DESTINATIONS CANADA | WINTER
:
winter FESTIVALS
5
Quebec Winter Carnival: Running from late January to mid-February, this annual event transforms the city into a winter wonderland complete with an ice palace, parades, fairground games and live music.
Festival du Voyageur Winnipeg: This Manitoban festival celebrates the region’s French heritage with historical re-enactments and stories of First Nations people, traditional music, cuisine and winter activities for all ages.
Ottawa Winterlude: Over three weekends in Ottawa- Gatineau, visitors can see intricate ice sculptures, discover a snow playground and skate along the famous Rideau Canal.
Niagara Icewine Festival: Surrounded by snow-dusted vines, wine lovers can enjoy delicious food, an ice gala and sample local icewine, a dessert wine made from frozen grapes.
Whistler Pride and Ski Festival: This annual ski gathering has become one of the largest LGBTQ+ ski events in the world, featuring skiing and snowboarding for all levels along with plenty of après and live entertainment.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Polar bear sighting; horse-drawn sleigh ride, Métis
Crossing; Lake Louise Ski Resort PICTURES: Travel Manitoba; Travel Alberta
Ski Resort and Mount Norquay provide more than
8,000 acres of ski fields and slopes alone.” Book it: First Class Holidays offers eight days in Banff from £1,845, including direct from Heathrow to Calgary, accommodation, transfers, ski rental and a six-day ski pass. Departing February 3, 2026.
fcholidays.com
BEST FOR… SLOW TRAVEL Meandering along the magical Icefields Parkway, a 143-mile stretch of road linking Lake Louise and Jasper, is the perfect way to take in the region’s best sights. It’s open year-round, but for those who’d prefer not to tackle winter roads, an escorted coach tour provides plentiful photo stops, an informative guide and time to concentrate on the view rather than on the road, plus it often means the chance to combine this highway with other top sights in Alberta. Meg McBroom, senior product executive for Canada at Audley Travel, says: “Travelling on the Icefields Parkway by coach allows clients to sit back, relax and enjoy views of the glaciers, frozen waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. In winter, it’s safer to travel
Quebec
with a driver who knows these roads inside out.” Book it: Audley Travel has a 14-night itinerary to Vancouver, Whistler and Jasper, from £4,300 including return flights from Heathrow, accommodation, transfers and a coach journey along the Icefields Parkway. Departing January 24, 2026.
audleytravel.com
50 9 OCTOBER 2025
In November, Churchill sees
large numbers of polar bears gathering along Hudson Bay
BEST FOR… WILDLIFE October and November are the best times to spot polar bears in the ‘polar bear capital of the world’, aka Churchill in Manitoba, and many companies offer tundra buggies and tours. Jordan Fry, product manager at Wildlife Worldwide, says: “In November, Churchill sees large numbers of bears gathering along the shores of Hudson Bay. There are few places in the world that enable encounters with polar bears in their natural habitat as reliably as here and travelling by the region’s
unique Polar Rovers is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Book it: Wildlife Worldwide’s seven-day Classic Polar Bears tour starts from £8,995, including return flights from Heathrow, domestic flights between Winnipeg and Churchill, five nights’ accommodation and transfers. Departures throughout November 2026.
wildlifeworldwide.com
BEST FOR… CULTURE To explore how Indigenous communities have adapted to the cold Canadian winters, suggest clients include an experience with an Indigenous-led or owned company ²
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock/iPix Stock
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