Explore Newfoundland at your own pace and in the way that suits you best. This itinerary can be arranged as a fly-drive vacation with a rental car or as a privately escorted tour with your own professional driver/guide.
The itinerary shown below is only a sample. Every Newfoundland journey can be fully customized to your interests, travel dates and preferred pace. We can extend your stay, add destinations, upgrade accommodations, or include additional experiences such as whale watching, iceberg cruises, hiking, wildlife viewing, kayaking, fishing, cultural experiences and scenic coastal adventures.
The best time to experience this Newfoundland tour is from June through mid-September, when the weather is generally most favorable for sightseeing and outdoor activities, and seasonal attractions and boat tours are operating. Wildlife and iceberg viewing opportunities vary throughout the season.
Whether you prefer the independence of a self-drive journey or the comfort of travelling with a private driver, Aquilon Tours will create a personalized Newfoundland itinerary designed around you.
Private Newfoundland Tour: St. John’s, Whales, Icebergs, Bonavista, Twillingate & Gros Morne
8 days / 7 nights:
Day 1. Arrive in St. John’s
Welcome to Newfoundland and Labrador! Arrive in colorful St. John’s, one of North America’s oldest cities, and pick up your rental vehicle or meet with your driver for your escorted journey. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Take your first walk through the historic downtown, famous for its brightly painted houses, lively waterfront and distinctive Newfoundland character.
Day 2. Avalon Peninsula: Whale Watching, Puffins & Coastal Scenery
Approx. 66 km / 42 mi return to Bay Bulls
Travel south along the scenic Avalon Peninsula to Bay Bulls for an unforgettable whale-watching and puffin cruise. Depending on the season, watch for humpback whales, thousands of Atlantic puffins and even magnificent icebergs drifting along the Newfoundland coast.
After your cruise, explore the small fishing communities and rugged coastal scenery of the Irish Loop. Those wishing to extend the day can continue to Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, one of Newfoundland’s most spectacular seabird colonies.
Day 3. St. John’s to Trinity & the Bonavista Peninsula
Approx. 269 km / 167 mi
Leave St. John’s and travel toward the beautiful Bonavista Peninsula, one of the highlights of any Newfoundland road trip. Explore historic Bonavista, where John Cabot is believed to have made landfall in 1497.
Visit Ryan Premises National Historic Site to discover Newfoundland’s centuries-old fishing heritage, see the iconic red-and-white Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, and visit the Matthew Legacy, home to a full-scale replica of Cabot’s ship, Matthew. Continue to picturesque Trinity for your overnight stay.
Day 4. Trinity & Bonavista Peninsula
Spend the day exploring Trinity and the spectacular Bonavista Peninsula. Trinity is one of Newfoundland’s most beautiful historic villages, with restored white and pastel clapboard houses overlooking a dramatic Atlantic coastline.
Discover local history, coastal walking trails and traditional Newfoundland culture. Depending on the seasonal schedule, experience the entertaining Trinity Pageant, an outdoor walking theatre performance that brings the stories and characters of Newfoundland’s past to life.
Day 5. Trinity to Twillingate via Terra Nova National Park
Approx. 309 km / 192 mi
Travel through the forested landscapes of Terra Nova National Park, where boreal forests, sheltered bays, ponds and hiking trails provide opportunities for scenic stops and short walks.
Continue toward Twillingate, stopping at the Beothuk Interpretation Centre Provincial Historic Site in Boyd’s Cove to learn about the history and culture of Newfoundland’s Indigenous Beothuk people.
Arrive in Twillingate, known as the “Iceberg Capital of the World.” Depending on seasonal conditions, join an iceberg and whale-watching boat tour for spectacular views of towering icebergs, marine wildlife and Newfoundland’s rugged northern coastline.
Day 6. Twillingate to Gros Morne National Park
Approx. 425 km / 264 mi
Today, cross central Newfoundland and travel west toward one of the island’s greatest natural treasures. You are visiting Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As you approach Newfoundland’s west coast, the landscape changes dramatically, revealing mountains, deep valleys, forests and striking geological formations. Arrive in the Gros Morne area and settle in for two nights, giving you a full day to experience this extraordinary national park.
Day 7. Gros Morne National Park
Spend a full day discovering Gros Morne National Park, one of Canada’s most remarkable natural destinations. The park’s ancient mountains, fjords, waterfalls and unusual geology reveal hundreds of millions of years of Earth’s history.
Explore the extraordinary Tablelands, where rocks from the Earth’s mantle were pushed to the surface, creating an almost otherworldly landscape. Continue along the scenic coast through traditional Newfoundland communities.
One of the park’s signature experiences is Western Brook Pond, a spectacular glacier-carved, freshwater fjord surrounded by towering cliffs and waterfalls. A boat tour can be included depending on the season and operating schedule.
This day can be customized with hiking, photography, wildlife viewing or a more relaxed sightseeing program.
Day 8. Gros Morne to Deer Lake / Departure
Approx. 70–100 km / 44–62 mi, depending on accommodation location
Enjoy a final morning surrounded by the spectacular landscapes of western Newfoundland before departure.
AQUILON TOURS - Canada's Travel Specialist 