9 Shore Excursions Tours in Canada Worth Booking

1.Cabot Trail Bus Tour for Cruise Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 101 reviews · from $129Our pick

From Sydney’s cruise port, a local English-speaking guide takes you along Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail in a small group of up to 14. Expect mountain and ocean views, fishing villages, beaches, photo stops, restroom breaks, and a bakery or café stop. Guides may include Tom, Catherine, Kenny, or Joe.

“Very long bus tour of a section of the Cabot Trail. A visit to the guide’s family’s fishing area that was not very interesting to me. The guide, Kenny, was very knowledgeable and proud of his heritage. Not exactly sure he should have mentioned American politics (even though we agreed with him). When on vacation, it’s nice to get away from that. We saw beautiful places and a beach. A few stops for restroom breaks and snacks but the tour was very long. Kenny never stops talking so it’s difficult to enjoy the view. Fishing is not our thing and that was probably 85% of the info we listened to.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Montreal Shore Excursion: Pre- or Post-Cruise Guided Sightseeing Tour of Montreal

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 79 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $44Best value

Tour Montreal by deluxe coach with a bilingual English and French guide, stopping in Old Montreal, the Old Port, Olympic Park, Mount Royal, and St Joseph’s Oratory. Hotel and port pickup are offered, making this a useful first look at the city or an easy post-cruise morning before a later flight.

“The entire experience was most enjoyable because we were so fortunate to have such a great guide, Cecile, and driver Alonzo. They made a great team! The tour was comprehensive and worth every penny. It was a wonderful experience and a great introduction to the city of Montreal. We were so grateful to have shuttle service to and from our hotel. Everyone was so welcoming, pleasant and helpful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Shared Cruise Excursion – “Mini” Cabot Trail

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $149

Ride from Sydney’s cruise port into Cape Breton’s famous Cabot Trail region in a small group of up to 14. Guides such as Brian, Frank, and Mark share local history, coal-mining stories, and Celtic and Acadian culture while stopping at St. Ann’s Bay, Kelly’s Mountain, Cape Breton National Park, and scenic overlooks. Expect a beautiful but road-heavy day, not a complete Cabot Trail loop.

“Brian was an excellent tour guide. We really enjoyed the journey. Simply for awareness people need to be aware this is an out and back tour as there is no way to make a full circle. The trip is worth it, but you are in the van for many hours. However, Brian was good at stopping at many attractive points along the route. We saw beautiful scenery and learned a lot about the area.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Sydney: Highland Village & Bell Museum Cruise Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 20 reviews · 6 hours · from $140

From Sydney’s port, a red-jacketed Blackwood Tours guide leads you through Cape Breton’s country roads to Highland Village, across Little Narrows by ferry, and on to Baddeck’s Bell Museum. You’ll learn about Scottish settlement, Gaelic culture, Alexander Graham Bell, and Canada’s first flight before returning with photo stops.

“Great trip! Our guide was very knowledgeable and fun. I would definitely recommend her.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Private Cruise Excursion in Cape Breton

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 4 to 7 hours (approx.)

You’ll leave Sydney port in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a Bannockburn Tours guide such as Gary, Bo, Tom, Kevin, or Adrian. Expect a flexible drive along the Cabot Trail, scenic overlooks, beaches, local stops, and a return to your ship. The trip lasts about 4 to 7 hours, with roughly 2 hours spent outside the vehicle.

“This is the way to get to see the beautiful scenery the Cabot Trail has to offer !!! Guide Gary was fun and great at planning the logistics for the trip. We were on a cruise and he picked us up from the port on time. I definitely recommend this tour !”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Halifax Shore Excursion: Peggy’s Cove Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 14 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $176

Travel by air-conditioned minivan from Halifax to Peggy’s Cove, where you can see the oceanfront lighthouse and 350- to 415-million-year-old granite formations. Your guide then returns you to Halifax for a Citadel photo stop and broad harbour views. Pickup is offered, and the tour runs in English.

“this was an enjoyable trip. the town tour is a typically town tour. the weather at the cove was a bit cold and windy the day we toured. the lighthouse and views are spectacular. the view when arriving to the lighthouse is breathtaking. wish the tour bus could have stopped for a picture. the one in my memory will have to do! 3 of us enjoyed a Peggy's Cover hot dog from a local vendor. Yes a hot dog.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Halifax Private Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $202Top rated

You’ll travel privately from the Halifax cruise terminal or your hotel to Peggy’s Cove, Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Citadel Hill, and the waterfront. English-speaking guides such as Al, Doug, Claudio, and Ziyan have led this route. Expect scenic drives, local history, bottled water, and flexibility, though most of your time is spent in the vehicle.

“Visited Halifax on a cruise so had limited time is felt a tour to see the wider area was best. Fantastic tour. Claudio met us at the cruise terminal and took us to Peggy’s Cove and the Titanic cemetery. Claudio had a great knowledge of Halifax and surrounding area including the history. Along with the planned stops he also took us around some lesser known areas off the main tourist trail which was great. Fantastic tour which I would highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Cruise Ship Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $121

Spend about four and a half hours seeing Halifax by air-conditioned coach, with time at Peggy’s Cove and the Halifax Public Gardens. Guides such as Jonathan add local stories, humor, and careful timekeeping. Port pickup and return transport are included, but confirm the exact meeting point before leaving your ship.

“Great guide.. knowledgeable, funny with a strict eye on time to ensure we don’t miss the boat!! Jonathan was great.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Cabot Trail Jeep Adventure – Cruise Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Meet your Cape Breton Backcountry Adventures guide beside the Big Fiddle in Sydney, then ride in a private, air-conditioned Jeep with a removable roof. Guides such as Lloyd and Mac take you along and beyond the Cabot Trail to fishing villages, family farms, rivers, lookout points, and local-only stops.

“This was over the top amazing ! Our guide/driver Lloyd was warm, welcoming, super knowledgeable about the area, super engaging, and just an all around nice person ! We enjoyed every moment of our time with him as he showed us the most breathtaking sights along the Cabot Trail . This is without a doubt a class act and excellent operation. We were picked up and dropped off at the cruise port … it was an absolutely perfect day!! We will be talking about this day for a long time! Amazing !!!”

Check availability →Read our full review