitness levels, these cover terrain with hills and valleys, and tend to include distances of 50-80km (30-50mi.)/day cycling, or 3-6 hours of walking per day. Most Freewheeling Adventures fall into this category, and are suitable for most ability levels.
This is primarily a moderate route, suitable for most ability levels, but some days may be a little more challenging. You can expect some long distances, and/or some big climbs/descents.
The most challenging trips, these include longer distances, bigger hills, long hikes, exposed paddling, and full days of activity. We recommend a higher degree of fitness and training to make the most of the experience.
There is also a rare double black diamond, reserved for only the most difficult adventures.
Start: Halifax, The Lord Nelson Hotel, 13:00, day one.
Finish: Halifax, The Lord Nelson Hotel, 16:00, day six.
Please contact us to arrange alternate plans, if necessary. For those going to the airport: Halifax Transit operates its MetroX service from downtown to Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The #320 bus operates every 30 minutes during peak morning (6 am to 9 am) and afternoon (3 pm to 6 pm) times. The regular schedule departs every 60 minutes.
Meal inclusions: Listed for guided trips only, please see dates & pricing section for accurate inclusions per support level.
Please contact us to arrange alternate meeting and departure plans, if necessary.
DAY 1:
Introductions; Walk the Acadian dykes ~7km (+25m / -25m); visit Grand Pré.
Meet in Halifax, then transfer about an hour to Wolfville. Begin with an introductory walk along the Acadian dykes to historic Grand Pré, where early farmers once tamed the mighty Fundy tide to create fertile farmland. Grand Pré was the heart of Acadian settlement from 1682 until the Deportation in 1755. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a poignant look into this region’s layered past. Return to Wolfville where a charming array of restaurants, pubs, and shops are all within easy walking distance of your welcoming inn.
Meal Inclusions: Dinner.
Tattingstone Inn, or Blomidon Inn, Wolfville.DAY 2:
Hike Cape Split ~14km (+270m / -270m).
Hike to Cape Split, along the dramatic cliff tops of Scot's Bay. Arrive at 'the Split' and witness the raw, untamed power of the Bay of Fundy's tides from your stunning cliffside vantage point. For a different perspective, choose the alternative coastal route back to Scot's Bay.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.
Same lodging.DAY 3:
Visit Burntcoat Head; hike Thomas’ Cove Trail ~6km (+50m / -50m); and/or hike at Five Islands Provincial Park ~5km (+190m / -190m).
Depart Wolfville by vehicle, transferring 2.5 hours around the Minas Basin, with a one-hour stop at Burntcoat Head, where the world's highest tides have been recorded. Walk on the ocean floor, tide permitting, then continue to your afternoon hike at either Thomas’ Cove or Five Islands. Both trails feature striking red cliffs, sea stacks, and expansive views from the opposite side of the Bay of Fundy. Tidal bore river rafting is an alternative activity, available only when tide times are appropriate and there is a group consensus. Finish the day in Parrsboro, where you may have the option to attend a live performance at Ships Company Theatre.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner.
Gillespie House B&B, Parrsboro.DAY 4:
Walk Partridge Island ~2km (+70m / -40m); hike Ward Falls ~6km (+120m / -120m).
Begin the day with a short walk at the base of Partridge Island, where the Fundy tides continually reveal a treasure trove of gems and fossils. This beautiful pebbly beach is a favourite for rockhounds and beachcombers alike, with driftwood and colourful stones scattered like offerings from the sea. From there, head inland to Ward Falls for an idyllic forest hike along a winding river valley, featuring mossy staircases, wooden bridges, and a series of waterfalls tucked into a deep Acadian Forest ravine.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Same lodging.DAY 5:
McGahey Brook Canyon and Red Rocks ~10km (+240m / -240m); optional sea kayaking available.
Transfer 45 minutes to Cape Chignecto Provincial Park and hike along the beach (tide dependent), then up a long, steep staircase into McGahey Brook Canyon, looping back over the mountain to Red Rocks. From McGahey Brook Canyon, there is an option to hike toward Refugee Cove and extend your hike up to 24km (this is a challenging section of trail, recommended for very experienced hikers). You can also choose the alternative, optional sea kayak trip to the Three Sisters. Either way, this area - near the outer end of Cape Chignecto, where the land meets the rips and ferocity of the Fundy tides - is known for its fantastic shorelines. Back at your lodge, you might be able to enjoy what some say is one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
The Light Keeper’s Kitchen and Guest House, Cape d'Or; or Driftwood Park Retreat, Advocate Harbour; self guided tours will lodge at Wild Caraway, Advocate Harbour.DAY 6:
Eatonville and Three Sisters ~5km (+100m / -100m); visit Joggins Fossil Cliffs.
Transfer one hour to the north side of Cape Chignecto Provincial Park and spend the morning hiking in the Eatonville area, overlooking what now appears to be a beautiful, wild estuary - but was, in recent history, a remarkably bustling shipbuilding outpost. Along the way, you’ll see dramatic sea stacks, fissures, cliffs, strands, and the iconic Three Sisters. From there, follow one of Nova Scotia's quietest stretches of road to the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, recently added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites thanks to the remarkable abundance of rare fossils accessible to anyone walking on the beach. Finish with a two-and-a-half-hour van transfer back to Halifax in time for dinner.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SELECT A DATE BELOW TO RESERVE, OR START A NEW DATE
2026 DATES:
2027 DATES:
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(Inclusions & pricing are listed below)
PRICING
Our tour costs are ALL IN, including fees & taxes.
Guided: C 4195 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, museum and park entrance fees, luggage handling, full-time guide and van support, maps, trail notes, 14% sales tax
Small groups or private tours, fully supported with drivers/guides and vehicles, all lodging and most meals included. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Guided: C 3775 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, welcome briefing, on-call support, inn to inn luggage transfers, ground transportation as indicated in the itinerary, detailed maps, route descriptions, 14% sales tax
Semi-supported, independent tours including welcome briefing, lodging, luggage transfers and necessary vehicle transfers. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Drive: C 2095 (per person, double occupancy)
7 days, 6 nights, 6 breakfasts, relevant maps and trail notes, car rental recommendations, 14% sales tax
Fully independent travel including lodging, detailed itineraries, route instructions and resources. Choose your own dates, provide your own transportation. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: Add C 675
Tour cost excludes airfare and travel to and from the starting point, costs for activities listed as optional, bar and beverage bills, meals not shown as included, gratuities for your driver and/or guides.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
Please see above for accurate pricing and inclusions, unless we have proposed a customized trip for you and those details are provided in your custom proposal.
1. Choose an advertised date to join a small group, or see our Join a Group page to see where groups are already forming.
2. Pick your own dates. We will confirm quickly and are happy to talk with you as you make your choice. If you would like a private guided departure, this usually involves a surcharge depending on the details. Those who prefer to travel self-guided typically need only two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and we can sometimes offer reduced rates for larger groups. Please get in touch for more information.
BEST TIMES
The best time to enjoy this tour is mid-June to mid-October.
- Spring daytimes warm up to 10 to 20 °C (50 to 70 °F) by mid June. Note that seasonal businesses may still be closed, or on off-season hours, until late June.
- Summer, mid June to mid September, is normally 20 to 25 °C (70 to 80 °F). Freshwater and saltwater swimming is encouraged.</li.
- Autumn, mid September to mid October, daytimes 10 to 20 °C range (50 to 70 °F). Nights can be chilly, but rarely down to freezing. Mid-October is the best time to see spectacularly colorful fall foliage.
GET TO THE START
We meet you at your inn in Halifax on the morning of day one, for a transfer (one hour) to Wolfville with the Freewheeling shuttle. Halifax’s downtown core is located about half an hour from its international airport (YHZ). Taxis are readily available; Maritime Bus offers an airport express shuttle; and Halifax Transit provides hourly departures on its MetroX bus service.
If you drive: Call us to help arrange parking for the week in Halifax.
AFTER THE FINISH
We will return you to Halifax by about 16:00 on day six. It is best to fly out the following morning, but you may find evening flights (departing no earlier than 18:00) that fit your timetable. Contact us for recommendations.
BEFORE AND AFTER
If you have one day:
Rent a car (we can drop you at Halifax airport on day seven), and visit Lunenburg – a UNESCO township, where you can join sailing tours, or rent a bike from our HQ and ride the Aspotogan loop.
If you have several days:
Join one of our other rides in Nova Scotia, or the adjacent provinces, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland .
We recommend the following accommodations in Halifax for before or after your tour; please let us know if we can assist with reservations:
• The Lord Nelson, 1515 South Park Street Ph: 902-423-6331 or 800-565-2020
• Prince George Hotel, 1725 Market Street Ph: 902-425-1986 or 800-565-1567
• The Halliburton Inn, 5184 Morris Street Ph: 902-420-0658 or 888-512-3344
MORE READING
The Bay of Fundy has tides as high as 50 feet - the highest in the world, and teems with so much life that hundreds of whales gather here to feed every summer. This adventure explores the coast in exciting ways. Begin with a hike along the Acadian dykes built to protect rich farmland from the tremendous tides. Float on inner tubes or swim in sun-warmed water near the small university town of Wolfville. Hike to a cliff-top view over the currents and whirlpools below, and descend to explore pristine beaches where agates and sparkling amethysts are the gifts of the wave-wracked rocks. Follow the shore of Minas Basin to Parrsboro, where Mi'kmaq legends tell of the mighty Glooscap’s magic. The benevolent hero of the Mi’kmaq tribe is said to have taught them everything they know about hunting, fishing, herbs, and plants. In the legends, Glooscap is credited with changing monsters into harmless animals, and adapting the landscape to be more favourable. From Parrsboro, hike to waterfalls cascading off the Cobequid Mountains, or in Cape Chignecto Park. Take to the water in sea kayaks, for an amazing discovery of the Three Sisters, before a final visit to the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, recently elected to the UNESCO list. This adventure takes you to less-visited parts of Nova Scotia, and teaches you about one of the natural world’s greatest phenomena.
Inn Notes: These are small and welcoming inns, gracious in Wolfville, friendly in Parrsboro, and out of this world at the lighthouse. The lighthouse is isolated and accessible by a hilly gravel road; self guided tours will stay at another property in Advocate Harbour within walking distance of other amenities.