Canada, Newfoundland: Viking Trail Bike Tour

DAY 1:

Independent Arrival in Deer Lake.

Your room will be waiting for you at the Deer Lake Motel, 4km from the airport. This is simple, clean lodging with a restaurant, well situated at the very beginning of the Viking Trail. Your guide(s) or support person will meet you here tomorrow morning.

DAY 2:

Deer Lake to Bonne Bay ~63km (+850m / -850m).

From Deer Lake, bike past the Newfoundland Insectarium and the Wiltondale Pioneer Village on your way to lunch near the entrance to Gros Morne National Park. Spend the afternoon riding the hilly, exhilarating approach toward the shore of Bonne Bay.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 3:

Bonne Bay to Tablelands ~36km (+600m / -600m); hike Tablelands Trail ~11km, and/or Lookout Trail ~6km.

Today’s ride takes you to Trout River for lunch overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On the way, stop at the Discovery Centre to learn about the remarkable geological history of the Tablelands. From here, you can choose a steep one-hour walk on the Lookout Trail, or continue directly to the Tablelands Trail to explore this rare exposure of the earth’s mantle—a geological phenomenon central to the park’s UNESCO designation. After an afternoon exploring the Tablelands, return to Bonne Bay.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner.

DAY 4:

Bonne Bay to Cow Head ~58km (+500m / -500m); hike Cow Head ~3km.

Start with a water taxi across Bonne Bay, or take a van transfer to Norris Point if you prefer. From there, ride north through Rocky Harbour and Gros Morne National Park. Depending on your group’s preference, you can join an optional three-hour boat trip on Western Brook Pond. Finish at Cow Head, a fishing village with a lighthouse and a short coastal hike that reveals an abundance of fossils and a record of marine life through the ages.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 5:

Cow Head to Port au Choix, up to ~120km (+800m / -800m); hike Port au Choix ~9km.

Ride north along the coastal road to Port au Choix to visit the burial grounds and learn about the region’s ancient Indigenous cultures. The hike from the Port au Choix National Historic Site leads to the lighthouse and introduces the Maritime Archaic people who lived here more than 6,000 years ago. You’ll also have an opportunity to see demonstrations of traditional seal-skin preparation using tools such as stretchers, scrapers, and end blades.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 6:

Port au Choix to L’Anse aux Meadows, up to ~220km (+1,400m / -1,300m).

A very long ride today, helped (we hope!) by the prevailing tailwind and the wide, flat road leading you north. Most cyclists will welcome a boost or two from the van, while others will be determined to complete a metric or imperial century—or simply meet their own goal. Either way, after an evening of fresh local cuisine, you’ll rest well at your lodge in its impressive wilderness setting near the L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. This scenic retreat is well off the beaten track, so be ready to enjoy comfort in true northern wilderness.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 7:

Walk the Birchy Nuddick Trail into L'Anse aux Meadows ~3km; Zodiac Boat Trip to Quirpon Island.

Arise early this morning to visit the profoundly stirring site of L’Anse aux Meadows, where Norse explorers landed more than five centuries before Columbus. Believed to be Leif Eriksson’s Vinland of the sagas, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers remarkable insight into early European presence in the New World. You can also visit Norstead, a recreated Viking port of trade that brings daily life in a Norse settlement to light. After lunch, a 90-minute boat trip will carry you through iceberg alley to Quirpon Island Lighthouse, with the chance to spot whales, icebergs, and coastal wildlife. Your destination is a private island with wide views, excellent walking trails, and a lighthouse lodge in a dramatic northern setting—often considered a highlight of the trip.
Please note a 20-pound luggage restriction for today’s boat trip to the island.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner.

DAY 8:

Transfer to Deer Lake ~5 hrs.

Following breakfast, board your boat back to the mainland for a transfer to Deer Lake, arriving at about 17:00, in time for an independent dinner. Your guide(s) or support person will say farewell before the evening meal.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 9:

Independent Departure.

Deer Lake Airport is about 4 km from your hotel, and taxis are readily available through the front desk.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast.