'Such a magical place': Tour operator’s family connection to Sable Island makes for special sightseeing

Eight Nova Scotians woke before sunrise on a Wednesday morning to take an early-morning helicopter ride to a place only a small number of tourists have had the chance to experience.

Eight Nova Scotians woke before sunrise on a Wednesday morning to take an early-morning helicopter ride to a place only a small number of tourists have had the chance to experience.

They’re among the lucky few to take a trip as tourists to Sable Island National Park Reserve, a sliver of shifting sand 42 kilometres in length, 190 kilometres from the Nova Scotia coastline

The travelers were on an excursion with Picture Perfect Tours, one of four private tour companies licensed by Parks Canada to take small groups ashore at a cost of $3,390 per person.

Two transportation companies also hold basic licenses to transport people to and from the remote location.

In efforts to protect and preserve its raw beauty Sable Island is a place where few people can visit.

According to numbers provided by Parks Canada, 3,261 visitors have made the trip since the spring of 2014, after the reserve was officially established in December the previous year.