Captain Mark's has a great website and web communication. There are two boats - one larger one and…read morea smaller Zodiac one which can go out further to sea. It was very easy to make a reservation online, which was confirmed by email. Unfortunately, a month before our trip, the Zodiac vessel which we were booked on was due for repair and Tina from Captain Mark's sent us an email to let us know we'd be put on the larger Double Hookup. And you know what, it was still a very intimate tour with a small group at the beginning of the low season. (At high season, the boat can carry up to 30 people!) On the morning, Captain Mark went to whale spot at a nearby lighthouse to increase chances of whale sighting when the boat was out. Captain Jean was also on board to teach us about the different whales we could spot in Pleasant Bay. It was a fantastic morning out - we spotted pods of pilot whales including a baby, a possible minke whale in the distance and a white seal on the rocky shores. We went as far as Meat Cove. The ride was smooth and our hosts were great. My favourite part was when they dropped an under water microphone into the sea so that we could hear the whale clicking whilst watching them swim to the surface. Definitely worth it!

Our time with Captain Mark (or in our case, Captain Gil) was as fun as it gets. We went for a…read more9:30am tour on the zodiac boat this June on a beautiful, sunny day. When we arrived we laughed for a good few minutes about the funny orange trek suits guests wear, not realizing that they are beyond necessary! When you're not spotting whales you are on a boating thrill ride - jumping waves, going fast, and enjoying the beautiful ocean and coastline. But beware! If it is a choppy day, your boat is likely to get very, very wet each time the boat stops. Those silly orange suits were lifesavers and kept us dry, comfortable, and having fun. We saw three Minke whales, all very close to the boat - it was an extremely choppy day which is apparently why we struggled to spot more. Even if we had seen no whales I would recommend this on your trip to Pleasant Bay!

What a great experience! We went one of the last days of the season, knowing we likely wouldn't see…read morepuffins because they had migrated early. We didn't see any, but that was ok because it was still a great experience. The boat has some cover and it was comfortable. Donelda narrated and told us about what we could expect and some history of the area on our way to the islands. The journey itself was beautiful. A major highlight for us was getting to see bald eagles up close (right next to the boat) as she feeds them on the way. The tour could've been about bald eagles and I would've been happy! We saw lots of different types of birds, bald eagles of different ages, and seals! Lots and lots of seals. We also got to see the puffin breeding grounds and learned about them. That just made us want to come back and do it again in the future. Originally we didn't have enough people to take off (need 10, we had 9). Not everyone had shown up. However, someone asked if we could pay for the extra ticket and we happily split it with them. I suggest bringing cash, the credit machine was down. I was able to pay via PayPal but cash would've been easier I think.

Best boat trip ever! We saw puffins, seals, bald eagles, cormorants, mini penguins and lots of…read moreother bird species. Worth the money completely. There was also great veiws of mountains and cliff's. Best part of our trip to Canada from NC. We would do it again! Thanks for the great boat tour!

Bird island boat tours was one of the first things I booked for my Nova Scotia trip. As a birder…read moreand nature lover, this was a must do. I paid a $20 deposit at booking, and $62 per person upon arrival. There were maybe 8-10 total guests on the boat. We had an enthusiastic captain and first mate who pointed out good photo ops and the type of bird (or seal!) that was nearby. We saw tons of puffins, cormorants, razorbills, gulls, guillemots, kittiwakes, and a few eagles and herons. I highly recommend bringing binoculars (or you can rent for $8). They had a small gift shop where I bought cute puffin socks after the tour. I highly recommend this experience!

This tour was the first thing we booked when we began planning our vacation 10 months ago. I am so…read moreglad we did! The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and very good at pointing out the different birds we saw. They also discussed the history of the area and the reasons for changing bird counts over the years.

We were in the area at the start of the season. Our friends had recommended Captain Mark's but in…read moreJune he is only taking out the zodiac. We had my 81 year old father with us and didn't think that would be a good thing for him. We walked over to GW building. They were happy to take us. They said another family had called and were on their way so we would go out at 2pm. We went up to the Whale Museum to pass the time. We left right at 2pm. Captain Mark's zodiac was out at time as well. The two captains were helping each other find the whales. That was nice to see. Again early in the season so we didn't expect anything too dramatic. We did see a few Minke whales. After awhile we drove to another area to see some bald eagles. We were out for about a hour. There were only 7 of us on the boat. The boat has an upper deck. The lower deck you can get sprayed. The boat provided ponchos for those that were worried about getting wet. The crew was nice. I wish there had a bit more explanation or presentation. Maybe tell us about the Minke whales or the area or even the boat, something. They were spotters to say, "hey look there" and that is about it. That could be an area for improvement. For the three of us it was $110 US plus a fee to park. All of the whale watching companies are in the same location. A nice way to pass an hour. I enjoyed looking onto the Cabot Trail from the water.

Came up here during Christmas. There's a reason why the entire place is empty. Its cold, windy,…read moreand snowy. But you can experience raw natural beauty with zero crowds. Come prepared though. Awd and snow tires are a must. Satellite communication devices or starlink is also recommended as we had very large swaths of the drive without cell service. And if your car breaks down or you get stuck in a snow drift you are screwed. I think there was a part of the drive where I went easily 90 minutes without passing by anyone. I also wouldn't really recommend coming up here with an electric vehicle during the winter. But we enjoyed our time here. Just stayed at our Airbandb, cooked, played board games and reconnected with nature and our family.

It is a worthwhile drive for sure. It helps to have time to take in all the historical…read moredestinations, get a seafood meal along the way, go hiking and have good weather for viewing -- or else it's just another marine drive with maybe one or two spectacular views compared to other world class marine drives such as along the Oregon, Northern California and a big Sur coastlines where the wow moments are at every turn. While I wasn't as impressed with the destination drive route and park in general (as much the tourism ad copy raised expectations) there was a sense of uniqueness and individuality to the features that present themselves to the avid traveller.

Such a great tour. Daniel's love and compassion for his island made the tour so enjoyable!read more

From the owner: Discover the wonders of Cape Breton Island with Sydney Adventure Tours, your go-to independent and…read morelocally owned business. Whether you're seeking a personalized adventure or prefer a pre-planned itinerary, we've got you covered. Our knowledgeable guides are passionate about showcasing the world-renowned beauty of Cape Breton Island, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all. From breathtaking coastal drives to hidden gems off the beaten path, our customized tours cater to your specific interests and preferences. Join us for an adventure of a lifetime and let Sydney Adventure Tours be your gateway to the extraordinary wonders of Cape Breton Island.

Listen. I cannot say enough good things about this company. We were touring Cape Breton by road and…read moremeandering our way around and wanted a whale tour last minute. Most places we called were fully booked out or not going out based on their location and the greater chance of wind that afternoon. When we called Oshan they weren't planning to because they didn't have enough people yet, but the bay was sheltered so the viewing would be fine. They took down our name and called us back within the hour. Another group was interested in a tour so they were going to add a new sunset viewing which was not normally on the books for that night only. We said yes immediately and made our way up there. You might be a little uncertain at first given a parking lot and a small shed sized building but it houses all the needed booking and card processing items. The boat is moored in harbor and while it can fit more we were lucky enough to have around eight on our tour. The boat driver was incredibly knowledgeable and respectful of space for the animals. He dropped a microphone in the water so we could hear a pod of nearly thirty pilot whales talking to each other. It was a really magical experience! Everyone working at Oshan (it's a family business) was wonderful and even if we hadn't lucked out and seen so many I would do this tour again in a heartbeat.

This place is awesome!!! Definitely the highlight of our trip. Easy booking online a few nights…read moreahead, very knowledgeable staff-the first mate was a marine biologist and was so interesting to listen to. We saw a whale tail flipping out in the distance, seals and an eagle fairly soon after taking off and had a Fin whale and her calf come close to the boat!! Also had a bunch of pilot whales swim close to the boat as well. Amazing experience and so grateful to the staff for the great memories!!

We just had a horrible experience with Tartan Tours in Sydney, NS. We paid for and expected a…read moreprivate tour of the Louisbourg Fortress and got basic taxi service for $250. The tour driver simply dropped us off after a 45 minute drive and said she'd be back in 3 hours to pick us up - not exactly my idea of private anything. After we complained the driver, Diane, stood fast arguing it was private and refused to give us a refund. It truly was a total rip off and she took advantage of us as tourists. Absolutely do not use her. She deserves a "minus" 5 stars.

We had a full day tour with Tartan Tours across the Cabot Trail. Our tour guide was Brian. He was…read moreextremely informative and helpful and went out of his way to make sure we got our money's worth. If you do book with Tartan Tours, make sure you ask for Brian.