Photo By Amy Hall
Tip to Tip Tour

The Five-Forty

This 540 km (336 mi) route packs in more gravel and more climbing as you cross the Island on gravel roads, clay lanes, sections of the Confederation Trail, and quiet country paved roads. 

This tour features nearly all of PEI's scenic Heritage roads, which are narrow red clay lanes preserved to look much like they did a century ago. Many are nicely shaded by a full canopy of trees. In addition, the queen stage passes through the hilliest part of the island, characterized by sharp climbs and steep descents on our famous red clay.

On the last day, there is the option to add-on a visit to Basin Head Beach, home of the white "singing sands".

Tour Duration
5 Days / 4 Nights

Accommodations
Hotels, Resorts, Inns, BnBs

Difficulty
Level 4

Distance
Daily Average = 108 km | 67 mi
Total = 540 km | 336 mi

Elevation
Daily Average = 866 m | 2,841 ft
Total = 4,329 m | 14,202 ft

Terrain
70% gravel, clay, trail
30% pavement
The FIVE-FORTY

Pricing

Our Gold and Platinum Tours include full service ride support:

  • On course support vehicle

  • Nutrition stations with complimentary lunch and snacks

  • Bike wash at the end of the day
Detailed Pricing

Package pricing starting from:
Bronze (Tour with shuttle + accommodations)
$1,500
Silver (Bronze + luggage transfer)
$1,900
Gold (Silver + full service ride support)
$2,900
Platinum (Gold + knowledgeable guide)
$4,300

Support Packages

All of our tours come with a support package of your choice. We can meet the support needs of traditional touring or bikepacking cyclists wanting shuttle transport all the way up to those who want a fully-supported, guided tour. Check below to find the perfect level of support for your tour.

Bronze

Fully Self-Supported for:
  • Cyclists doing "credit card" touring or bikepacking
Includes:

Shuttle
Shuttle transport from your downtown Charlottetown Hotel to the start of your route, and transport back to your hotel from the end of your route.

Accommodations
We book your accommodations at a mix of hotels, resorts, inns, and B&Bs, inns, and BnBs.

Silver

Partially-Supported for:
  • Cyclists who want to travel light with minimal gear on their bike
Includes:

Everything in the Bronze Package +

Luggage Transfer
We transfer your luggage (medium sized bag) between your accommodations.

Gold

Fully-Supported for:
  • Cyclists who want a worry-free ride where complimentary food and water stations are provided along with an on-course support vehicle 
Includes:

Everything in the Silver Package +

Full On-Course Support
Support vehicle on-course; nutrition stations with complimentary lunch, snacks, and water, and access to your luggage; emergency pickups if required.

Platinum

Fully-Supported & Guided for:
  • Cyclists who want a carefree ride experience with a knowledgeable local guid, on-course support, and complimentary nutrition stations
Includes:

Everything in the Gold Package +

Guide
A knowledgeable local guide to ride with your group
North Cape - Mill River

Day 1

Ride Details

Distance:   80 km  |  50 mi
Elevation:  363 m  |  1,191 ft
Terrain:      85% gravel

Difficulty:  🔥🔥🔥🔥

The route starts at North Cape, the northwesternmost point of PEI. There, your ride begins among the wind turbines and meanders around the cape on top of the rusty red cliffs. On the way to Mill River, you'll see fishing villages, sand dunes, lighthouses, farms, woodlands, and you'll ride sections of the Confederation Trail starting with Kilometer Zero in Tignish.

Points of Interest:

  • North Cape- home of the North Cape Wind Farm

  • Tignish run- ride along sand dunes to the busy fishing community

  • Tignish - start of the award-winning Confederation Trail  

  • Alberton - Stone Station Park features one of only two granite "boulder rail stations" in PEI

  • Northport - fishing community, gateway to the Sandhills

  • Elmsdale - farming community
Mill River - Summerside

Day 2

Ride Details

Distance:   111 km  |  69 mi
Elevation:  344 m  |  1,130 ft
Terrain:      60% gravel

Difficulty:  🔥🔥🔥🔥

Enjoy a warm-up on the Confederation Trail before hiting some backwoods gravel that takes you to Evangeline, home of the largest Acadian community in PEI. There you'll see fishing villages, and oceanviews, and peaceful farmland. Cool down as you enter Summerside riding along the waterfront.

Points of Interest:

  • O'Leary - home of the Canadian Potato Museum and the world's largest potato sculpture

  • Abram-Village - famous for its Acadian Festival during late August and early September

  • Cap Egmont - ocean views, fishing wharfs, lighthouse

  • Summerside - Canada's smallest city; home to a beautiful waterfront; don't miss Spinnaker's Landing, a market on the water featuring shops, decks, and boardwalks  
Photo By Amy Hall
Summerside - Charlottetown

Day 3

Ride Details

Distance:   133 km  |  83 mi
Elevation:  1,950 m  |  6,398 ft
Terrain:      50% gravel

Difficulty:  🔥🔥🔥🔥

The queen stage starts with a warm up on the Confederation Trail and heads up to Darnley for some beautiful water views. Hop on a couple of PEI's scenic Heritage Roads before dropping down to Brookvale—the hilliest part of the Island, characterized by sharp climbs and steep descents on our famous red clay. Gravel tires 42mm or wider are advantageous on this route. Sections of this route were highlighted in our 2024 Red Hot Hilly Chili Graveler.

Points of Interest:

  • County Line Road - a red clay Heritage Road featuring a very high, rugged hill that provides spectacular views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the north and rolling hills to the south.

  • Millman Road - one of the first scenic Heritage Roads to be designated; features a large hill at the northern end that provides a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.

  • New London - this route passes by the birthplace of Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables

  • Mark Arendz Provincial Park at Brookvale - mountain bike destination known for its fast, flowy red dirt singletrack

  • Junction Road - Heritage Road featuring 100-year old trees, Lady's Slippers, and a place known as "Spooky Hallow"

  • McKenna, Appin, and Currie Roads - a winding and hilly network of red clay Heritage Road; greenery extends from hedgerow to a full canopy of trees that provides a refreshing shade

  • Victoria Park - enjoy riding beside the water in Charlottetown's largest waterfront park 
Photo By Shannon Burt
Charlottetown - Georgetown

Day 4

Ride Details

Distance:   118 km  |  73mi
Elevation:  1,009 m  |  3,310 ft
Terrain:      80% gravel

Difficulty:  🔥🔥🔥🔥

Ride out of town on the crushed gravel trails of Fullerton's Park before tackling the rolling red gravel and clay roads of the Dromore area. Enjoy a break by the freshwater "Spirit Spring" on Dromore Road before turning south to sample two rolling Heritage roads: Klondyke Road, and County Line Road. Preserved to look much as they did 100 years ago, these Heritage Roads are narrow red clay lanes under a delightful hardwood canopy. 

Points of Interest:

  • Fullerton's Creek Conservation Park - 140-acre conservation area in the Town of Stratford featuring crushed gravel trails and a viewing platform overlooking Fullerton's Marsh

  • Dromore Woodland Trails - a nature preserve with hiking trails that form part of the International Appalachian Trail.

  • Jack Campbell Road - narrow clay lane with a fast descent and sharp climb; bisects Dromore Woodlands park

  • Vanco Tulip Farms on Dromore - large tulip farm on Dromore Road just past Jack Campbell Road; tulips normally bloom in PEI between early May and mid June.

  •  Klondyke Road- a Heritage Road that cuts a swath through a border of sugar maple, birch, and spruce; once used by rumrunners in 1920s and 1930s to hide their contraband.

  • County Line Road - a Heritage Road located on the boundary of Queen's and Kings counties; horse-drawn carriages transported passengers along this lane in earlier years.  
Georgetown - East Point

Day 5

Ride Details

Distance:   98 km  |  73 mi
Elevation:  663 m  |  2,175 ft
Terrain:      50% gravel

Difficulty:  🔥🔥🔥🔥

Ride toward East Point on mellow gravel roads, narrow canopied clay roads, and quiet country pavement. Enjoy views of sand dunes, lighthouses and fishing villages. Stop at the Elmira Station, which marks the end of the Confederation Trail, and then East Point, the easternmost tip of the Island. Enjoy a lunch break by the ocean in beautiful Souris. Finish off your day with a swim in the ocean at Basin Head Provincial Park, home of the "Singing Sands".

Points of Interest:

  • Souris - a seaside town hosting an interprovincial ferry terminal for service to Quebec's Magdalen Islands.   

  • North Lake - ride along the sand dunes to the North Lake Harbour, home of a busy fishing industry

  • Elmira Station - served as the end of the line for Prince Edward Island's railway for many years; now marks the end of the Confederation Trail

  • East Point - the easternmost point of PEI

  • Basin Head Provincial Park - features a pristine white sandy beach nicknamed the "singing sands" due to the squeaking sound the sand makes as you walk on it.
The Five-Forty

Pricing

All packages include:

  • Shuttle transport from your hotel in Downtown Charlottetown to your start point at North Cape

  • Shuttle transport from at the end of your ride from East Point back to Charlottetown

  • Route GPX files

  • Emergency phone support with our staff

  • Emergency pickup available for an extra fee

*Pricing per person, in Canadian Dollars, not including tax. Pricing could change due to accommodation availability. Book early for the best pricing.
Get a Quote

Bronze Package

Tour with shuttle + 4 nights accommodations
Double Occupancy
$1,500
Single Occupancy
$2,900

Silver Package

Bronze Package + luggage transfer between hotels
Double Occupancy
$1,900
Single Occupancy
$3,700

Gold Package

Silver Package + support vehicle on course, nutrition stations with complimentary lunch & snacks, bike wash at the end of each day
Double Occupancy
$2,900
Single Occupancy
$5,200

Platinum Package

Gold Package + knowledgeable local guide
Double Occupancy
$4,300
Single Occupancy
$7,900

Included

  • Bronze Package

  • Shuttle transport from your hotel in Downtown Charlottetown to North Cape, and from East Point back to your hotel in Downtown Charlottetown

  • Detailed itinerary

  • Route GPX files

  • Emergency phone support

  • Four nights accommodations in a mix of hotels, resorts, inns and BnBs

  • Silver Package

  • Everything in the Bronze Package

  • Luggage transfer between hotels

  • Gold Package

  • Everything in the Silver Package

  • A support vehicle on course

  • Nutrition stations with complimentary lunch and snacks, and access to your bag

  • Emergency pickup

  • Bike wash at the end of each day

  • Platinum Package

  • Everything in the Gold Package

  • A knowledgeable local guide


Not Included

  • Airfare

  • Travel and personal insurance

  • Staff gratuities

  • Bronze and Silver Package

  • Most meals are not included (some accommodations have complimentary breakfast)

  • Gold and Platinum Package

  • Some breakfasts (some accommodations have complimentary breakfast), and all supper meals are not included


Available for an Additional Fee

  • Gravel bike rentals (includes helmet and emergency repair kit)

  • Garmin GPS cycling computer

  • Bike boxing/unboxing

  • Bike tuneups and/or parts

  • Emergency pickup for Basic, Bronze, and Silver Packages


Bike Recommendations

  • A gravel bicycle with at least 34 mm wide tires

Tailwind Cycling Tours
41 Hollis Ave. Unit 41, Stratford PE, C1B 4A1, Canada

902-367-5191

info@tedsbikes.ca