Nova Scotia Hiking & Walking Tours & Trip Packages

Nova Scotia Hiking & Walking Tours & Trips

28 Nova Scotia trips. Tours from 20 tour companies. 17 reviews. 4.5/5 avg rating.

4 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
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Hiking & Walking
Canada's Maritime Treasures Self-Drive
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Nova Scotia

Themes

50 plus, Hiking & Walking, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"It's hard to describe how lucky we are to have been able to work with Stephanie in planning our honeymoon to Japan. From the very beginning, Stephanie was friendly, flexible, and an absolute wealth of knowledge. We had several meetings with her leading up to our trip to come up with the perfect itinerary. Throughout this, Stephanie was mindful of our budget, without sacrificing anything. During our trip, Audley was available at all hours to help with anything and everything which was such a relief to know we had that resource available to us. I truly cannot imagine having planned this trip without all of Stephanie's guidance and knowledge- and cannot imagine taking another big trip like this without the help of Audley. Thank you again!"

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The Best of Iceland: A Country of Beautiful Contrasts
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Akureyri, Nova Scotia

Highlights

  • I’m comfortable with some walking throughout the day
  • I expect to get on and off of a coach, and I’m ready to stroll through cities and to stand for a few hours when we’re learning in museums

Themes

50 plus, Culinary & Wine, Education / Learning, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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On the Road: New England and the Canadian Maritimes
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Acadia National Park, Nova Scotia, Portland, Prince Edward Island

Highlights

  • Examine the world's highest tides with naturalists on the Bay of Fundy
  • Delve into the historic beginnings of the cities of Portland, Saint John, Charlottetown and Halifax
  • Explore the Cabot Trail, looking for vast wildlife among the dense forests that meet with the ocean coast

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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Nova Scotia Canada Walking Tour
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5/5 Excellent
4 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Nova Scotia, Sydney

Highlights

  • Visit Baddeck
  • Explore the Cape Breton Highlands National Park
  • Visit Franey Mountain
  • Discover Ingonish Beach

Themes

Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"Our Azores trip was excellent except for a bit of rain :-); The volcano hikes were spectacular and the side trip notes were very helpful. Doing the volcano hikes was fantastic, especially being high enough to see the Atlantic Ocean to the south and the north, beautiful! We also enjoyed the beach walks and walking to town from our hotel, Santa Barbara Eco Hotel. We stayed at the Santa Barbara Eco Hotel which was excellent. The room, property, pool and spa and services were all excellent. We enjoyed meals everyday at their restaurant which where all excellent. A very relaxing and restful and comfortable hotel. The restaurant at the Santa Barbara Eco Hotel is excellent as is there sister property, The White House, were we enjoyed a spectacular sunset and dinner one night. Your selection of this company “Singular Resorts” is a very good choice. We have been using Intura Travel / Walk Inn Provence since 2014 and will use you again in the future. I have recommended you to family and friends and will continue to do so. You have excellent information and support for travelers. Fantastic trip to the Azores, it was a highlight of our vacation to Portugal."

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Other trips you may like [sponsored]
Wonders of the Bay of Fundy
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By Landsby
preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Nova Scotia

What travelers are saying

"We had a fabulous time full of adventures, dog sledding was my absolute favourite activity, it was so amazing and the snowmobiling was super fun, no surprises that it was Hayden’s (my eldest) favourite activity getting to drive his own snowmobile! Unfortunately the flight didn’t go to plan, Ewan was so scared and literally begged to turn around and go back a few minutes into the flight, I must admit it was quite nerve racking being in that tiny plane! Me and the kids were a bit freaked out so I had no problem aborting, my husband was loving it sat up front so it was a shame for him. Also unfortunate that we didn’t get to see the aurora because it was unseasonably warm and the skies were cloudy but the viewing facility was great and the birthday cake was yummy! The staff on all the trips were fabulous. Only negative feedback (and this is purely for your information and in no way a complaint) Earls - did not put any candles in Ewans birthday cake, I know you had specifically asked them to do that. At the aurora viewing they bought age 16 candles for Ewan, not age 12, the guy was really sorry, he said that was the age he was told by the office. Gold Rush Inn - super miserable and rude waitress serving breakfast! We had a great time, thank you so much for going out of your way to make it special. I will absolutely go and leave a review."

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The Maritimes: Nova Scotia
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island

Highlights

  • See for yourself why the charming fishing town of Peggy’s Cove is one of the most photographed places in Canada.
  • Join a local guide for a walking tour of historic Old Town Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Walk the stunning coastal trails of Cape Breton Highlands National Park and follow the Skyline Trail mountain pass out to sweeping sea views.
  • Take a tour of the historic town of Baddeck, which marks the start (and end) of the famous Cabot Trail and is where Alexander Graham Bell had a summer home.

Themes

High Adventure

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

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Romance in the Wilderness
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By Landsby
preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Nova Scotia

What travelers are saying

"We had a fabulous time full of adventures, dog sledding was my absolute favourite activity, it was so amazing and the snowmobiling was super fun, no surprises that it was Hayden’s (my eldest) favourite activity getting to drive his own snowmobile! Unfortunately the flight didn’t go to plan, Ewan was so scared and literally begged to turn around and go back a few minutes into the flight, I must admit it was quite nerve racking being in that tiny plane! Me and the kids were a bit freaked out so I had no problem aborting, my husband was loving it sat up front so it was a shame for him. Also unfortunate that we didn’t get to see the aurora because it was unseasonably warm and the skies were cloudy but the viewing facility was great and the birthday cake was yummy! The staff on all the trips were fabulous. Only negative feedback (and this is purely for your information and in no way a complaint) Earls - did not put any candles in Ewans birthday cake, I know you had specifically asked them to do that. At the aurora viewing they bought age 16 candles for Ewan, not age 12, the guy was really sorry, he said that was the age he was told by the office. Gold Rush Inn - super miserable and rude waitress serving breakfast! We had a great time, thank you so much for going out of your way to make it special. I will absolutely go and leave a review."

Trip dates & details
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Cape Breton Island Discovery Tour
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5/5 Excellent
47 reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
They discover the best local partners, providing trips that are both efficient and authentic.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Halifax

Themes

Family Friendly

What travelers are saying

"Everything was pretty much perfect."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

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Cabot Trail Bike Adventure
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By Landsby
preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Nova Scotia

What travelers are saying

"We had a fabulous time full of adventures, dog sledding was my absolute favourite activity, it was so amazing and the snowmobiling was super fun, no surprises that it was Hayden’s (my eldest) favourite activity getting to drive his own snowmobile! Unfortunately the flight didn’t go to plan, Ewan was so scared and literally begged to turn around and go back a few minutes into the flight, I must admit it was quite nerve racking being in that tiny plane! Me and the kids were a bit freaked out so I had no problem aborting, my husband was loving it sat up front so it was a shame for him. Also unfortunate that we didn’t get to see the aurora because it was unseasonably warm and the skies were cloudy but the viewing facility was great and the birthday cake was yummy! The staff on all the trips were fabulous. Only negative feedback (and this is purely for your information and in no way a complaint) Earls - did not put any candles in Ewans birthday cake, I know you had specifically asked them to do that. At the aurora viewing they bought age 16 candles for Ewan, not age 12, the guy was really sorry, he said that was the age he was told by the office. Gold Rush Inn - super miserable and rude waitress serving breakfast! We had a great time, thank you so much for going out of your way to make it special. I will absolutely go and leave a review."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
4 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Hiking & Walking

Nova Scotia Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
17  Reviews
See all Nova Scotia tour reviews
Excellent
1
Great
0
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
M

M Anne Capper

Oct 2022

Written on

Enchanting Canadian Maritimes

Itinerary: plausible, excellent. Canada has long stretches of "rocks, and trees and water". We're BIG. Coach: compared with European tours, somewhat lacking... no 2...

S

Sally Doerksen

Oct 2022

Written on

Enchanting Canadian Maritimes

The days start very early in the morning. The tour guides are in...

L

Laurel Sawatzky

Oct 2022

Written on

Enchanting Canadian Maritimes

It was interesting but not enchanting. The hotel in Baddeck was disappointing and should be taken off the list. It needed some TLC and was outside of Baddeck. We wer...

M

Michael Wager

Sep 2022

Written on

Enchanting Canadian Maritimes

all our stops were great and our guide ,bus driver, and health person were very freindly and fun

D

David Wolfer

Sep 2022

Written on

Enchanting Canadian Maritimes

It is filled with beautiful landscapes and ocean scapes. It involves h...

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Nova Scotia Tour Selection Trips

  • Nova Scotia is pretty large, which means lots of driving. Consider this when deciding accommodation. It may be easier to book a few places rather than trying to do day trips from a home base.
  • There are many outdoor water activities. Being on the north Atlantic ocean, the water is cold year round. Consider traveling in the late summer once the Ocean has the ability to warm up a bit.
  • While the summer offers awesome water based activities, the winter equally is a great time to visit. If you can handle the cold, (temperatures in peak winter are often below freezing), there is skiing, ice skating, and sleigh rides through snowy Nova Scotia.
  • If you’re looking to visit museums, consider a museum pass. The Nova Scotia museum pass is $47 CAD, and let’s you visit any museum in Nova Scotia for 12 months.
  • Public transportation in Nova Scotia is a bus system. Buses can take you around the city center, and out to the suburbs. For further distances, look into the Maritime Bus, which will connect most of the Province’s towns/cities.

Additional details

Where is Nova Scotia?

Nova Scotia is a province in eastern Canada on the Atlantic Ocean. The province is east of the state of Maine, Southwest of New Brunswick, South of Prince Edward Island, and Southwest of Newfoundland.

Weather in Nova Scotia

The weather in Nova Scotia depends on the season, with warm summers and winter often dropping below freezing. The middle of winter often has temperatures between 0-32 degrees Fahrenheit. Locals know to expect snow for most of the winter, so they make the most of the chilly weather.

If colder weather and winter activities are your thing, this is a great time to visit. There are festivals, snowshoeing, ice skating and sleigh rides, making this a real life winter wonderland.

Summer brings warm weather, and a whole new experience to Nova Scotia. Temperatures range from 70-80 degrees, making it ideal weather to get outdoors and enjoy the natural beauty of the province. Spend the day relaxing at the beach, hike through the Cape Breton Highlands, or hang out at one of the many street festivals.

If you’re hoping for a balance between the two, consider visiting during the spring or fall. The earlier part of spring (mid-March to late April) is still a bit chilly with daily averages of 32-50 degrees fahrenheit. Later in the season is when the warm weather starts to kick in, with temperatures rising to 50-70 degrees.

You can expect the reverse for the fall, with warmer temperatures early in the season, cooling down as the fall season goes on.

Best time to visit Nova Scotia

The best time to visit depends on what activities and experiences you want to get out of your trip. There really is no “bad time” to visit Nova Scotia, and all seasons are worthy of a visit. There is plenty of activity year-round.

Summer is a popular season, because of the warm weather and the high amount of outdoor activities. For anyone hoping to spend a lot of time on the water (kayaking, swimming), it’s better to go during summer. Most whale watching tours in Nova Scotia don’t start until June, so if this is high on your list, consider holding off until summer.

If you’re hoping to experience the warm weather without the crowds of summer, try going in should season, when the crowds have thinned out. Late April-early May is a great time for this, before school is let out for the summer, or in late September-Early October when school has started again.

Even in the warmer months, it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or another layer, especially if you’re near the water, as it can get a bit chilly. A notable reason for fall being a popular time to visit is the changing of the leaves. The autumn colors are pretty are pretty impressive, and is worth considering a fall visit.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a great destination for various visitors. The most common types of visitor for the region is one who likes to be outdoors. As said above, there is plenty of outdoor activities, from hiking, to cycling, to spending time on the water.

Many people head to Cape Breton Highlands to get kick their active drive into gear. There are beaches and paths to explore the great outdoors. Follow the cabot trail through the winding roads to the top of the cliffs for jaw-dropping views. This track is especially popular for motorcyclists. When the winter season hits, hiking trails turn into great snowshoeing opportunities. Hit the slopes for skiing or sledding.

Those who like to explore shops, museums, and spend time indoors are also in for a treat. The best place to visit for this type of travel is to Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia.

The city is filled with museums, galleries, and historic sites. Learn about immigration at the Canadian Museum of Immigration, or spend some time at the new Discovery Centre off the Halifax waterfront. Pop through the various distilleries and breweries around the city.

Common Nova Scotia Tour Routes

Common tour routes include a visit to the three Canadian Maritimes provinces, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Nova Scotia. Options include driving through the provinces, or sometimes, taking a cruise through the maritimes.

Road trips usually stop in major cities such as Saint John, NB; Charlottetown, PEI; over to Nova Scotia towards Halifax. If you’re taking a cruise, the ports are a bit different, starting in Halifax, over towards Charlottetown, and sailing around New Brunswick through the Gulf of St. Lawrence towards Quebec.

Road trip routes through Nova Scotia alone are also a great way to see the region. A common route starts in Halifax, spending some time exploring the capital. The road trip heads west, stopping at Peggy’s cove and Lunenburg. Keep heading west towards Yarmouth, and explore the southwestern shores of the province, before heading north.

Make a stop in Digby, home to the famous digby scallops you can hand pick, before heading towards the coastal town of Annapolis Royal. Continue driving east towards Cape Breton Island to explore one of the most picturesque places in Canada! After a stop on the island, many visitors make their way back towards Halifax. If you’re short on time (less than a week), it’s better to break up this trip.

Either head west from Halifax and tackle Peggy’s cove, Yarmouth, and Digby, or break up the time between Halifax and Cape Breton Island. While the drive is beautiful, there is a fair amount of driving, and the whole trip shouldn’t be spent in the car driving between places!

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