Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
The Cabot Trail Discovery Tour explores Nova Scotia’s most iconic road trip. From the rugged coastlines and majestic mountains to the charming small fishing villages, this tour provides breathtaking viewpoints, & endless photo opportunities. Our tour takes you to places the cruise ship tours do not go and tailors the time of the tour to the time you have in port.
There is at least 5 hours of driving time on this tour due to the distance the Cabot Trail is from the Cruise Terminal. We return passengers to the ship one hour prior to departure time.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Not suitable for passengers with mobility issues that require transportation of wheelchairs, scooters, or walkers. Guests must be able to get in and out of the van with steps.
What To Expect
Cabot Trail
The Cabot Trail is the "Crown Jewel" of Cape Breton Island. The 300 kilometre (186 mile) driving route offers spectacular coastal views, unspoiled natural beauty, encounters with wildlife, and warm hospitality in the Celtic and Acadian villages that dot the coastline. Although time constraints don't allow for the entire route to be travelled on a cruise excursion, we offer a "mini" tour that shows some of the best highlights with many look-off stops along the way.
Options
Shared Cruise Excursion - "Mini" Cabot Trail
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Guided scenic tour to Ingonish or Cheticamp
Air-conditioned vehicle
Top-rated scenic look-off points and "off the beaten path" locations
Photo opportunities at St. Ann's Bay and Kelly's Mountain and many more
Gratuities
Lunch
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
A lot of time in the car, but a lot of ground covered as well
mauinoel,Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I appreciated that this tour was specifically designed for cruise ship passengers and that we were able to see so much in a comfortable touring van. Our guide Brian did a great job of providing a ton of information, but of course, his personal stories and memories were the highlights. There were a lot of picture stops, and he was smart to have us grab sandwiches along the way to enjoy later at the beach. I think I most enjoyed riding the ferry across a tiny stream and how that underscored the pace of life on CBI. It’s a shame that we didn’t have more time and had to backtrack instead of making a big loop, but at least the stops on the way back were different.
Breathtaking Scenery, Unforgettable Guide
ladywigan,Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you’re after jaw-dropping scenery, and entertaining stories, this tour is the way to go. Our guide Brian deserves his own plaque somewhere along the route. Not only was he a walking encyclopedia (with lineage dating back to the 1700s!), but he managed to make centuries of history feel like a chat with an old friend. What Brian doesn’t know about the area could probably fit on the back of a stamp — and not one of those oversized commemorative ones either. Yes, there was a fair bit of driving (so if you’re prone to car-induced existential crises, pack your travel sweets), but every mile was rewarded with a view that made us collectively gasp and fumble for our cameras. By the end, we were sun-soaked, story-filled, and wondering how to adopt Brian into the family. In short: scenery worth a postcard, stories worth a book, and a guide worth his weight in lobster. Highly recommended.
Brian is the best!
Cindy N,Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We have been on 20+ cruises and we can say that this excursion was the best of all excursions we have taken. Our guide, Brian, was so knowledgeable of the area, took us to little out of the way places that the big buses can’t get to, stopped at a local restaurant that won an award for their chowder and had many stories to share about the area. He was also very funny - typical east coast charm! He kept an eye on the time to ensure that our group of 11 got back in plenty of time to board our ships. Highly recommend this tour!
Do your homework!
Landra D,Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We loved the tour and found our guide to be very interesting and knowledgeable. But before you book, know that this is a lot of riding and looking with little to "explore." It was perfect for us, but I can see that a much younger clientele might not enjoy this tour as much as we did.
Great tour
Diane W,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was very organized and Brian was so friendly and knowledgeable. Enjoyed the experience of seeing the island.
Highly Recommended
639lewiss,Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent communication by Misty, owner of Cabot Discovery Tours. Brian, our guide, safely drove us through the beautiful countryside. He was personable, accommodating, and very well informed. Brian grew up in this region and was the source of a wealth of information on a wide range of topics. Our transport van, which I believe was 2 years old, was spotlessly clean and looked almost brand new. Highly recommended.
When I booked the tour...
Kellianne M,Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00When I booked the tour for 6 people (and spoke to someone at the company), I was given the impression that we would be the only ones on the tour. When we arrived the van was filled to the brim and there really was not enough room for 14 large adults. The driver said we would drive their the mick mau reservation, but that never happened. Thought we would drive to the top but was told it was too much traffice. Driver was knowledgeable but told TOO many stories about himself and did not really create a dialogue with the riders.
Cabot Trail small group excursion
Ingrid K,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a wonderful day with our guide Brian. He is a wealth of knowledge and share interesting stories and history. He showed us many sights and made sure to have us back to our cruise on time. Highly recommend this company.
Our tour guide was...
Helga A,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide was terrific. He gave us lots of history of the area we were traveling plus history of the Sydney area
Not much to see in this abbreviated tour
Robert C,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00My wife and I were looking forward to seeing some great views of the Cabot Trail, but unfortunately this was not the right tour for that. Our driver, Frank, was very nice and a native of the area. That being said, his narration was more personal—reminiscing about his family and work in the coal mines—rather than focused on the history and culture of the region. Time was also poorly managed, with no clear expectations set for when passengers needed to be back on the bus. What was supposed to be a quick “grab-and-go” sandwich stop turned into a 35-minute sit-down meal. There were also two lengthy bathroom breaks. Altogether, these delays ate up more than two hours of the tour. Despite the setbacks, I understood that the full loop could typically be accomplished in 4–5 hours, which should have been plenty of time within the seven hours scheduled for this tour. Instead, we made it less than halfway through the trail before having to turn back for the cruise port. The result was seeing only 4–5 overlooks that were nice, but not breathtaking. I should mention that many of the older passengers seemed to enjoy themselves, treating it more as a social outing than a sightseeing tour. With that in mind, if you’re a younger traveler hoping to see dramatic views and learn more about the area’s culture and history, I think there are better options available. If you’re older and looking for a leisurely ride with fellow cruisers, however, this tour might be more your cup of tea.
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Operated by Cabot Discovery Tours