Discover the power that stillness and astonishment hold.

Bookings are now open for the Moratorium Tour — our signature hiking & history experience located in Conche, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Reserve your date now →

The Moratorium Tour is a day-long, guided experience suited for solo travellers, couples, and groups of all sizes, who are seeking to deeply connect with culture and travel with purpose.

The tour features a community walkabout and medium-difficulty hike across towering peninsula coastlines — finding joy in stillness, real connection, and a sense of rejuvenation.

Leaving Conche will feel like leaving home. Our goal is for you go forth from this place, reset and recharged, ready to make an impact in the lives of others - just as you have done simply by being a part of this experience.

Choose your own adventure — starting at $55pp*

The Moratorium Tour is approximately 4 hours in duration and includes a guided hike and community walkabout with historical interpretation throughout the day.

Special rates apply depending on the experience you are wishing to have. Either give us a call or send us a direct inquiry to secure a rate for your tour.

*Minimum group size applies. This price reflects the mixed group cost per person. Contact us for specific pricing related to your inquiry.

PRIVATE BOOKINGS

MIXED GROUP (2X WEEKLY)

BUS TOUR GROUPS

MOBILITY-FRIENDLY OPTION

MINI-TOURS (1.5 HRS)

HISTORY ENTHUSIASTS (IN-DEPTH 6 HRS)

Stretch your legs and fill your lungs on a peninsula hike

This year’s tour features a guided hike to the Glass Hole, a natural geological phenomena. This medium difficulty hike takes you across the peninsula, through fragrant forests of balsam fir and spruce, and a top peninsula cliffs reaching down the coastline — led by your guide, Toni Kearney.

Feel like a member of our little town

The charismatic people of Conche are always eager to welcome new people to town. Should you come across any locals during your tour, our guide will introduce you and make you feel right at home, helping you understand our culture.

Your day features a walkabout of Conche, stops at historical sites of significance, and a stop for a yarn and a soft serve ice cream at the local convenience store — like a true local.

Travel to a place where time stands still

From five hundred foot sedimentary cliffs, islands of volcanic rock, sea stacks, and endless coastline to discover, there’s nothing quite like the rugged wilderness of Northern Newfoundland.

Keep your eyes peeled for whales, puffins, eagles, moose and other creatures that call our peninsula home.

Find calm and connection

We believe that simplicity stimulates a sense of calm and that authenticity cultivates connection.

Through a harmony of unfiltered cultural experiences throughout the day, combined with the immersion in the forests and coastlines of Conche, our guests always leave feeling rejuvenated and connected to our people, place, and the land around us.

Hear the untold story of our province’s darkest hour

This active day of adventure is led by professional local guide Toni Kearney, founder of Moratorium Tours, sharing her experience growing up in Conche in the aftermath of the event that destroyed the heart of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Proudly Featured In

  • Back to the land: A globetrotting twenty something returns home to Newfoundland to help other solo travellers connect to her community - and themselves

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  • Ghost town no more: How tourism revived a once-decimated Newfoundland fishing community

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  • Children of the moratorium: Why this woman wants to bring her hometown to the world

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Words of kindness from our past guests

The Moratorium Tour is a five-star rated experience by over 100 guests and counting. We’d love for you to come see for yourself.

SOMETHING SO SPECIAL

“Toni has created something so special. I was familiar with the moratorium, but having a familiarity from reading about it is one thing; immersing yourself in the culture with the people who lived it is something entirely different. The hiking, talking to people, and learning through their eyes what happened and how it affected them was amazing. The experience is an indication of a small outport, coming together with their stories, teaching, learning, and creating something really special.” — Dawn G.

A GREAT SENSE OF HOPE

“Toni is a visionary. I felt it when she talked about mind, body, and spirit. I was truly impressed with the experience. I felt a great sense of hope that someone so young had a calling to come back to her community, reconnect, and look at the opportunity of making something great out of something negative. You must look globally at the tourists you want to bring to your community. Toni did that through her travels and lived experiences.” — Millie W.

IT FELT LIKE YOU BELONGED THERE

“A truly wonderful day was spent exploring the history of Conche, the people and the life experiences growing up there. Nestled in a part of our world that has an inspiring rugged beauty about it, at days end you felt liked you belonged there. Toni has a genuine love of the place see grew up and shaped her. A wicked good time was had.” — Michael P.

A BALM TO THE WEARY SOUL

“We thoroughly enjoyed our Moratorium experience. It is an in-depth look at a beautiful historic gem of a fishing village of Conche, along the French Shore on the Northeast coast. The 4 hour walking tour of the community, the forest bathing, & the shed tour were really interesting. As was the tour of the French Shore Interpretation Center and the incomparable famous Tapestry. The geological formations are awesome and the dolphins entertained us! This experience was like a balm to a weary soul.” — Patricia P.

A MUST-DO EXPERIENCE FOR TOURISTS

“Toni Kearney and her team provide more than a tour... it’s a magical experience to spend the day with them in Conche, NL. The history, the hiking and forest bathing experience, the scenery are wonderful. Toni’s attention to detail is perfection! Moratorium is a MUST do experience for tourists.” — Lynda A.

AN AMAZING TIME

“I just did the Moratorium event yesterday. It was amazing. The history, hike, and meditation was amazing. This is a must do for any tourist on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. Amazing time.” — Josh T.

WE ARE AMBASSADORS OF YOU AND YOUR TOUR

“We had a wonderful time. The tour was amazing, more then we imagine it would be! Loved the inclusion of the tapestry, and both Mary and Joan were a wealth of knowledge and friendliness so was Uncle Mike. The staff were terrific. Toni has put together an amazing experience. I particularly loved the forest bathing, thought it would be outside my comfort zone but she made it very natural. We were all so very impressed with Toni and her team. Toni is doing doing a wonderful thing, and it was easy to see how proud your town is of her as well. We are ambassadors of you and your tour.” — Roxanne N.

These are the questions we hear all the time...

Have another? Our team is happy to answer any question or concern you may have. Newfoundlanders love to talk — so send us an email and we’ll be sure to respond.

  • Our top recommendations for accommodations are local Airbnb operators in Conche (Angela & Gerard Chaytor and their properties: Old Mill Loft, Oceanview Apartment, and Northeast Cabin.

    Alternatively, there are options a short drive from Conche at Mayflower Inn & Adventures in Roddickton (20 mins away), and the Tuckamore Lodge in Main Brook (1 hour away).

  • As there are no restaurants or dining options in Conche (yet) — we recommend bringing your own lunch or dining at Lumberjack’s Diner & Bakery in Roddickton (30 minutes away).

  • The closest airport to Conche is St. Anthony Regional Airport (YAY). Due to the limited number of flights running from this small airport, most of our guests fly directly to Deer Lake Regional Airport (YDF) and drive from Deer Lake to Conche (approximately 4 hours).

  • The Moratorium Tour is suitable for mature children who are willing to immerse themselves in the experience and try new things. Families are more than welcome to book.

  • There is a shortage of rental cars in Newfoundland and Labrador, so booking in advance is key to ensure you secure a ride. Book using your desired provider and choose Deer Lake Airport (YDF) as your pick-up location.

  • Yes — as of September 2022, Conche has 4G cell phone coverage that should work with most Canadian providers.

    Note that on your journey, coverage is spotty on the Viking Trail (Route 430) towards Conche.

  • Customized tours and a retreat experience can be developed to cater to your interests while in Conche. Contact our team if you would like to plan an experience longer than one day.

  • It is highly recommended that you prepare for any weather conditions. This includes packing warm clothing for the evenings, and light layers for the day time. Weather changes quickly in Conche.

    Summer time reaches an average daily temperature of 22 degrees celsius. Rain wear is highly recommended. In addition to clothing, bring along notebooks, pens, and any material to document your experience.

    Please bring along any lunches, trail snacks, and water you may need for the journey.

  • Unfavourable weather is part of Newfoundland’s charm. There is no bad weather, just bad clothing. Pack clothing for every possible weather condition. The itinerary is subject to change based on the weather.

  • Your day starts at the French Shore Interpretation Centre, where public washroom facilities are available.

    The Supper and Concert are hosted less than a two minute walk from the Interpretation Centre, should you need to use the facilities during dinner service.

  • The hike to the Glass Hole is a moderate difficulty hike. The first portion of the trek is 1km uphill, followed by short ascends and descends to the viewpoint. A moderate level of physical fitness is required.

  • The short answer is no. The Moratorium Tour has a set itinerary and inclusions.

    However, should you wish for a more customizable option, The Moratorium Retreat is a curated experience tailored to your interests, while still incorporating rich culture and nature.

  • Yes - our team are animal lovers and we’d be more than happy to accommodate well-behaved dogs on the tour. For the dinner portion, we ask that you return your pooch to your accommodation. Dog-sitting services can also be arranged.

  • The Moratorium Tour takes place entirely outside. If you are concerned for your safety in an outdoor environment, please consider wearing a mask and social distancing.

  • We accept all major credit cards, Interac e-Transfer®, and cash. For The Moratorium Tour, payment is made up front at the time of booking to confirm your reservation.

    We have a strict two-week cancellation policy on all bookings. Cancellations made prior to the two-week window are subject to a 100% refund.

    Any bookings less than $250 are non-refundable.

Moratorium Tours & Retreats is dedicated to revitalizing the community of Conche. Your visit directly supports employment for youth and seniors, preserves our heritage, and enables us to diversify our economy through sustainable travel — effectively keeping our community and its spirit alive and thriving.

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