Canada, Prince Edward Island: Island Walking Tour
Five nights; six days. Easy trail and beach walking, including parts of the Confederation Trail and PEI National Park beaches.
“You are a first-class organisation. I’ll definitely be joining you again!” – Margaret L
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Rolling farmland, and the red sand beaches of PEI National Park.
- Long beachcombing walks and salty swims.
- Sections of the Confederation Trail.
- Greenwich Dunes and the floating boardwalk
- Basin Head, Blackbush Island, and Tracadie Beach
- Anne of Green Gables highlights – the musical, and places in the novels. (offered in 2024!)
- PEI is famous for having a very relaxed summertime atmosphere.
- Exceptional cuisine and seafood, including farm to fork, and Malpeque oysters.
- Cafés, restaurants, and galleries along some sections.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Daily Distance:
- DAY 1: Walking tour Charlottetown
- DAY 2: ~23km
- DAY 3: ~19km
- DAY 4: ~19km
- DAY 5: ~19km
- DAY 6: ~9km to ~12km
Prince Edward Island: Island Walking Tour – Elevation Profile
(Click image to enlarge)
PEI: Island Walking Tour
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 George13:00, day one.
Finish: Charlottetown, PEI, The Great George17:00, day six.
Please contact us to arrange alternate plans, if necessary.
Charlottetown & Introductions.
Start in Charlottetown, where in 1864, a small group of leaders from the maritime areas of what is now Canada and Northeastern US met to discuss the formation of a new country. For guided tours, you will learn more about their success on an interpretive walk in the city’s historic center. Enjoy an early dinner in Charlottetown, and consider stopping into Confederation Centre of the Arts which features local artisans as part of their chic decor. If scheduling allows, attend one of the several theatre performances offered; tickets can be limited and should be purchased when you reserve your trip. D (meal inclusions provided for guided tours only; self-guided tours include breakfasts only)
The Great George, or, The Hotel on Pownal, Charlottetown.
Cavendish Beach to North Rustico & The Homestead Trail ~23km.
Begin with a half-hour morning transfer out of Charlottetown. Hike the Gulf Shore Parkway along Cavendish Beach past Orby Head to the seaside hamlet of North Rustico – a good spot for lunch on the wharf. Enjoy the boardwalk overlooking North Rustico Harbour, then transfer 10 minutes to the Homestead Trail – a 10km pastoral walk that takes you back to your inn. BLD
Kindred Spirits Inn & Cottages, Cavendish.
Brackley Beach, Stanhope Beach & Robinson’s Island ~19km.
15-minute morning transfer, to start your day walking the loop trail at Robinson’s Island, and frolicking on the empty beach if you like! Afterwards, follow the beaches on the sand or the paved parallel trail of PEI National Park along Brackley and Stanhope beaches toward your iconic inn, stopping for lunch at Original Richard’s Seafood or the Dunes Café. BD
Dalvay-by-the-Sea, Dalvay.
Blackbush Island Tide Walk & Confederation Trail ~19km.
Walk along the beach to the fabulous Blackbush Island Tide Walk this morning – one of the most scenic trails in PEI. This challenging 8 km trail at Tracadie Beach leads you through some of the oldest and largest sand dunes in the PEI National Park. Blackbush is the local name for the ‘grand dune’ that protects the region’s shoreline, rising from and fending off the waters of the Atlantic, creating a one-of-a-kind environment that is home to rare species of birds and animals, and protected by Prince Edward Island National Park.
Have a quick seafood lunch at the Fish Factory, then a short transfer takes you to walk the Confederation Trail along the shore of St. Peter’s Bay, from St. Peter’s Harbour through Morrell to St. Peter’s. This is considered the most scenic stretch of the entire Confederation Trail, and you can walk all the way to your inn, a short walk from Rick’s seafood restaurant. BD
Points East Coastal Inn, or Gateway to Greenwich Suites, St. Peter’s.
Greenwich Beach & Dunes ~19km.
A 10-minute transfer takes you to a remote beach from where you can walk along the beautifully empty strand into Greenwich Dunes National Park, home to floating boardwalks and amazing beaches – a highlight of the whole north coast. BLD
Same lodging.
Bothwell Beach, Singing Sands & Little Harbour Beach ~9km to ~12km.
A short transfer takes you to the lighthouse at East Point, then to Bothwell Beach for a one-way walk on Singing Sands 4km to Basin Head. There is a café and a fisheries museum, as well as a wonderful opportunity for bridge jumping! Afterwards, enjoy a final walk along Little Harbour Beach and Black Pond bird sanctuary, then transfer 45-minutes back Charlottetown. BL
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SCHEDULED DATES
2024 Guided:
- Jun 23-28
- Jul 28-Aug 2
- Aug 18-23
Self-Guided available any dates, except for those listed above and for any start dates between July 1-8. New dates are also welcomed for guided or private departures.
PRICING
Guided: C 3845 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, guide support, ground transportation, luggage handling, maps and route instructions, 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 3365 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, ground transportation, luggage handling, maps and route instructions, 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: 845
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 date, this usually comes at a surcharge depending on the details, please get in touch for more information. If you prefer self-guided, we usually only require two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and can sometimes reduce prices for you if you have four or more.
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 Great George hotel, 13:00 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).
Second option: Fly to Halifax (YHZ) and meet us the day before your tour begins at the airport or your inn for a transfer (four hours) to Charlottetown with the Freewheeling shuttle. Halifax’s downtown core is located about half an hour from its airport. Taxis are readily available; Maritime Bus offers an airport express shuttle ($40
roundtrip or $22 one way); and Halifax Transit provides hourly departures on its MetroX bus service ($4.25 fare). You will need lodging in Charlottetown the night before the tour. Call us if you need help with this.
Either way, you will need lodging in Charlottetown the night before the tour. We can book something for you if you like.
If you drive: You can drive across Confederation Bridge to PEI, and can park in Charlottetown. It is 330km from Halifax, 1300km from New York, and 1700km from Toronto. Let us know if you would like suggestions for parking.
FINISH
Finish late afternoon on day six, in Charlottetown. If you book the Freewheeling shuttle to Nova Scotia, you will arrive back in Halifax by 21:00. 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.
We recommend the following accommodations for before or after your tour:
In Charlottetown:
Small and Boutique accommodations:
• The Inns on Great George
• Cranford House
• Shipwright Inn
• The Hillhurst Inn
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 beaches form a large part of its coastal perimeter – a halo of soft sand lapped by what are known as the “warmest waters north of the Carolinas”. This adventure introduces you to the island’s best coastlines, and allows you plenty of time to enjoy them, with long beach-combing walks, plenty of solitude, and refreshing dips in the waves as often as you like. There is some inland walking, along the best sections of the Confederation Trail – a former rail line revived as a hiking and biking trail way, through farmland, forest, and wildflower meadows. If you liked the “Anne of Green Gables” story, you will be delighted with the opportunities to see your reflection in the enchanted bookcase, gaze across the Lake of Shining Waters, and visit many of the landscapes that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery. We bet you will be similarly inspired by the beauty, reveling in the summer attractions of land, sea, and air that lure us to Prince Edward Island year after year.
