Explore with Viking—Canada

Discover Saint John’s prominent landmarks and historic sights during a scenic drive through Canada’s oldest city. Board your motor coach and meet your guide, who will regale you with tales of Saint John’s storied past. Visit the Reversing Falls Rapids, where the tides from the Bay of Fundy cause the flow of water to reverse directions. Your journey will take you to several Canadian National Historic Sites. Stop to explore the Saint John City Market, a National Historic Site that has been in operation since 1876. Enjoy time to browse the colorful stalls selling everything from meat and fish to bread and cheese. Cap your tour with a panoramic drive through the Revolutionary War-era Fort Howe and admire the views of Saint John and its harbor before returning to your awaiting ship.

Learn how the Saguenay Fjord has shaped this scenic region at the Musée du Fjord and see the sights of Chicoutimi. Enjoy a panoramic drive and hear about the lives of locals during the 17th century, where settlers and First Nations peoples lived alongside each other. Continue to Chicoutimi along its main street, Rue Racine. Pause at the Little White House and discover how it miraculously survived the great flood of 1996. Drive by the Pulp Mill of Chicoutimi and hear how important the mill was to the economic prosperity of the region. Next, you will pass the Ha! Ha! Pyramid, a monument to the great flood, and learn about the unusual tale of its creation. Continue to the Musée du Fjord to learn about the local marine life at its saltwater aquarium and get hands-on at the touch pool where you will be able to gently handle a variety of species. After, return to your ship.

Witness the dramatic workings of nature and experience local French Canadian culture. Drive with your guide to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, stunningly set on the St. Lawrence River. This Catholic pilgrimage shrine welcomes half a million visitors each year. Admire the sanctuary’s masterful paintings, mosaics and stained glass windows. Continue to the magnificent Sainte-Anne Falls; this torrential cascade has carved the spectacular Sainte-Anne Canyon. You will have time to cross the suspension bridges—one of which towers nearly 200 feet above the ground—and take in the incredible views. After, cross the St. Lawrence River via the island of Île d’Orléans, known as the “Open Garden of Quebec” due to its vast farmlands. Make a final stop at a local cabane à sucre, or sugar shack, where you will learn how the region’s beloved maple syrup is made and sample some of the famous “taffy on snow.” Note that this excursion requires extensive walking.

Discover nearly four centuries of history during a walk through the old town of Quebec City. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic area is North America’s only walled city. Stroll through the historic Place Royale, home to the continent’s oldest standing Catholic church, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. Sample maple toffee in the lively Quarter Petit Champlain before taking a funicular ride to the Upper Town to view the Château Frontenac, perched castle-like above the St. Lawrence River. Stop at Dufferin Terrace to enjoy sweeping views of the river, the town of Lévis on the opposite shore and the Laurentian Mountains, then continue on foot through the Upper Town. As you explore, you will pass by the Place d’Armes, the Quebec Seminary, the Ursuline Convent, Artists Alley and more. After, return directly to your ship or investigate the old town more on your own.

Enjoy striking views of Halifax’s harbor while leisurely cruising on board a classic three-masted steel schooner. Take a short walk along the pier to your vessel, the Tall Ship Silva. Originally built in 1939, the Silva was a general cargo hauler and bulk freighter for five decades before its decommissioning; it was subsequently restored, renovated and launched as a charter tour ship. Once on board, receive a safety briefing, then relax as your crew unfurls the sails and you head out into the harbor. Revel in the sweeping views of Halifax’s coastline as your guide highlights points of interest. During your cruise, enjoy soft drinks and coffee or tea while listening to a toe-tapping performance by a local fiddler. After you return to the pier, you may choose to explore Halifax independently or walk back to your ship.

Set out to discover the sights of Halifax and visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Drive by motor coach, passing notable landmarks including St. Mary’s Basilica, home to North America’s tallest polished granite spire. Stop at the Victorian-era gardens to see its manicured flowerbeds, ornate water fountains and bandstand. View the Old Town Clock, gifted by Britain’s Prince Edward during the 19th century before continuing your drive to the Halifax Citadel, the city’s star-shaped fortress and Canada’s most visited landmark. After a guided tour and time for photos, head to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Upon arrival, you will receive a brief orientation tour and an introduction to the gallery’s collection, featuring folk art, Inuit stone carvings and a presentation of the life and work of Maud Lewis. After time to explore at your leisure, return to your ship.

Explore cultural and historic sites in Quebec City, hailed as the most authentically French city outside France. Begin your journey with a drive past the beautifully restored Place Royale market square in the atmospheric Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The square is dotted with stone architecture dating as far back as the 1600s, including the oldest standing Catholic church in North America. Next, head to the Plains of Abraham, the site where the French surrendered to the British in 1759. Enjoy more spectacular river and city views from its cliffside perch atop Cape Diamond, the highest point of the Quebec promontory—it is named after the stones explorer Jacques Cartier found here and mistook for diamonds. Continue along the Grande Allée, the Champs-Élysées of Quebec, passing by the imposing Second Empire–style Parliament Building on the way back to your ship.