Canada
The image of fir trees reflecting perfectly into glassy lakes while snow-capped mountains wrap on all sides; Canada’s all-encompassing landscapes act as a humble reminder that the best adventures defy explanation.
The image of fir trees reflecting perfectly into glassy lakes while snow-capped mountains wrap on all sides; Canada’s all-encompassing landscapes act as a humble reminder that the best adventures defy explanation.
A go-to expert in the great outdoors, you’d be hard-pressed to find an Achilles' heel in the sheer scale of Canada’s low-to-high-octane activities. And while seemingly living behind its untouched façade of the rambunctious Canadian Rockies and gregarious Blue Mountains that’ve got all the naturephiles covered; only the wild at heart will know its true ability to cast concerns away. Relinquishing control with everything from Heli-hiking the Alpines to drifting between a host of lake-side activities, there’s likely to be curious onlookers of grizzly bears and bison watching close by.
And because it doesn’t all need to stay at the peaks of adrenaline, the cities stay connected to it all with an understated human side. Adding a mishmash of discoveries in the form of food (Vancouver), arts (Montreal) and everything from beer and beaches in between (Toronto), the indigenous history that weaves throughout brings the depths of human connection full circle.
In pursuit of…
…nature’s medicine
Outdoorsy households have it best here, with all ages getting their hands dirty. And because outstanding nature is a given, the best way to mix things up is by experiencing the great outdoors from different perspectives. For tree monkeys with a head for heights, there’s a great view at the top of a 250-year-old Sitka fir tree, while a rappel back down to earth brings more excitement of the old way of things, floating among glaciers and snow-capped mountains canoe-style. All with the added challenge of staying wide-eyed for wildlife, from whale-watching to catching the salmon run.
A rappel back down to earth brings more excitement of the old way of things, floating among glaciers and snow-capped mountains canoe-style.
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A sense of place
Get to know our favourite spots in Canada, from the scenic and cultural delights of British Columbia to the sublime nesting place of Ontario.
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![A white helicopter landed on snow on a mountain]()
Alberta
Home to the famous western-style extravaganza at Calgary (locally known as Cowtown), this city is wonderfully unafraid to celebrate its wild west roots. Meanwhile, Jasper’s insights are those of the furry friends kind, discovering bears and wolves among the glacial national park that’s a magnet to all climbers. And with its watersports activities abound, Banff is the hotspot for mountain adventures, horse riding, and a bucket list experience Heli-hiking up the Alpines.
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![An aerial view looking over Vancouver during sunset]()
British Columbia
Ramping up the vibe in Vancouver, there’re scenic and cultural delights aplenty that frequently earn its title as one of the most liveable cities in the world. But with Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island never too far away, there’s also the challenge of whale-watching and a plethora of adventure just tempting that much-needed digital detox.
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![A waterfall with a tourist boat in the water below]()
Ontario
Playing host to Canada’s capital Ottawa and the dynamic metropolis of Toronto, there’s a family-fun feel that spans the riverside to the beaches with a phenomenon of arts, cuisines, and nightlife in between. Its natural landscapes swiftly switching it up with the thrills of Niagara Falls and a sublime nesting place over in the Blue Mountains.
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![An assortment of different coloured umbrellas hanging above]()
Quebec
A smorgasbord of cuisine, medley of creatives, and host of local history in its iconic museums; Montreal knows how to amplify its culture. While on its cliff-tip position overlooking the St Lawrence River, the French-Canadian identity of Quebec City gets a moment in the spotlight. Bringing a laid-back vibe and soulful approach that can only be found on a smaller scale.
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![A skier off piste with a rocky snow covered mountain range behind and vast forest in the valley]()
Ski & Snow
Canada ski holidays
ExploreFor the aficionados who have refined their bucket list and families seeking bundles of wintery fun, Canada rolls out its ice-dusted carpet of iconic resorts and high-octane experiences that are often the envy of all.
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Its essence...
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ADVENTUREADVENTUREPassages from a journal A week in Canada
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Day 6
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Day 10
Day 1
Day 3
Day 5
Day 6
Day 8
Day 10
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![An in focus empty wine glass on a wooden table surrounded by out of focus wine bottle and glasses]()
8pm
Sitting with a glass of wine in the hotel bar in Vancouver, taking in the blissful scenery on our first-night stay. We thought it was just needed to wind down before the adventures begin; and I must admit, it’s very fitting ahead of our scandalous prohibition tour tomorrow. We can’t wait to hear all the stories about Canada’s very own Al Capone.
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![A train passing through a pine forest with a snowy mountain in the background]()
12:18pm
A bucket list trip on board the Rocky Mountaineer today, travelling from Vancouver over to Jasper. There’s nothing like experiencing the glacier-clad mountains and strikingly blue rivers with a bit of GoldLeaf service on the side. We’re already feeling a little spoiled for choice when it comes to lunch.
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![A view of snow covered mountain from Maligne Lake Road]()
4pm
It’s our second day in Jasper National Park today, so we’re heading out on a helicopter tour to get a bird’s eye view of the Icefields. Everything feels so vast around here, we can’t help but feel like we’re getting the nature-detox we’ve long needed. That, and there’s a spa treatment booked in for later.
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![A lake and mountain view by a pine forest in the Canadian Rockies]()
10:03am
Just arrived at our next stop in Lake Louise in the heart of Banff National Park. Just being near the water alone feels magical, so we’ve booked ourselves in for some canoeing and horse-riding activities over the next couple of days. Topped off with a gondola ride up to Mount Whitehorn, we’ll have more than enough pictures of the incredible scenery to share back home.
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![A view of a mountain range with snow capped mountains in the background]()
3:10pm
We’re currently sat overlooking a 360-degree view of the six mountain ranges surrounding Banff’s National Park, and we really think this snapshot might just be the one. We’ve learnt all about the people and the wildlife that coincide here and who could blame them; it’s just simply breath-taking. Now we’re off to play a round of golf.
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![A snowy urban area with a hanging sign with the words Calgary on]()
7pm
Into the Wild Wild West at Calgary. You wouldn’t quite believe it, but this historic town is one of the best we’ve experienced for their arts and food scenes. We’ve sampled farm-to-fork food and visited a performing arts festival. And with the Rockies nearby, it’s nice to feel like nature is never too far away.
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The leading line-up
Canada
Destination essentials
SEASON
Flight
Time difference
Currency / Language
From the Reading room
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True grit
When do we ever feel truly confronted by nature? We’re never far from traffic, people, phones or planes overhead. That is, until you reach the west coast of Canada. Land, sea and sky are delivered in their rawest form, occupied only by bears, whales and orcas. And you. This is a place that puts the outside world on mute, replacing it with the wilderness in its purest form.
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Get in touch your way…
We customise every trip to you and our quotes are bespoke. We’re here to offer advice, recommendations and answer your questions.
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North America
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California
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Florida
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New York
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USA South: Georgia, Louisiana/New Orleans, The Carolinas
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