Join us to see Canada's harp seals!
Feb. 29 - March 4, 2024
Charlottetown, Canada
Join us miles off Canada’s east coast, where winter ice floes create an unspoiled habitat on which mother harp seals give birth to their pups. Journey with us to this stunning landscape to witness one of the most breathtaking wildlife spectacles on earth. Here you will learn how HSI/Canada is protecting seals and their habitat while working to end the commercial seal hunt for good.
History of the seal hunt
The commercial seal hunt in Atlantic Canada is one of the largest and cruelest slaughters of marine mammals on Earth. Each year, tens of thousands of baby seals, just weeks of age, are beaten, shot and skinned for their fur. The annual slaughter is cruel and wasteful, targets populations already impacted by climate change and is economically nonviable.
The commercial seal hunt primarily occurs far offshore in the northwest Atlantic, an extreme environment where consistent accuracy in shooting and clubbing is a practical impossibility. Many wounded seals escape and die a slow, painful death. Others are impaled on metal hooks while conscious, dragged across the ice and beaten to death on bloody boat decks. While enormous headway has been made in ending demand for commercial sealing products and millions of animals have been spared, much remains to be done.
View seals in their natural habitat.
Four nights of luxury private group accommodations.
A helicopter flight over sea ice floes.
Witness seals in their natural habitat on Humane Journeys
Humane Journeys maintains a responsible and respectful seal-watching program. We ensure that our presence does not disturb seal pups or their mothers and we'll help you do the same. We will lead guests into areas where there are seal pups and explain how best to respectfully view them. HSI staff can also assist in photographing guests with the seals, providing a truly unique souvenir of the trip.
Travel to Charlottetown
Within Canada, both Air Canada and Westjet service Charlottetown Airport. Charlottetown airport is not an international facility and most commercial flights transit through Halifax (Nova Scotia), Toronto (Ontario) or Montreal (Quebec). Most major hubs offer direct flights to these cities.
Ground transport
HSI will take care of all your ground transportation requirements including airport pick-ups and drop-offs, getting you to and from the helicopter hangar and any other needs. Should you require your own rental car, Hertz, National and Budget all have agencies at Charlottetown Airport.
What to wear
You will need to dress appropriately for your Prince Edward Island vacation, as average temperatures in March range between -7 and 1 degree Celsius. Guests will spend up to three hours at a time in sub-zero temperatures.
HSI will equip you with a waterproof, insulated survival suit, insulated boots and safety gear, but you will need to bring a few basic items. Layering your clothing is the single best way to manage heat loss in the outdoors. It allows you to regulate your body temperature to match physical activity, wind, temperature and moisture. We recommend that you always wear thermal underwear plus a light layer of flexible clothing (synthetic fleece is an excellent choice) underneath your survival suit. Medium weight synthetic socks will be more than adequate. Do not wear cotton socks or clothing as cotton tends to trap moisture against your skin. We will supply you with a warm hat that covers your ears and a pair of gloves that are suitable for sub-zero temperatures. Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended.
To reserve your spot or get more information, contact us.
Space is limited to 12 people and will fill up quickly. Participation is $12,500 per person or $20,000 for two traveling together and willing to share a bed. Proceeds will benefit Humane Society International/Canada. Your contribution less $4,000 per person is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. The HSUS tax ID number is 53-0225390. The HSUS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Ground transportation, all plant-based meals, helicopter flight, group activities and sleeping accommodations are included. Airfare to Charlottetown is not.