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Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour trail Views
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Riding along the trail
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Digby Scallops
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour trail Adventures
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Guests admiring view along Cabot trail

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6-Day Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Coastal Bike Tour

Pedal one of the world's most beautiful paved bike routes with us, the Cabot Trail. Experience the scenery, music and seafood of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island and spin through glorious valleys, along an expansive coast and through soaring highlands.

Start - End: Halifax - Halifax

Total trip: 6 days

Average group size: 12 people

from USD 4,399/pp including taxes and fees

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Trip Inquiry - 6-Day Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Coastal Bike Tour

Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour trail Views
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Riding along the trail
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Digby Scallops
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour trail Adventures
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Guests admiring view along Cabot trail
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour trail Views
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Riding along the trail
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Digby Scallops
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour trail Adventures
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Guests admiring view along Cabot trail
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Coastal Views
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Lobster meals
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Ocean views of Nova Scotia
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Cape Brenton highlands national park
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Two Bald Eagles on a tree
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour Biking along the coast
Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Bike Tour 12 Harbor seal
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Trip Inquiry - 6-Day Cabot Trail Nova Scotia Coastal Bike Tour

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Experience Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail on a 6-day coastal bike tour with ocean cliffs, highland scenery, and rich Maritime culture.

Named after the famous explorer John Cabot (an Italian, Giovanni Caboto, who sailed under an English flag), the Cabot Trail is one of the world’s most beautiful bicycle routes. It’s located on splendid Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. The Cabot Trail winds through glorious valleys and
along an expansive coast as it traverses the Highlands. Pods of whales can be seen just off the coast, while bald eagles soar on the breezes.


Let us show you this gorgeous place as it should be experienced — by bicycle! You start and finish the tour in Baddeck, the place where Alexander Graham Bell wanted to spend the rest of his life. From there you cycle clockwise around the trail through the Margaree Valley, Chéticamp, Pleasant Bay and Ingonish.


You also have the opportunity to go whale watching (weather permitting), hike the Cape Breton Highlands, dine on fresh seafood, and relax after incredible days in the saddle. For those wishing to get in a round of golf, that can be arranged, too: The Highland Links golf course was recently ranked as the best golf course in Canada and one of the top 100 courses in the world.


Surfaces for this tour: 98% Paved and 2% Gravel.

Trip Highlights

Day by day on tour

Check out the map below for the spectacular route you'll take on this bike tour.

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After meeting there’s a 4-hour shuttle to the first hotel, we’ll stop for lunch on your own for sandwiches at a local coffee shop. A welcome dinner awaits you at a historical inn in Baddeck, where you have the chance to feast on fresh lake trout or Digby scallops, arguably the world’s best. This charming hamlet is nestled on the shores of the Bras d’Or Lakes. It's the place where Alexander Graham Bell tinkered, and where an engaging museum bearing his name is located. You get there early enough to take in the sights before dinner.
Accommodation: Telegraph House Hotel, Baddeck
Meals: Dinner

Leaving your lovely inn, cycle across the one-lane Baddeck Bridge, where families of bald eagles may be seen showing their young how best to fish. You bike through the splendid Margaree Valley along Lake O’Law. You have an optional 12-mile bicycle ride in the afternoon, crisscrossing the Margaree River Valley … or possibly a swim at a nearby swimming hole. Your ultimate destination is the Normaway Inn, set upon a beautiful 250 acres.

Tonight you get a taste of foot-stomping Cape Breton music in the sitting room before dinner at the Inn!
Accommodation: Normaway Inn, Margaree Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 36 miles (57.9 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,003 feet (610 meters) ascent, 1,816 feet (553 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier to Intermediate

Salmon are abundant along the Margaree River making the Margaree Valley an angler’s paradise. You have the opportunity to visit the Margaree Salmon Museum this morning as you leave the valley and join the coast road to Chéticamp. In Chéticamp, you have the option to go whale watching, as well as garnering your first glimpse of the Highlands, where you cycle over the next two days.
Accommodation: Silver Lining Inn, Chéticamp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Biking: 32.4 miles (52.1 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,166 feet (355 meters) ascent, 1,416 feet (322 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier to Intermediate

Today’s ride has you cycling into Cape Breton Highland’s National Park. The Highlands encompass almost 1,000 square kilometers of breathtaking terrain that descends to dramatic rocky shorelines. The park is teaming with wildlife: moose, eagles, foxes, deer, coyotes, lynx and bobcats are plentiful. You climb French and North mountains and then head on to our next relaxing accommodation.
Accommodation: The Markland Resort, Dingwall
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 47.7 miles (76.7 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 4,766 feet (1,453 meters) ascent, 4,741 feet (1,445 meters) descent
Terrain: Advanced

You continue cycling along the Cabot Trail taking the scenic route through Neil's Harbour on the way to Ingonish. Before lunch on your own, you bike down to the quaint fishing village of White Point, where whales and seals often frolic just offshore. You'll have free time at Markland Resort to explore the pristine sandy beach a short stroll from your cottage before dinner.
Accommodation: The Markland Resort, Dingwall
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 29.5 miles (47.5 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,174 feet (663 meters) ascent, 2,164 feet (660 meters) descent
Terrain: Intermediate

You continue cycling the Cabot Trail over Cape Smokey, where your descent has you gasping with delight. Before lunch at the Clucking Hen, take the opportunity to visit the area’s local artisans. After lunch we’ll take a scenic shuttle around St. Ann’s Bay on our 4-hour return trip to Halifax. The plan is to arrive at the Halifax Airport between 6 and 6:30 p.m.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Biking: 26 miles (41.8 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,091 feet (637 meters) ascent, 2,062 feet (628 meters) descent
Terrain: Intermediate

Inns

Telegraph House Hotel on the Cabot Trail Bike Tour

Telegraph House Hotel

You can unwind in the comfort of the traditional rooms that boast of Victorian period features at this hotel. It is located in a telegraph house that was built in 1861 and situated near the Bras d'Or Lake, offering a perfect blend of history and relaxation. Additionally, there is a room that was once occupied by Alexander Graham Bell.

Normaway Inn on the Cabot Trail Bike Tour

The Normaway Inn

An avenue of Scotch pines leads to a charming white shingled lodge with a bright dining room. You can enjoy the screened verandas and porch swings that are hidden away on 250 acres of woodlands and fields. The owner takes immense pride in their food and lodgings, so you are in for a real treat when you stay at the inn. You will see fresh vegetables in the Normaway garden. At eight o'clock, the emcee introduces Cape Breton recording stars in the Normaway's converted barn.

Silver Lining Inn on the Cabot Trail Bike Tour

Silver Lining Inn

Overlooking Chéticamp Harbour on the Cabot Trail, your stay is located just a stone's throw away from the village center and Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The modern and simple rooms offer everything you need for your stay along the Cabot Trail, including stunning views and a comfortable, airy atmosphere.

The Markland Resort on the Cabot Trail Bike Tour

The Markland Resort

The Markland Resort is situated on over 60 acres of land at the northernmost point of Cape Breton Island. You can enjoy the mesmerizing ocean views from your cabins or take a walk along the long beach and sandy shore, which is a simply breathtaking stretch of unspoiled and pristine oceanfront. The mountains meet the sea, making nature truly come alive. These inviting surroundings will replenish and nourish your soul.

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FAQs

From where the trip starts to what to pack, check out our Frequently Asked Questions about this tour.

On the first morning of the tour, our two pick-up location are Westin Nova Scotian Hotel at 10am or the Halifax Airport at 10:30am, in front of the Alt Hotel. You are welcome to book your pre-tour stay at this hotel directly or any other hotel in Halifax, though you must make your own way to the two pick-up locations at the pre-designated times.

Your tour ends with a drop-off at either the Halifax Airport at 6:30pm in time for flights below or at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel at 7pm.

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Halifax before 9am. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your tour start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the tour, we recommend departing from Halifax after 8:30pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

If you plan to drive to the tour’s pick-up location, please ensure you arrange parking for the duration of your tour. If the pick-up point is a hotel, we recommend contacting them directly to inquire about parking availability. Keep in mind some hotels do not permit non-guests to park on-site, so you may need to find alternative parking options.

You’ll be fully supported throughout the tour with two experienced tour leaders — one riding alongside the group and another following in a support vehicle. The support van travels with you on all riding days, stocked with snacks and tools, and ready to help with repairs or provide a lift whenever needed.

Your tour leaders are there for more than just the cycling. They’re happy to assist with logistics, help arrange transport, and share local insights and recommendations to help you make the most of each stop along the way.

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What's included

  • 5 nights’ accommodation
  • 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
  • You’re supported from start to finish by our highly experienced guides and leaders
  • Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
  • All activities outlined in the itinerary
  • Delicious snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to keep you fueled
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
  • Branded t-shirt and bag
  • Gravel bikes with drop handlebars, Hybrid with flat-bar handlebars, or E-Bikes - equipped with a front handlebar bag or rear carrier, branded water bottle, mirror, and flat pedals
  • Ride with GPS for navigation along with the detailed maps and itineraries
  • Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern, and comfortable! 
  • Your queries answered by our knowledgeable Customer Care Team - only a call, chat, or email away
  • You’re “trip ready” with our Customer Care Team’s calls prior to your trip
  • “My Account” - your own online space with everything required for your adventure

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