
Photo: Brinton Photography
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.
Operators licensed by Parks Canada
Hurtigruten Expeditions
Travel by ship.
Kattuk Expeditions
Travel by plane, helicopter, or ship.
Picture Perfect Tours
Travel by plane or helicopter.
Sable Aviation
Travel by plane.
Silversea
Travel by ship.
Vision Air Services Inc.
Travel by helicopter.
Contact operators licensed by Parks Canada for prices, travel dates, and more information. Private vessel visitor requests and dates are approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
2023 visitor dates
June 2023
Trip date | Contact | Transportation | Guide |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday, June 3 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, June 6 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Thursday, June 8 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, June 10 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, June 13 | Vision Air Services | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Thursday, June 15 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, June 17 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, June 20 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, June 22 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Saturday, June 24 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, June 27 | Vision Air Services Inc. | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Thursday, June 29 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
July 2023
Trip date | Contact | Transportation | Guide |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday, July 1 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, July 4 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, July 6 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Saturday, July 8 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, July 11 | Vision Air Services Inc. | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Thursday, July 13 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, July 15 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, July 18 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Thursday, July 20 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, July 22 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, July 25 | Vision Air Services Inc. | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Thursday, July 27 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Saturday, July 29 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
August 2023
Trip date | Contact | Transportation | Guide |
---|---|---|---|
Tuesday, August 1 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, August 3 | Vision Air Services Inc. | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Saturday, August 5 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, August 8 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Thursday, August 10 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, August 12 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, August 15 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, August 17 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Saturday, August 19 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, August 22 | Vision Air Services Inc. | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Thursday, August 24 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Saturday, August 26 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Tuesday, August 29 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, August 31 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
September 2023
Trip date | Contact | Transportation | Guide |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday, September 2 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Tuesday, September 5 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Thursday, September 7 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, September 9 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, September 13 | Hurtigruten Expeditions | Expedition ship | Parks Canada |
Thursday, September 14 | Vision Air Services Inc. | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Saturday, September 16 | Sable Aviation | Sable Aviation | Parks Canada |
Tuesday, September 19 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, September 21 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Saturday, September 23 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Tuesday, September 26 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, September 28 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, September 30 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
October 2023
Trip date | Contact | Transportation | Guide |
---|---|---|---|
Tuesday, October 4 | Silversea | Expedition ship | Parks Canada |
Thursday, October 5 | Vision Air Services Inc. | Vision Air Services Inc. | Parks Canada |
Saturday, October 7 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Tuesday, October 10 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Thursday, October 12 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, October 14 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Tuesday, October 17 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Thursday, October 19 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Saturday, October 21 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Tuesday, October 24 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Thursday, October 26 | Kattuk Expeditions | Vision Air Services Inc. | Kattuk Expeditions |
Saturday, October 28 | Picture Perfect Tours | Vision Air Services Inc. | Picture Perfect Tours |
Choose your own adventure
Operator guided experiences
Operators take care of trip logistics and guide your entire day.
Book a tour with a Parks Canada licensed operator:
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 (charter a helicopter for 1-8 people)
Sail by private vessel:
Methods of transportation
By plane
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:
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:
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.
By ship
Join an expedition cruise that has included Sable Island National Park Reserve as a part of its larger itinerary.
Fully guided expedition cruises:
By private vessel

Request and register your trip
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.
Landing:
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.
Questions?
Contact our Visitor Experience Coordinator for more information about planning your trip:
- 902-426-1500
- sable@pc.gc.ca
- Date modified :