Cabot Trail & Baddeck Tour from Sydney Cape Breton Cruise Port
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Nova Scotia on this scenic journey through part of the world-famous Cabot Trail and the charming village of Baddeck.
Departing from Sydney, you’ll travel through the picturesque countryside before boarding a traditional cable-pulled ferry—your gateway to the Cabot Trail. Along the route, enjoy a comfort stop and several photo opportunities showcasing stunning ocean views and dramatic landscapes.
Next, visit the Gaelic College, where you’ll learn about the island’s deep Gaelic roots and cultural traditions. Then continue to the beautiful lakeside village of Baddeck. Stroll the waterfront, browse local shops and cafes, and explore the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, featuring exhibits on the inventor’s remarkable life and achievements.
Your return to Sydney includes a few final scenic stops, wrapping up a day rich in natural beauty, local culture, and fascinating history.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Portable rollators
What To Expect
Drive through Charlotte Street in Sydney, Nova Scotia, one of the most historic and lively streets in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Located near the Port of Sydney, Charlotte Street gives visitors a great first look at downtown Sydney’s local charm, heritage buildings, restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, and waterfront atmosphere. As part of a Sydney shore excursion, this scenic downtown drive offers views of the city’s historic character, including nearby landmarks such as the Jost House, older stone and brick buildings, local pubs, and cultural sites. Charlotte Street is a great introduction to Cape Breton Island, combining history, community life, and small-city charm. It is a perfect route for cruise visitors who want to experience downtown Sydney before continuing toward other top Cape Breton attractions.
Cross the iconic Seal Island Bridge near New Harris, Nova Scotia, one of the most scenic highlights on a Cape Breton shore excursion. Spanning the beautiful Great Bras d’Or Channel, this impressive bridge connects Boularderie Island with Cape Breton Island and offers unforgettable views of Bras d’Or Lake, forested hills, coastal waters, and the natural beauty of Cape Breton. As you drive across Seal Island Bridge, enjoy a peaceful and picturesque part of the journey, perfect for sightseeing, photography, and experiencing the island’s famous scenic routes. Located near Kelly’s Mountain and along the route between Sydney, Baddeck, and the Cabot Trail, Seal Island Bridge is a memorable stop or drive-through highlight for cruise visitors and travelers exploring Cape Breton Island. This area showcases the charm of New Harris, Nova Scotia, the beauty of Bras d’Or Lake, and the coastal landscapes that make Cape Breton one of Atlantic Canada’s top travel destinations.
Options
Cabot Trail & Baddeck Tour from Sydney Cape Breton Cruise Port
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Admission fee
Meals
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
58 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Boring, long drive, see review
Kathy L,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00The tour guide tried his best with what he had to work with. "Jack" very nice and accommodating. The drive to Baddock was long, they gave us 1 hr for lunch, witch should have been skipped, rather walk through a town. We had 45 min at A.G. museum, we'll worth the history, time was plenty. The sights along the way were beautiful, but the stops were tourist stops, nothing exciting. Wish the itinerary was more focused on NS. Maybe find an oat biscuit factory (area is known for those) Gaelic college did not offer anything but gift shop of items, not made by student, and bathroom. Chocolate shop, very basic, but nice people. Country store, not sure why we stopped. There are a lot of art shops on the Cabbot trail, maybe choose some different art and stop at those shops, maybe working local artists, could make it more interesting.
Wonderful, guide and extraordinary views!
Joan B,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour gave us a taste of all the beautiful things to experience in the area. Now we just want to go back!
Cabot Trail review
Jeff K,May 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Kuhlwinder was very knowledgeable, amiable and joy to be around. He was flexible and provided options for us of where to go and sight-see. We had 4 Travellers and added a personal touch Highly Recommend
Very disappointed, would not recommend this tour.
Howard S,Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00I was very disappointed with this excursion and would not recommend it. Below is the email I sent to Red Leaf Tours. I was advised in an email from the tour company that I had 30 minutes after the ship docked at the port to meet the tour group. I disembarked from the ship, as soon as I could, and joined almost all of the other excursion passengers in the tent at 9:30. Because several passengers from another ship hadn’t arrived yet, the tour guide, Kulwinder, made the decision to keep our group waiting for them. We were forced to wait until 10:50, one hour and twenty minutes in the windy and uncomfortable tent before the excursion began. Because of the long delay, the excursion failed to adhere to the expected itinerary. Rather than eating a light lunch at our own pace, as stated in the itinerary, Kulwinder instructed us to purchase our food and eat it on the bus. We looked forward to enjoying our lunch while sitting comfortably outdoors and, instead we were forced to eat lunch on a moving bus. When we arrived at the Alexander Graham Bell museum, we were allowed only thirty (30) minutes to review the exhibits, an insufficient amount of time. The main reason I booked this excursion was because I was very interested in seeing the exhibits in this museum. Because of the limited amount of time we were given, I rushed through the museum and didn’t have a chance to do more than have a quick look at the displays. It was because of the late-arriving excursion group members that we were forced to rush back to the port to keep them from missing the tenders that were going to take them back to their ship. I received the following reply from the company. The payment I made for this tour was not refunded. We are truly sorry to hear that our tour guide did not meet your expectations. We take all feedback seriously and are currently reviewing the matter to better understand what happened and how we can improve. Due to a high volume of emails and customer inquiries, our response time may be slightly delayed. However, please rest assured that your concern is important to us, and we will get back to you with your refund request as soon as possible.
Best tour on our Canadian trip.
Stephen B,Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We did the Cabot Trail and Alexander Graham Bell Museum and lunch in Baddeck. Jack was our guide and he accommodated our every needs. He was very informative and professional. We highly recommend this tour.
History and the beauty of nature
Compass28395627370,Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00"Kool"/ Jack was a marvelous tour guide and made the most of our short time in port and changing ship schedule. The Alexander Graham Bell museum was surprisingly fabulous. And the what we got to see of the Cabot trail was beautiful - many photo opps! Sad that the ferry wasn't running that day... but out of our control.
Colorful Cabot!
Bernadette B,Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00So worth the experience. Great value. Our guide , Kulwinder , was knowledgeable , on time and generally made our "adventure " more enjoyable. Knew much about the area.
Wonderful Cabot Trail and Badeck Tour
Joanne A,Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We arrived at the Sydney port on a cruise ship. Our friendly guide met us nearby which was perfect, accommodating my 91 yr old aunt who couldn’t walk far. We had a fabulous day seeing the beautiful foliage colors on the Cabot Trail and visiting the interesting Alexander Graham Bell Museum. . Our guide, Taranpreet, was informative and very thoughtful. He stopped many times along the Cabot Trail so we could take photos making it a very special experience including stopping at a chocolate shop and taking a small ferry (which was a fun, unique experience) in Englishtown near St Ann’s Loop. We had a very memorable day. We highly recommend our guide, Taranpreet, and this tour.
Small group tour was...
Debra W,Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Small group tour was better than the big bus excursion with the cruise line. Nice drive up the Cabot Trail to see the sites and beautiful fall colors. Our drive was very accommodating to our requests. Was a good day for sure!
Beautiful Scenery
Van B,Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful scenery along Cabot Trail and Baddeck. Our tour of six was in a minivan along with our driver Manny. Manny was very accommodating and strived to make our tour memorable. The only complaint is if you are seated in the back of the minivan; you could not hear what the driver/tour guide was saying. The driver/tour guide did say we would be switching seats along the tour. But there is always an entitled passenger who refused to do so. We do recommend this tour over the big buses because smaller vans and buses venture into areas where the larger vehicles cannot go such as the cable ferry. The Bell museum in Baddeck was interesting and we had plenty of time to have lunch on the water. We definitely recommend this tour.
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Operated by Red Leaf Tours