Maine: Acadia National Park

Trip Includes:

Experienced, friendly and knowledgeable guides

Transportation during the trip, including ferry service to Little Cranberry Island

All accommodations while on tour, including a luxurious hotel with several amenities, and a historic country inn, all private baths

All meals included, except for one dinner; alcoholic beverages not included

DAY 1
Arrival in Bangor. Witch Hole Pond; 2 miles, easy. Beech Mountain; 2 miles, moderate (elevation gain & loss of 550 ft)
Upon meeting your guides and group at the Bangor, Maine airport, you depart immediately by van for the one-hour drive to Acadia National Park, and proceed directly to the park’s visitor center. An introductory walk along one of the park’s many carriage roads leads to Witch Hole Pond, and provides views of Frenchman Bay and Hull’s Cove to the northeast, as well as the distant mountains to the north. In the first half of the 20th century, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. not only donated about one-third of the park’s land, but he also conceived of and oversaw the construction of the extraordinary network of carriage roads that winds throughout the park, graced with subtle landscaping and handcrafted stone bridges.
After lunch, an afternoon walk on Beech Mountain, on the western side of Mount Desert Island, gives an excellent overview of the region. The trail gradually ascends the western flank with views of Long Pond and Blue Hill across the sparkling waters of Blue Hill Bay to the west. At the summit, near a closed fire tower, you look over the towns of both Southwest and Northwest Harbors, the entrance to Somes Sound—North America’s true fjord—and the Cranberry Islands lying offshore to the south. The trail descends some rocky ledge before looping back to the trailhead in Somesville.
After a short drive to bustling and quaint Bar Harbor, the island’s largest community, you settle into your in-town resort hotel with a water’s edge marina overlooking Frenchman’s Bay and the open ocean. For dinner, you are welcomed to Maine with a taste of its ocean bounty, perhaps fresh steamed lobster or littleneck clams.
Bar Harbor Inn, Bar Harbor

DAY 2
Jordan Pond; 4-8 miles, easy to moderate
After a hearty breakfast, the setting of the day’s walk is Jordan Pond, a serene fresh water pond at the park’s interior. The trail circles the pond, winding through blueberry bushes, clusters of white birch and shady spruce. At the pond’s northern end are two symmetrical hills called the Bubbles, North and South, over 700 and 800 feet, respectively. Reflected in the pond’s pristine waters, the real peaks are also in view throughout the walk. Along the water’s edge you may see a great blue heron poised, or a pair of black and white common loons. A longer and more challenging option leads to the summits of both Bubbles, where you are rewarded with views of Eagle Lake, another freshwater pond lying just to the north, as well as Connor’s Nubble and Frenchman’s Bay. Looping back to Jordan Pond, you are ready for a satisfying lunch at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant, a historic teahouse-style restaurant dating from the late 19th century serving a range of soups and chowders, salads, sandwiches, and its signature popovers.
Returning to Bar Harbor in the mid- to late-afternoon, you can take full advantage of the resort amenities at the hotel, such as the seaside heated pool and Jacuzzi, and then continue the evening at your own pace by strolling into Bar Harbor for dinner on your own in one of its many fine restaurants or cafés.
Bar Harbor Inn, Bar Harbor

DAY 3
Ocean Drive Trail; 2 miles, easy. Great Head Loop; 1.5 miles, easy to moderate. Cadillac Mountain and Gorham Mountain Trail; 1.5 miles, easy
The morning’s walks are devoted to the ocean side of Mount Desert Island, starting at sheltered Sand Beach, a gorgeous 300-yard long beach nestled between Great Head and Newport Cove. Enticing yet chilly, the constant Atlantic surf has created its unique pastel sand, composed of tiny pulverized shell fragments. Departing from Sand Beach, the Ocean Drive Trail is justifiably one of the park’s most popular trails—dramatic views stretch along the oceanfront from Sand Beach to Otter Point. In the middle the level gravel trail drops to Thunder Hole, named from the sound of the water crashing into a narrow channel in the coastal ledge. The historic trail, which was part of the original trail network dating from the late 19th century, was completely restored and resurfaced about 10 years ago, and rises to Otter Cliffs, the highest ocean-edge cliffs in the park. Baker’s Island is in full view to the south, and a slice of Little Cranberry Island can be seen to its west.
The Great Head loop departs from the eastern end of Sand Beach and follows the peninsula’s headland, with views south back to the beach, the Ocean Path, and Otter Cliffs. Rising through windblown grass to its highest point of 145 feet, waves crash below, and offshore, pleasure and fishing boats ply the eight miles of open water framed by the Schoodic Peninsula to the east. Returning to the trailhead on a bog walk, you are ready to board the van for lunch at a local brewery.
Not only the highest point in the park, at 1,530 feet Cadillac Mountain has the distinction of being the highest point on the entire North and South American coastline. This afternoon, you drive to its summit, where breathtaking views over Bar Harbor, Frenchman’s Bay, and the open ocean spread before you. Here, you walk along a portion of the Gorham Mountain Trail, where lichen-covered granite covers the open treeless summit, interspersed with alpine vegetation. Named after Sieur de Cadillac, a 17th-century French explorer, it is evident why his compatriot and contemporary Samuel de Champlain called the entire island “Mont Désert,” for its bare and, (when viewed from the ocean), apparently “desert-like” mountaintops.
Descending by van, you make your way to Southwest Harbor, on the southwestern side of the entrance to Somes Sound. Smaller and quieter than Bar Harbor, it is well known for its yacht-building tradition, in addition to a range of galleries, shops, and restaurants. After checking into your classic shorefront hotel, you proceed into the village for a dinner of Maine specialties.
Asticou Inn, Northeast Harbor

DAY 4
Little Cranberry Island; 4-7 miles, easy to moderate
After walking in the islands interior and rocky shore, today you discover one of the secluded islands off of Mount Desert’s southern coast. After breakfast overlooking the sound, you catch the mail boat out of Southwest Harbor for the hourlong crossing to Little Cranberry Island. One of the five Cranberry Isles—Great Cranberry, Little Cranberry or Isleford, Bear, Baker, and Sutton—the islands are from one to five miles offshore and named after the low-bush wild cranberries that grow profusely throughout their terrain. The islands’ year-round residents of lobstermen and boat builders are joined each summer by visitors, some of whom have been returning for generations.
A true glimpse of authentic Maine coastal life from another era, the ferry docks at the island’s main village, where piers and wooden buildings are clustered in a sheltered cove. A quiet road leads up to a grassy bluff and continues through groves of tall firs, passing white clapboard cottages. A picnic is unpacked at a perfect spot overlooking glimmering water and a pebbled beach, distant sailboats skimming the ocean’s surface. After looping back to the village dock, you board the afternoon ferry for the return trip to Southwest Harbor.
At your hotel there is time to linger in the manicured grounds and perfectly situated Adirondack chairs, or perhaps play a game of croquet in the late afternoon light. For dinner this evening, you travel to a restaurant across the narrows of Somes Sound in the village of Northeast Harbor.
Asticou Inn, Northeast Harbor

DAY 5
Mount Eliot and Asticou Ridge; 3 miles, easy. Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Garden; 1-2 miles, easy
Contrasting untamed natural beauty and skillfully landscaped historic gardens are the theme of the day’s walks. The Asticou trail from Jordan Pond to Eliot Mountain leads to both the Asticou Azalea Gardens and Thuya Garden on the shore of Northeast Harbor. The wide trail gently slopes through a shaded pine forest before reaching the spur to Eliot Mountain. Becoming slightly steeper as it climbs the wooded hill just over 400 feet, it levels out and emerges at the gardens.
The Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Garden were created in the 1950s by Charles Savage, a local innkeeper. In Asticou Azalea Garden over 20 varieties of azaleas are featured in a Japanese-style garden where pathways meander to an iris-bordered pond, stream, and meditation garden. The Thuya Garden is named for the native white cedar trees, under which a profusion of colorful perennials are artfully placed—lilies, snapdragons, and vibrant delphiniums overlooking the firfringed coves and rocky ledges of Northeast Harbor. Many of the gardens’ plants were relocated from the Bar Harbor gardens of landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, who in the early 20th century, consulted in the landscape design and plantings along the carriage roads, contributing to their seemingly effortless blending into the topography.
Later, you celebrate your Acadian adventure at your hotel’s elegant restaurant in full view of Somes Sound, toasting your exploration of a stunning region over creative gourmet cuisine.
Asticou Inn, Northeast Harbor

DAY 6
Ship Harbor Nature Trail; 1.3 miles, easy
After a leisurely checkout and departure from the inn, your first stop en route to Bangor is the Ship Harbor Nature Trail, near the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Leaving you with a final view of quintessential Maine coast scenery, the easy figure-eight trail leads right to the tranquil shoreline of Ship’s Harbor, and exits through a cool forest of spruce and cedar trees. After stopping for lunch in Ellsworth, you arrive at the Bangor airport by midafternoon for onward flights.

Itinerary Changes: Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events, or weather. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/20/2010 - 6/25/2010	$2,698
8/22/2010 - 8/27/2010	$2,698
9/5/2010 - 9/10/2010	$2,698
9/19/2010 - 9/24/2010	$2,698
9/26/2010 - 10/1/2010	$2,698
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Experienced, friendly, and knowledgeable local guides

Transportation during the trip, including ferry service to Little Cranberry Island.

All accommodations while on tour, including a luxurious hotel with several amenities, and a historic country inn, all private baths

All meals included, except for one dinner; alcoholic beverages not included

2009 Price: $2,698

2009 Single Supplement $575

Walk Ratings

Easy terrain with moderate sections

2-8 miles per day with occasional options on most days

As arrangements are confirmed at least a year in advance, the tour price is subject to change. Reserve early to guarantee the best available price.

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