How much does a seat on a flight cost?
In 2025, the cost of a seat on our same-day return flight to Sable Island is $2,200.00 CAD, including all fees and taxes* (an additional non-refundable 3% fee applies if paying by credit card).
What dates are available in 2025?
In order to avoid interfering with station operational flights, our tourist flights are only flown on weekends. In each case, Saturday is the primary flight date, with Sunday reserved as the backup; you must be available to travel on both days.
Partially guided trips are as follows:
May 31,
Jun 7, 14, 21 (1 seat, 2 if very small individuals), 28 (sold out),
Jul 5 (1 seat), 12 (1 seat), 19 (sold out), 26 (1 seat),
Aug 2 (sold out), 9 (sold out)
The following fully guided trips are also available:
Aug 16 (sold out),
Sep 6 (1 seat), 27,
Oct 18
How do I book a seat? Is there a limit on how many I can book?
Please make your request by email to office@sableaviation.ca, including all information listed later on this page. There is no limit on how many seats you may request, but seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis and go very quickly. Feel free to call the office (902-860-3994) if you have any questions not answered here, but reservation requests will only taken by email.
What information should I include in my booking request?
You should indicate the number of seats requested, your preferred date (and any alternate dates that you would accept - as many as you like), the name of each passenger and their weight, fully dressed for the day, including footwear and jacket, but not including their pack.
Please be accurate when giving us the weight of passengers - we must be careful not to oversell the number of seats. Since most people only know their weight without clothing (and we don't want to fly you that way!) ideally have each person step onto a scale wearing their intended "Sable outfit". You may be surprised at how much hiking boots and layers of outerwear can weigh!
We will also require a contact number and email address (if they have one) for all travellers, as well as the province or state (or country if not in Canada or the U.S.) where they live; for those less than 16 years old, please also include their age. If you don't have all of this info when you book, that's okay, just get it to us when you can.
When is payment due?
Once we have contacted you and confirmed that we have a seat available for you on your requested day, a $200/seat deposit is required to secure your seat ($206 if paying by credit card). Payment in full must be made 60 days prior to the flight and becomes non-refundable at that time unless cancelled by us due to weather, beach condition, etc. Although non-refundable, seats are fully transferrable to another person; we do not carry bookings forward from one year to the next. We recommend trip cancellation insurance, since refunds will not be given for any reason other than cancellation by us.
What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, e-transfer, or credit card (Visa or Mastercard only). Payment by credit card will incur a 3% processing fee, which unfortunately, is non-refundable in all cases (per the credit card processing company rules), including if the flight is cancelled by us due to weather, beach, etc. We value your security, so please call us if you want to pay by credit card; don't send your private information via email - it is not secure.
Can I cancel my booking and get a refund?
Your payment (less credit card fees) will only be refunded if you cancel more than 60 days in advance of the flight. If you are within 60 days of the flight, the full amount is non-refundable unless the flight is cancelled by us due to weather, beach, etc. In no case are we responsible for other expenses such as travel costs to and from Halifax, meals, accommodations, difference in exchange rates from foreign currency, etc.
Despite the non-refundable credit card fee, some folks whose credit card includes trip cancellation insurance prefer to pay that way. Another option is to buy separate trip cancellation insurance, from Blue Cross, CAA, etc, or have a friend on standby, who is willing to step in and purchase your seat on short notice.
Do I need to contact Parks Canada for permission to visit?
No, you do not need to contact Parks Canada, we do that on your behalf, and pay all applicable fees. You will be sent an info packet from Parks Canada a week or so before the flight with final details on your trip.
How many people will be on the flight?
Our aircraft is configured to carry between 6 and 8 passengers, depending on each person's weight (see next question).
Why do you need my weight?
The aircraft manufacturer has defined a maximum amount that the aircraft can safely and legally carry, so we will weigh everyone and everything that goes onto the flight to ensure that this value is not exceeded. Please be as accurate as possible when you book - hop on your bathroom scales dressed for the day, including footwear, but not a backpack. We promise to be discreet with this sensitive information.
Is there a weight limit for my backpack?
If the flight is close to its maximum weight, each person may be limited to 10 lb of baggage, however, as often happens, if there is weight to spare, we will increase the allotment for each person's pack. Fair warning, though - your pack will feel heavier as the day goes on!
Is this a guided experience?
Trips that occur from May 31 through Aug 9 are partially guided experiences, while those from Aug 16 through Oct are fully guided. All guiding fees are included in the cost of your seat.
For partially guided trips, you will start your day with a 2 hour tour led by a Parks Canada staff member. This guided walk will provide you with an introduction to the flora and fauna of Sable Island, as well as providing you with vital information about navigating safely around the island. After that you are on your own for the rest of the day to explore the island's natural beauty.
For fully guided trips, groups will stay together and will be accompanied by a guide for the entire day; please note that you will still be responsible for bringing your own lunch and snacks. While the pace tends to be mostly leisurely, if you are in doubt as to whether or not you will be able to keep up with the group for a full day covering 5-10 kilometres, you should book the earlier partially guided experience. That way you can go at your own pace and stay closer to the station, where there is a sunroom for you to rest out of the elements.
What if I am mobility challenged?
Sable Island is a back country-like experience, and unlike other National Parks, outside the station compound, Sable Island National Park Reserve has no boardwalks or groomed trails. The terrain is hilly and sandy underfoot, and unfortunately is not appropriate for mobility limited people or those with medical conditions that would prevent them from walking 5 or more kilometres in the sand.
How long can we stay on the island?
We will try and give you 6-8 hours on the island, however, on very rare occasions, changing weather may necessitate an earlier departure. Since we must be airborne from Sable before dark, the shorter days of fall may slightly affect the time on island. That being said, it is often quite late when we get back to Halifax (e.g. an hour or more after dark), so if you live very far out of town, you may want to grab a hotel for the night after the long and exhausting day on Sable.
How long is the flight to Sable?
With typical winds, it usually takes 1:10 in the air to get to Sable, and 1:40 for the return trip. Please note that there are no bathroom facilities on the airplane, so you may want to forgo your morning coffee.
What is the best time of the year to visit Sable?
Sable Island is amazing no matter when you visit, but some folks wonder what month has the best chance of the flight being successful. Weather is unpredictable in this area of the world, and the only constant on Sable is change. May through July (or even mid-August) is known to local pilots as "fog season", July and August may be too dry for the beach to be landable, and September and October are hurricane season.
The temperatures on Sable Island tend to lag those on the mainland, so dressing in layers is always a good idea. May and June tend to be quite chilly, but summer can feel rather hot with the high humidity; fall tends to remain mild.
Do flights get cancelled very often?
On average, 20-30% of our flights end up cancelled due to poor weather or unsuitable beach conditions at Sable Island. Fog, low clouds, and hurricanes are all part of the reality of flying to a sand bar in the North Atlantic. While we will do our best to get you to the island on the main or backup day, we will never depart in unsafe conditions - safety will always be our first priority.
Are there age limits for the trip?
Due to seat configuration and limitations on safety equipment, we cannot carry children under 2 years old. That being said, Sable Island is a backcountry-like experience and a long day - we do not recommend this trip for children under the age of 12. Please let us know if you are travelling with a child or youth.
Regarding an upper age, the day is very long, and walking in soft sand requires a certain mobility - this trip may not be suitable for everyone. We will not dictate an age limit since everyone is different, but in the past we have had seniors who were quite unhappy at the end of the day, as they were simply not prepared to spend such a long day on the island. If in doubt, we'd be happy to discuss it with you.
I want to sell my photos - is there anything I need to do?
If you intend on using the images of your visit to Sable Island for commercial purposes, such as selling photos, merchandise imprinted with your images, videos, or artwork (paintings, drawings, etc) created from the photos you took, you must have a Parks Canada commercial photography permit. Contact Audrey Levesque, Visitor Experience Coordinator for Sable Island National Park Reserve (sable@pc.gc.ca or 902-497-4906) if you have questions or wish to fill in an application permit.
Can I rent a vehicle or get a ride somewhere?
All guests are driven from the aircraft to Main Station, and back to the aircraft again at the end of the day. Other than that, there is no option to be driven to other locations or to rent a vehicle.
Are there government standards for compensation on cancelled seats?
If you are denied boarding due to situations within the carrier's control, or your baggage is lost or damaged, you may be entitled to certain standards of treatment and compensation under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. For more information about passenger rights please contact our office or visit the Canadian Transportation Agency website.
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