DESTINATIONS CANADA | ALTERNATIVES


CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Gros Morne National Park; Nicole Kidman at the Toronto International Film Festival; St John’s, Newfoundland


PICTURES: Shutterstock; Canadian Tourism Commission; Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism


BEST OF THE REST


E Food: If clients have done the rounds of Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, or had their fill of poutine and bagels in Montreal, recommend Toronto, whose multicultural mix has given rise to a brilliantly diverse food scene. For a real smorgasbord, Adrian Keating, Air Transat’s commercial director, recommends Assembly, a food hall serving everything from sushi and ramen to Thai street food and smoky barbecue. Direct return flights from Manchester, Glasgow or Gatwick start at £338.


E Cruise: Sailings along the East Coast, from New England in the US to Canada’s Atlantic provinces, have long been a favourite with the cruise crowd, but why not go further with a voyage down the mighty St Lawrence? CroisiEurope is positioning its new ocean-going ship, La Belle des Oceans, here for sailings from Montreal to the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, starting in June. Prices lead in at £4,694, excluding flights.


E Lakes: Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world put together, so there’s more to see than just Lake Louise. Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park or Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park are just as impressive or, if your clients are out east, the mammoth Lake Superior in Ontario is well worth a detour.


70 23 JANUARY 2020


You might find yourself rubbing shoulders with George Clooney or dining with Tom Hanks at the next table


manager at Canadian Affair, says: “The Yukon is quickly becoming the go-to place for those seeking an epic and authentic wildlife experience. Living alongside nature has always been part of the culture and a trip here offers the opportunity to wonder in amazement at nature’s own light show, the northern lights.” Book it: Canadian Affair has a seven-day Northern Lights of the Yukon tour from £1,522, including flights from Heathrow, two nights in Vancouver, domestic flights to Whitehorse, four nights’ northern lights viewing, Whitehorse city tour and ticket to Grouse Mountain. canadianaffair.com


BIG ON . . . ROAD TRIPS Bucket list: Canada is the king of self-drive holidays. Its wide-open roads and breathtaking views offer plenty of reasons to take to the road, with popular routes including the rugged Rocky Mountains in the west, and the gentler charms of Nova Scotia and the Cabot Trail in the east. The alternative: The Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador are overlooked by all but the most dedicated Canada fans, yet they’re prime territory for exploring at your own pace. Fly in via St John’s to dine on seafood in Canada’s easternmost city, then carry on to Signal Hill, the spot where Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal and now home to myriad hiking trails and stunning sea views – you might even spot an iceberg floating past.


And if you thought western Canada had hogged all the epic scenery, you’d be wrong. Here, there’s Gros Morne National Park, where glacier-carved fjords flow past sheer, tree-covered cliffs, and Terra Nova National Park, where you can kayak along rugged coastline or camp in the wilderness. Book it: First Class Holidays’ Newfoundland and Labrador Explorer starts at £2,249 including flights, 14 days’ car hire and 13 nights’ accommodation in hotels and inns. fcholidays.com


BIG ON . . . CULTURE Bucket list: Canada has its share of landmark events, whether you want to see Ottawa light up with fireworks on Canada Day or Montreal fill with music lovers during Jazz Fest. But the Calgary Stampede is the most quintessentially Canadian, bringing more than a million people together to celebrate the outdoors and turning the city into one giant party each July. The alternative: Toronto is pretty cool at any time of year, but go during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September and you might find yourself rubbing shoulders with George Clooney in a lift or dining with Tom Hanks at the next table. Premier Holidays product manager Tim Greathead


says: “TIFF sees famous faces flock to the city every year and has become one of the biggest occasions in the film calendar. Whether you love films and get tickets for the blockbuster screenings or just want to watch a red-carpet entrance, it is a great event to plan your visit around – you can really feel the excitement.” Book it: Premier Holidays offers a four-night Toronto package, including Air Canada flights from Heathrow on September 19 and accommodation at the Chelsea Hotel, from £899; TIFF screenings must be booked separately. trade.premierholidays.co.uk


² travelweekly.co.uk


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