An Adventure Traveler’s Guide to Nova Scotia

Kayaking in Nova Scotia
Kayaking in Nova Scotia | © Ryk Venema

Adventure travel in Nova Scotia is almost a given, seeing as the province is surrounded by ocean and brimming with wilderness, waterfalls, and lakes. If your ideal vacation involves sailing, hiking, climbing, and more, keep reading for adventure travel highlights.

Hiking

Take in the province’s stunning scenery and rugged coastline with a hiking trip. Popular spots include Blomidon, Cape Split, Duncan’s Cove, and Cape Breton Highlands Park. There are also thousands of waterfalls around the province, which are a really fun hiking destination. Head here for some of the top spots.
✨Magical Nova Scotia✨ • • • #Waterfalls #WaterfallsNS #Magical #NavigateNS #NovaScotia #wilderness #Hike #HikeNS #water #trees #greenery #Beauty
A post shared by Navigate Nova Scotia (@navigatens) on Sep 10, 2017 at 5:01am PDT

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Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Camping

With 20 provincial parks and over 100 privately owned campgrounds in Nova Scotia, there is no shortage of amazing camping spots. Just to get you started, we recommend checking out Kejimkujik National Park, Cape Breton Highlands Park, and the Ovens.

Sailing

Nova Scotia is known as ‘Canada’s Ocean Playground’ for a reason, and a sail is a quintessential maritime experience. Sailing tours are available all over Nova Scotia’s coastline and make for a fantastic day trip.
#sailracing #chesterraceweek #chesteraceweek2017 #sailing
A post shared by Matthew C Moore (@matthewcharlesmoore) on Aug 29, 2017 at 2:35pm PDT

Ziplining

Why walk when you can zip? See Nova Scotia from above with one of four ziplining companies in the province: Upper Clements Adventure Park, Anchors Above Zipline Adventures, Shubenacadie River Adventure Tours, and Ontree.

Rafting

Twice a day, 160 billion tons of water rushes in and out of the Bay of Fundy. Hold on tight and ride the eight-foot waves in one of the area’s whitewater rafting tours.
Looks like the gang from #Liverpool #novascotia in this 2006 photo? Have a #story to tell about your ride on the river? We would love to hear from you. Just add #tidalborerafting to your photo and description. #rafting #riverrafting #tidalbore #visitnovascotia #iphone #iphonegraphy #bayoffundy #somuchfun #shubenacadieriver
A post shared by Tidal Bore Rafting Resort (@tidalborerafting) on May 28, 2014 at 6:01am PDT

Skydiving

The Atlantic School of Skydiving offers both tandem and solo skydiving adventures. This is a fun and exhilarating one-day activity that you won’t forget any time soon.

Surfing

You might be surprised to hear it, but Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore is an internationally recognized surfing destination. Hurricane season (from August until November) brings large swells up the coast, so grab your surfboard or boogie board and head to Lawrencetown beach to hit the waves. You can go solo or take a surf lesson.
Surfing 🏄 in canada 🇨🇦 #lawrencetownbeach #surftrip #firsttime #happyhippos #explorecanada
A post shared by rahelkaes (@rahelkaes) on Sep 30, 2017 at 7:40pm PDT

Kayaking

Sailing isn’t the only way to explore the ocean. Kayaking is another of our favourite ways to hit the water. Kayak rentals and tours are available all over the province, but we especially recommend renting at the Bay of Fundy and the Halifax Harbour.

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