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A big adventure

The hot destination of the moment is not some sun-kissed tropical paradise island or a mystical oriental hideaway, but Canada, a land of majestic mountain ranges, stunningly beautiful lakes, sweeping valleys and fragrant pine forests. In the last month, we’ve booked six tailor-made Canadian adventures for clients. Clearly, there is something that draws people to this place. Canada, of course, is very big. Over 3000 miles from coast to coast and covering an area the size of Western Europe, it is the second largest country, by area, after Russia.

The hot destination of the moment is not some sun-kissed tropical paradise island or a mystical oriental hideaway, but Canada, a land of majestic mountain ranges, stunningly beautiful lakes, sweeping valleys and fragrant pine forests. In the last month, we’ve booked six tailor-made Canadian adventures for clients. Clearly, there is something that draws people to this place. Canada, of course, is very big. Over 3000 miles from coast to coast and covering an area the size of Western Europe, it is the second largest country, by area, after Russia. China has the largest population at over 1 billion, whereas Canada makes do with just 35 million, so the sense of space is very tangible. Then there’s the language. With the honourable exception of Quebec province, where French is the mother tongue, everyone speaks a very attractive version of English. Not the exaggerated, barely intelligible versions you find in parts of the USA, but a straightforward warm-hearted version that endears Canadians to you in an instant. There must be something in the water that makes them such a well-adjusted and relaxed nation. Aside from the welcoming nature of its people, Canada boasts some truly spectacular scenery.  The wildlife is diverse, if a little shy. Keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of Elk, bobcat and bear, going about their business with little regard for the human interlopers in their wide-ranging domain. For a more concentrated experience, travel to British Columbia’s Knight Inlet towards the end of August to witness an amazing spectacle. Salmon, exhausted from their annual spawning ritual, make easy pickings for numerous Grizzly Bears, hooking fish from the river and feasting to their heart’s content. If you happen to be staying in Banff, you might meet the occasional elk wandering down the middle of Banff Avenue at any time of the day. One highlight not to be missed is a train journey through the Rockies. The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s great rail routes, from either Banff or Jasper, via Kamloops, to Vancouver. Until recently, accommodation on the train was a choice between Red Leaf and Gold Leaf. Red Leaf represented good value, but the view from your seat was limited to the picture window. Gold Leaf gave you the benefit of the dome car with panoramic views as you travelled. Meals in Gold Leaf, however, would be served downstairs, and took you away from your spectacular viewing environment. We always recommended Gold Leaf, despite its much higher cost, on the basis that it was something you were only ever likely to do once, so why not? Now though, Rocky Mountaineer has introduced Silver Leaf. This intermediate category has Red Leaf style seating and food service, but the carriages have wrap over windows to enhance the viewing potential. At a stroke, the best aspects of both Red and Gold Leaf have been combined, at a price midway between the two. It would be remiss of me to not mention a further dimension to your Canadian adventure that is hugely popular, the Alaska Cruise. This is the perfect counterpart to your land-based tour. Although not strictly Canadian (Alaska is in the USA), you can board your cruise ship in Vancouver. Along the way, you’ll visit frontier-style communities like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Choose the right cruise and you’ll see Killer Whales, porpoises, seals and bald eagles. The highlight will be Glacier Bay, an eerily silent, glass-smooth stretch of water which leads to over 50 major glaciers. Some cruise lines do not have a licence to enter Glacier Bay, so choose carefully or you could miss out. Our suggestion for the perfect Canadian holiday is to combine around 5 days in Banff with a trip to Vancouver on Rocky Mountaineer, 3 or 4 days in Vancouver and then off to Alaska on Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam. With trips out to Lake Louise from Banff and Victoria Island from Vancouver, you will get a true feel for this magnificent country. For those of you with more time to spare, why not tag on a few days in Toronto, with a side trip to Niagara Falls? Whatever your preferences, Canada has something to suit you. Careful planning and an awareness of what is available is the key to success, so do enlist the help of a Canada-specialist travel agent to guide you.

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