DESTINATIONS CANADA | ISLANDS


BEST OF THE


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Baffin Island: The largest island in Canada is an Arctic


playground and a true bucket-list experience. Located in Nunavut in northern Canada, the island enjoys 24-hour daylight in the summer months, and the floe edge, where the ice meets the ocean, is one of the best places to spot polar bears and narwhals.


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Prince Edward Island; Tofino, British


Columbia; Victoria, British Columbia PICTURES: Tourism PEI/John Sylvester; Jeremy Koreski; Kathryn Burrington; Shutterstock


Magdalen Islands: This


archipelago in the Gulf of St Lawrence is part of Quebec


province but is actually closer to some of the Maritime provinces and is accessible via a five-hour


ferry from Prince Edward Island. Activities range from horse riding to kayaking; the eye-catching cliffs make for picturesque coastal views; and cheese


lovers have to try the islands’ signature pied-de-vent.


sites. Just outside the city is Butchart Gardens, where you can admire hundreds of perfectly pruned plants and flowers. Head back into Victoria in the evening for a stroll around Fisherman’s Wharf to marvel at the colourful floating homes in the harbour. Book it: First Class Holidays offers a Vancouver Island Discovery self-drive motorhome tour for £1,299 per person, including return flights from Gatwick, departing on September 20. fcholidays.com


Toronto Islands: Just a 13-minute ferry ride from downtown


Toronto, these islands make for a great family day out. Children will love the Centreville Amusement Park and the beaches, plus there are some pleasant walking trails with views of the city skyline.


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BEST FOR . . . FOOD AND DRINK Where: Prince Edward Island Why: Tasting traditional food and local beverages is part and parcel of any trip, but Prince Edward Island on the Atlantic coast takes that up a notch with some impressive local produce. Hardcore foodies should time their visit to coincide with one of the island’s flagship food events, such as the International Shellfish Festival in September, to peruse countless stalls and watch shucking competitions. “Lobster is an absolute favourite, as are the oysters and clams freshly caught in the waters around the island,” says Janet Parton, sales and marketing director at Cosmos. “Try the famous Prince Edward Island potatoes with cheese and bacon in a potato pie.” Wine lovers should check out Rossignol Estate


Winery for tours and tastings. Or if spirits are your preferred tipple, head for Myriad View Distillery, which makes its own legal moonshine.


Book it: Cosmos offers a nine-day Wonders of the Maritimes & Scenic Cape Breton tour from £2,330 including flights, departing September 2. It includes eight breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners. cosmos.co.uk


BEST FOR . . . NATURE AND WILDLIFE Where: Haida Gwaii Why: If wildlife is what you come to Canada to see, then there is nowhere quite like Haida Gwaii. The archipelago lies in the north of British Columbia and visitors reap the rewards of being in such remote wilderness, with the chance to see species including bears, sea lions, whales and bald eagles. On Graham Island, Naikoon Provincial Park offers


a great insight into the ancient Haida culture and the Haidas’ ties to the dense rainforest and miles of beaches that they call home. Stop to marvel at Tow Hill, a rocky outcrop rising 109 metres high on North Beach. “The extreme isolation of Haida Gwaii fits perfectly


with the trend for wilderness travel,” says Joanna Reeve, head of business development for Intrepid Travel. “It’s ideal for adventurous clients who want to avoid well- trodden destinations and have a unique experience.” Book it: Intrepid Travel offers an eight-day Haida Gwaii Islands Expedition from £2,225 per person, departing August 17, including accommodation, transfers and some activities, but excluding flights. intrepidtravel.com


TW travelweekly.co.uk


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