Wonders of the Maritimes & Scenic Cape Breton with Ocean Train to Montreal
Explore the world of Anne of Green Gables at Green Gables Heritage Place, visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck, and watch for read more whales along Canada's spectacular Atlantic coastline. From charming fishing villages and maritime traditions to rugged coastal scenery, this journey showcases the people, places, and flavors that define Eastern Canada.
Continue your adventure aboard VIA Rail's Ocean, the oldest continuously operated named passenger train in North America, for an overnight journey from Halifax to Montréal. Wake in Québec's largest city and discover its historic neighborhoods, vibrant culture, and French-Canadian heritage on an included hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour.
PLUS, this tour includes your choice of excursions in Halifax, so you can plan your day your way.
Itinerary
Welcome to Halifax!
At 6:00 p.m., meet your travel companions for a welcome drink.
Lighthouse Beams, Bites & Brews
Visit Peggy's Cove, one of Canada's most charming fishing villages. Enjoy a traditional Nova Scotian Breakfast. Then, venture to Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a walking tour with a Local Guide. Explore the quaint downtown, shop for souvenirs, or spend time at the Fisheries Museum to learn more about this major fishing port before returning to Halifax for a free evening.
Perhaps tour Alexander Keith's Brewery, which has been making the home-grown favorite since the early 1880s, or stroll the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, view the Tidal Beacon sculpture, and enjoy dinner in Queen's Marquee neighborhood.
LOCAL FAVORITE - Discover the tastes and traditions in the charming fishing village of Peggy's Cove to select from local specialties, including traditional Nova Scotian fish cakes. You'll find many magnificent views for taking photos of the famous lighthouse and panoramic sea views.
Nova Scotia Treats & Treasures
Take an orientation tour of Halifax, including the public gardens and harbor area. Before arriving in New Brunswick, stop at Sugar Moon Farm to enjoy a Maritime sugar camp lunch, along with a guided tour and traditional sugar camp treat. Spend the evening in Moncton, originally founded by a group of Acadians and then Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants from Philadelphia. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for the best way to spend your evening.
LOCAL FAVORITE - Indulge in the sweet tradition of Nova Scotian sugar shacks! Each year when maple syrup is produced, locals frequent “sugar shacks” for sweet treats and hearty meals that really stick to the ribs! Join a Maritime sugar camp lunch at Sugar Moon Farm in the woods of Nova Scotia and see why locals love it. True comfort food!
Low Tides & Local Treats
Travel to Hopewell Rocks for a guided tour and explore the dramatic sculpted landscape on the sea. Then, drive across 8-mile-long Confederation Bridge, the longest of its kind. Cross onto Prince Edward Island, stopping for a local treat at Cow's Ice Cream Factory before continuing to Charlottetown. Tonight, enjoy a lobster supper at a local restaurant this evening.
LOCAL FAVORITE - For more than 150 years, Prince Edward Island lobster fishers have been waking up before dawn to set their traps and haul in the sea's bounty of delicious, red-shelled crustaceans to share with guests around the world. More than one thousand hearty island lobster fishers continue the tradition today out of more than 40 ports to share these sea treasures as they have for generations. Put on your lobster bib and get your butter ready to dive into a cracking good feast!
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Discover the ever-changing seascape on the beaches of Hopewell Rocks. Learn about the highest and wildest tides in the world, which rise and fall up to 52 feet each day. Time and tide have carved from the cliffs and coves of distinctive sandstone formations topped with trees.
Folk Songs & Sand Dunes
A tour of the island includes a drive to the fishing port of North Rustico Harbour to learn about lobster fishing, a visit to the sand dunes and beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park, and a tour of the Green Gables Heritage Place with a Local Guide. Later, enjoy lunch and local music at Prince Edward Island Preserve Company.
Enjoy free time in Charlottetown for the rest of the day to explore on your own. Wander through downtown and discover colorful heritage buildings, unique boutiques, inviting patios, and a vibrant waterfront that blends history with modern maritime charm.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Visit the world of a red-headed girl in a straw hat and braids to meet one of Canada's most loved fictional characters, Anne of Green Gables. Relive her mischievous escapades and mishaps within the nostalgic rooms of her home at Green Gables – where local author Lucy Maud Montgomery drew inspiration from the idyllic woodland farmstead.
Inventions of New Scotland
This morning, board a ferry that whisks you across the Northumberland Strait, from Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia. Arrive in Caribou and continue to Baddeck on Cape Breton Island. Often called the “Scotland of North America,” the scenic journey transitions from sandy beaches and rolling hills to rugged highlands and quaint fishing villages. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site and learn about the famous inventor.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Explore the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, where fascinating exhibits trace the life and achievements of the iconic inventor of the telephone who spent his last years on Cape Breton Island.
Legendary Landscapes
Travel along the Cabot Trail, considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. Proceed along the coast, savoring magnificent vistas of the rocky shoreline and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Enter Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a landscape that strikingly resembles Scottish coastal regions.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Discover one of Canada's most enchanting natural landscapes by the sea, where the mountains meet the ocean in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. As you hug the world-famous Cabot Trail coastline you'll wind through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where lush, forested river canyons carve into the ancient plateau, edged by rust-hued cliffs. Keep an eye out for wonderful wildlife that lives here, including moose, bald eagles, minks, or even pilot whales breaking the surface of the Gulf of St. Lawrence!
Spend Your Day Your Way in Halifax
Cross over the Canso Causeway and continue across Nova Scotia to Halifax.
Explore more of Halifax with your choice of included Globus Choice Excursions.
- TALL SHIPS - Raise the sails for a fun afternoon aboard a historic three-masted schooner in the world's second-largest natural harbor. Enjoy the scenic sailing cruise and views of important Halifax landmarks from the water, including Georges Island National Historic Site, the lively waterfront, Citadel Hill, and scenic Northwest Arm.
- MARITIME HISTORY - Immerse yourself in the area's rich maritime heritage with a self-guided visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Continue to Citadel Hill for a guided visit and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site to tour the early 19th-century star-shaped fort. Learn from the military interpreters and stroll on the tree-shaded walks of the public gardens, ending the afternoon in the harbor area, evoking the port's former strategic importance.
Tonight, join your Tour Director and new friends at a farewell dinner—the perfect finale to your Maritimes vacation.
All Aboard in Halifax!
This afternoon, wave goodbye to your Tour Director and Driver and board VIA Rail's Ocean train. Experience the mighty St. Lawrence River, Matapedia Valley and Bay de Chaleur, as well as the landscape of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia enroute to Québec's largest city, Montréal, in the comfort of a private Sleeper Plus car.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - VIA: Rail's The Ocean is ideal for visiting Québec and Atlantic Canada. Travel in superior comfort in Sleeper Plus class, with large windows to admire passing landscapes. Enjoy maritime ambiance, elegant table settings, and refined service for breakfast and a 3-course dinner in the Dining Car.
Fit for a Queen
Morning arrival into Montréal for a 2-night stay in the historic world-renowned Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Enjoy a hop-on/hop-off sightseeing tour of the city. During leisure time, discover excellent dining, lively nightspots, and charming boutiques and galleries. Visit Notre Dame Basilica, stroll the historic streets of Old Montréal, or try your luck at the Casino de Montréal.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Enjoy a 2-night stay in the luxurious ambiance of Montréal's Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Located near Montréal's legendary Sainte-Catherine Street, galleries, and shopping venues, you'll find extraordinary comfort and first-class service in this historic hotel in the heart of downtown Montréal.
Magical Montréal
Full free day to explore Montréal on your own.
ENHANCED FREE TIME - Explore more in Montréal with a free day to discover the tastes and traditions of this French-Canadian city. Explore one of Canada's great cultural centers where the traditional Québécois style is celebrated along its cobblestone streets and grand buildings in European flair. See the Basilique Notre-Dame with its stunning stained glass, and the Plateau Mont-Royal with spectacular views of Vieux-Montréal.
Au revoir and safe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Trip Inclusions
- Guided sightseeing in Halifax, including the Public Gardens and historic harbor
- Visit to Peggy's Cove and enjoy a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Lunenburg, including a [LF] traditional Nova Scotian breakfast
- Lunch and visit to [LF] Sugar Moon Farm sugar shack to learn about Nova Scotia's maple syrup traditions
- Guided sightseeing at Hopewell Rocks, famous for the dramatic Bay of Fundy tides that sculpt its towering rock formations
- Visit to Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island National Park, known for its red-sand beaches, dunes, and coastal scenery
- Traditional [LF] lobster dinner at a local restaurant on Prince Edward Island
- Guided tour of Green Gables Heritage Place, the inspiration for Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved Anne of Green Gables
- Visit to Baddeck, Cape Breton and the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site to discover the life and innovations of one of the world's greatest inventors
- Travel along the Cabot Trail, one of North America's most scenic coastal drives
- Visit to Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where dramatic cliffs, forests, and ocean vistas define the landscape
- Globus Choice Excursion in Halifax: choose one –guided visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and Citadel or a tall ship sailing cruise on Halifax Harbour
- Rail journey aboard VIA Rail's Ocean, traveling through the scenic landscapes of Atlantic Canada en route to Montéal
- Narrated trolley tour of Montréal, exploring the city's historic neighborhoods, landmarks, and French-Canadian heritage
- Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
- Halifax: Westin Nova Scotian (Superior First-Class):
This deluxe hotel is equipped with full service fitness center, on site spa, business center, as well as a restaurant and lounge. Nourish your soul in the Halifax Restaurant Elements, featuring locally inspired Nova Scotia Cuisine and wines, and awarded with a Wine Spectator Award. In the summer enjoy outdoor patio seating in the lounge. A local shuttle is available complimentary to guests at select times of the day. - Moncton: Delta Hotels Beausejour (First-Class):
Fine Downtown Hotel situated in city center near shops. - Charlottetown: Delta Prince Edward (Superior First-Class):
This elegant hotel is beautifully situated in the heart of Charlottetown on the Prince Edward Island and features spacious guestrooms refined dining, and ultimate comfort. The amenities include a fitness center, concierge services, laundry services, and large indoor pool. - Baddeck: Silver Dart Lodge (Moderate First-Class):
Two-story Motor Hotel on spacious grounds at western boundary of village, overlooking Bras d'Or Lake. - Montreal: Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel (Superior First-Class):
Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, the hotel reflects the city's elegance and charm and has welcomed dignitaries and celebrities alike in its 60 year history. The hotel has an indoor pool, hot tub, spa, fitness center, gift shops, hair salon, several award winning restaurants, lounge, room service, business center, concierge service, and Internet access.
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
- 2027: Enjoy spectacular fall colors on our Fall Foliage departures: September 18 - October 2 (Mother Nature permitting).
- Due to the frequent use of this railroad for other services, delays may occur during the journey.
- Guests should be prepared for easy but sustained walking throughout the tour. Guests with mobility concerns may experience uneven surfaces specifically for ferry loading and unloading, and limited access to passenger amenities on board certain vessels.
Globus includes all must-see sites, with special VIP access that lets you skip to the front of the queue. Read more
Globus has the recipe for a great holiday. Savour the flavours of Canada & Alaska through its regional cuisine. Read more
Travel with expert Tour Directors and Local Guides who share their vast knowledge of Canada & Alaska. Read more
Globus' selection of hotels in unforgettable places ensure you stay right in the heart of each destination. Read more
Globus' coaches offer one of the most comfortable, stress-free and eco-friendly ways to travel. Read more
Do as the locals do and enjoy unique experiences that you wouldn't find touring on your own. Read more
Dates & Pricing
Welcome Back Credit
GJ Loyalty Discount
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Globus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
