Sable Island: Wild Horses and Outpost Legacy

Our journey begins in the vibrant, salt-tinged heart of Newfoundland: St. John’s. With its colourful row houses, steep streets, and lively spirit, this harbour city is not only picturesque—it’s storied. Since 1498, Europeans have fished here, making St. John’s the oldest continuous European settlement in North America. But long before that, this coast was known to Indigenous peoples, the Beothuck, who populated the coast and navigated these waters.

Casting off from St. John’s is a moment to savour. We’ll pass through the legendary Narrows, where Signal Hill towers above—a sentinel to centuries of comings and goings. As Cape Spear, North America’s easternmost point, slips past on starboard, we’ll head into open waters with stirring anticipation.

The adventure is underway.

Our time at sea offers the perfect opportunity to dive into the stories that shape the journey ahead. Today, our on-board presentation series begins in earnest, as members of the expedition team share their knowledge of Sable Island’s extraordinary ecology, geology, and human history.

While the learning continues inside, the outer decks beckon. Keep your binoculars at the ready—this corner of the northwest Atlantic is rich with life. Watch for seabirds, whales, and dolphins from deck. Life aboard balances comfort and discovery—with inviting lounges, great food, a library, and sweeping views of open ocean.

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

Our 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), we 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 will guide our experience with insight into the island’s layered history. We'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 we 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 our 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.

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

As we disembark, we’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, will travel with you long after the lines are tied.