|
 RETURN TO TOP
Day 1
Flights to Deer Lake. One of our guides will meet
you at Deer Lake Airport and transfer you to Gros
Morne National Park. Gros Morne was declared a World
heritage Site in 1987 and offers some of
Newfoundland’s finest hiking. Contributing to this
unique designation were the area’s significant
geological features, the arctic-alpine habitat of
the Long Range Mountains, the outstanding scenic
beauty and the region’s 5000-year-old human
history. In addition, marine biologist, Dr. Bob
Hooper says that the Gros Morne area “…has a greater
diversity of marine life than any comparable site in
eastern Canada.” By the way, Gros means “big”, and
Morne is a Creole word for a small rounded mountain
standing alone. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 2
We begin our adventure with a water taxi to Woody
Point for an Orientation
at
the Discovery Centre. Opened in 2000, the Discovery
Centre overlooks the South Arm of Bonne Bay, located
near the town of Woody point. Our hike to Green
Gardens is a 6-mile route that explores the area’s
spectacular volcanic coastline. The trail begins
with a walk across an ancient seafloor and then
gradually descends into a lush boreal forest rich
with plant life and the sounds of songbirds. We may
even sight a moose. Eventually the trail breaks out
of the forest and onto the coastline where large
grottos, wide beaches with shallow rock pools,
grassy meadows, ancient sea-stacks, and cliffs
unfold before you. (B, L,
D=Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Inc.)
Day 3
The
day begins with a short 1.8-mile hike over a coastal
plain of bogs interspersed with limestone ridges
leading to the edge of Western Brook Pond and the
start of our boat tour. Slipping within the
2,000-foot high vertical walls of the landlocked
fjord, we’ll
travel the entire 9-mile length of the Pond, passing
by numerous waterfalls and vertical rock faces.
This freshwater fjord basin is 540 feet deep in
places and is an excellent example of the intense
erosional power of a confined valley glacier. After
the boat tour, we hike back and follow Western Brook
to the sea for a shore lunch. In the afternoon,
we’ll visit Broom Point, home of traditional
Newfoundland fishing families. Fishermen and
descendants of local fishing families provide us
with an excellent interpretive talk on this
culturally significant site. A variety of fishing
equipment, handmade by the local families, is
exhibited in a fish store that has been restored to
the way it was when past families lived here. The
cabin is filled with many original Broom Point
artifacts including the handiwork and furniture of
the day. Broom Point was at one time inhabited by
Palaeoeskimos who occupied this area during the
summer months when harbour seals were present.
B, L
Day 4
Baker Brook
Falls, this 6.2-mile hike takes us through a lush
boreal forest with wetlands abounding in orchids and
irises, culminating at the largest waterfall within
the park.
We will savor a picnic lunch and then stroll along
the rugged coast of Gros Morne Mountain. An optional
more strenuous hike to Gros Morne Mountain. This
challenging 9-mile hike takes us to the arctic
alpine environment of the Long Range Mountains, where
you will see rare vegetation and possibly catch a
glimpse of such hardy inhabitants as the woodland
caribou, rock ptarmigan and arctic hare. This is a
6-to-8-hour hike with an elevation gain of 2,640
feet from sea level! B, L
Day 5
Today we leave for Port au Choix and a visit to the
National Historic Site Interpretation Centre.
Western Newfoundland was settled by ancient peoples
long before Christopher Columbus and the Vikings
made their celebrated crossings of the Atlantic.
Three prehistoric cultures inhabited this region
over a 4,000-year period: the Maritime Archaic
Indians, and Groswater and Dorset Eskimos. We’ll
enjoy a coastal hike from Philips Garden to
beautiful Point Riche Lighthouse. A stop at the
archaeological site at Philips Garden provides an
excellent opportunity to explore a series of
circular indentations in the grassy fields, once the
dwelling sites of ancient Palaeo-Eskimos. At Point
Rich, a variety of rare plants cling to the footpath
and fossils of a once tropical climate sprinkle the
limestone rock shoreline.
B, L, D
Day 6
Get
ready for a unique adventure as we depart St.
Anthony Harbour aboard the Northland Discovery Tours
Gaffer II to search for icebergs, whales,
Guillimonts and Kittiwakes! At the end of our tour,
we’ll enjoy lunch at the Lightkeeper’s Café. Our
afternoon hike explores the rugged coastline of
Fishing Point and a visit to the Grenfell Properties
provides a fascinating history of Sir Wilfred
Grenfell’s life. Grenfell came to northern
Newfoundland at the turn of the century to provide
medical services to the people of northern
Newfoundland and Labrador. The International
Grenfell Association (IGA) still carries on medical
and community services in the region.
B, L, D
Day 7
Today we take a step back in time as we tour the
UNESCO World Heritage Viking Site at L’Anse aux
Meadows, the only authenticated site of Norse
settlement in North America. About 1,000 years ago,
famed Leif Eriksson landed at L’Anse aux Meadows and
established a camp to serve his other explorations
in the area. The Interpretation Centre depicts the
history of this site through model replicas and
filmed interviews with archaeologists. For lunch we
picnic on the shore overlooking Bay Cove. Later, we
enjoy a walk along the coast in search of icebergs,
whales and eider ducks.
B, L, D
Day 8
Flights Home. It is a 5-hour drive back to Deer
Lake so please make your reservations for any time
AFTER 2:00 PM.
RETURN TO TOP
Tour Rating: Walker/Hiker - For the most
part, this trip involves easy to moderate hiking of
4 to 6 hours daily. One day there’s an optional
6-to-8-hour rigorous hike to the summit of Gros
Morne Mountain.
We encourage you to take steps to prepare yourself
physically. You can do it!
Walking The World Guide
Local Guide
7 nights accommodation (double occupancy)
All ground transportation
All breakfasts, all lunches, four dinners
Excursions as listed in the itinerary
All boat charters and ferry costs
All transfers and park entrance fees
Unique and original Journal of your trip
Good fun, humor, and companionship
Comments From Our 2003 Guest:
"Your staff were wonderful, knowledgeable,
experienced, fun to be with and patient." Ann D. NM.
"The food was excellent, and I had the chance to eat
many local foods that are not available where I
live." Margaret D. WA
"The itinerary was packed full of interesting hikes
and sightseeing. A great balance of more challenging
and less challenging hikes." Elaine W. N.J.
APPLY FOR TRIP NOW!
RETURN TO TOP
 back to trips |
next trip
|
