Unlike most Britons, Canadians really enjoy their winter
months. The reason for this is quite simple – while
we
| Image: Getty |
have nothing but endless months of cold drizzle to look
forward to, they have guaranteed blue skies and plenty of fresh
snow to play around in.
But they don’t just enjoy skiing on the stuff. Canada is
blessed with thousands of square miles of beautiful wilderness and
some of the world’s most spectacular winter scenery. Then
there are activities such as snowmobiling, dogsledding, skating and
hiking to consider.
In fact, Canadians are so at home with winter life that
they’ve developed a range of cold-weather holidays that
people of all ages will enjoy.
Should your clients want a winter break that doesn’t
involve suicidal attempts to stay upright, look no further than the
larger half of North America.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
| 1. Best for relaxing |
What: wilderness lodges.
Why? You don’t have to be Grizzly Adams to
enjoy life in a mountain lodge, although those who want total
seclusion will find there’s endless scope to hire a log cabin
and spend a few weeks surrounded by Canada’s stunning
woodland.
However, should clients want a bit more human contact there are
also plenty of lodges that are close to local towns.
Many are more akin to wilderness holiday camps as they combine the
woodland setting with leisure facilities, restaurants and easy
access to national parks. So there should be a wilderness lodge to
suits everybody’s needs. Just make sure you don’t
disturb any hibernating bears.
Sample price: 1st Class Holidays offers a
four-night full-board package at the Talisman Mountain Resort, in
Ontario, for £790 per adult (discounts are available for
children under 12). This includes accommodation, flights and
transfers via Toronto. A heated outdoor pool, hot tub, spa, gym,
sauna, games room and snowtubing are all available on site.
| 2. Best for sightseeing |
What: the Rocky Mountaineer train.
Why? Follow the rail tracks east from Vancouver
and your clients will pass the best scenery that Canada has to
offer, starting with the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and
the stunning Icefields Parkway.
The journey then passes through the protected wilderness of
Jasper National Park with the option of boarding VIA Rail’s
Canadian service to Toronto, where visitors can climb the CN Tower
and take an excursion to Niagara Falls.
Alternatively, your clients can jump on the Skeena, a train which
operates from Jasper to Prince Rupert, stopping overnight in Prince
George. This journey is regarded as one of Canada’s best-kept
secrets. It’s a two-day daylight trip departing three times a
week providing great views of Mount Robson – the highest peak
in the Rockies.
Travellers can then take the ferry from Prince Rupert back to
Vancouver Island, or continue on to Alaska.
Sample price: Travelpack offers an eight-night
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations’ Canadian Winter Indulgence
package, including Air Canada flights from London to Calgary,
return flights from Vancouver and two nights’ stay in
Vancouver for £2,950.
| 3. Best for adventure |
What: the Yukon Quest.
Why? This is the toughest dogsled race in the
world and covers more than 1,000 miles of frozen wilderness between
Whitehorse, the Yukon and Fairbanks, Alaska. Although novices
aren’t allowed to participate in the race, they can
experience the atmosphere by attending the start at Whitehorse and
then catching up with the mushers during their mandatory 36-hour
pit stop in Dawson City. They can also learn about dogsledding by
embarking on their own guided tour of the Canadian woodland or by
simply having a short spin with the dogs before opting for a sofa
beside a roaring log fire.
Sample price: Windows on the Wild offers a
13-day tour of the Yukon for £2,140. This includes flights to
Vancouver and Whitehorse, accommodation at the High Country Inn,
Whitehorse, a
five-day mushing tour of the wilderness, plus a visit to the start
of the Yukon Quest in Whitehorse and the 36-hour stopover in Dawson
City.
| 4. Best for animal lovers |
What: polar bear watching.
Why? Churchill, Manitoba, is called the polar
bear capital of the world for the simple reason that hundreds of
migrating bears pass through the town during October and November.
The best way to view these magnificent beasts is to ride in one of
the enormous tundra buggies on a guided Arctic safari. As well as
being the safest way to get close to the cute yet highly dangerous
bears, they’re also the most comfortable way to explore the
frozen region. Other Arctic wildlife on show include the caribou,
Arctic fox and snowy owl. Should your clients wish to combine a
stay in Churchill with some other activities, there are
opportunities for snowmobiling and dogsledding, and learning more
about the area, its culture and traditions by visiting an Eskimo
museum.
Sample price: All Canada offers a six-day
independent tour of Churchill from £2,109. This includes
flights to Winnipeg and Churchill, five nights’
accommodation, dogsledding, an Eskimo tour and two full days set
aside for watching polar bears.
| 5. Best for something different |
What: the Ice Hotel, Quebec.
Why? The design of the Ice Hotel changes every
year. This winter it will be carved from 3,000sq metres of ice and
feature 32 bedrooms, a series of public rooms with ice chandeliers,
a wedding chapel, ‘icecoteque’ and ice bar serving
Absolut Vodka (just about the only thing that won’t freeze at
this temperature). At night, guests sleep on wooden beds with a
standard mattress, but are still surrounded by ice. They are also
provided with boots, coats, dressing gowns and special sleeping
bags that can be zipped together for extra warmth. As the
temperature constantly lingers around -5C, clients are advised to
spend only one night in the hotel.
Sample price: Frontier Travel offers a
nine-night package for £975. This includes return flights to
Montreal, five nights at the Auberge Saint Pierre in Quebec, two
nights at the Ice Hotel and two nights at the Fairmont Queen
Elizabeth in Montreal. Snowmobiling and dogsledding are also
included.
