sable island tours 2023

Call 1-844-6-KATTUK (528885) Locally: (902) 407-1377

"I felt like I was dropped into a National Geographic movie" - Carole, Winter 2022 visitor

Winter on sable island npr.

2024 WINTER DATES: JANUARY 23RD, 26TH AND FEBRUARY 1ST

A full day of guided exploration of Sable Island National Park Reserve.

Departs Vision Air Services Helicopter Terminal. 

Max group size 7.  Cost $3,350 CDN per person + HST

Price includes $100 fuel surcharge.

Winter trip s add $250 per person for survival suit.

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Visiting Sable Island NPR during winter

Did you know that Sable Island is a winter destination too? 

Winter is a special time to visit the island for many reasons that you cannot experience in the other seasons. Sable Island has relatively mild temperatures compared to mainland Nova Scotia and winter is an exciting time to see the thick "woolly" coats on the majestic wild horses, perfect for capturing stunning photos. More than 300,000 Grey Seals, the largest colony on earth, grace the shores and dunes of Sable Island during the season. This is the only time of year to see the seals in various stages of breeding, weaning and mating. The sights and sounds of hundreds of thousands of seals on the island is incredible; the magnitude of this event can only be experienced in the winter and in person.  A guest of ours commented "I felt like I was dropped into a National Geographic movie" . Details for your expedition, unlike any other, are below.  For the 2023 season, Parks Canada is only allowing a total 35 guests to visit the island on these fully guided adventures.

About Sable Island NPR

300 kilometers off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and at the edge of the continental shelf lies a lonely bar of sand shaped by wind and ocean currents.  It is a terminal moraine pushed by glaciers approximately 10,000 years ago that is home to over 500 wild horses and the largest grey seal colony in the world. Far away from any modern amenities and services, in the exposed open Atlantic ocean with the Gulf Stream and Labrador currents nearby. This is the wild of wild, so remote and extreme, yet positively beautiful and gentle. This expedition is for those who seek wild reality and remoteness, to be immersed in an environment that functions entirely on it's own and to visit it with just a handful of others.  It is a place unlike any other in the world. - Fred Stillman, Expedition Leader

Expedition overview

As a licensed Parks Canada tour company, we are proud to offer an experience of a lifetime. An opportunity to visit Sable Island National Park in a single day.  With it's stunning, ever changing sand dunes, hundreds of wild horses and the largest grey seal colony in the world, this will be a trip that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

On this full day expedition we will be travelling by twin-engine, Sikorsky S-76 A++ offshore helicopter. The aircraft itself is an adventure and with it's agility and ability to fly great distances in a variety of conditions, it is the perfect vehicle to ensure your trip to Sable Island is a successful one. The helicopter will land on the helipad and does not require specific beach landing conditions. 

Our expedition starts at Vision Air Services located at the Halifax International airport. Upon arrival you'll be greeted by your guide and pilots. After completing the island's pre-boarding biosecurity process and receiving a safety orientation, we'll board the  aircraft, a 1.25 hour flight has us landing on the helipad at Sable Island NPR.  After an introduction to the island by Parks Canada staff, your Kattuk Expeditions guide will lead a hike along the beaches and dunes to the areas most frequented by the island's horses and seals. A delicious picnic lunch is included and prepared by your guide.  After lunch we we continue our hike to other areas of the island. When the hike concludes we'll gather at main station and prepare for our departure back to the mainland.  

Whenever possible, we'll visit with researcher Zoe Lucas, head of the Sable Island Institute . In order to lend our support to the research taking place on the island, a portion of your tour cost goes to the Institute.

Trip highlights

Return 300km helicopter flight to Sable Island National Park Reserve from Halifax

Orientation by Parks Canada

6-8 hou rs of guided walking and exploration by fully equipped Kattuk Expeditions guide

Visits to the many grazing areas of the island's wild horses

Delicious picnic lunch

Guided walk will include the main station and some outbuildings (exterior), the areas most frequented by horses and Grey Seal colony

Insight into daily life on the island

Walking / hiking on sand beaches and over sand dunes on horse paths

Wildlife viewing / observation

Ecological interpretation

Bird watching

Photography 

6:15 a.m. - Arrive at Vision Air helicopter terminal for flight orientation

8:00 - Depart Vision Air Services Airport en-route to Sable Island

9:30 - Land on Sable Island National Park Reserve

10:00 - Orientation by Parks Canada staff

10:15 - 12:30 p.m. - Exploring the dunes and beaches in search of wild horses

12:30 - Lunch at Visitor's Quarters building

1:15 - 4:15 - Continued hiking / exploring including the north beach seal colony

3:00 - Time to muster and prepare for 3:30 p.m. departure

5:30 p.m. - Arrive back at Vision Air Services (island departure times vary depending on time of year)

What's included

Your flight to and from Sable Island National Park Reserve aboard a Sikorsky S-76 aircraft, properly equipped Kattuk Expeditions guide from beginning to end, a delicious, organic, locally sourced picnic lunch, farewell on the beach, all park and landing fees, a donation to the Sable Island Institute, an experience like no other in the world.

Things that a ren't included

Transportation to Vision Air terminal Halifax, travel ins urance, gratuities to guide, items of a personal nature and any incurred cost related to weather (it is very rare, but possible to be stuck on the island due to weather and, cost for accommodation may be applied by Parks Canada).

Weather is often a challenge when planning a visit to Sable Island NPR, it's location 300km out to sea from Halifax and proximity to the gulf stream, create opportunity for varying weather.  During winter trips. Parks Canada allows us the 2 following days as backup weather days.  All guests must be available for both backup weather days in addition to the scheduled day.

Payment, cancellation policy

$1000 payment is due in full at time of booking and the remainder is due at 30 days  .  A full refund less a 5% admin fee will be returned to anyone cancelling more than 60 days prior to departure, after 60 days prior, a $250 cancellation fee will be charged.  Trips are non-refundable after 30 days prior to departure. Any trip c ancelled by Kattuk Expeditions due to weather will be 100% refunded.

Preparing for a trip to Sable Island

Although only 300 km from mainland Nova Scotia, Sable Island is one of the most remote places in Canada. You must dress appropriately for this and for the weather, keeping in mind that there are no trees or shelter other than the Parks Canada buildings. In case of emergency, with the exception of your guide and park staff, help is far away. If you are on any medications, it is advised that you bring 1 week's supply with you; and if the medication is life-crucial, bring all that you have.  There is no cell service on the island, however your guide will carry VHF radio in communication with the park's main station staff.  If guests choose to take time on their own at the end of the day, each guest will be required to carry a two-way UHF radio (provided) in communication with their guide.

Suggested items to bring:

Comfortable, active clothing for the time of year and weather. Dress in layers, expect cooler temperatures on the island in the summer and slightly milder temperatures during the winter

Comfortable walking shoes /hiking boots.  Walking in sand all day is tough, make sure you'll be comfortable

Hat, sunglasses & sunscreen

Water bottle. There is potable water on the island. Your guide will have extra for the hike.

Walking stick, small backpack

If you have any questions, please contact us between 9:00AM and 6:00PM Atlantic Time  

at 1-844-6-KATTUK (528885) or email at [email protected]

6-8 hours of guided walking and exploration by fully equipped Kattuk Expeditions guide

Photo package of your trip

An extraordinary expedition from Muir and Sable Island National Park Reserve

Muir hotel has launched an Extraordinary Expedition inspired by the region's raw, physical beauty and enduring character, transporting guests to one of the most secluded places in the world.

The five-day expedition includes exclusive access to people and places throughout Nova Scotia with luxury accommodations at Muir. From snow-covered wineries and historic forts to Sable Island National Park Reserve, an isolated island of sand dunes, the world's largest breeding colony of grey seals and over 500 wild horses. One of Canada's furthest offshore islands, access to Sable Island NPR is extremely limited with only a handful of tours permitted to visit each year.

Muir has partnered with Kattuk Expeditions to offer three tours scheduled for January and February of 2023. Fred Stillman, owner of Kattuk Expeditions, will personally lead the guests on a full-day tour of this windswept island.

"300 [kilometres] off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and at the edge of the continental shelf lies a lonely bar of sand shaped by wind and ocean currents" explains Stillman. "Far away from any modern amenities and services, in the exposed open Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf Stream and Labrador currents nearby, this is the wild of wild, so remote and extreme, yet positively beautiful and gentle. This expedition is for those who seek wild reality and remoteness, to be immersed in an environment that functions entirely on its own and to visit it with just a handful of others. It is a place unlike any other in the world."

The Extraordinary Expedition was influenced by Nova Scotia’s proximity to and reliance on the sea, according to Muir. Activities include meeting with a local winemaker to learn how the highest tides in the world contribute to an award-winning terroir; an in-room spa experience inspired by the sights, sounds, smells, and materiality of the ocean; meals that reflect a contemporary expression of shared culinary heritage and guests will end each day in an executive suite with immediate views of the Atlantic Ocean.

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Sable Island, Cape Breton, Newfoundland, and the Magdalen Islands: Atlantic Island Odyssey

• Get inspired by the possibilities.
• Build your ideal trip.
• View one of the world’s last wild horse populations on Sable Island
• See the rare Ipswich sparrow in its sole breeding ground
• Photograph Sable Island’s many rare and beautiful plant species
• Visit the world’s largest grey seal colony
• Seek out marine mammals in The Gully, a Marine Protected Area
• Whale Watching
• Small Ship Cruises
• Wildlife Viewing
• Atlantic Coast
• Canadian Maritimes
• Newfoundland & Labrador
• North America
• Newfoundland
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Cape Breton
• Gulf of Saint Lawrence
• Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine
• Sable Island
• Saint Pierre
• The Gully Marine Protected Area

Full Itinerary

Day 1: st. john’s, nl | embark.

• Accommodation

Day 2: At Sea

• 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 3-5: Sable Island

• 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners

Day 6: The Gully Marine Protected Area

Day 7: cape breton island & bird islands, day 8: chéticamp, day 9: charlottetown, pei, day 10: les îles-de-la-madeleine, qc, day 11: francois, nl, day 12: saint-pierre, france | disembark.

• 1 Breakfast

Ocean Endeavour

Dates & prices, my preferred start date.

Initial deposit is $2000, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.

Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. Accepts client cards for deposit only. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge

See our general terms and conditions:

• Adventure Life Terms & Conditions

We are an agent for one or more providers on this trip with specific cancellation policies and terms:

• Adventure Canada - Terms & Conditions - Adventure Canada

For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.

• 11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners
• 11 Nights Accommodations
• Accommodations as listed
• Ground transportation as listed
• Activities as listed
• Meals as listed
• Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
• Contribution to Adventure Canada's Discovery Fund
• Complimentary Expedition Jacket
• Pre-departure materials
• Educational program
• Applicable taxes and credit card fees
• Guided activities
• Sightseeing and community visits
• Photo Equipment Trial Program
• Interactive workshops
• Evening entertainment
• All shipboard meals
• All port fees
• Special access permits, entry, and park fees
• Expert expedition team
• All Zodiac excursions
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Expenses
• Flight costs (please request a quote)
• Additional excursions during free time
• Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
• It is mandatory to have emergency evacuation and medical insurance to travel with Adventure Canada. It is recommended to obtain a basic minimum coverage of $ 500,000 on all cruises.
• Commercial and charter flights
• Program enhancements/optional excursions (Must be pre-booked)
• Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
• Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
• Possible fuel surcharges and administrative fees
• Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation

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How to get here

Sable island national park reserve.

Sable Island is accessible by air or by sea. Reserve a seat or charter a trip with a Parks Canada licensed operator, or plan a trip by private vessel.

Visitors are welcomed in January and February and from June to October. Visitors must have Parks Canada’s permission in advance to visit. Delays and cancellations are common due to weather.

Private vessel visitor requests and dates are approved on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact operators licensed by Parks Canada for prices, travel dates, and more information.

Choose your adventure

Operator guided experiences.

Operators take care of trip logistics and guide your entire day.

Book a tour with a Parks Canada licensed operator:

Adventure Canada (ship)

Hurtigruten Expeditions (ship)

Kattuk Expeditions (helicopter)

Picture Perfect Tours  (plane, helicopter)

Silversea (ship)

Parks Canada guided experiences

Parks Canada provides a two-hour guided hike followed by self-guided exploration.

Book a flight with a Parks Canada licensed operator:

Sable Aviation (purchase 1-7 seats on a plane)

Vision Air Services Inc.  (charter a helicopter for 1-8 people)

Sail by private vessel:

• complete the visitor request form
• review the critical guidelines for safe landing

Methods of transportation

Sable Aviation offers the only fixed-wing airplane service to Sable Island. The airplane lands on the beach as there are no permanent runways on the island. Fixed-wing airplane flights can transport up to seven passengers.

Fixed-wing visitor flights are scheduled on Saturdays only. Sundays are reserved as the alternate date if conditions on Saturday do not allow a flight.

Partially guided experiences by plane:

Sable Aviation

Travel by fixed-wing airplane, spend two hours with a Parks Canada tour guide, and explore on your own.

By helicopter

Vision Air offers the only helicopter service to Sable Island. The helicopter lands on a permanent helipad and can take up to eight passengers.

Helicopter flights are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesdays and Fridays are reserved as the alternate dates if conditions on the scheduled dates do not allow a flight.

Fully guided tours by helicopter:

Kattuk Expeditions

Picture Perfect Tours

Travel by helicopter and spend your day with a licensed tour operator who will take care of trip logistics and guide you around the island.

Partially guided experiences:

Travel by helicopter, spend two hours with a Parks Canada tour guide, and explore on your own.

Join an expedition cruise that has included Sable Island National Park Reserve as a part of its larger itinerary.

Fully guided expedition cruises:

Hurtigruten Expeditions

By private vessel

Request and register your trip

All visitors planning to arrive by sea in a private vessel must register in advance with Parks Canada by completing the private vessel visitor request form .

Visitor requests are approved by Parks Canada on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spend two hours with a Parks Canada tour guide and explore on your own for the rest of the day.

Critical guidelines for safe landing

If you are in charge of a vessel, the following guidelines are critical for a safe landing.

The possibility of heavy fog, shifting sandbars, and rough seas in the waters around Sable Island can pose challenges to boat access. There are no wharf facilities or mooring buoys on Sable Island, and vessels must anchor offshore and have a zodiac or other small boat suitable for a beach landing.

Visitors arriving by sea are responsible for their safe arrival and departure from the island. Parks Canada has limited capabilities on the island to assist in a marine rescue or emergency.

Before departing the mainland

Vessels should contact the Parks Canada Operations Coordinator to ensure we are aware of your itinerary and you are informed of activities or conditions on the island or offshore that may affect your plans.

All boat passengers must have life jackets for beach landings and zodiacs or small boats must not be overloaded beyond manufacturer’s recommended carrying capacity.

When within 10 nautical miles of the island

Vessels should contact the island on Marine Radio Channel 8 or 16 to confirm their safe arrival and to obtain any special instructions.

Vessels must anchor off the north side of the island, opposite the Main Station – at longitude 60.01W. There are submerged sand bars off the beach, and vessels should maintain their distance – 500 meters is usually sufficient, although there are times small boats are able to approach within 200 meters. A zodiac or small boat is required to get ashore and make a beach landing.

When anchored

Vessels should contact Sable Island on Marine Radio Channel 8 or 16 to advise when they are anchored. The Operations Coordinator can file or close sailing plans as required.

Visitors must not attempt to land on the beach until Parks Canada personnel are in position to greet them upon arrival and to provide an orientation and safety briefing.

Changing conditions may make it hard for a small boat to land or depart from the island, so sailors should be extremely careful about coming through the surf zone, and should have experience in managing beach landings in rough surf.

Communications

When coming ashore, boat passengers must have a VHF radio and maintain communications with the beach party on Marine Channel 8.

Be prepared

Have the proper travel approval from Parks Canada or from a Parks Canada licensed operator.

Make transportation arrangements to and from Sable Island with a Parks Canada licensed operator and be prepared for delays and cancellations.

Be prepared for a backcountry-like wilderness experience. Be self-reliant and responsible for your own safety.

Follow the biosecurity measures in place to protect Sable Island.

Delays and cancellations

All visitors must be prepared for delays and cancellations, both when attempting to travel to the island and when attempting to depart. Delays and cancellations can be caused by poor weather or the lack of a safe landing area. Normal delays might last a day or two, although significantly longer delays are possible. Poor weather and beach conditions could prohibit departure or landing of an aircraft or small boat for several days.

All visitors must ensure they have adequate supplies, including any prescribed medication, to accommodate unplanned delays.

In the event of unplanned overnight stay on Sable Island, standard fees apply for accommodation and emergency food rations .

Contact our Visitor Experience Coordinator for more information about planning your trip:

• 902-426-1500
• [email protected]

Related links

• Hours of operation
• Private vessel visitor request form
• Passes and permits
• Facilities and services
• Brochures and publications

3 Ways to Get to Sable Island from Halifax

Sable Island National Park Reserve is one of the furthest offshore islands in Canada. Sitting in the Atlantic Ocean near the edge of the Continental Shelf, 290km off the coast of Halifax, the island is still considered part of the city municipality. For centuries Sable Island has spiked the interest of people from around the world. This 42km sand bar is home to a variety of wildlife ranging from grey seals and harbour seals to rare nesting arctic terns and Ipswich sparrows. You of course cannot forget about the 500 horses roaming the island freely. I recently had the opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime, the ultimate Canada 150 adventure, to this magical place. Although it can be pricey, it’s worth every nickel. My visit to Sable Island is something I know I’ll never forget and I have no doubt it will always remain my greatest adventure. You’re probably wondering how exactly one gets to such a remote destination like Sable Island. Well, in June 2013, the Island became a Parks Canada National Park Reserve, Canada’s 43rd National Park, making it more accessible for those interested in visiting.  Though even after becoming a National Park Reserve, it’s still common for people to be confused or unsure of how to exactly visit Sable Island. That’s why I’ve put together a list of three ways to get to Sable Island:

 1. Take an airplane, fly with Sable Aviation 44 60 Inc.

On my recent visit to Sable Island, I flew to the Island with Sable Aviation 44 60 Inc. on a small charter plane with a tour group of four other people for a day trip. The flight can be anywhere from an hour and an hour and a half depending on the wind and offers breathtaking aerial views of the Island before the airplane lands on a sandy beach runway and is welcomed by Parks Canada staff. To book this method of transportation you need to either have four friends joining you or you can do what I did, find four people in the Sable Island Aircraft Charter Facebook Group to go with. This was easy to plan and no money had to be put down in advance to charter the plane, and we each paid our portions of the charter upon arrival at the airport. Charters usually leave on Saturday mornings, but depending on the weather there can often be delays or changes in date. It’s important to remember that although the weather looks great here, it could very well be completely different on Sable Island. Fog is a huge factor when it comes to booking a charter to the Island, as the plane cannot see the runway to land. It’s recommended to visit in August to October when there’s a decreased chance of fog; although charters do run from June to October. If you’re interested in finding out more about Sable Aviation, visit their Frequently Asked Questions page here . It’s also important to note that you’ll need to register and receive permission with Parks Canada prior to your visit to Sable Island. As well, there is a Parks Canada aircraft landing fee and small down payment . These are both separate from booking a charter with Sable Aviation and will need to be arranged before your departure date.

2. Book a cruise ship tour with Adventure Canada

Adventure Canada is a great way to plan an extended (usually 8 days) exciting vacation discovering Sable Island, as well as St. John’s, NL and the French (France) island of Saint-Pierre situated off the coast of Newfoundland. Cruises with Adventure Canada to Sable Island depart from St. John’s with a day at sea before arriving at Sable Island, where the ship docks offshore and around a hundred guests are dropped off on the island in small Zodiac-style boats for day trip excursions (three to four day trips) on the island before retiring back to the ship during the evenings. People often underestimate just how big Sable Island really is—I know I did—if you want to see as much of the island as possible, an Adventure Canada cruise could be right for you. People often wonder if they can walk from one end of the island to the other, but to put it in perspective it’s like walking from Downtown Halifax to the Airport (and then some) in soft sand.

3.  Set sail in your own vessel

Sailing to Sable Island is also possible and makes for an authentic Sable Island experience as you cruise over the site of nearly 350-recorded shipwrecks . But don’t worry, there has only been one known ship have been lost to Sable Island since 1947, a small yacht the Merrimac sank on July 27, 1999. Wrecks have become unlikely with advancements in navigational equipment. Large fragments of the Merrimac yacht are still visible on the Island’s South Beach. It’s important to note that there are no wharf facilities or mooring buoys on the Island, and vessels must anchor offshore and have a Zodiac-style boat or another small-sized boat suitable for landing on the beach. If you’re considering sailing to Sable Island, be sure to read through Parks Canada’s guidelines . And remember you must register and request permission from Parks Canada before you set sail for your adventure!

Not looking to visit Sable Island, but still want to find out more? Head on over to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic on the Halifax Waterfront to experience Sable Island without hopping on a boat or plane!

Welcome to Halifax

P'jilita'q wla kjipuktuk.

Halifax is in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. The people of the Mi’kmaw Nation have lived on this territory for millennia, and we acknowledge them as the past, present and future caretakers of this land.  Historically, a land acknowledgment is a traditional practice shared amongst Indigenous groups to recognize the Indigenous land and territory they are visiting. Today a land acknowledgement remains a way to express one’s gratitude to the Indigenous people for being stewards of the land that we live and work on.

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Exclusive Nova Scotia Air Tours Offer Rare Glimpse of Secluded Sable Island Reserve

Before the first blush of dawn, eight inhabitants of Nova Scotia found themselves aloft in a helicopter, journeying towards an experience few have ever had the fortune of beholding. Their destination was Sable Island National Park Reserve, a fluttering ribbon of sand extending for 42 kilometres, secluded at a distance of 190 kilometres from the Nova Scotia shoreline.

Embarking on an adventure courtesy of Picture Perfect Tours, one of the four private companies authorised by Parks Canada to ferry small groups to this remote treasure at a fee of $3,390 a head. The quartet, as well as two transportation companies, are entrusted with the responsibility of shuttling visitors to this hidden gem.

Majestically stoic and wildly untamed, Sable Island’s ethereal charm is intentionally accessible to only a precious few, in a concerted effort to safeguard its unblemished grandeur. Since the establishment of the reserve in the spring of 2014, Parks Canada marked only 3,261 footprints in the sands of Sable Island.

Jason Surrette, the reserve’s operations manager who spends extended intervals living on the island, candidly professed his unconditional love for this work station that he tenderly calls home. “When most people encounter a horse or a seal, they are naturally overcome with unadulterated delight. It’s raw, it’s real and it’s overwhelming,” Surrette mused.

The island’s helipad became the group’s touchdown point from where he lead them to the Main Station, a structure that doubles as a base for Parks Canada’s personnel.

Upon arrival, the enthusiasts were extensively briefed by Surrette about keeping their visit to Sable Island as non-invasive and as environmentally friendly as possible, encapsulating the importance of preserving a 20-metre barrier between them and the island’s wildlife including the wild horses and seals, and of course, leaving no trace of human interference.

The island serves as the cradle for an estimated 450 wild horses, their lineage tracing back to the 18th century, a population now guarded from human intervention by Canadian law since 1961. Sharing the sandy home with these equine residents, is the world’s largest grey seal breeding colony, birthing their pups during the transition from December to February.

The tour, co-hosted by the founder-turned-guide of Picture Perfect Tours, Geordie Mott, promised an immersive sensory revelry that as Mott expressed, was “a full body experience,”. Mott’s devotion to Sable Island was both passion and kinship; a family tale woven into the island’s history through the romantic rendezvous of his great-grandparents during the First World War, and thus, his very existence linked to Captain Joseph Blakeney, a Sable Island superintendent, and his Great-Grandmother Muriel, who found love in William Mott, an islander turned partner. “Sable island, thus surely runs in my veins,” Mott admitted.

At the culmination of a seven-hour hike across sand and tall grass covering close to 10 kilometres, an overwhelming sense of bitter-sweetness flooded the party as they boarded the helicopter to return to Halifax. This expedition was one of many for Mott, who promised, “I will keep doing this for as long as I can possibly walk.”.

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Small-Ship Expedition Cruise

Sable Island, Cape Breton, Newfoundland, and the Magdalen Islands: Atlantic Island Odyssey

©Dennis Minty

Itineraries

Small-ship expedition cruise sable island, cape breton, newfoundland, and the magdalen islands: atlantic island odyssey.

June 27 to July 8, 2024

From $4,495 to $12,795 USD

per person based on double occupancy

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Horses, Birds & Whales: Experience Sable Island on Atlantic Island Odyssey

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Watch and learn about our expedition highlights, day-to-day itineraries, and what makes small-ship expedition travel so special.

© Dennis Minty

Visit four Canadian provinces and the French island of Saint-Pierre

Check Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Newfoundland & Labrador off your bucket list—and visit Europe without ever leaving North America, with a stop in historic Saint-Pierre !

In a single trip by sea, you can maximize your time for adventure.

See the legendary wild horses of Sable Island

Be among the lucky few to have experienced the wonder of the famous wild horses of Sable Island , living protected and free one hundred miles off the coast of Nova Scotia!

Learn the island’s compelling history of shipwrecks and forced expulsions and enjoy the sights and sounds of the world’s largest colony of grey seals.

© Vladimir Rajevac

Explore Prince Edwards Island’s rich history and culture

Enjoy your free time while exploring Charlottetown. Wander through the historic downtown area, where the Charlottetown Conference took place and Canada's Constitution was born.

You could also opt for a guided cultural tour at Lennox Island Mi’kmaq First Nation.

Revel in Acadian culture at Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Spend the day exploring the robust Acadian heritage, culture, cuisine, and language of Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine (the Magdalen Islands).

Admire the striking red sandstone cliffs that, although a part of Québec, are in fact geographically closer to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

© Mike Beedell

Get a glimpse into Newfoundland's coastal lifestyle in Francois

Experience the warm hospitality of Francois, Newfoundland —a quaint and picturesque fishing village, with colourful homes and buildings that offer visitors a glimpse into Newfoundland's coastal lifestyle.

Explore the town, and hike to stunning lookout points and waterfalls. A day in Francois will stimulate your soul and remind you of the importance of good neighbours, stories, and music.

Spot whales and birds in rich marine environments

Keep your binoculars at the ready to see an abundance of marine and avian wildlife. Enjoy a Zodiac cruise at the Bird Islands, a critical nesting and breeding area for seabirds .

Spend time out on deck in the Gully Marine Protected Area to spot deep-diving whales and dolphins . On Sable Island, add the endemic Ipswich sparrow to your birding life list.

Expedition Team, Experts, and Guides

Garry Donaldson

Ornithologist

Dr. Lynn Moorman

Dr. Mark Terry

Climate Action Specialist

Ocean Endeavour

Our spacious, ice-strengthened vessel features twenty Zodiacs, and advanced navigation equipment. A doctor, paramedic, medical clinic, and enhanced health regime offer peace of mind. Roomy facilities offer comfortable travel with plenty of breathing room for all.