The Viking Trail

 

Gros Morne	Ocean View Motel	3 nights
L'Anse-au-Claire	Northern Light Inn	2 nights
St. Anthony	Vinland Motel	1 night
Corner Brook	Glynmill Inn	1 night

Click on the name of the hotel or motel for details

9 days £1990

excluding international flights

Journey through time on an itinerary that will teach you about the birth of a continent and the death of an ocean. Walk in the footsteps of the New World's first peoples and explore the home of the first Viking explorers. This exciting holiday starts and ends in Deer Lake, Newfoundland, and explores the nature and geology of Gros Morne National Park - a United Nations World Heritage Site. L'Anse aux Meadows, North America's only known Viking settlement and Red Bay, the Labrador home of over 1,000 Basque whalers during the 1540s, is also a highlight of this unique holiday. The tour also features the northern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains, a visit to the Grenfell Interpretation Centre, lots of birds and wildlife, plus a short journey to the "centre of the earth." Enjoy Newfoundlanders, their culture, and their landscape on this unforgettable trip.

DAY 1 - Arrive Deer Lake. Continue to Gros Morne.

Recommended flight from London: Air Canada from London Heathrow via Halifax, Nova Scotia. On arrival at Deer Lake Airport you will be met by a representative of World Discovery who will take you to your hotel in Rocky Harbour, Gros Morne National Park. Tonight there will be a welcome dinner. If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.
Meals included: Dinner.

DAY 2 - Gros Morne National Park.

This World Discovery tour is in conjunction with a Newfoundland-based company who specialise in organising small group itineraries led by expert naturalists. Today begins with Gros Morne National Park, which provides one of the world's great geology lessons. As Prince Edward noted, "What the Galapagos are to biology, Gros Morne is to geology." Hence, its United Nations World Heritage Site designation. This morning you will travel to Western Brook Pond (pictured) for a two and a half hour boat journey through a billion years of geological history. The afternoon features beaches, dunes, spectacular scenery, and opportunities for sighting caribou and moose.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 3 - The Tablelands.

Today you will travel to the 'centre of the Earth'. More specifically, we visit the Tablelands where an 80 square kilometre slab of the Earth's mantle has been shoved up on land from deep beneath the ocean floor. Some scientists say the Tablelands more closely resemble the surface of the moon than the rest of the Earth.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 4 - Ferry to Labrador.

Today you will take the 'Viking Trail' north to St. Barbe and the Labrador ferry. En route you also visit The Arches (pictured left), where the ocean has carved tunnels in the limestone rocks. The ferry ride may require an early rise but is a holiday highlight with whales, seals, icebergs, puffins, and pelagic seabirds all commonly seen (100 per cent average so far). This is a local service and the schedule can be influenced by weather and other factors, but based on previous years of experience, it is likely you will have a relaxing and memorable drive with time to watch for wildlife and wildflowers.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 5 - Labrador.

Today you will visit Red Bay - the whaling 'Capital of the World' in the 16th century. This little-known part of North America had a population of over 500 European people when areas like Boston and New York were still wilderness. You will visit the interpretation centre and, weather permitting, catch a boat ride to the actual dig site where we explore the trails walked by the Basques almost five centuries ago. The New World's first written documents originated here in the form of ships' manifests, whalers' wills and other poignant reminders of the past, all carefully preserved. You will also visit Canada's second tallest lighthouse at Point Amour. Another highlight is the oldest burial mound in North America - older than the pyramids of Giza. The entire Labrador Straits area is rich in birds of prey, wild flowers, and fossils. Everyone with a camera will want to try to capture the sweeping seascapes and the dramatic colours the sea itself takes on in this wild place.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 6 - Return to Newfoundland.

This morning you will drive to Blanc Ablon (Quebec) to take the ferry back to Newfoundland. Icebergs (pictured left) are often seen, especially in June and early July. Once we arrive in St. Barbe we travel to L'Anse aux Meadows - the only authenticated Viking site in North America. From here we can look out at Belle Isle. This is the North American extreme of the Appalachians. The ground where you stand (and where the Vikings stood 10 centuries ago) is the most northerly portion of Appalachia.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 7 - St. Anthony. Port au Choix.

Explore St. Anthony for an hour or two before returning to Deer Lake and on to Corner Brook for the night. St. Anthony on the northern tip of Newfoundland was the staging point for many northern expeditions. Arctic explorers used its sheltered harbour to take on sled dogs and other supplies as the world raced for the North Pole. Another St. Anthony highlight is the Grenfell Interpretation Centre. In 1892 a young English doctor visited St. Anthony and founded the Grenfell Mission in order to bring medical aid to the native and fishing families along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Visit the interpretation centre that tells the inspiring story of Dr. Grenfell - friend to Kings and Presidents - and visit his actual home. Step back to the early days of the 20th century and enjoy the tales of dog teams, hardships, courage, and innovation that surrounded Dr. Grenfell. You will also stop to explore the Maritime Archaic Indian exhibit at Port au Choix National Historic Park. This is the last archaeological site visited on this holiday which is considered by some experts to be North America's most diverse archaeological adventure. Learn about the art and artifacts of these ancient Newfoundlanders.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 8 - Depart for home.

Free in Corner Brook until your afternoon transfer to Deer Lake Airport for the flight home.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 9 - Arrive home.

Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.

NB. The order of sightseeing may be changed to accommodate the weather or other unavoidable circumstances.

International Flights.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Deer Lake. We recommend the services of Air Canada from London Heathrow, via Halifax, Nova Scotia. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Halifax. Depart at 12.05; arrive Halifax at 14.40
Halifax/Deer Lake. Depart at 18.10; arrive Deer Lake at 19.53
Deer Lake/Halifax. Depart at 20.25; arrive Halifax at 21.12
Halifax/Heathrow. Depart at 23.35; arrive Heathrow at 09.35 (next day)

Newfoundland Tours: Newfoundland Viking Trail (Tour Reference: WDCA042)
2013 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Departures on Sundays	Price
2, 9, 23 Jun; 7, 14, 28 Jul; 11 Aug; 8 Sep	£1990

Single Room Supplement: £200.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded or single rooms with private facilities.
• 7 full breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• All transfers and sightseeing as shown, including entrance fees.
• The services of a naturalist guide/tour leader throughout.
• 6.5% HST Tax (Newfoundland Government Tax).
  

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• International airport taxes.
• Optional sightseeing.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Newfoundland and Labrador tour must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.