Live aboard a fishing vessel that navigates the St. Lawrence River around Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec during this 6-day photo safari. Experience the first few weeks in the life cycle of harp seal pups and capture precious moments in time.
For harp seals, life is defined by ice. Never straying far from it, the annual harp seal migration is perfectly timed around ice formation. During February and March, over 250,000 harp seals can be found near the Magdalen Islands. Without question, the viewing and photographic opportunities of this photo safari are spectacular and the experience of witnessing such an incredible event leaves a lasting impression on those privileged enough to spend time with these animals in their natural environment.
Highlights
Spend days observing and photographing baby harp seals and mothers
Enjoy rare photographic opportunities at sunrise and sunset
Experience a small group adventure & intimate atmosphere on a fishing boat
Snorkel or scuba dive to get a different perspective of the harp seals
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive no later than 2:00PM at the Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, located on Havre aux Maisons Island in the Magdalen Islands, Quebec. Upon arrival, meet your guide at the airport and transfer to the wharf (about 40 minutes from the airport) to board the vessel and settle into your bunk. Dine at local restaurant before returning to the ship to set sail on the late evening tide.
Note: the most convenient international airport to plan your arrival and flight to the Îles-de-la-Madeleine is Montreal. Give yourself ample travel time and arrive a day earlier to give some extra buffer time for delayed luggage or other possibilities.
Day 2-4: On the ice with the seal pups
3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
The location of the seal herd dictates your sailing time, which is typically between 3 to 6 hours (sometimes more if ice conditions require). Spend unhurried time viewing and photographing the babies and mothers and the impressive ice-scape. When a seal herd is found, the vessel anchors to the ice pan. Over the next few days, the boat drifts with the ice pans and seals.
During your stay aboard the fishing vessel, expect to savor gourmet meals, wines, and specialty cheeses along with interesting lectures. You can also take advantage of the resource library to learn more about the geography and wildlife found in the area.
Sunset and sunrise photography opportunities
With the clear days at this time of year, one of the “money shots” is that of the baby harp seals at sunrise and sunset. The only way to capture this moment is from a boat based adventure, as helicopters can only fly during daylight hours. Position yourself well to take advantage of baby harps backlit by the crimson sun!
Snorkel or Scuba Dive with Baby Harp Seals Option
Want to get a different perspective of the harp seals? Try donning a drysuit and get into the water. (All trips are run with the welfare of the animals in mind, so snorkeling and dives are subject to local conditions.) Departures are timed to arrive when the seals start entering the water. If you are an experienced diver, do not miss this opportunity!
Day 5: Disembark
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive back during the fifth day. Exact arrival time depends on the ice conditions. After disembarking transfer to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Day 6: Return home
Transfer to the airport for your return journey home. Please book either an Air Canada 7:30AM or 2:30PM flight off the island to your connecting destination home.
This itinerary is intended to be representative only as weather and wildlife conditions play a large role in dictating daily movements and activities. It is important to have a spirit of flexibility when travelling to any icebound location.
Dates & Prices
Per person starting at
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $2200, 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. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 167 reviews
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5 hours ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner