Sable Island: Wild Horses and Outpost Legacy

The journey begins in the vibrant, salt-tinged heart of Newfoundland: St. John’s. With its colorful row houses, steep streets, and lively spirit, this harbor city is both picturesque and storied. Since 1498, Europeans have fished these waters, making St. John’s the oldest continuous European settlement in North America. Long before that, the Beothuk people called this coast home, navigating its rugged shores with skill and purpose.

Casting off from St. John’s marks a moment to savor. The passage through the legendary Narrows unfolds beneath Signal Hill, a steadfast sentinel to centuries of arrivals and departures. As Cape Spear, North America’s easternmost point, slips past to starboard, the ship sails into open waters, filled with a sense of anticipation.

The adventure has begun.

Time at sea provides the perfect opportunity to explore the stories that shape the journey ahead. The on-board presentation series begins in earnest as members of the expedition team share insights into Sable Island’s remarkable ecology, geology, and human history.

While learning continues inside, the outer decks invite exploration. Keep binoculars ready—this corner of the northwest Atlantic teems with life. Scan the waves for seabirds, whales, and dolphins from the deck. Life aboard blends comfort and discovery, offering inviting lounges, excellent dining, a well-stocked library, and sweeping views of the open ocean.

As you approach Sable Island, its long crescent of sand emerges from the Atlantic, an isolated world shaped by wind, water, and time.

The time there is conducted in close collaboration with Parks Canada, ensuring all visits are respectful of this delicate and protected ecosystem.

Landing by Zodiac (weather permitting), you step onto sand sculpted by wind and tide. Grey seals dot the shoreline like boulders, their grunts and scent carried by the salty breeze. Endemic Ipswich sparrows—the island’s signature songbird—flit among marram grass and beach peas. Arctic and common terns wheel overhead.

Looking to the horizon, wild horses may appear first as ghostly shapes in the mist or as distant silhouettes cresting the dune ridges. You may hear the rhythmic thunder of hooves, and, with patience, you may witness tender moments between mares and foals, or stallions sparring over the attention of a mare.

These animals are not just icons of wildness—they’re testaments to survival, having endured decades of isolation, wind, and shifting sands.

Naturalists guide the experience with insight into the island’s layered history. You'll hear shipwreck tales, explore shifting landscapes, and learn about Sable’s former life-saving stations—hubs of human endurance in a remote and volatile world. Zodiac outings offer a unique sea-level view of the island’s coastal life, seal colonies, and its ever-changing contours.

Today you arrive in Saint-Pierre—a small but spirited remnant of France nestled off Newfoundland’s southern coast. As the last vestige of France’s once-vast colonial presence in North America, Saint-Pierre offers a cultural experience that feels both familiar and entirely unexpected.

The island’s 6,500 residents are of diverse descent, including French, Basque, Breton, and Norman. Their heritage is evident not only in the language but in the rhythm of daily life—from cafés that spill onto cobbled sidewalks to the melodic lilt of local conversation.

Saint-Pierre’s architecture is as eclectic as its history: narrow alleys, colourful facades, and charming storefronts evoke a sense of old-world charm that’s rare this side of the Atlantic. During your visit, you’ll enjoy a guided tour as well as time to explore at your own pace. Perhaps you’ll sample French wine and cheese, visit a local museum, or simply soak in the island’s unmistakable ambiance.

It’s a day to savour—a little slice of Europe wrapped in salt air and Atlantic mist.

You sail back through the Narrows into the wide embrace of St. John’s harbour. The colourful houses of the Battery welcome you home, and Signal Hill stands watch, just as it did at the departure. 

As you disembark, you’ll say farewell to shipmates and expedition team members who have shared stories, sightings, and unforgettable moments along the way. The journey ends—but the experience, and the connections made, travel with you long after the lines are tied.