Pedal & Paddle PEI

3 days sea-kayaking, 2 days cycling Inn-to-Inn on Prince Edward Island

Day One
You will be picked up from your hotel in Charlottetown at 8:30 am. You will meet and get to know your guides during a short shuttle to the launch site on Boughton Bay. There, we'll pack the kayaks and the guides will get you started with some basic paddling instruction onshore. Once on the water, we'll take some time to offer paddling techniques that will help you become more comfortable in your boat. A couple of hours' paddling brings us to our lunch spot, where you can expect a delicious picnic lunch on the beach. After lunch, we'll round Spry Point to arrive at the Inn at Spry Point, originally built by the New Alchemists as an experimental microcosm of self-sufficiency. You'll dine under a canopy of grapevines in the unique dining room. The Inn offers beautiful vistas, handsome rooms, and woodland trails.

Day Two
After a country breakfast, it's back in the kayaks as we paddle past sandy white beaches interrupted by breathtaking red sandstone cliffs. There are plenty of bird watching opportunities along this stretch of shore as we will paddle past cormorant colonies and possibly see bald eagles. A picnic lunch and some time on the beach will replenish our energy before we paddle on to the spectacular Inn at Bay Fortune, the former home of Broadway playwright Elmer Harris and other actors and authors. It is described by Where to Eat in Canada as: "...overlooking the sea, a snug sitting room with an open fire and a dining room that...is without question the best on the Island".

Day Three
After an elegant breakfast at the Inn, we set out this morning for the town of Souris. There are some nice areas for snorkeling along this part of the coast - try to spot some lobster and crabs. The shallow waters even allow you to glimpse such marine creatures from your kayak. The many inlets and coves on this section of coast allow a view of the Island's patchwork green pastures, red fields, and bright wildflowers that border on the ocean. You'll be received at the port of Souris at the 4-star comforts of the Matthew House Inn, a gorgeous B&B renowned for their hospitality. Depending on the time of year, we may be able to dine at the Inn or we'll drive for dinner in Montague or St. Peter's.

Day Four
You'll start your day with a delicious breakfast before we fit you to your bicycle. With smooth tyres, flat handlebars and 24 speeds, these bikes are comfortable and easy to ride. There are lots of route options, so you can pick the distances and type of roads you wish to ride: from paved coastal roads all the way around East Point to 40 km of car-free Confederation Trail inland. If time allows, we'll visit Greenwich National Park and hike in to see the spectacular dune system there. We'll stay at the Inn at St. Peter's, a beautiful inn surrounded by lush gardens and a dining room that is often our guests' favourite.

Day Five
A gently-graded 60 km of traffic-free trail takes us into Charlottetown, with a picnic lunch stop midway in Mount Stewart (Van support is available). We'll finish on the Charlottetown waterfront, with an ice cream at Cow's. Yum!

Notes
Although this trip is suitable for novice paddlers, bear in mind that we are paddling on the ocean and wind and weather will be a factor. Poor weather may force us to change our paddling plans – for example, we sometimes run the trip in the opposite direction, opt to paddle the river mouths, or hug the shoreline. Expect to be in the kayaks about four hours each day, with at least two breaks.

2008 Dates
June 24-28
July 8-12
July 22-26
August 19-23
September 2-6

Length: 5 days
Price: $1899

To book this trip call toll free at 1-800-207-3899.