Canada, Prince Edward Island: Confederation Trail Bike Tour
Five nights, six days of easy bicycle touring along the traffic-free Confederation Trail and bike paths of PEI National Park.
“Met us along the route with snacks and fruit - really loved the Freewheeling granola bars!” – Veronica and Len T.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Follow a resurfaced former railbed from one end of PEI to the other.
- Enjoy traffic-free, easy cycling along 90% of the route.
- Ride paved bike paths along the stunning red sand beaches of PEI National Park.
- Experience warm Island hospitality at small, family-run inns.
- Visit the iconic East Point Lighthouse – yes, you can climb to the top!
- Savor exceptional cuisine and seafood, with a focus on farm-to-fork freshness.
- Discover charming cafés, restaurants, and galleries in picturesque villages along the way.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Click here to learn about our difficulty rating system.
Easy terrain and moderate distances, with gradual hills and a maximum elevation of just 130m. Most of the tour follows the smooth, car-free Confederation Trail through the island's interior, with limited sea views. Coastal cycling on the paved paths of PEI National Park is included on days four and five. Short shared-road sections connect trails, inns, and diversions, with transfers available if preferred.
Daily Distance:
- 1: Transfer to North Cape ~2.5hrs; North Cape to Mill River ~61km (+300m / -280m).
- 2: Mill River to Summerside ~72km (+280m / -300m).
- 3: Summerside to Victoria-by-the-Sea ~65km (+300m / -300m).
- 4: Kinkora to Cavendish ~37km (+260m / -275m).
- 5: Brackley Beach to Saint Peters Bay ~62km (+290m / -260m).
- 6: Saint Peters Bay to East Point ~54km (+250m / -270m).
(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: Charlottetown, PEI, The Great George 09:00, day one.
Finish: Charlottetown, PEI, The Great George 16:00, day six.
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:
Transfer to North Cape ~2.5hrs; North Cape to Mill River ~61km (+300m / -280m).
Morning meeting in Charlottetown for a transfer to North Cape. After bicycle introductions and familiarization, you will cycle approximately 13 km along a quiet road to the beginning of the Confederation Trail at Tignish. You may wish to extend the mileage today with a scenic coastal road ride to Kildare Cape, where the island's first European visitor, Jacques Cartier, remarked, 'The fairest land 'tis possible to see!'
Meal Inclusions: Lunch, Dinner.
Mill River Resort, Mill River.DAY 2:
Mill River to Summerside ~72km (+280m / -300m).
Ride south toward Tyne Valley, making time along the way for side trips to the MacAusland Woollen Mill in Bloomfield (in operation since 1870!) and the Potato Museum in O'Leary, which depicts the vital role this vegetable has played in the region's economy over the years. Finish your day in Summerside with a boardwalk stroll at Spinnaker's Landing, then explore nearby independent dining options.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.
The Boardwalk Inn; or The Loyalist Country Inn, Summerside.DAY 3:
Summerside to Victoria-by-the-Sea ~65km (+300m / -300m).
Start with a morning bike ride through Summerside where you can visit local shops and the waterfront boardwalk before continuing along the trail toward Kensington and Kinkora. From Kinkora you will continue pedaling down the spur line to see the Confederation Bridge – the world's longest bridge over ice-covered water. Further afternoon jaunts will lead you to Victoria-by-the-Sea, one of PEI's most charming fishing villages, featuring the Victoria Playhouse live theatre and Island Chocolates Company.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner.
Chez Shea Kinkora Country Inn, Kinkora; or OH Victoria Hotel, Victoria-by-the-Sea.DAY 4:
Kinkora to Cavendish ~37km (+260m / -275m).
Retrace your tracks to rejoin the trail at Emerald Junction. Follow the Dunk River valley to its confluence with Hunter River. After a 15-minute vehicle transfer to North Rustico, cycle the coastal pathway of PEI National Park to your inn at Cavendish, where you can visit the Green Gables Heritage Site. Be sure to pack your swimsuit, as the afternoon foray provides ample opportunity to enjoy some of PEI's finest beaches.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Kindred Spirits Inn & Cottages, Cavendish.DAY 5:
Brackley Beach to Saint Peters Bay ~62km (+290m / -260m).
The day's first destination is Brackley Beach, where you can begin riding the paved bike parkway east through PEI National Park. For a shorter ride, transfer directly to Tracadie to resume riding on the Confederation Trail. Either way, you will experience the most spectacular stretch of the Trail near St. Peter's, where it hugs the edge of the bay and crosses three rivers on old steel railway trestles. Save enough energy for a diversion from St. Peter's to Greenwich to see the floating boardwalk and magnificent sand dune beach. The sunsets here are spectacular!
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort; or Points East Coastal Inn; or Gateway to Greenwich Suites, Saint Peters Bay.DAY 6:
Saint Peters Bay to East Point ~54km (+250m / -270m).
Pedal through Harmony Junction and onward to Elmira, finishing at the railway museum that marks the end of the Confederation Trail. The afternoon begins with a picnic lunch, followed by a group ride to the East Point Lighthouse, 9 km away, and concludes with a transfer back to Charlottetown.
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:
Don't see what you want?
(Inclusions & pricing are listed below)
PRICING
Our tour costs are ALL IN, including fees & taxes.
Guided: C 4445 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, maps, route instructions, van and guide support, luggage handling, hybrid bicycle rental, 15% 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 3995 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, maps, route instructions, inn to inn luggage transfers, vehicle transfers as outlined in the itinerary, on-call support, hybrid bicycle rental, 15% 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.
Single Occupancy: Add C 1045
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.
Bike Rentals:
Hybrid: Included
Flat bars. Trek FX 3 or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag. Lowstep frames available by request.
Change to Road/Gravel: C 150
Drop bars. Trek Domane AL 5 Disc, or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag.
Change to E-bike: C 300
Flat bars. Trek Verve+ 2 or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag. Lowstep frames available by request.
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-September.
- 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.
- 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.
GET TO THE START
Meet in Charlottetown at the Rodd Charlottetown, 09:00 day one.
If you fly: Fly to Charlottetown (YYG). Charlottetown is a small city, and taxi trips from the airport to downtown are short (~$30).
If you drive: You can drive across Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick, or take the ferry from Nova Scotia to PEI, and can park in Charlottetown. It is 330km from Halifax, 1300km from New York, and 1700km from Toronto. Please ask if you would like suggestions for parking.
AFTER THE FINISH
Cycling finishes late afternoon on day six, after which you will be transferred back to Charlottetown by 17:00. Contact us for hotel recommendations if you plan to fly out the following morning.
BEFORE AND AFTER
If you have one day:
Explore Charlottetown on foot, with a walking tour. Attend the famous play, Anne of Green Gables. Rent a boat to explore Charlottetown Harbour.
If you’re shuttling back to Halifax with us, rent a car (we can drop you at Halifax airport on day 6), and visit Wolfville, from where you can experience the highest tides in the world by car or on a 4-hour hike, visit wineries in the Gaspereau Valley, or just enjoy the rural university town. You could also join us for a day trip kayaking on the South Shore, or rent a bike from our HQ and ride the Aspotogan loop.
If you have several days:
Extend your trip! Join one of our rides in Nova Scotia.
We recommend the following accommodations for before or after your tour; please ask if you would like our help with reservations:
In Charlottetown:
Small and Boutique accommodations:
• The Inns on Great George
• Cranford House
Larger Hotels:
• Hotel on Pownal
• Rodd Charlottetown Hotel
• Delta Prince Edward
• Quality Inn – Inn on the Hill
In Halifax:
• The Lord Nelson
• Prince George Hotel
• The Halliburton Inn
MORE READING
Prince Edward Island’s Confederation Trail follows the abandoned rail bed through fabulous pastoral landscapes. Originally constructed by a contractor who was paid by the mile, it follows an unusually circuitous route for 280km (174 miles) through many communities whose existence is mainly due to the old railroad. The cycling is relatively easy on flat and smooth, well-maintained crushed stone surfaces, and the distances are moderate. You will have many opportunities to leave the trail and explore surrounding towns and villages and will be delighted by the abundance of charming cafés, restaurants, and galleries along some sections of this idyllic ride.
You will bike PEI from one end to the other along The Confederation Trail, stopping to enjoy the beaches of PEI National Park before heading through rolling farmland to the picturesque East coast. The East Point lighthouse, superb dining, fabulous inns, blueberry farms, and some of the nicest long, deserted beaches you'll ever see, are the highlights of this trip. Come and discover the magic with us!
Trip history: A summer destination for generations of Atlantic Canadians, PEI’s beaches and warm waters make it a family favourite. Most FA staff are familiar with its secrets and charms. Until 1997 it could only be reached by ferry or air, which gave it an exotic, island cachet. There is now an 8-mile bridge connecting it to the mainland – good for farmers, and still of debatable merit to residents and summer visitors.