That was a truly great, great vacation. Thank you so much! Gunner Dietz, Pulheim, Germany                             "Our five days were superb and we weren't nearly ready for the trip to be over. We will be back to paddle with you again." Laura Moorehead Massachusetts                                 "A fantastic trip: great food, wonderful scenery and delightful company. All the staff were extremely friendly." Karen Chen Toronto                     "The organisation of the food was amazing and so very, very good. Those home baked cookies and cakes made the trip even better." Bob Archer Amherst, MA                     "I really appreciated your efforts to give us an appreciation of the natural history of the coast" Joe Hermolin Madison, WI

NEW TOURS 2012 Little Bay Islands (NL) Random Island (NL) Scatarie Island (NS) South Shore Alumni Expedition 2012   General Tour Information     Nova Scotia THE ATLANTIC COASTAL ISLANDS The ragged shoreline of Atlantic Canada is a diverse collage of rocky harbours, soft beaches, tranquil salt marshes and especially the offshore islands. During these three, five and seven day tours we explore the nooks and crannies of this scenic archipelago far from the summer bustle of the mainland. Our meandering journey will take us to the sea bird and seal colonies, over thick kelp beds and into idyllic hidden coves where few other vessels dare to venture. We will also uncover the vanishing signs of our own transient history when the early Europeans settled on these remote outposts, as close to the water as possible. Nature has reclaimed what is rightly hers in a juxtaposition of natural and human history, past and present, that forms a compelling mix-an ideal sea kayaking tour for both beginners and families as well as the inquisitive expert. (Read a paddling article on the Atlantic Coastal Islands). For more photos of this tour check our Photo Gallery.   3 Day Tour Dates: May 19-21, June 22-24, June 30-July 2, 14-16 July 21-23, July 28-30, August 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 26-28   Fee: $595Cdn* 5 Day Tour Dates: June 30-July 4, August 4-8   Fee: $975 Cdn* 7 Day Tour Dates: August 4-10   Fee: $1295 Cdn* Departure:   Coastal Exploration Centre, Tangier, Nova Scotia   THE CANSO BARRENS When an early Africa collided against North America millions of years ago, unimaginable forces opened the earths crust to the molten magma from deep below. Massive granite domes were formed and then pushed to the surface. During this six day tour we will discover the most isolated coastal region of the province with its stark and compelling landscape where huge glacial erractics are perched in strangepositions over the denuded landscape. The uninhabited coastal islands shelter our passage from the open ocean. This is a memorable journey. (Note: Check our Gourmet Tour which also explores the Canso Barrens). For more photos of this tour check our Photo Gallery.   Dates: (5 Day Tour) July 21-25, August 11-14 Fee: $1095 Cdn* Departure: Charlos Cove, Nova Scotia SHIPWRECKS AND BURIED TREASURE Hidden on the bottom of our rock strewn coastline, invisible to all but the fish and a few divers, lie many a sunken ship. But one large freighter, skewered on a reef at the tip of Cape Gegogan, is in full view of the inquisitive sea kayaker and we can even paddle inside the hold. Driven shore during a hurricane in the mid 60’s its rusting hulk is slowly succumbing to the ravages of the winter storms. We will visit the nearby light station on Liscomb Island, abandoned along with it’s former settlelment. This was also a reputed site of Capt. Kidd’s booty and treasure hunters have dug a money pit on the edge of nowwhere. Where they successful? The rugged Eastern Shore is steeped with mystery and myth. Read an article on the Shipwreck. This tour is also available as an inn based trip. Dates: August 11-13 Fee: $595 Cdn* Departure: Liscomb, Nova Scotia THE CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS For five to seven days we will paddle under the shadow of the Cape Breton Highlands, on the northern tip of the province, where imposing rock formations flank the Precambrian granite of the highlands, and sea caves and spires adorn the route. Ragged and precipitous cliffs isolate the shoreline rendering this route one of the most inaccessible in Nova Scotia. The narrow, steep valley and gullies, interrupted by waterfalls lead up to the barren plateau with its panoramic view of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Bald eagles nest on cliff ledges and are a common sight soaring high on the updrafts. Seals abound and we will often accompany pilot whales as they feed on the migrating mackerel and squid. This is one of the most spectacular sea kayaking areas in North America. (Read an article on the Cape Breton Highlands.) For more photos of this tour check our Photo Gallery.   3 Day Tour Dates: July 14-16, August 4-6, 25-27 Fee: $735 Cdn* 5 Day Tour Dates: July 14-18, August 4-8, 25-29   Fee: $1225 Cdn* Departure: Cape North, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia THE BAY OF FUNDY (Cape Chignecto) The Bay of Fundy is renowned for the greatest tides on earth which, when combined with the highest cliffs on mainland Nova Scotia, make region a spectacular sight indeed. Our route follows the boundary of a continental collision that thrust Africa against North America eons ago and has left us with a geological wonderland. We will weave among rock gardens, poke into sea caves and glide under towering spires draped with seaweed far above the kayaks. Dark volcanic basalt caps bright redish sandstones where agate, amythest and jasper await the rockhound. This is where the earliest dinasaurs roamed the planet. It is a remarkable coastline which changes by the minute with the ebb and flow of the Fundy waters, and a unique sea kayaking destination. (Read an article on The Bay of Fundy.) For more photos of this tour check our Photo Gallery.   4 Day Tour Dates: July 28-31; August 26-29 Fee: $895 Cdn* Departure:   West Advocate, Nova Scotia SCATARIE ISLAND (NEW THIS YEAR) Scatarie is one of the largest of Nova Scotia's offshore islands and is only a short distance from Main-a-Dieu on the Cape Breton mainland. It juts out into the North Atlantic and, except for Sable Island, it is the most easterly point in the province. It was a valuable fishing outpost for the Forteresss of Louisbourg during the French period but, except for the largest Grey seal colony on the coast, it is now uninhabited. With a diverse geology reaching back almost a billion years and a natural isolation, it has been designated a wilderness conservation area. The ragged coastline offers some remarkable "rock hopping" opportunities for the adventurous. Last year a huge Great Lakes freighter, on the way to a scrap yard in Turkey, broke the tow line in a storm and washed ashore near the light station adding an additional attraction. [Read an article on Scatarie Island] Read an article on Scatarie Island. 5 Day Tour Dates: August 19-23 Fee: $1095 Cdn* Departure:   Main-a-Dieu, Nova Scotia     Newfoundland   EXPLOITS / TWILLINGATE ( NEW THIS YEAR ) Early in the season huge icebergs from the Arctic ice fields often drift along the northern coast of Newfoundland, the world famous "Iceberg Alley". Humpback & Minke whales also arrive, pursuing the large schools of capelin, and the sea bird colonies are bustling. It is truly an extraordinary sight. During this tour we will paddle into the outer reaches of Notre Dame Bay, and among the windswept islands of the Bay of Exploits and then around the Twillilngate archipelago with it's rugged coves and steep cliffs, that confront the northern sea. Visited by the Dorset Eskimo over a thousand years ago, these outposts were also the last refuge of the indigenous Beothuk. With the arrival of the Europeans thriving fishing communities developed Today most lay silent, excepting for a lasting, and rich, natural and cultural history. Read an article on the Northern Coast of Newfoundland. Dates: July 4-11 Fee: $1995 Cdn* Departure: Twillingate, Newfoundland RANDOM ISLAND   Rated #1 by National Geographic’s Traveler magazine of the world's great coastlines for sustainability and authenticity, a journey to the Avalon Peninsula is like going back in time. It’s close-knit communities, strong local culture and unspoiled scenery provide unique insight into an earlier era. During this exploratory journey we will visit the ragged coastline from Bull Arm to Random Island, in Trinity Bay, where the roadways rarely drop down onto the coast. The cliffs, coves and sea caves have not changed in millennia and will captivate the coastal paddler. A highlight will be the abandoned community of Ireland’s Eye. Dates: July 29-August 5 Fee: $1995 Cdn* Departure: Clarenville, Newfoundland   LITTLE BAY ISLANDS (NEW THIS YEAR )   During this exploratory trip we will discover the western edge of Notre Dame Bay, between Baie Verte Peninsula and the Bay of Exploits, with it's eclectic collection of headlands and harbours, islands and shoals. Some are still populated, connected to the mainland by ferries. Others have been abandoned, their settlers long ago migrating to more economically hospitable places. Still others were never inhabited, and remain as they have been for millennia -rugged and isolated outposts, confronting an inhospitable North Atlantic, and home to numerous bird colonies and seal rookeries. Our relaxing pace will take us alongside a meandering coastline where we will be immersed in a natural and cultural history full of surprises. If we are lucky we will encounter the massive icebergs that often drift down this time of the year or the whales that follow the large schools of migrating capelin that seek the gravel beaches to spawn.   Read an new article by Scott from Sea Kayaker Magazine on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland Dates: June 24-July 1 Fee: $1995 Cdn* Departure: Beachside, Newfoundland     THE SOUTHWEST COAST The rugged shores of Newfoundland, Canada's eastern most province have changed little since the first Europeans arrived over five hundred years ago. During our sea kayaking journey we discover deep fjords with abrupt, barren walls that alternate with the coastal islands to provide a captivating land/seascape. The rugged interior is a mixture of muskeg, glacial ponds and granite outcrops offering splendid hiking opportunities where we will encounter carniferous plants and the woodland caribou. In the isolated outports, which cling tenaciously to the exposed bedrock, we glimpse a threatened way of life as fishermen struggle to maintain their livelihood on a declining resource. (Read an article on the Southwest Coast). For more photos of this tour check our Photo Gallery. Dates: (8 Day Tour) August 8-14 Fee: $1995 Cdn* Departure: Burgeo, Newfoundland ALL WOMEN TOURS In these sea kayaking tours catering exclusively to women, Gayle Wilson, an experienced coastal paddler will lead you among the offshore islands of the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. You will explore the various points of interest that make this area the paddling gem of the region. During the tour, instruction will also be offered in the various strokes and rescue techniques to those interested in improving their paddling skills. Dates: August 18-20 Fee: $595 Cdn* Departure: Coastal Exploration Centre, Tangier, Nova Scotia Trip Leader: Gayle Wilson: BCU and Paddle Canada Level II Sea Kayak Instructor   If you would like to register for one of Coastal Adventure's tours or courses, here is our registration form in ADOBE PDF format. You will need ADOBE ACROBAT READER to read this file. If you do not have it, it is available free at the ADOBE site:   To contact Coastal Adventures by email, click here:  HTML by AdNeT Technology