Nova Scotia’s South Shore
Canada Bike Tours
Biking the lighthouse route along Canada’s lovely South Shore beaches
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Tour Type
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Skill Level
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Length5 days
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Prices from$2410 Rates
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Overview
This bike tour in Nova Scotia focuses on what is known as the 'Lighthouse Route', where the past is part of everyday life. The route skirts beaches of white sand and reveals hidden treasures as it leads along the winding coastline. You will discover secluded anchorages, boat builders, artists’ hamlets, secret swimming holes, and little-known cafes.
Because this tour is designed by locals, you will bike like the locals immersed in a genuine landscape dotted with historic lighthouses, powerful symbols of the region's past and present.
This is a perfect introduction to Canada's coastal charms, rated one of the top ten coastal destinations in the world by National Geographic.
Come and experience by bike the delights of the sea on this bike tour in Novia Scotia.
Highlights
- Halifax with its lively waterfront and Victorian public gardens
- UNESCO Heritage town on Lunenburg
- Cable ferry crossing to the beaches near LaHave
- Spectacular headlands
- SEAFOOD!
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Itinerary
Since your itinerary begins and ends on days with cycling, we advise booking an extra night before and after your tour.
Day 1: Halifax - St. Margaret's Bay - Hubbards, 15 mi. (24 km)
Day 2: Hubbards - Mahone Bay + include the Aspotogan Peninsula roadway, 34 or 51 mi. (54 or 81 km)
Day 3: Mahone Bay - Lunenburg, 8, 16, 20, or 28 mi. (12, 25, 32, or 45 km)
Day 4: LeHave loop, 25 mi. (40 km) or sea kayaking
Day 5: Lunenburg - Port Medway - Long Cove - LaHave, 39 mi. (62 km)*All distances are approximate. Weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities may alter the itinerary. For example, you may find temporary deviations/detours necessary due to roadwork or other unforeseen circumstances that will not be reflected on your maps or route descriptions.
Day 1: Pick up in Halifax and transfer to Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park, 15 mi. (24 km)
Start your day with a quick transfer from your hotel to the Jerry Lawrence Provential Park in St. Margaret's Bay. Enjoy the scenic coastal views, rugged coastline, and sandy beaches as you cycle the Rum Runner's Trail. After lunch, continue to the picturesque community of Hubbards where you can watch the sunset over the boats in Hubbards Cove (guided tour includes L, D).Sample Accommodations: Anchorage House & Cottages or The Tuna Blue Inn (Hubbards)
Day 2: Hubbards - Mahone Bay + include the Aspotogan Peninsula roadway, 34 or 51 mi. (54 or 81 km)
Ride on an abandoned railbed with beautiful bridges, and the wonderful variety of wilderness and open vistas of the sea. The longer route also includes 40km on the Aspotogan Peninsula – a popular coastal ride with locals. You will pass through the traditional fishing villages of Blandford, Aspotogan, and Northwest Cove, and the beach at Bayswater. You can make extra side trips to see where the biggest whaling station in Eastern North America used to operate in “New” Harbour; to gaze at the distant lighthouse on East Ironbound Island, and to see one couple’s fantasy, a fairytale castle that inspires myths and tales. Your destination is the oft-photographed town of Mahone Bay where there are hidden coffee shops, proud artisans, beautiful boats, and a maritime village feel (guided tour includes B, L, D)Sample Accommodations: Fisherman's Daughter B & B, Oak Island Resort, or Kitch'Inn (Mahone Bay)
Day 3: Mahone Bay - Lunenburg, 8, 16, 20, or 28 mi. (12, 25, 32, or 45 km)
Today begins with one of Nova Scotia’s nicest rides on a scenic stretch of coastal country road. The basic ride is short – just 12 km to Lunenburg, and it’s nice to allow time to explore that tiny but bustling shipbuilders’ town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but you will have several excellent options to extend your ride to include the private beach at the end of Second Peninsula, and/or the iconic fish shacks on quiet roads in Blue Rocks and Stonehurst (guided tour includes B, L)Sample Accommodations: Bluenose Lodge, The Lunenburg Inn, or Smugglers Cove Inn (Lunenburg)
Day 4: LeHave loop, 25 mi. (40 km)
This is a beautiful ride to the sweet-smelling LaHave Bakery, with side trips to the sea caves at The Ovens Natural Park, and the beautiful beaches near Kingsburg where you can also opt to explore a magnificent headland hike. Return to Lunenburg this afternoon to explore more of this tiny but bustling shipbuilders’ town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you prefer, a full-day kayaking excursion, one of the best sea kayak experiences in Nova Scotia is available instead of cycling. You will meander through many islands, both inhabited and wild, and will be visited by dozens, maybe hundreds, of seals. There is a supplemental fee for sea kayaking, and we need to know well ahead of time. Please tell us at the time of booking (guided tour includes B, D)Sample Accommodations: Bluenose Lodge, The Lunenburg Inn, or Smugglers Cove Inn (Lunenburg)
Day 5: Lunenburg - Port Medway - Long Cove - LaHave, 39 mi. (62 km)
Ride Lunenburg to Port Medway, with the short cable ferry across the LaHave river, past the LaHave Bakery, Ploughman’s Lunch, Crescent Beach, the LaHave Islands, and several seaside hamlets: Little Harbour, Petite Riviere, Broad Cove, Cherry Hill Beach, and Vogler’s Cove. Finish at the lighthouse at Port Medway, with a short stretch to the hidden gem of Long Cove and its lighthouse. After a farewell dip in the ocean, there is a 90-minute transfer back to Halifax with the tour ending at the Lord Nelson Hotel at approximately 5 pm (guided tour includes B, L)Take time to peruse our full list of bike tours in Europe or view all our featured tours, specials, & news.
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Map
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Hotels & Bikes
Your accommodations for this tour range from a 5-star bed and breakfast, to a 4-star historic inn, to cottage accommodations all with a unique atmosphere reflecting the culture of the South Shore. Please see each day’s detailed itinerary for the preferred accommodation that is used. In the event of lack of availability, a comparable alternative will be offered. You will want to book an extra night before and after your tour since Day 1 of the itinerary begins with cycling and Day 5, the last day, ends with cycling. We advise Booking.com for researching and reserving your extra nights. You can read a detailed description of the hotels offered including a clear listing of amenities, customer reviews, and ratings. Other hotel recommendations:
• The Lord Nelson
• Prince George Hotel
• Halifax’s Waverley Inn
• The Halliburton InnBicycles
Road Bike
Aluminum or carbon racing bikes are available. The fleet is mostly comprised of Trek Madone, Domane, or Emonda road bikes with full Shimano 105 components. The aluminum racing or gravel bikes will have a rear rack and trunk bag and can carry panniers. Included is a visibility vest, a rear light, a pump, lock, patch kit, and spare inner tube. Two water bottle cages can be supplied on request.
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Inclusions
What’s Included
Guided
- Accommodations for 4 nights with breakfast
- 4 lunches (depending on your sea kayak choices)
- 3 dinners
- Guide
- Bike rental (Trek FX2 or equivalent) equipped with water bottle, odometer, trunk bag, visibility vest, lock, pump, repair kit
- Route descriptions & maps
- Support vehicle
- Luggage transfers
- Essential transfers
- GPS tracks
- Emergency support
- Accommodations for 4 nights with breakfast
- Bike rental
- Route descriptions & maps
- Luggage transfers
- Essential transfers
- GPS tracks
- Emergency support
Self guided
What’s Not Included
- All meals other than those indicated as included
- Beverages during meals (excluding breakfast)
- Gratuities for guided tour
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates
2024
Guided
June 13, June 24, July 8, July 22, August 19, September 2, September 16, & September 30, 2024
Self-guided
Available on any dates, except for those listed above.
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Guided
Twin/double: $ 4622 £ 2357 $ 4,231 € 2838 Ft 1155252 kr 422109 ₪ 11398 ¥ 464015 Mex$ 61401 NZ$ 5100 kr 33508 zł 12283 S$ 4037 kr 32964 CHF 2663 $ 2,980 Single supplement: $ 845 £ 431 $ 774 € 519 Ft 211279 kr 77198 ₪ 2085 ¥ 84862 Mex$ 11229 NZ$ 933 kr 6128 zł 2246 S$ 738 kr 6029 CHF 487 $ 545
Self-guided
Twin/double: $ 3738 £ 1906 $ 3,421 € 2295 Ft 934281 kr 341370 ₪ 9218 ¥ 375260 Mex$ 49657 NZ$ 4124 kr 27099 zł 9934 S$ 3265 kr 26659 CHF 2154 $ 2,410 Single supplement: $ 845 £ 431 $ 774 € 519 Ft 211279 kr 77198 ₪ 2085 ¥ 84862 Mex$ 11229 NZ$ 933 kr 6128 zł 2246 S$ 738 kr 6029 CHF 487 $ 545
Sales tax of 15% is included in the tour price. Please note that non-Canadian residents can no longer legally claim a rebate for the tax.
Extra Options
Bike Options
Gravel road bike rental: $ 233 £ 119 $ 213 € 143 Ft 58150 kr 21247 ₪ 574 ¥ 23356 Mex$ 3091 NZ$ 257 kr 1687 zł 618 S$ 203 kr 1659 CHF 134 $ 150
Electric bike: $ 465 £ 237 $ 426 € 286 Ft 116301 kr 42494 ₪ 1147 ¥ 46713 Mex$ 6181 NZ$ 513 kr 3373 zł 1237 S$ 406 kr 3319 CHF 268 $ 300
Optional Activities
Sea kayaking on Day 4: $ 256 £ 130 $ 234 € 157 Ft 63965 kr 23372 ₪ 631 ¥ 25692 Mex$ 3400 NZ$ 282 kr 1855 zł 680 S$ 224 kr 1825 CHF 147 $ 165
(includes lunch, equipment, accessories, and guide)
NOTE: A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required upon confirmation of your reservation!
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Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
Easy to moderate (depending on options chosen) guided or self-guided cycling tour on the Lighthouse and Fundy shores, with some longer rides suggested. The road closely follows the coast so swimming, beaches, and good coastal photo ops are all frequently possible. There are short hills, especially on the first day of riding, but they are small, and the route becomes easier as the week progresses. Extended options and abundant side trips are available on some days to extend the distance if desired.
Airport Info
Halifax Stanfield International Airport is located approximately 33 km/20 mi from the capital city of Halifax.
Local Travel
Halifax’s downtown is located about half an hour from the airport. Taxis are readily available. Additionally, Halifax Transit provides hourly departures on its MetroX bus service ($4.25 fare).
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. It should be noted that the weather in Atlantic Canada often changes, especially outside the months of July, August, and the first half of September. You should pack extra warm and weatherproof clothes if you plan a lot of outdoor activities, especially if these involve being on the water; e.g. whale watching, fishing, or other boat trips. It is difficult to imagine beforehand just how cold it can get on the sea, even on a sunny summer day. Don’t forget a warm hat and some gloves.
Recommended
Visit the Halifax farmer’s market, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Citadel! Dine at the Press Gang and the Bicycle Thief in Halifax!
Remarks
Optional extra - an outstanding sea kayak experience! You will receive wonderful tourist information with suggestions on what to do and see and where to dine.
Important to know
Travel documents
Before you travel, please check your passport expiration and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Freewheeling Adventures.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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Photos
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Reviews
Jaclyn D.
2 years agoVerified Reviewer
Tripsite Customer Reviews
Jaclyn D.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer