DESTINATIONS CANADA | ALTERNATIVES


BIG ON . . . SCENERY Bucket list: The Rocky Mountains are as beautiful as you’d expect, all jagged peaks and snow-capped summits, glacial lakes in blinding turquoise and valleys thick with dark-green forest. Availability can be limited in summer, so encourage bookings in spring or autumn – the scenery is just as dramatic, but with fewer crowds to block the view. The alternative: “For an alternative to British Columbia and Alberta, how about a self-drive tour of Quebec?” asks Denise Hunn, director of Canada tour operations for Prestige Holidays. “Our Quintessential Quebec break takes in the magnificent scenery and gorgeous panoramas of the Laurentian Mountains and the picturesque villages that surround them. It also includes a stop at the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve, an enchanting region with winding rivers and hundreds of lakes nestled among breathtaking mountains,


which never fails to impress.” Book it: Prestige Holidays’ Quintessential Quebec tour starts at £2,896 in June, including Air Canada flights to Montreal, 12 nights’ accommodation, private transfers, 11 days’ car hire and a whale-watching excursion. prestigecanada.co.uk


BIG ON . . . WILDLIFE Bucket list: If you’ve dreamed of seeing a hulking grizzly in the wild, perhaps standing in the middle of a river ready to catch a salmon with one swipe of its paws, Canada is the place you’re likeliest to fulfil that wish. It’s home to 60% of the world’s bear population, with black bears, grizzlies and polar bears to choose from. The alternative: The Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia is the best place for bear-spotting, but head offshore to the Haida Gwaii archipelago – aka ‘the Galápagos of the north’ – and you’ll find a


ABOVE: Seals in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, British Columbia PICTURE: Thomas Piepka; Patrick Moners


place teeming with all manner of animal species. Intrepid Travel product manager


Rachel Urberti says: “Everyone knows Canada for its grizzlies, but if you want to see bears and more without the crowds, the Haida Gwaii islands are the place to go. Canada’s most remote region is a haven for wildlife, with the endemic Haida Gwaii black bear, whales, orcas, seals, sea lions and


bald eagles. Six of the 10 native land mammals on the islands are subspecies found nowhere else on Earth, making it a unique wildlife experience.” Book it: Intrepid’s eight-day Haida Gwaii Islands Expedition starts at £1,845 and includes bear-spotting in Khutzeymateen Provincial Park, hotel accommodation and activities (flights are extra). intrepidtravel.com/uk


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23 JANUARY 2020


travelweekly.co.uk


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