With Australia opening to the World, we have seen a flurry of bookings for travel overseas. One of the destinations gaining momentum is Canada. There are now direct flights operating out of Sydney with Air Canada with connections from Brisbane. However, what most people are opting for is flying via Auckland on Air New Zealand. Flights are several times a week and the service on board their modern fleet of aircraft is excellent.

The weather from May to late September is great for travelling, and there are so many destinations on most people’s bucket list that you could easily travel there for several weeks. On top of the list is often the Rocky Mountaineer Rail Journey that winds out of Vancouver along the plains before heading into the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. This wonderful 
 train experience stops for an overnight in Kamloops before continuing on the next day, ensuring that you don’t miss any of the spectacular scenery as you travel in daylight and also that you have a good night’s sleep in a hotel bed!  

Travelling along the roadway between Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper is breathtaking. Whether you are looking skyward to the peaks of the mountains, traversing wooded areas and keeping an eye out for brown bears, taking an icefield adventure on Athabasca Glacier or walking the trail around a powder soft blue coloured lake, this region is beautiful. Self-drive holidays are as popular as joining an escorted trip. However, the limited accommodation in the region means all your arrangements need to be prebooked to ensure you have a bed for the night. 

I remember driving up from Calgary to Banff – the road straight and clear, and the sky and mountains seemed an endless vista. In the late 1800s, Canadian Rail built fabulous hotels for their guests to stay in. These are now iconic hotels of choice. Banff Springs Hotel has an old-world charm that will enchant you. Chateau Lake Louise is modern and stylish – make sure to upgrade to a lake view room. Jasper Park Lodge is set in beautiful grounds with luxury log cabins – I even saw moose wandering through the golf course!

Combine the Rocky Mountains with an Alaska cruise – there are small expedition ships, cruise ships and luxury liners. Sailing up the Inside passage to the small townships of Sitka, Juneau, Skagway or Ketchikan. Meet the locals and learn about the region’s history – the mining, salmon fisheries and the transfer of this rich wilderness from Russia to US hands. Take a small plane ride into the Arctic Circle … an amazing world of tundra, polar bears, whales, and indigenous people.

If time allows, head east to the French-speaking areas of Montreal and Quebec or further to the Atlantic coast and Anne of Green Gables country, Nova Scotia, where they put a bib around your neck to eat lobster for dinner! 

Canada is a wonderful country, diverse in its landscape and fascinating to visit. We are booking clients for travel later this year and through 2023. 

Contact Travelling Places P: 075545 1600 E: travel@travellingplaces.com.au