Why Canada is a top 2017 travel destination
Could Canada be one of the world’s top holiday destinations this year? It’s politically stable, full of diverse landscapes to explore and exciting attractions to visit. There wont be any language difficulties if youre travelling from Britain, as English is widely spoken here, and Canadian cuisine is delicious! Expect exquisite seafood, barbecue ranch meats and plenty of French fusion. Trying the local maple syrup is also a must. It’s good with anything sweet!
Canada is vast, so there are plenty of different regions to visit. In the Rocky Mountains, you can travel through one of Earth’s last wilderness frontiers and be transported back to a simpler time, when bears roamed the land untroubled by urban development and snow-capped peaks retained both their ice in winter and an unspoilt covering of flora in the summer months.
Over in the Atlantic Provinces you can discover a quaint maritime history that still shapes life in the many villages of Nova Scotia and News Brunswick. While in the big cities, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, you can find a very modern, well equipped and in many ways European-influenced appeal. Here, in the interior, you can shop, dine, dance and be entertained 24 hours a day!
If you choose an all inclusive package from one of our trusted travel partners; Titan Tours, Rocky Mountaineer, or Trafalgar, you’ll enjoy gourmet food, a personal tour manager to get you safely and efficiently from one destination to another and luxury overnight stays in well known and respected hotels. Self drive is also an option and families are always welcome. Lets have a look at some of the most popular Canadian travel locations and trips.
Wildlife safari in Churchill towards the north of Canada
Let’s begin with a unique opportunity for adventurous travellers; the chance to observe polar bears near the Arctic. You’ll fly into Winnipeg, before transferring to Churchill in Manitoba to find yourself surrounded by lakes, forests and huge open plains. During your trip you’ll stay in the Sheraton Hotel in Winnipeg and the Tundra Inn in Churchill. Although you’ll discover a frozen wilderness all around you, you’ll be in civilised, comfortable and well equipped accommodation, so when you board your tundra buggy, you’ll be well rested and fed.
The tundra buggy will take you to popular bear watching spots, where you’ll be able to safely observe Canadian polar bears in their natural habitat, around the shores of Hudson Bay, hunting for seals. In addition, you’ll be looking for snowy owls, arctic foxes and caribou. Your trip will end back in Winnipeg, where you can mull over the sights you’ve experienced, sights only very few before you have had the opportunity to see.
The cities of Canada
Aspen Travel can provide a number of escorted tours that will take you to the various Canadian cities and natural beauty spots. Or, if you’d prefer a single-location holiday from which to explore the surrounding area, we can arrange that too. One of our most popular tours will take you to Toronto and give you the chance to explore the city at your leisure, although a trip to see the heady heights of the CN Tower, where you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the shimmering lake below, is a must!
From Toronto you can move on to discover one of Canada’s biggest attractions; Niagara Falls. This tremendous waterfall can be viewed by helicopter over the top of the falls, or ferry boat from the bottom. The surrounding town is geared up for tourism, so you’ll find plenty to do and see here.
After the glitzy display at Niagara, you can admire the historical and cultural landmarks of Canada’s capital; Ottawa. This is the home of the Canadian Parliament and there are plenty of museums and architectural wonders to see here, before you head off to French-speaking Quebec and Montreal. With their European-influenced buildings, interpreted in a North American manner, Quebec and Montreal are home to an urban landscape that is utterly unique and full of charm. As with all of our packages to Canada, food, transfers and accommodation is included in your package.
Eastern Canada; The Atlantic Provinces
Less glitzy than the large interior urban areas, the East coast of Canada has a unique identity shaped by its native, Scottish and Acadian heritage. Many of the quaint fishing towns, cities and islands here are full of oldy worldy charm and deliciously fresh seafood restaurants.
Nature enthusiasts will enjoy a trip through the old forest in Kejimkujik National Park, a black bear safari in Miramichi, where you can observe black bears safely from the observation tower, and a cruise around Briar Island, where you’re likely to see humpback whales, porpoises and seabirds. There will be yet more marine life to enjoy in the Bay of Fundy. Additionally, Kouchibouguac National Park will take you through the bays and salt marshes in search of grey seals, while the beautiful Cape Breton Highlands, with its similarities to Scotland, is a land of rugged headlands and serene beaches.
Those seeking a more cultural vibe and looking to gain an insight into Canadian history will enjoy their tours English settler town, Digby, the Halifax Citadel, the Garrison District in Federiction and the old fashioned summer houses located along the river in New Brunswick. A highlight of this whole trip, however, simply has to be eating some of the world’s best quality lobster on a genuine fishing boat, while the stars twinkle above and whales swim in the waters below.
The Canadian Rockies
The rockies are without doubt one of the biggest attractions in Canada. This vast Mountain range, which stretches across the country, through British Columbia, is home to beautiful wildlife, lush green river valleys and dry, arid canyons, as well as glaciers, high peak passes and incredible forests.
Many of the trips we offer through the Rockies are by train, as train travel allows access to otherwise inaccessible areas of the mountains. From your luxurious glass-domed train carriage, you’ll climb Whistler, before looking down on Fraser Canyon and the nearby Coast and Cascade Mountains. All of this will occur shortly following your departure from Vancouver.
From here, you’ll then travel into Alberta and the Jasper National Park area, speeding towards the Continental Divide with stop-offs at exciting locations. You’ll see Mount Robson, the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains, Pyramid Falls and Yellowhead Pass. Onwards through key attractions; Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels, until you reach the infamously stunning Lake Louise, with Victoria Glacier behind it and eventually, the resort town of Banff.
Your train journey through the Rockies will be memorable and exhilarating, but you won’t be left alone to make sense of the incredible views you’re seeing by yourself. Many of our tour operators provide dedicated personal tour guides and managers, as well as local naturalists to help you spot wildlife, such as bears, elk, moose and mountain goats along the way and understand the significance of the different landscapes through which you’ll pass.
Highlights of a luxury train passage package through the Rockies of Canada include a ride on an Ice Explorer; a huge vehicle which is used to transport people across a glacier, a glacier skywalk, which will allow you to view the glacier below via a glass-floored walkway, a talk and questions given by an authentic Canadian Mountie, a traditional line-dancing lesson and tasting Canadian beef cooked barbecue-style in a working ranch.
Are you interested in discovering the natural beauty, wide open spaces and exciting attractions that Canada has to offer? There are some real bucket-list holidays that can be had in this vast and beautiful land and Aspen Travel can help you achieve them.
We are a respected booking partner of many leading travel brands than can help you tour Canada in a luxury and stree-free manner. To find out more about the comprehensive range of packages we offer in Canada, as well as the best prices we can offer for your dates, please give the Aspen Travel team a call. We’ll be happy to guide you through your booking and answer any questions you may have.
