Think Canada in winter and you can almost hear the swish, swish, swish of skis down a pristine snowy piste.
The host nation of the 2010 Winter Olympics has a huge amount to offer the ski market (check our round-up of what’s new for 2010/11) but that isn’t all there is to do once the summer is over.
From wild and wacky snowy activities to winter festivals and shopping breaks, get ready to sell the cool side of Canada.
Snowy adventures
Ski resorts also offer other snowy adventure options, including snow-shoeing, dog-sledding, sleigh rides and snow-mobile safaris. Most operators offer these activities as pre-bookable add-ons.
Inghams also offers other options such as ice walks in Banff’s Johnson Canyon and Jasper’s Maligne Canyon from £34 per adult, and tickets to see NHL ice hockey games when staying in Whistler or Banff, starting from £77.
Snow-tubing – like sledging on an inner tube – can be done at many sites, even in cities. More off-the-wall options include ice-fishing, a tradition in Ontario, and even ice climbing.
Visitors can have a go at the latter at Sugar Loaf Mountain in the Montmorency Falls National Park, where the hill is created from the spray off the waterfall. Visitors who don’t like their knuckles to be quite so white can clamber along a via ferrata route instead.
Winter wildlife
Winter is the best time to spot some of Canada’s wonderful wildlife. In October every year nearly 1,000 polar bears descend on Churchill in Manitoba, making their way to Hudson Bay as it begins to freeze over.
By mid-November, they’re off again, hunting seals. Trips to see the bears are seasonal, so clients will need to travel in the short six-week window. Thomas Cook Signature offers an option lasting six days, including tundra buggy tours to watch the bears, a guide, a helicopter flight and an outing to view the Northern Lights, from £2,927.
Cool cities
Montreal is the same flying time from London as New York, but visitors on Christmas shopping breaks needn’t slip and slide through the snow with their bags if they choose the Canadian option.
There’s an underground city beneath Montreal – 20 miles of connecting passageways beneath the downtown area, home to shopping malls and leisure attractions. Montreal also has a Christmas market, giving it a real festive feel.
There are a number of winter carnivals to visit, too. Quebec City’s runs from January 29 to February 14, and tourists can try out snow-tubing or snow-rafting, watch the dog-sled races and parades, celebrate at parties and see the results of the International Snow Sculpture Competition.
Toronto’s gourmet-focused WinterCity carnival runs from January 29 to February 11, with concerts, shows and skating parties, and special menus available at many of the city’s fine restaurants. Ottawa’s Winterlude is a family event with skating on the Rideau Canal, a snow playground, and entertainers on an outdoor stage. It runs from February 4-20.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights runs from November to January 2011. More than three million lights line the three-mile-long route. Visitors can skate on the Brink Skating Rink and view the lights against the Horseshoe Falls.
Wine lovers should visit between January 14-30, when the Niagara Icewine Festival features gala dinners, an outdoor ice bar, wintry tours, tastings and carriage rides along the wine route.
Winter tours
Most escorted tours only run in the summer, but a few operators also provide wintry options too.
Thomas Cook Tours offers two winter trips between November and March. The 14-day Winter Wonderland tour visits Toronto, Niagara, Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, and then takes the Snow Train to Vancouver. Prices start from £1,995, and optional activities include snow-shoeing, sleigh rides and dog-sledding.
Canada in Snow Time starts from £1,795 and explores the east coast in a fortnight, visiting Quebec City, Pointe-au-Pic, Montebello, Ottawa and Toronto. There’s plenty of time for snowy activities as well as sightseeing, and lunch at an ice hotel is included.
Jetsave’s eight-day Canadian Winter Escapade escorted tour combines Toronto and Ottawa, offering dinner at the top of the CN Tower in a revolving restaurant and snow-shoeing and ice skating in Ottawa, from £1,949.
Sample product
Skidom offers seven nights in the three-star Crystal Lodge in Whistler from £879 per person, including flights from Heathrow to Vancouver and shuttle transfers, departing January 13. skidomtrips.com, 0844 879 8151
Canadian Affair offers three nights in the Sheraton Centre in Toronto from £443 per person including return flights from Gatwick. canadianaffair.com, 0870 074 7474
