Ashlea House

Canada's Maritime Magic

Wildlife & Nature Culture & History + 1 more + 2 more

Big skies, coastal charm & Canadian hospitality.

18 days

from £3,990 pp

including flights

Western Canada Highlights

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

Waterfalls, glaciers and outdoor adventures from Vancouver to Banff.

12 days

from £4,595 pp

including flights

Alaskan Cruise & Rocky Mountaineer

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

Two epic journeys, one unforgettable holiday by rail and sea.

15 days

from £6,995 pp

including flights

Canadian Icons

Family Classic + 2 more + 3 more

Canada's greatest hits in one self-drive holiday.

14 days

from £5,795 pp

including flights

Newfoundland and Labrador Grand Tour

Walking Off-the-beaten-track + 1 more + 2 more

Drive Newfoundland’s wild coastline from St. John’s to Quirpon.

20 days

from £3,995 pp

including flights

Ontario Explorer

Family Classic + 2 more + 3 more

Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara Falls & scenic roadtripping through Ontario’s countryside.

13 days

from £3,495 pp

including flights

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Canada

Nova Scotia South Shore - Ideas for Free Time

As you depart or approach Halifax along this route make sure you have your camera to hand. Just outside the city the frequently photographed lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove is one of the most iconic features of this area, whilst in picturesque Mahone Bay, three classic churches frame the waterfront and the narrow streets are dotted with art galleries and cafes. In Lunenburg the rich heritage is depicted on interpretation boards scattered between the old wooden structures and this is a great place for an afternoon’s wander. Here you will find a selection of maritime influenced arts and craft shops and the deceptively large Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic offering a fascinating insight in to life at sea. Amongst the many lighthouses you will see, it’s worth stopping at Fort Point Lighthouse Park, near Liverpool. The lighthouse is a Provincial Heritage Property and the surrounding park has interpretive panels and beautiful views of Liverpool Harbour and Coffin Island Lighthouse.

Eastern Bay of Fundy - Ideas for Free Time

The rolling fertile fields of the Annapolis Valley provide excellent growing conditions for over 20 types of grape and the wine industry is flourishing in this area. There are many vineyards that have open cellar where you can enjoy tastings and Wolfville is a great base from which to explore some of them. The town itself is quite pretty, overlooking Cape Blomidon, and home to many beautiful gardens. The Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens in the grounds of the University of Acadia showcases native flora of the Acadian forest region, alongside several walking trails through the leafy campus. Nearby Grand Pre National Historic commemorates the Acadian settlers and those subsequently deported throughout the late 1600s and early to mid 1700s, This is seen by many as the ancestral home of the Acadian culture and so it offers an interesting and poignant insight in to the life and times of those who chose to make Nova Scotia their home. If you enjoy feeling like an intrepid explorer then the area at the head of the Bay of Fundy, east of Wolfville, is a brilliant place to visit, with one of the most exciting and dynamic tidal coastlines in the world. Indeed Burntcoat Head Park is home to the world’s highest recorded tides. Here you will find a small lighthouse and interpretative centre and at low tide can walk out on to the basin floor and look for interesting fossils and shells on the seabed. Almost directly across the Minas Basin, on the north shore just east of Parrsboro, you can view the tides from a different perspective at Five Island Provincial Park where 300 foot cliffs tower over the bay. A number of trails lead to viewpoints as well as down to the muddy sea floor which you can explore at low tide.

Zodiac Whale Watch Tour

This is an adventurous half day zodiac trip which whisks you out on to the Bay of Fundy to look for a range of whales that feed here – minke, humpback and fin are the most commonly seen, and if you’re particularly lucky in late summer the endangered North Atlantic right whale can also be spotted. The group is joined by an ocean biologist who will explain the marine environment and its inhabitants whilst keeping a watchful eye out for these magnificent creatures. You will be out on the water for between two and a half and three and a half hours. The trip departs from Tiverton, which is about a 45 minute drive west of Digby and involves a short ferry crossing. Ferries depart every hour on the hour and cannot be pre-booked.

Kejimkujik National Park - Ideas for Free Time

Kejimkujik National Park comes in two parts: the main, inland, 381 square kilometre wilderness which is largely untouched and indeed mostly inaccessible unless on foot or in a kayak; and the seaside adjunct, which is located just south of Liverpool. Most hire cars are not permitted along the 6.5 kilometre access road to the Adjunct therefore the main park offers the best opportunity to stretch the legs for those just passing through. The park is steeped in the heritage and legends of the aboriginal Mi’knaw people and this vast area of old growth forest hides treasures of carvings and petroglyphs alongside beautiful lakes and wetland habitats. Here you will find a great selection of walks, from a short wander to challenging multi-day hikes though this immense wilderness. You can also hire kayaks or canoes and paddle along the backwaters or out on to impressive Kejimkujik Lake. Parks Canada can arrange guided tours; information and maps can be found at the visitor centre at Maitland Bridge

Three Sisters Kayaking Tour

The coastline along Cape Chignecto Provincial Park offers a spectacular, wild and unspoiled landscape, with towering cliffs, natural arches and rock spires. Exploring from the water is the perfect way to soak up the splendour of the scenery, and this full day kayaking excursion will enable you to see the bay from a different perspective. You will paddle around some of the fascinating rock structures, including the famous Three Sisters, and stop at a pristine beach for a bite to eat. Along the way your guide will share knowledge on the geology and ecology of the bay, whilst also looking for a variety of bird and marine wildlife. You will be out on the water for around three hours and whilst a basic level of fitness is required the use of double kayaks makes paddling quite easy and suitable for beginners.