Lumberjacks, beavers, hockey fanatics, Mounties and maple syrup spring immediately to mind. While Canada certainly provides all of these traditional associations in abundance, this awe-inspiring country has so much more to offer than a slew of cliches. With its unrivalled outdoor adventure facilities, its unforgettable natural landscapes and its exceptionally cosmopolitan and progressive cities, Canada has plenty to offer those seeking cutting-edge culture as well as adventure junkies looking for a serious adrenaline kick. Popular tourist destinations include: the magnificent Rocky Mountains around Banff and Lake Louise, high-end luxury ski resorts such as Whistler and Blackcomb, the French-speaking cities of Montreal or Quebec, or the uber-cool and perpetually bustling urban centres of Vancouver or Toronto. Whether visiting an Inuit lodge in Nunavut, taking a dog-sled ride through the Yukon to view the spectacular northern lights blaze across the night sky, or indulging in some lovely high tea on Vancouver Island, you are bound to find plenty of activities to keep you blissfully engaged in this exceptionally diverse and incomprehensibly vast nation.
Located at Canada’s southwestern border, the city of Vancouver boasts majestic mountains, sparkling ocean, rainforests and beautiful foliage in all four seasons. A vast multicultural population, endless activities, and excellent infrastructure ensure Vancouver is welcoming to all. While the city has excellent public transportation, it is a great walking city - easily accessible, clean, green and safe. Vancouver caters to almost any interest throughout the year; visitors can enjoy world-class shopping, gourmet meals, outstanding live entertainment, sporting events, theatre, outdoor adventure, a huge array of watersports, and spectacular sights and attractions. The city is also known for its easy access to Whistler, the Canadian Rockies, Victoria, and Vancouver Island. Don’t miss the opportunity to traverse the thrilling, famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and its new related activities, including palpitation-inducing cliff walks and historical tribal sites.
Located just off Canada’s Pacific Coast in the British Columbia Province, the massive Vancouver Island is home to stunning natural scenery and a wealth of cultural wonders. The wave-whipped beaches and verdant forests of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve provide the ultimate opportunities for surfing and hiking, and the chance to see cougars and other endangered animals. Turquoise natural pools are surrounded by gigantic peaks and lush greenery, constituting picturesque locations for swimming, kayaking and other watersports. Small, friendly communities rich in cultural history are scattered across the island and enjoy engaging with visitors about their ancient legends. In the capital, Victoria, impressive heritage architecture, a variety of fascinating museums, and plenty of modern galleries, restaurants, and shops complete the package.
Extending across thousands of square kilometres of land and coast, Great Bear Rainforest makes up a vast section of the world’s biggest surviving coastal temperate rainforest. The park is situated on the Pacific coast of British Columbia, and is a natural wonderland of glacier-carved gorges, snow-capped mountains, ancient cedar groves and sparkling rivers that teem with salmon. Named for the bears that inhabit it, the park is the only place on earth that you have a chance of viewing the Kermode or ‘spirit’ bear – a subspecies of the black bear of which roughly one in 10 are pure white. Other species that inhabit the park include grizzly bears, wolves, cougars, and eagles, as well as whales, sea otters, dolphins and sea lions that frequent its coastal waters.
