The Viking Trail Experience

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Travelers visit Newfoundland for many reasons, among them the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the first Viking settlers and explorers. This trip along the Viking Trail starts and ends in Deer Park, Newfoundland, where there is easy access to the UNESCO site of Gros Morne National Park and its land locked fjords. We will also visit L'Anse aux Meadows, North America's only known Norse settlement and another UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as Red Bay, the Labrador home to over 1,500 Basque whalers during the 1540s. We are sure to see an abundance of wildlife, old homesteads, wild flowers and birds as we walk in the footsteps of the Vikings on this unique vacation.

Day 1, Sunday: Arrival

Arrive Deer Lake airport, transfer to hotel. We begin our trip with an early evening light hike in the UNESCO World Heritage site Gros Morne Park, a region rich with moose, waterfalls, orchids, mountains, songbirds, and wildflowers.

O/N Gros Morne

Day 2, Monday: Gros Morne

This morning is spent in the park with an easy hike to the Western Brook Pond where we board our boat for 2.5 hour trip along the land locked fjords and a billion years of geology. On the return, we will spend time looking for orchids, carnivorous plants and perhaps spot moose and caribou. After lunch, we will walk along the beaches where there are sand dunes, wonderful scenery and perhaps a moose. The area offers old fishing villages and unique lighthouses. B,L

O/N Gros Morne

Day 3, Tuesday: Gros Morne -- Tablelands

Our journey today takes us to the center of the Earth, or more precisely, the Tablelands. This is an area where 80 square kilometers of the Earth's mantle has been shoved up onto the land from deep beneath the ocean. This region features a unique collection of plants including high arctic species, southern mountain top varieties, and carnivorous plants that are tolerant of the heavy metal rocks thrust up from deep inside the planet. B,L

O/N Gros Morne

Day 4, Wednesday: Labrador

Early departure from Gros Morne Park will take us along the Viking Trail highway to the Labrador ferry. Enroute we will visit The Arches, dramatic geological limestone tunnels carved by the ocean. During the ferry ride we are almost guaranteed to see whales, puffins, seals, seabirds and icebergs! We will have an opportunity to sample Labrador's famous berries and seafood as we settle in for the night in L'Anse-au-Clair. B,L

O/N L’Anse-au-Clair

Day 5, Thursday: Red Bay

Today we visit Red Bay, the whaling capital of the world during the 16th century. Around 1500, this little-known part of North America had a population of over 1500 European people whereas areas like Boston and New York were still wilderness. Visiting the interpretation center you will see original wills, ships' manifest and ships' memorabilia which are some the new world's first written documents. Another highlight is the oldest burial mound in North America — older than the pyramids. The Labrador Straits are rich with birds of prey, wild flowers and the Canada's second largest light house. Along the dramatic shore we will watch whales and seals from the coast. B,L

O/N L’Anse-au-Clair

Day 6, Friday: Labrador Straits

Departing Labrador by ferry back to Newfoundland, we will see an abundant number of seabirds, whales, seals and lighthouses as we travel along the coast. On arrival in St. Barbe, we go on to L'Anse aux Meadows to visit the only authenticated Viking site in North America. The site sometimes features reenactments in a great sod covered hall overlooking the headlands where Leif Ericson stood over 10 centuries ago. B,L

O/N St. Anthony

Day 7, Saturday: St. Anthony

Today there is time to do some exploring of St. Anthony's, a former staging point for early explorers attempting to get to the North Pole. Sled dogs were given shelter and supplies were purchased before explorers left for their next adventure. We will continue on to Deer Lake for our last overnight. B,L

O/N Corner Brook

Day 8, Sunday: Depart
If your time permits before you depart, you can explore some of the Corner Brook area before going to Deer Park airport and on to your modern-day home. B

Date Information

2012

Trip 1: June 3 - 10
Trip 2: June 10 - 17
Trip 3: June 24 - July 1
Trip 4: July 8 - 15
Trip 5: July 15 - 22
Trip 6: July 29 - August 5
Trip 7:August 12 - 19
Trip 8: September 9 - 16

Rate Information

Price: $2,800* CAD based on double occupancy. Single supplement $300 CAD.

Price includes transfers, all ground transportation, accommodations for seven nights, meals as indicated, services of guide and all boat/ferry passes. Price does not include: air from your home to Newfoundland, items of personal nature, and tips.

*6.5 per cent (13 per cent for Canadians) Canada/Newfoundland Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) not included. Prices can be changed to USD at final payment.

Please contact our office for details.