OVERVIEW
Fogo Island is a wild, rugged and remote fishing village in Newfoundland. On this exclusive guided tour of Fogo island, we will use Gander as our hub as we take the local ferry to Fogo Island. You, along with 5 other guests will spend 3 nights on the island staying at a local B&B hosted by Tom Earl. You’ll dine at the extraordinary Fogo Island Inn, meet locals and see the incredible Fogo Island artist studios, as well as visit local art galleries and shops. Of course, there will be amazing food – you’ll taste regional dishes and new culinary delights that put a modern spin on local ingredients.
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EXPERIENCE
This tour is a minimum 4-day 3-night tour but can vary in the level of accommodations and inclusions, see below a suggested itinerary, but speak to our advisors to customize your trip. The best season to travel is from April to the end of September.
The Itinerary
Welcome to Gander International Airport, located on the northeastern shore of Gander Lake, once an important refuelling stop for transatlantic aircraft, and still a preferred emergency landing point for aircrafts facing on-board medical or security issues. Also known as the setting of the Tony Award winning musical “Come From Away.” You guide will be meeting you at the airport and transferring you to the local hotel for check in. Recommended morning arrival. The transfer to the ferry is 2 hours and the boat is approximately 1 hour long to main land or (optional flight charter). You’ll want to keep an eye on the stunning landscapes and possible wildlife on the way.
We will not waste any time today and head straight to the main village of Fogo where we can get a quick look at the village as we stop for dinner before checking in to your hotel.
ACCOMMODATION:
(4*) Tilting Harbour B&B
(5*) Fogo Island Inn (Full Board)
Today we meet our community host as we explore Fogo’s villages, reserves and harbours. Depending on the weather we have a selection of activities we can do:
- If it’s iceberg season, we can opt for guided experiences in an open boat for us to get up close. As the ice moves into the harbour, so do the seals. Watching them scooch and slide around is entertaining on its own, but these creatures were also vital to the survival of Fogo Islanders.
- There are a number of local trails which we can explore and learn about the local culture and its botany.
- If snow still reigns we can go snowshoeing in the Island’s interior trails.
- We will be visiting local museums, and local artisan galleries where artists maintain traditional arts of Fogo and sell their crafts such as hand-made jams, intricate quilts and textiles and wood-working.
Optional 4-course dinner at Fogo Island Inn.
After a morning hike or an optional boat ride on the shores of the island with a local fisherman, we will head over to Tilting B&B for a local cooking demonstration and lunch. We will have a chance to learn more about the local flavours as our chef offers a cooking demonstration before lunch. Having worked with some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including Susur Lee, Mark McEwan and Fogo Island Inn’s own Murray McDonald, we will learn and, best of all, enjoy the spoils of his work.
If you still have a little energy to explore, we will head to a local art and quilt shop and spend time with the owner as they explain their art and life here on the island.
Tonight, enjoy an optional diner at Scoff in Joe Batt’s Arm for a special tasting menu created just for you. The local chef at Scoff also worked for years at the Inn before opening his own restaurant on the island. Preserving memories, culinary traditions, and food itself, Scoff celebrates Newfoundland culture through stories and service. Expect local dishes with root vegetables, meat, seafood, and regionally-crafted beer and coffee.
Today we continue the exploration of the island and depending on the weather we can choose from the activities below:
- There are a number of local trails which we can explore.
- We will be visiting local museums, and local artisan galleries where artists maintain traditional arts of Fogo and sell their crafts such as hand-made jams, intricate quilts and textiles and wood-working.
- We will also be meeting one of the locals and touring his local greenhouse and meeting his chickens after visiting his artist gallery.
Today’s lunch will be at a long-time local family diner with a menu of traditional fare such as fish-n-chips or cod chowder. At this local hang-out, you can also browse hand-crafted souvenirs. If there is one thing you should know about Newfoundland culture, it’s that islanders love to weave a good story. On this afternoon, we will meet and hear from a local author, who will also do a short reading from his book. Afterward, we’ll take an easy 30-minute hike to see the Squish Studio. The Shorefast Foundation and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation commissioned a series of six artists’ studios on various Fogo Island locations. The organization is committed to preserving the Islanders’ traditions and aims at rejuvenating the island through the arts and culture. The Fogo Island Squish Studio is located just outside the small town of Tilting, just a 30-minute hike from our B&B.
On this day, we say goodbye to Fogo! Tom will send us off with a special farewell breakfast at the B&B before we make our way back to the ferry and onto Gander. Here is where you might need to spend the night if you take the ferry or you may be able to catch your flight to your next destination if you fly charter off the island.
GALLERY
