From the Arctic to Antarctica

Take to the water and explore your surroundings with a member of your Viking Expedition Team. After a thorough introduction and safety briefing, transfer from your ship to the kayak staging area, where you will receive your paddle and join a fellow traveler in a two-person kayak. Your kayak has been designed to provide a combination of stability and comfort as you paddle your way through the open water. Dressed in a kayak suit (depending on the season) and bespoke life jacket for maximum maneuverability, you will be geared up to remain warm and dry during your expedition experience. Immerse yourself in nature as you journey along the tranquil waterways of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, reaching less accessible locations along the water’s edge and keeping watch for local wildlife.

Experience the beauty of Woody Point from the water during a ride in a Special Operations Boat. Board your vessel from the ship’s shell door landing with assistance by a member of Viking’s Expedition Team. Once securely on board, lines will be untethered and your thrilling journey will begin. As you motor across the water, keep watch for the array of wildlife that make their home in this gateway to Gros Morne National Park. Look to the water to spot seals and to the shoreline for sightings of moose and caribou. Your highly maneuverable vessel will allow you to reach less accessible locations along the water’s edge. Knowledgeable specialists will be on hand to explain the natural world that surrounds you and to alert you to wildlife sightings. At the end of your excursion, your Special Operations Boat will return you and your fellow travelers to your ship.

Embark on a scenic cruise to île Niapiskau to learn about its history and view its centuries-old monoliths. After a short stroll to the marina, you will receive a safety briefing and board your vessel. Depart Havre-Saint-Pierre for île Niapiskau, part of the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve and home to Canada’s largest concentration of erosion monoliths. Step ashore for a guided walk with a Parks Canada heritage interpreter, who will share insights as you explore nearly 500 million years of geological history. Follow a trail lined with limestone cliffs and rock formations, sculpted by wind and waves over centuries into remarkable shapes. Take in the sight of these impressive monoliths, some of which stand over 30 feet tall. Local folklore and poetry have given these formations names and stories, including the iconic Dame de Niapisca. After your visit, return to your ship.

Trace the story of Havre-Saint-Pierre during a guided walk and sample local favorites. Founded in 1857 by six families from Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, this coastal village boasts a rich history of fishing, mining and the lumber industry—today, mining is the village’s main focus. Set out on foot from your ship to uncover its heritage, beginning with a visit to the marina and a cemetery that harken back to Havre-Saint-Pierre’s maritime past. Learn about the daily lives of the “Cayens,” a nickname for the village’s inhabitants that reflects their Acadian roots. Head to a nearby restaurant to sample cloudberry pie, a regional favorite, accompanied by a taste of locally crafted gin. Cap your excursion with a visit to Rio Tinto, the heart of the village’s mining operations, to discover how the industry has evolved over the years, then return to your ship.

Explore two of the Mingan Archipelago’s islands to marvel at impressive geology and wander through arctic flora. Enjoy a stroll to Havre-Saint-Pierre’s marina, where you will receive a safety briefing before boarding your vessel and setting out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Trace the shoreline, keeping watch for sea life as you sail to Petite Île Marteau, one of the Mingan Archipelago’s notable islands. Here, meet your Parks Canada naturalist and walk to the lighthouse station to learn about the island’s flora and maritime history. From the lookout, view the limestone cliffs of Grosse Île au Marteau and the collection of monoliths shaped by the sea before continuing to Île Quarry, a natural botanical garden that is home to numerous regional habitats. Glimpse boreal forest, peat bogs, barrens and cliffs as you explore and visit its erosion site to see another striking set of monoliths.

Explore the nature and intriguing sea creatures of Havre-Saint-Pierre at the Mingan Island Cetacean Study. Meet your guide, board your motor coach and set off, tracing the scenic coastline from Havre-Saint-Pierre and marveling at the expansive nature of the region, passing swaths of lush boreal forest and winding rivers. As you pass through Longue Point de Mingan, admire the seaside splendor of the town before arriving at its research center, the Mingan Island Cetacean Study. Here, explore the site with your guide, learning about the center’s research, including long-term studies on the cetaceans of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the endangered blue whale. View interactive exhibits and listen to engaging presentations to discover more about the majestic whales that call this region home and the current conservation efforts to preserve their habitat.

Explore the maritime heritage of the Mingan Archipelago with a visit to a historic lighthouse in a small group. Journey along the picturesque coast of Havre-Saint-Pierre, marveling at the blend of seaside splendor and lush pine forest before arriving in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan. Board your vessel, listen to a short safety briefing and cast off. Navigate through the scenic Gulf of St. Lawrence to Île aux Perroquets. The first lighthouse was built here in 1888 as a response to five major shipwrecks that occurred in the Mingan Archipelago. Here, meet your guide and stroll through the site, admiring the lighthouse and its surrounding buildings, learning about the lives of the keeper, the staff and their families, and discover the role the lighthouse played in helping sailors navigate the archipelago, not only by light but also with flags, sound signals, telegraphs and radios.

Explore the history, heritage and sights of Havre-Saint-Pierre on a “fat bike,” an all-terrain e-bicycle. Meet your guide and take a short walk to collect your fat bike, a specially designed electric bike for navigating the terrain through Quebec’s North Shore, allowing you to easily traverse beach and coastal landscapes due to the bike’s extra-wide tires. After a safety briefing, you will don your helmet and follow your guide for the approximately ten-mile cycle. Set out to discover the sights of Havre-Saint-Pierre and learn how this remote coastal community evolved from a small settlement to a modern mining town. Journey along scenic stretches of sandy beach and coastal trails overlooking the scenic waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence as your guide shares captivating stories of the town’s Acadian heritage. Your route complete, you will return to your ship.

Pedal with ease during a cycling excursion by e-bike as you explore the sights of Havre-Saint-Pierre. Meet your guide at the pier and walk to the cycle shop, the starting point for your ride. After a short safety briefing, don your helmet and set out on two wheels to explore. During your ride, you will learn about the history of this once-small settlement, founded by six families in 1857. Learn about the “Cayens” and their proud Acadian heritage and the industries on which the town was built. Journey along the picturesque coastal promenade offering picturesque views over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and head to the downtown district to discover the hidden gems of this north coast community. After your ride, return to your awaiting ship.

Take to the skies in a helicopter to soar high above the Côte-Nord and enjoy aerial views of Havre-Saint-Pierre. Travel to the launch site, where you will meet your guide and listen to a short safety briefing before climbing aboard your helicopter. Begin with a flight over the Romaine River corridor and take in the views of this powerful waterway, which extends from the Labrador Plateau to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Continue over the Mingan Archipelago, a national park reserve that is home to the largest number of erosion monoliths in Canada. It encompasses nearly 1,000 islands, islets, reefs and limestone platforms. Your flight concludes with a flyover of the town of Havre-Saint-Pierre, allowing you to view its rugged shoreline and boreal forest from above and see this coastal community from a different perspective before returning to your ship.