Small Group Travel Blog: Expert Travel Tips, Destination Guides & Tour Advice

Welcome to the Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor travel blog, featuring expert travel tips, destination guides, cruise advice, airfare strategies, packing suggestions, and first-hand insights from more than 17 years of planning small group tours.

Since 2009, we have helped solo travelers, couples, and friends enjoy adults-only small group tours and luxury river cruises with quality hotels, expert local guides, thoughtful pacing, and personal service.

Explore articles on Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Peru, Newfoundland, Paris, Normandy, Santa Fe, Canada, Italy, and AmaWaterways river cruises — then view our current Small Group Tours and River Cruises.

16Apr

Discover Canada’s Best-Kept Secret: Newfoundland Small Group Tour – Gros Morne, Icebergs & Viking Trail

A Brand-New Tour to One of the Most Spectacular Destinations in North America

If you’re looking for something truly different—something your friends haven’t already done—this Newfoundland Small Group Tour: Gros Morne, Icebergs & Viking Trail is exactly it.

This is not Banff. This is not Alaska.

This is Newfoundland—raw, dramatic, uncrowded, and unforgettable.

And we’ve designed this tour the way we design all of our trips at Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor:

  • Small groups (12–20 travelers)
  • Thoughtfully paced itineraries
  • 4-star accommodations
  • Expert guidance and preparation from start to finish

Why Newfoundland? Because It Feels Like Traveling Back in Time

Newfoundland is one of the last truly unspoiled destinations in North America.

Here, you’ll find:

  • Towering fjords and dramatic coastal cliffs
  • Icebergs drifting down from Greenland
  • Whale sightings along rugged shorelines
  • Colorful fishing villages untouched by mass tourism

Unlike crowded national parks, Newfoundland offers something rare today: space, authenticity, and quiet beauty.

Even in peak season, you’re often sharing these landscapes with only a handful of travelers.


The Highlights: Gros Morne, Icebergs & Viking History

This tour is built around three extraordinary pillars:

1. Gros Morne National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

One of the most geologically fascinating places on Earth, Gros Morne National Park is where you can literally walk on the Earth’s mantle.

  • Fjords carved by glaciers
  • The famous Tablelands (a rare exposed section of the Earth’s crust)
  • Scenic boat tours and coastal hikes

2. The Legendary Viking Trail

The Viking Trail is one of the most scenic drives in Canada.

  • Coastal cliffs and ocean vistas
  • Wildlife sightings (moose, whales, seabirds)
  • Stops at hidden gems like The Arches rock formations

This route connects some of the most important natural and historical sites in Atlantic Canada.


3. Viking History at L’Anse aux Meadows

Stand where Vikings stood over 1,000 years ago at
L'Anse aux Meadows

  • The only confirmed Viking settlement in North America
  • A UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • A fascinating look at early exploration long before Columbus

This is not just sightseeing—it’s stepping into history.


Icebergs, Whales, and “Wow” Moments

Depending on the season, you may experience:

  • Iceberg Alley – massive, ancient icebergs drifting by
  • Whale watching opportunities (June–August peak season)
  • Puffins and seabirds along the coast
  • Quiet moments in postcard-perfect fishing villages

Iceberg season typically runs late May through early July, when glaciers drift south from Greenland.


Why This Small Group Tour Works So Well

✔ Small Groups (12–20 Travelers)

Travel with like-minded people—not a busload of strangers.

✔ Scenic Travel (Not Big Bus Travel)

Enjoy the journey along coastal roads and through national parks—not endless highway driving.

✔ Carefully Designed Itinerary

We’ve taken a complex, remote destination and made it seamless.

✔ Expert Preparation & Support

From what to pack to when to book airfare—you’re fully prepared before you go.

✔ Trusted Since 2009


Who This Tour Is Perfect For

  • Solo travelers (especially women 50+)
  • Couples looking for something unique
  • Travelers who have “done Europe” and want something new
  • Nature lovers who prefer comfort over roughing it

If you’ve been to Ireland or Scotland and loved it—Newfoundland is the next step.


Getting There (and Why It’s Easier Than You Think)

Most travelers fly into Deer Lake (YDF), the gateway to the Viking Trail and Gros Morne.

From there, we handle the logistics.

No stress. No guesswork. No long, complicated planning.


Why Book Now

Newfoundland is still under the radar—but that’s changing.

And small group tours like this fill quickly because:


Final Thought: This Is Not a Typical Tour

This is one of those trips people talk about for years.

It’s the kind of place where:

  • You stand alone on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic
  • You watch an iceberg drift silently past
  • You realize… this is why you travel

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Who Writes the Small Group Tour Blog?

Professor Steve Solosky, The Traveling Professor, is the founder of Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, operating since 2009. A former college professor and author of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris, Steve has planned and led small group tours throughout Europe, Canada, South America, and beyond. His travel expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, WCBS Radio, and The New York Times Travel Show.

Each article is written or reviewed from the perspective of a working tour operator who plans real itineraries, works with local guides and hotels, and helps travelers prepare for successful small group trips.

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