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June 11–June 19, 2016 aboard the Ocean Endeavour

Sable Island

I N T R O D U C T I O N

H I G H L I G H T S

Sable Island’s wild horses are world-famous, but there’s so much more to this remote sand island off the coast of Nova Scotia. The world’s largest colony of grey seals breeds here, as do the rare roseate tern and the endemic Ipswich sparrow, among many birds of note. Amid the island’s forty-two kilometres of beaches, dunes, and bogs you’ll find a plethora of plants: from iris, to sundew, to wild berries in abundance. Whales and sharks ply the nearby waters.

Sable Island’s history includes shipwrecks and salvage; sealing and walrus hunting; rescue and research. Still, the horses remain the island’s most charismatic residents. Free to roam, they represent one of the world’s last wild equine populations. Now protected as Canada’s forty-third national park, Sable Island offers an adventure unlike any other.

• View one of the world’s last wild horse populations• See the rare Ipswich sparrow in its sole breeding ground• Photograph Sable Island’s many rare and beautiful plant species

• See the world’s largest grey seal colony• Sail the marine mammal-rich waters of the Gully, a Marine Protected Area

June 11–June 19, 2016 aboard the Ocean Endeavour

Sable Island© Parks Canada

Weather and sea conditions will be a vital component of our Sable Island programs. Landings will only be possible when sea conditions are safe and may not occur daily. Terrain on Sable Island may be challenging and a good level of mobility is required to participate.

Day 1: St. John’s, NLDay 2: At SeaDay 3-6: Sable IslandDay 7: At Sea — the Gully (Marine Protected Area)Day 8: Saint-Pierre, FranceDay 9: St. John’s, NL

P R O P O S E D I T I N E R A R Y

D E T A I L E D I T I N E R A R Y

Day 1: St. John’s, NLWe meet in St. John’s—Newfoundland’s historic, vibrant capital. Picturesque and welcoming, with a world-famous harbour, St. John’s has been continuously fished since 1498, allowing it to boast the designation of North America’s oldest European settlement.

We will arrive in St. John’s ready to explore and will offer a city tour to those interested in the afternoon. Afterwards, we will rendezvous at the docks and board the Ocean Endeavour to begin the adventure proper; passengers will meet the staff and crew, and prepare to leave the harbour. Sailing out of St. John’s has to be experienced to be believed; Signal Hill keeps watch over the world-famous Narrows as we head for open water, passing Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America.

Day 2: At SeaOur presentation series will kick into full swing today as our expert resource staff delves into the fascinating history and ecology of Sable Island. While out on deck, keep your eyes peeled for marine mammals and seabirds in the rich Northwest Atlantic.

Day 3–6: Sable IslandSable Island is the legendary location of hundreds of shipwrecks. The island is home to a population of feral horses, the rare Ipswich sparrow, and seals and seabirds in abundance. We’ll have a chance to meet some of the island’s handful of human inhabitants and learn about this unique habitat first-hand.

In the four days we will spend exploring Sable Island, expect to be dazzled by a natural habitat unlike any you have ever seen. The

herds of wild horses for which the island is famous are a true highlight: we will observe them at their most raw and untamed as they race among the dunes. The sandy shores afford unmatched opportunities for Zodiac cruising, and you may expect to interact with the curious local seal populations as we do.

The historic sites of Sable Island—the old shipwrecks and abandoned settlements—are of particular interest, as the island’s shifting sands hide and reveal different landscapes each day. This ecosystem is in true flux: the vegetation and habitats, as well as the human relics, are at the whim of the ever-changing dunes and we will spend our days exploring before the winds rise and hide all evidence of our passage.

Weather and sea conditions will be a vital component of our Sable Island programs. Landings will only be possible when sea conditions are safe and may not occur daily. Terrain on Sable Island may be challenging and a good level of mobility is required to participate.

Day 7: At Sea: The Gully Marine Protected AreaAt sea today, we will be crossing the Gully, a Marine Protected Area approximately two hundred kilometres off the coast of Nova Scotia and to the east of Sable Island. Here, the sea floor suddenly drops a dizzying two and a half kilometres into a submarine valley. The Gully is one of the most prominent undersea features in eastern Canada and its unique ecology has attracted the interest of many agencies, such as Parks Canada and Environment Canada. This is due to its significant coral communities, its diversity of both shallow- and deep-water fish and the many whales and dolphins.

The Gully is home to a large population of bottlenose whales, and during our crossing we may be fortunate enough to see some individuals near the ship. They make regular trips to the canyon’s depths for food, and are a social, friendly species. Their playful, inquisitive nature manifests itself in their interactions with boats, which, unfortunately, has also made them easy targets for whalers in the past. Like their

other deep-water brethren, the bottlenose whales search for food and communicate with their fellows using a complex system of chirps and whistles.

As on our other days at sea, our resource staff will be on hand with a wealth of talks and contextualizing presentations. On deck they will be assisting passengers in spotting the myriad seabirds and marine mammals for which this area is famous. Due to the protection placed on the area by the Canadian government, we enter the waters only by permission of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. This permission is granted due to the presence of our team of researchers aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Day 8: Saint-Pierre, FranceExplore exotic Saint-Pierre, a last bastion of France’s colonial territories in North America. The island’s 6,500 residents are of various descents including French, Basque, Breton, and Norman.

Saint-Pierre’s architecture reflects its history: an eclectic collection of colours and style

aligned on picturesque cobblestone streets and alleys. We will have time for a tour of the city and independent exploration in the surrounding area. Take advantage of this day in France to enjoy some wine and cheese, and unwind in a tiny slice of old Europe nestled into the North American coast.

Day 9: St. John’s, NLDiscover one of the oldest cities in North America, a city unlike any other. Cradled in a harbour carved from 500-million-year-old rock and surrounded by hills running down to the ocean, St. John’s is the most easterly city in North America. St. John’s has been vitally important for centuries to explorers, adventurers, merchants, soldiers, pirates, and all manner of seafarers, who provided the foundation for this thriving modern day city.

After sailing through the Narrows, we will say our farewells and begin the process of departure. Staff will be on hand to assist you with luggage and transportation arrangements.

2016 Berth Prices

Discovery Fee $250$250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250

Date 2016 Days

Cabin Class Categories

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Charterflights 1

ALL PRICES ARE IN US DOLLARS AND ARE CASH/CHEQUE DISCOUNTED. Additional costs associated with payments made by credit card.

SableIsland 09Jun 11–June 19 $2,395 $3,195 $3,995 $4,995 $5,995 $7,095 $8,095 $9,095 $10,095 $11,095

SAILING SOLO?

Single travellers not requiring private accommodation on shipboard programs can be matched with another single traveller at no extra charge. Single-occupancy cabins are also available at 1.5 times the regular cost. Please call us for pricing & availability.

WE ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY

Family is important! To promote multi-generational travel, we are offering a 30% discount to travellers under 30 years of age. Please call us for details!

WE LOVE BAGPIPERS!

If you can play the bagpipes, bring them along and ask about our bagpiper’s rebate!

© Mike Beedell

DISCOVERY FEEEach area we visit has rich cultural experiences and wild treasures to offer. As guests, we have made a point to source and support local projects in the areas through which we travel. A contribution from each passenger, billed separately as the Discovery Fee, represents a portion of the money we donate to ensure the longevity and success of educational, environmental and cultural initiatives in these regions. Our Discovery Fee is $250 USD per person for all Shipboard Expeditions.

PRICINGRates are in U.S. dollars, per person, per voyage based on double occupancy except for C1 and C2, which are quad and triple cabins, respectively. Discovery Fee and charter/commercial airfare are not included in the berth price. Single occupancy cabins are available in select cabins on Ocean Endeavour and National Geographic Islander. Please call for availability.

CURRENCYAlthough we are a Canadian company, most of our operating costs are paid in U.S. dollars. For this reason all tour prices are in U.S. dollars. We will accept Canadian dollars at the current exchange rate, please call for details. We are not responsible for bank exchange rates on credit card transactions.

TOUR FARESPublished prices are based on exchange rates and tariffs in effect at the time of printing (February 2015) and are subject to change without notice. Once the deposit has been received changes will not be made to the base price. No refund will be given if costs are reduced. The company reserves the right to amend all or part of any tour price for any reason including, without limitation: increased fuel costs, airfares, airport charges or increases in ground operator service fees. If the price increase is more than 7% (except increases resulting from an increase in retail sales tax or Federal Goods and Services Tax or Harmonized Sales Tax) the customer has the right to cancel the contract and obtain a full refund. Tour fees quoted are based on group participation. Prices are cash/cheque discounted, and in U.S. dollars.

2016 CREDIT CARD PRICING IS AS FOLLOWS IN USD: Sable Island: C1 $2,491 C2 $3,323 C3 $4,155 C4 $5,195 C5 $6,235 C6 $7,379 C7 $8,419 C8 $9,459 C9 $10,499 C10 $11,539

PAYMENT POLICYA deposit of $1,000 USD per person is required upon booking to confirm participation. The balance of the payment is required 120 days prior to your departure date. The Company reserves the right to cancel reservations if payments are not received in time. Prices are cash/cheque discounted, if you wish to pay by credit card please refer to our credit card pricing. Please make cheques payable to: ADVENTURE CANADA. Please review our Cancellation & Refund Policy for a full outline of our cancellation terms.

As a registered Ontario company, we are licensed to sell travel packages through the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. We are required to keep all customer deposits in Client Trust Accounts and may only use the funds once the trip has begun or to make a deposit to an operator on behalf of the client. Our Client Trust Accounts are reviewed by a CPA on an annual basis and regularly inspected by TICO auditors.