FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions to Kayak Nova Scotia

What are the Canadian entry requirements regarding COVID-19?

We are open daily for the 2022 season.
Come kayak Nova Scotia with us!

Canada entry requirements

To check the current Canadian entry requirements, please go to the official government website.

Currently (June 2022), fully vaccinated travellers (2 doses; or one dose if Johnson& Johnson) can enter Canada without prior testing. Before crossing the border, you will need to download the ArriveCan app, and fill it out up to 72 hrs before entering Canada. It will generate a QR code that you will need to cross the border.

Unvaccinated foreigners are currently not allowed to enter Canada. Exemptions are only granted if you travel for essential reasons (not tourism) or if you are unable to receive a vaccination for medical reasons (medical attestation required.

Arrival testing

When you enter Canada, you might be randomly selected to take a Covid test. Should this arrival test turn out positive, you will have to quarantine in Canada for 14 days. You will have to submit a quarantine plan via the ArriveCAN app prior to boarding your flight.

Cancellation Policy during the pandemic

Should you need to postpone or cancel your booking with us, please give us at least 48 hrs notice. Then, you have the following options: Postponing your trip is always free of charge. You can also have your booking turned into a non-expiring voucher for free. This option is non-refundable. Should you have to cancel, you get 90 % of your funds back, the rest covers credit card and processing fees. Please allow a few workdays for the funds to show back up in your account. In case you need to change or cancel your trip, please contact us by email (seakayak@novashores.com) and tell us which option you prefer.

Best Practices

We have implemented best practices to reduce the risk of a virus infection on our tours and at our accommodation. Social distancing and the frequent disinfection of gear and public areas are standards. Please keep your face covering handy in case social distancing cannot be maintained, for example in situations where the guide has to help adjusting your gear. Wash or disinfect your hands frequently and do not touch your face. Please notify us in case you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, and abstain from taking the tour to protect others.

We hope to see you soon!

What kind of paddling conditions should I expect?

To join our tours, no experience is necessary, and we welcome beginners. This, however, does not mean that the conditions on the Bay of Fundy are particularly easy to kayak in. Cape Chignecto is an exposed area, and a bit of wind and chop should be expected. We provide very stable double kayaks and the assistance of expert guides, and you should bring a sense of adventure and an average level of fitness. Sometimes, we paddle into a bit of wind, and chop can build up in a few moments. Sometimes, there can be a bit of surf at the beach landing, or you might be paddling through some waves. Other days are glassy and calm, you just never know what you get, and conditions can change rapidly out here. We do cancel for winds above 10 knots (20 km/h) and seas over 1.6 feet if we see this coming on the forecast. We do not usually cancel for rain.

What is the access road like?

The road to the Three Sisters is partly a maintained dirt road and requires a vehicle with normal clearance. Please let us know upon booking in case you require a ride with your guide to the put-in spot as seats are limited.

After checking in at our office, most guests will drive in their own vehicle to the put-in spot, which is located about 27 km from Advocate Harbour. Part of this route is on gravel which is not recommended for motorcycles and sports cars with very little clearance. RVs are fine depending on the size. Please check in with us well beforehand if in doubt.

I have no experience. Is it safe to go out in your waters?

Don’t worry: A lot of our guests have never been in a kayak before. We are therefore used to giving beginners all the help they need to get out on the water and enjoy themselves as they kayak Nova Scotia. We solely offer stable yet sporty double kayaks to make the experience safe. The Bay of Fundy is unique due to the enormous tides and strong currents. Because of this, we recommend you always go with experienced kayakers – such as the NovaShores guides.

Can my children come along?

It depends on how confident your children are on the water. Most kids just love kayaking. If they are too small to paddle, they can share a double with the strongest parent. The parent must be reasonably fit as they will be paddling the large double by themselves if the child is too young to help. The recommended age for children on our day tour and overnight tours starts at around 12. The minimum age is 6 if the family is very outdoorsy and the seas are calm.

Are we too old to go?

Age is a mindset, and kayaking is an activity that is truly for everyone. So, age is not important. What counts are your spirit and that you are reasonably fit.

Can I paddle a single kayak, or are there only doubles?

The Bay of Fundy can be a moody body of water where conditions can change in an instant. To account for that and to make your experience as pleasant and safe as possible, we only have double kayaks available. They are much more stable than singles and still sporty to paddle, giving both kayakers enough room to paddle at their own pace. The doubles are so easy to paddle and steer that you will have lots of time to enjoy the scenery. Plus, the doubles are excellent for creating those special photos!

Are we in good enough shape?

Kayaking is an activity that requires average fitness. Thus, if you can easily walk a few kilometers you probably will have no problems. For flexibility, as long as you can get down on the floor at home and sit with your legs stretched out in front of you, and get up from that position with no difficulty you will be fine in the kayak. Please note that the max. weight per paddler is 240 lb.

Can I bring my dog?

Dogs can unfortunately not join the tour as we do not consider it safe.

What happens if I tip over?

It is rather unlikely that you tip your kayak. However, if this happens, our certified and trained guides will get you back into your kayak within minutes. The basics are that you should stay with your boat while one of your guides will get parallel to your boat, empty it of water and assist you getting back in. It only takes a few concentrated minutes to get you back on track. We have very few capsizes with the double kayaks. Oh, and we do not practice wet exits.

Can I bring my own kayak?

The short answer is no, sorry. Our kayaks are sea kayaks that track easily, are easy to steer and are fast to paddle. To make sure the group moves at the same pace, we only use our Boreal Design Esperantos on the tours. The guides will have them set up on the beach before you arrive, so that the start of the tour is very smooth. The conditions on the Bay are so different from any other body of water, so that some kayakers in their own kayaks have been surprised (and gotten very wet) in the past.

I can't swim, is it OK to be in a kayak?

Sure, we require all our customers to wear Canadian Coast Guard approved life jackets so if you should decide to get wet it will easily keep you afloat.

How long have you been doing this?

As a business, we have been operating since 2000. Some of us have been paddling canoes and kayaks for a few decades. All lead guides we employ are certified kayaking guides and trained in Wilderness First Aid. Learn more about our team here.

Do you have any rentals?

We don’t believe it’s safe. Instead, we offer our guests high-quality guided tours to kayak Nova Scotia.

Will we see whales if we go?

Many people would like to see whales from a kayak. We have had the luck to do so on some tours, but we do not expect it. We advise that if you really want to see whales, please take the drive to Brier Island near Digby, or to Pleasant Bay on Cape Breton, where there are excellent whale watching tours. But if you want an outstanding maritime experience that combines clean fresh air and relaxing exercise with incredible natural beauty, serenity and the chance to see the local wildlife – join a group of like-minded individuals and take a NovaShores Adventures sea kayaking tour – Kayak Nova Scotia!

What should I bring and wear on the tour?

We supply you with all the paddling equipment needed, and homemade meals. Due to the extreme environmental impact of the bottled water industry we do not supply bottled water, but will refill any bottles you bring along to our office. We recommend you wear stable footwear (flipflops are not ideal) you don’t mind getting wet and bring a raincoat, a fleece jacket, a hat, bug repellent and sunscreen. The best choice of clothing is synthetics – avoid cotton and denim jeans. Bring some warm clothing to store in the dry bags we will supply – you may not need it, but it is always nice to have if you do.

Is there any public transportation I can take to get to the tour?

Unfortunately, there is no public transportation out here, and you will need your own vehicle to get to the launch site. If you are on motorcycles and don’t want to ride them on gravel, please give us advanced notice so that we can arrange to give you a ride from our office to the launch site. Sometimes, car rentals are hard to come by, and you could consider alternative car sharing apps such as Turo.

Impressum

NovaShores Adventures
Anne Grabinsky
37 School Lane
Advocate Harbour, Nova Scotia
B0M 1A0
Canada

seakayak@novashores.com

1-902-392-2222 (local)*
1-866-638-4118 (toll free)*

Open Mon - Sun 8 am - 8 pm.

*Please note that our office is only able
to answer phone calls from May to October.
Please reach us via email outside of those
months, or book directly on our website.

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