CANA


beauty of a rail journey through the Rockies, with the likes of Rocky Mountaineer’s Journey through the Clouds and First Passage to the West itineraries revealing one jaw-dropping view after another. Yet there are plenty of other


scenic rail journeys criss-crossing this vast country, including Via Rail’s The Ocean from Montreal to Halifax, which sees city skyscrapers give way to green farmlands and forests, before hitting the coastal scenery of the Maritimes. Railbookers managing director


Peter Traynor says: “Apart from the attractive, historic cities of Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax, the overnight journey on Via Rail’s The Ocean across the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia is a real highlight, with views of hills, lakes, forests, farms and more.” Book it: Railbookers’ eight- day Quebec and the Canadian Maritimes Rail Journey starts at £1,549, including flights from London to Montreal, city sightseeing and Via Rail journey onboard The Ocean. railbookers.co.uk


w THE ALTERNATIVE… SELF-DRIVE


If the thought of the open road appeals – along with the freedom to take things slow or stop off when you please – suggest a fly-drive. Canada’s wide, well- signposted roads make driving a doddle, and there are some spectacular routes to explore. One of those is the Cabot


Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, which traces the coastline from sea level up to a 500m-high vantage point. It’s included on First Class Holidays’ Wildlife of Atlantic Canada self- drive, combining coastal scenery with the chance of seeing whales, moose and bears along the way. Product manager Brian Hawe


says: “There’s more to Canada than mountains and lakes, as any visitor to the stunning Atlantic region will see. As well as some of the most amazing seafood


50 travelweekly.co.uk 19 April 2018


in the world, visitors will find breathtaking coastal scenery offering some of the highest tides and amazing beaches, and varied wildlife on land and at sea – not forgetting the rich heritage and lively music scene.” Book it: First Class Holidays’ self-drive round-trip from Halifax starts at £1,445 land- only, including 14 nights’ accommodation, intermediate car rental with GPS, two whale- watching cruises, moose and bear-spotting tours, and ferries. fcholidays.com


w THE ALTERNATIVE… HIKING The Rockies are a haven for hikers and active travellers keen to immerse themselves in nature, but Albertans and British Columbians aren’t the only ones who like to give their boots a good outing. Travel 2 has a canoeing trip


to Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, which will introduce travellers to the real Canada by water – paddling through the park’s lakes looking for beavers, great blue herons and moose – and by land, with forest hikes and a trail to Music Lake. Mark Henderson, senior product


and commercial manager for touring, says: “Algonquin is just over three hours from Toronto, but a world away in terms of landscape and the activities on offer. The tour includes two nights’ camping followed by two


Canada’s wide roads make driving a doddle, and there are some spectacular routes to explore


nights staying in the Algonquin Log Cabin. Holidaymakers will travel through outstanding maple valleys, along miles of rivers, and across lakes by canoe.” Book it: Travel 2’s seven-day Canoe and Log Cabin Tour,


including flights, camping and cabin accommodation plus two hotel nights in Toronto, several meals, and guided canoe and hiking excursions, starts at £1,239. travel2.com


w THE ALTERNATIVE… WILDLIFE Desperate to see hulking bears standing in a fast-flowing river, trying to catch salmon midstream? The Rockies are home to outstanding wildlife experiences, some of which you won’t find anywhere else, but there are plenty of species to discover elsewhere. Denise Hunn, Canada manager for Prestige Holidays, says the


ABOVE LEFT: Mont Tremblant


ABOVE RIGHT: The Ocean train


LEFT: Algonquin Provincial Park


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