Peggy’s Cove: Coastal Trails, Ocean & Great Tables
This is the Nova Scotia most travellers picture—but rarely experience this way.
The South Shore is not dramatic in the way of the Bay of Fundy or the Cape Breton Highlands. Its power is cumulative—built from granite headlands worn smooth by the Atlantic, working waterfronts that have looked much the same for two centuries, and a coastline that rewards the traveller willing to move slowly and look closely. Over four days, you’ll do exactly that.
You’ll hike exposed coastal trails above the open ocean, paddle the sheltered waters around Blue Rocks by sea kayak, head offshore by zodiac along the cliffs and sea caves of the South Shore, and pass through Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg—three of Atlantic Canada’s most distinctive coastal communities. Each evening, the pace shifts naturally toward the table.
This journey is fully all-inclusive from pickup to return: every meal, every activity, all accommodations, and all ground transportation are covered. There is nothing to coordinate and no reason to reach for your wallet. Your role is simply to be present.
What’s included—everything
All-inclusive means exactly that. From the moment you’re picked up in Halifax to your return, the following are fully covered:
- All ground transportation throughout the journey
- 3 nights’ accommodation in carefully selected coastal inns and boutique properties
- All meals—breakfasts daily, all lunches, and three dinners including the Shore Club lobster supper
- All guided activities: coastal hiking, sea kayaking, zodiac coastal experience, and visits to The Ovens Natural Park
- Dedicated local guide for the full duration
No hidden costs, no optional add-ons, no awkward wallet moments. Everything is arranged in advance and handled throughout.
What sets this journey apart
- Explore Nova Scotia’s most iconic coastline—Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, and beyond
- Hike the Gaff Point Trail, one of the province’s most rewarding coastal routes
- Take to the water on a zodiac coastal experience with Expeditions Nova Scotia
- Paddle the sheltered waters of Blue Rocks by sea kayak
- Discover hidden coastal landscapes on a lesser-known hike near Peggy’s Cove
- Visit The Ovens Natural Park, where sea caves cut into the coastline
- Enjoy a classic lobster supper at The Shore Club in Hubbards, with live music
- Finish with the Castle Rock Trail, offering sweeping views over Chester Basin
- Stay in carefully selected inns and boutique properties that reflect the character of the region
- Travel in small, intimate groups—never coach-style—with a dedicated guide for every 6 guests
Guided by someone who knows this coast deeply
Your journey is led by a guide born and raised in Atlantic Canada—someone for whom the South Shore isn’t a destination but a known and well-travelled home ground. That familiarity shapes the entire experience.
The South Shore rewards those who know where to look. The well-known stops—Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg—are worth seeing, but your guide knows the trails that bypass the crowds, the coastal viewpoints that don’t appear on maps, and the rhythm of a working waterfront that most visitors never quite access. The difference between a guided journey and a self-drive trip often comes down to a single question: who do you know here? Your guide is the answer to that.
Groups travel with a maximum of 8 guests per guide—intentionally small, so the experience stays personal and the pace remains yours.
Day By Day
Day 1 — Peggy’s Cove & a Classic Coastal Welcome
Halifax → Peggy’s Cove → South Shore
Depart Halifax and travel the Lighthouse Route toward Peggy’s Cove, where wave-worn granite meets the Atlantic in one of the most photographed—and genuinely striking—landscapes in Canada. Take time to walk the shoreline before moving beyond the viewpoint and into the terrain itself.
A lesser-known coastal hike near Peggy’s Cove follows—quieter, more immersive, and a better introduction to what the South Shore actually feels like when you step off the main path. Open rock, ocean views, and space to move at your own pace.
By late afternoon, arrive at your accommodation along the South Shore.
ACCOMMODATION
A carefully selected coastal inn or boutique property, chosen for its setting and sense of place. Confirmed at booking.
DINNER
The Shore Club lobster supper in Hubbards—a traditional Nova Scotia institution with a long-standing reputation, live music, and the kind of welcome that only a place like this can offer. It’s a fitting first evening on the South Shore.
Day 2 — Lunenburg, Blue Rocks & Coastal Waters
Mahone Bay → Lunenburg → Blue Rocks
Begin the day in Mahone Bay and Lunenburg—two communities that look like the South Shore at its most itself. Colourful buildings, working waterfronts, and a maritime history that isn’t staged for visitors. Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the designation is earned: this is what a working fishing town actually looks like.
From here, shift from land to water. Set out from Blue Rocks on a guided sea kayaking experience, paddling through quiet inlets and around small islands in the sheltered waters just beyond Lunenburg. It’s a slower, more immersive way to experience a coastline that rewards exactly that kind of attention—close to the water, shaped by the rhythm of the ocean, and well away from the road.
The afternoon allows time to explore Lunenburg at a relaxed pace before heading to the evening.
ACCOMMODATION
A coastal inn or boutique property along the South Shore, selected for character and proximity to the day’s experiences. Confirmed at booking.
DINNER
A carefully chosen evening meal—fresh seafood, local ingredients, and a setting that reflects the South Shore’s character rather than its tourist trade.
Day 3 — Gaff Point & the Open Coast
Gaff Point → The Ovens Natural Park → Zodiac Experience
Today is your most active and immersive day—three different ways of experiencing the coast, each one revealing something the others can’t.
Set out on the Gaff Point Trail, one of Nova Scotia’s most rewarding coastal hikes. The route moves through forest before opening onto exposed headlands with sweeping views over the Atlantic—open, unobstructed, and genuinely hard to leave. This is the South Shore, stripped back to what matters most.
Continue to The Ovens Natural Park, where sea caves carved into the cliffs by centuries of tidal action offer a different perspective on the same coastline. The scale here is intimate rather than panoramic—it rewards slowing down.
Later in the day, head offshore with Expeditions Nova Scotia for a zodiac coastal experience. Fast, responsive, and close to the water—a final high-energy view of a coastline you’ve now seen from trail, kayak, and sea cave. Each vantage point adds something the others don’t.
ACCOMMODATION
A coastal inn or boutique property, selected for comfort and setting. Confirmed at booking.
DINNER
A well-earned meal after a full day on the trail and the water—unhurried, locally sourced, and the right way to close out the most active day of the journey.
Day 4 — Mahone Bay Views & Return to Halifax
Castle Rock Trail → Halifax
Your final morning offers a slower, elevated close to the journey.
Set out on the Castle Rock Trail, where a moderate climb leads to sweeping views over Chester Basin and the surrounding coastline. From up here, the geography of the last four days makes a different kind of sense—islands, inlets, and the broad Atlantic beyond. It’s a fitting final perspective: quiet, expansive, and worth the climb.
A relaxed closing lunch, then the return to Halifax—arriving mid-afternoon with four days of the South Shore behind you.
Where You'll Stay
The South Shore route moves through some of Atlantic Canada’s most distinctive coastal communities, and the properties along the way reflect that. Each night’s accommodation is selected for three things: its physical setting, its sense of place, and its comfort. These are not chain hotels—they are inns and coastal properties that belong to the South Shore in a way that adds to the experience rather than simply sheltering you from it.
Specific properties are confirmed at booking and may vary by season and availability. What doesn’t vary is the standard: well-located, well-run, and genuinely reflective of where you are.
Dining
The South Shore has one of the strongest seafood-driven food cultures in Atlantic Canada—built on proximity to the ocean and a genuine respect for what that proximity makes possible. Each meal is chosen to reflect that: locally sourced, well-prepared, and matched to the character of the day and the setting around you.
The journey opens with a Shore Club lobster supper in Hubbards—a Nova Scotia institution, served in a historic hall with live music, and exactly the kind of experience that sets the tone for the days ahead. It’s unpretentious, deeply local, and genuinely memorable. From there, dinners move with the coastline—fresh, unhurried, and grounded in where you are.
Specific restaurants and menus are confirmed at booking and may vary by season and availability. Dietary requirements are accommodated with advance notice.
Who travels with us
This journey is designed for travellers drawn to coastlines that feel lived-in rather than staged. They want to hike, paddle, and get on the water—but they’re equally interested in the communities built along the shore and the food culture that has grown up around the ocean’s proximity. The South Shore offers both, and this journey moves between them deliberately.
They’ve likely driven the Lighthouse Route before, or know someone who has. They choose a guided journey because they understand what local knowledge actually unlocks—the trail that bypasses the crowds, the coastal viewpoint that doesn’t appear on any map, the understanding of what makes Lunenburg genuinely worth your time rather than just a stop on the route. And they’re happy to hand off the logistics entirely.
If you want to hike the headlands, paddle the inlets, go fast on the open ocean, and end each day at a well-chosen table on one of the most storied coastlines in Canada—this journey was built for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Departure
Will my departure actually run?
Yes. Every 2027 departure of this journey carries our Guaranteed Departure promise. Once you’re booked, the trip runs — you won’t be told six weeks out that numbers didn’t materialize and your dates have disappeared.
When do the 2027 departures run, and how far in advance should I book?
Three departures: June 23, July 14, and July 28.
Each caps at 12 guests — 36 seats for the whole season on this journey. Peak summer dates fill first. If your dates are fixed, book early. If they’re flexible, it’s always worth asking what’s open.
How many people will be on my departure?
A maximum of 12 guests. Pam and I both travel with every group, which puts the ratio at one guide to six guests at most — and usually better than that.
Twelve is the number at which a group still moves like a group. No waiting, no coach loading, no splitting the table.
Is this journey adults only?
Yes. Our signature journeys are designed for adult travellers, and the pace, the pairing of activity with long unhurried evenings, and the character of the group all reflect that.
If you’re travelling as a family with children or teens, we’d like to talk. A custom journey lets us build this same coastline around a different group — different pacing, a different activity mix, and accommodations chosen for how you’re actually travelling. Get in touch and we’ll design something that works.
I'm travelling solo. Is there a supplement?
Solo travellers are welcome on every departure. The single occupancy supplement is $495
USD, inclusive of all applicable fees and taxes, and covers private accommodation for all three nights.
Can we book this journey privately?
Yes. With a group of six or more we can run this journey as a private departure on dates that suit you, with room to adjust the pace and emphasis along the way. Get in touch and we’ll work it out.
Getting There & Getting Around
Where does the journey start and end?
We pick you up in Halifax on the morning of Day 1, at a location coordinated around your travel plans — the airport, your downtown hotel, wherever makes sense for how you’re arriving. Send us your details at booking and we’ll arrange it.
We return to Halifax by 4:00 PM on Day 4.
When should I book my flights?
Arriving: come into Halifax the day before Day 1. Day 1 shouldn’t begin with a red-eye, and a delayed flight on the morning of would cost you the start of the journey.
Departing: we’d recommend staying near the airport that night and flying home the following morning. A late-afternoon or early-evening departure puts pressure on the final day that the journey doesn’t need, and the last afternoon is worth having rather than watching a clock.
Both of those nights are yours to arrange. The journey price covers the three nights between — not the night before or the night after. We’re happy to recommend properties near the airport.
If a same-day departure is necessary, raise it early in the booking process rather than after you’ve booked. We’ll look at your timing and confirm we can get you there comfortably.
Do we change accommodations during the journey?
Usually not. We aim to keep you in one property for all three nights so you unpack once and the days stay uncluttered. During peak season, availability occasionally requires splitting across two properties. If that applies to your departure, you’ll know before you book — not on arrival.
Why aren't the specific properties listed?
Accommodations are confirmed at booking and can vary by departure date and availability. What doesn’t vary is the standard: independently run coastal inns and boutique properties chosen for setting, character, and comfort. These aren’t chain hotels, and they aren’t selected on price.
You’ll know exactly where you’re staying well before you travel.
Will I have cell service?
Mostly. Coverage is good in and around Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg, and reliable at your accommodations. Expect gaps on the trails and offshore. If you need to be
reachable, tell us.
Can we add anything before or after?
Yes. Our one-day adventures are built to extend a signature journey at either end — Fundy Tides Rush, Wild Coast Snorkeling, or Wild Coast Scuba, depending on your interest and how much time you have around Halifax. If you’re travelling this far, a day on either side is usually worth it.
Mention it at booking and we’ll fit it around your flights.
What's Included & How You Pay
What does "fully all-inclusive" actually cover?
Everything from pickup to return: all accommodations, all ground transportation, every meal — breakfasts, lunches, and three dinners including the Shore Club lobster supper — all guided activities and admissions, and both of us as your guides throughout.
Not included: alcoholic beverages, gratuities, travel insurance, your travel to and from Halifax, and any hotel nights before or after the journey itself.
What's the payment schedule?
Your reservation is confirmed with a $250 USD deposit. The balance is then divided into three equal payments, due at 135, 90, and 45 days before departure.
There’s no premium for paying over time — it’s simply how every booking is structured. If you book within 135 days of departure, the schedule compresses to the milestones remaining, with full payment still due 45 days out.
Cancellation & Insurance
What's your cancellation policy?
Cancel more than 45 days before departure and every payment you’ve made is refunded in full, less the $250 booking deposit, which is non-refundable.
At 45 days, final payment is due and bookings become non-refundable. That’s the point where we’ve committed to accommodations, operators, and reservations on your behalf — commitments that can’t be unwound.
It’s also exactly why we require travel insurance. A comprehensive policy covers the circumstances that lead most people to cancel — illness, injury, a family emergency — and that’s the reason we ask every guest to carry one. The 45-day mark is the moment your insurance matters, not ours.
Full cancellation terms and the liability waiver are presented through our booking platform before you complete your reservation.
What if you cancel the journey?
If we’re forced to cancel a departure for circumstances outside our control, you choose: a full refund of every payment you’ve made, including the deposit — or transfer your booking to any other 2027 departure, subject to availability, with any difference in price adjusted either way.
Beyond that, our Guaranteed Departure promise means we don’t cancel for low numbers. Once you’re booked, the journey runs.
Is travel insurance required?
Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancellation and medical coverage is required for all guests.
We don’t work with a preferred provider — choose a policy that suits your circumstances. If you’re travelling from outside Canada, confirm it covers medical treatment here. Buy it when you book rather than later; most cancellation coverage is strongest when purchased close to your initial deposit.
Fitness & Fit
How fit do I need to be for this journey?
You should be comfortable walking for two to three hours over uneven ground and be steady on your feet. The Gaff Point Trail is about 6 km return — forest path at first, then open headland, with stretches of exposed granite that turn slick after rain. The Castle Rock Trail involves a moderate but sustained climb.
Nothing here is technical. There’s no scrambling and no exposure. But this coastline is rock, not boardwalk, and sure footing matters more than speed.
If you walk regularly and like being outdoors, you’ll do fine.
Do I need hiking or kayaking experience?
No. The sea kayaking takes place in the sheltered waters around Blue Rocks, chosen because they’re protected and forgiving. Your guides handle instruction, and first-time paddlers are common. The hikes require nothing beyond willingness.
Comfort matters more than experience — being at ease on the water and on uneven terrain for a few hours at a stretch.
Which day is the most demanding?
Day 3. Gaff Point in the morning, The Ovens Natural Park, then the zodiac boat ride in the afternoon — three ways of experiencing the same coast in one full day. It’s the most rewarding day of the journey and the longest. Days 1, 2, and 4 are noticeably lighter.
Can I sit out an activity?
Yes. There’s no expectation that every guest does everything. If you’d rather skip the kayak or the boat ride, we’ll make other arrangements — usually time in Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, or at the property, depending on the day. Tell us the evening before so we can plan it properly.
On the Water & Weather
What is the zodiac boat ride like?
Gentler than the word “zodiac” suggests. This isn’t a high-speed run over open water — it’s an unhurried tour close to the shore, and the subject of it is the lobster fishery.
You’ll see how traps are set and hauled, how the grounds are worked across a season, and why this stretch of coast has supported the industry for generations. It’s the kind of thing you can read about for years and not really understand until someone who does it for a living explains it from the water.
The boat stays near the coastline in sheltered water, and route decisions account for conditions on the day. If you’re sensitive to motion, mention it and we’ll seat you toward the centre — but this is not a rough ride
Will I get wet kayaking? What should I wear?
Expect to get somewhat wet — spray, drips off the paddle, wet feet getting in and out. PFDs are provided. Wear quick-drying layers rather than cotton, bring a change of clothes, and don’t wear anything you’d mind getting salt on.
We paddle in good conditions or we move the paddle to another day, so you won’t find yourself in a wetsuit and a gale.
What happens if the weather turns?
Some of it we work around. Some of it we work with.
Rain doesn’t cancel hiking — this is a coastal journey, and you should expect to be outside in weather at some point over four days. The kayaking and the zodiac boat ride are the two activities genuinely governed by conditions. If conditions aren’t right for paddling on a given day, we move it rather than push through; the itinerary has enough flexibility to shift activities between days. When conditions rule something out entirely, we substitute an experience of comparable value.
Fog is normal on the South Shore, particularly in June and early July. It usually lifts through the morning, and it makes this coastline look extraordinary while it lasts.
Can I sit out an activity?
Yes. There’s no expectation that every guest does everything. If you’d rather skip the kayak or the boat ride, we’ll make other arrangements — usually time in Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, or at the property, depending on the day. Tell us the evening before so we can plan it properly.
Food
I don't eat shellfish. What about the lobster supper?
The Shore Club offers alternatives to lobster, and meals throughout the journey can accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice. Tell us at booking rather than on the day — small coastal kitchens handle this well when they know it’s coming and less well when they don’t.
Serious allergies are arranged directly with each property before you arrive.
Will I get wet kayaking? What should I wear?
Expect to get somewhat wet — spray, drips off the paddle, wet feet getting in and out. PFDs are provided. Wear quick-drying layers rather than cotton, bring a change of clothes, and don’t wear anything you’d mind getting salt on.
We paddle in good conditions or we move the paddle to another day, so you won’t find yourself in a wetsuit and a gale.
What happens if the weather turns?
Some of it we work around. Some of it we work with.
Rain doesn’t cancel hiking — this is a coastal journey, and you should expect to be outside in weather at some point over four days. The kayaking and the zodiac boat ride are the two activities genuinely governed by conditions. If conditions aren’t right for paddling on a given day, we move it rather than push through; the itinerary has enough flexibility to shift activities between days. When conditions rule something out entirely, we substitute an experience of comparable value.
Fog is normal on the South Shore, particularly in June and early July. It usually lifts through the morning, and it makes this coastline look extraordinary while it lasts.
Can I sit out an activity?
Yes. There’s no expectation that every guest does everything. If you’d rather skip the kayak or the boat ride, we’ll make other arrangements — usually time in Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, or at the property, depending on the day. Tell us the evening before so we can plan it properly.
Why Travel Guided
How is this different from driving the Lighthouse Route ourselves?
You could drive it. Plenty of people do, and they see Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg from the parking lot and the main street.
The difference is access and judgment. A guide who grew up on this coast knows which trail to walk when the buses arrive at the lighthouse, which viewpoint doesn’t appear on a map, and where to eat in Lunenburg on a Tuesday in July. We’ve also already booked the kayaks, the boat, the inns, and the table — so the four days belong to you rather than to your planning.
From Wild Coasts to Great Tables
guided journeys through Atlantic Canada’s most remarkable landscapes.
Peggy's Cove
Coastal Trails, Ocean & Great Tables
$3,150
USD
Per Person - Includes all applicable taxes and fees
4 Days/ 3 Nights
Max 12 Guests
Departing From halifax
Boutique Inns & Coastal Properties
Fully Guided Experiece
2027 Departures
JUN
23
JUL
14
JUL
28
Reserve Your Spot
A $250 USD deposit secures your reservation. The remaining balance is split into three interest free payments.