Men with beards and lumberjack shirts who attack grizzly bears with their bare hands, without any fear. Freshly caught raw fish, straight out of the icy water and right on the campfire, in the middle of the wilderness. It's the wildlife scenes that flash by when you think of vast Canada. A country that carries with it the expression 'rough husk, white pit' effortlessly and with pride. Although the American neighbor is often laughing about the 'stupid' Canadians, the inhabitants of the land of the Inui and native Indians stoically go their own way. We show you the different faces of this immense country, which stretches from the southern border with the US to well above the Arctic Circle. From east to west you will leave no less than 6500 km behind you, bordered on one side by the Atlantic Ocean, on the other by the Pacific Ocean. Welcome to Canada!
Nature at its purest
Do you want to feel real life in your toenails? Then a journey through Canadian nature is an all-encompassing experience. The wilderness in this country is still pure and untouched and will take you from one panoramic amazement to the next. The Great Lakes in the province of Ontario sparkle in the morning sun, while the thousands of lakes around Hudson Bay take your breath away with their beauty. In the middle of Canada – the second largest country in the world after Russia – you will find the deserted prairies where the desolate landscape puts everything back into perspective. Nature is so many characters in one and it is precisely this versatility that makes it unique.
Travel to the province of Manitoba or Alberta to experience the beautiful desolation of nature. To the north, Arctic landscapes await to embrace you with snowcapped mountains, glaciers, and heart-pounding expanses of ice with stunning ice sculptures. To the west, the rugged Rocky Mountains tower above you. Also special: Fundy Bay near Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where the difference between high and low tide is greater than anywhere else in the world. Nature is definitely Canada's greatest attraction.
The Canadian Cities
Canada, which incidentally descends from the Indian word 'kanata' which means settlement, is always famous for its European-inspired cities. Capital Ottawa is perhaps the great unknown among city names like Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec and Calgary. First of all, Vancouver. Located on the west coast, this city is a bustling city with, indeed, a European allure. Vancouver is often seen as the perfect starting point for your onward journey. The metropolis is located between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Main attractions are the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Stanley Park that hugs downtown Vancouver, the Cleveland Dam and Jericho Beach. Don't forget to try Asian cuisine in Chinatown!
French-speaking Montreal is also an attractive city with the impressive town hall, Hôtel de Ville. Be sure to take a day trip through Vieux-Montréal, the old part. Surprising is the underground city in the center, where 32 km of corridors connect shops, museums, universities and hotels. The largest city in the country, Toronto, has a different appearance, mainly due to the high skyscrapers in the center. For example, the CN Tower is 553 m high. Capital Ottawa, located on the south bank of the Ottawa River, has developed into a multicultural center. A unique city that is full of art and culture. Galleries and museums show you a completely different Canada here.
On winter sports in Canada
Are you an avid snowboarder or do you prefer to ski down mean, steep slopes? Then it is time to go on winter sports in Canada. The mountain peaks are challenges for the experienced boarders. Many places are only accessible by helicopter. Heliskiing and heliboarding are daring activities here that you just want to experience once. Some popular areas for winter sports enthusiasts are Whistler (west coast), Banff (Rocky Mountains) and Whitewater (British Colombia). It is often thought that winter sports in Canada are expensive, but that prejudice is now outdated. The powder snow here is generally superb and the facilities are top notch. So you don't have to worry about traveling and encountering melted snow slopes. Other winter sports such as ice hockey and skating are also popular sports in Canada. The best time to travel for a frigid winter sports season is somewhere between October and May. Be well prepared, temperatures of -30°C are the most normal thing in the world here!
National Parks
Canada has some beautiful national parks. The main ones are Banff and Jasper, near Calgary. In Jasper you can hike for hours and spend the night in authentic log cabins. You will feel at one with nature after a few days in this unvarnished wilderness. Grizzly bears, red deer, reindeer, wolves and black bears, they roam happily here. The park, where many glaciers can be found, is located at a high altitude. If you want to know everything about the park, let a real park ranger show you around.
Banff National Park is located south of Jasper, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. Glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, white monoliths and rivers converge here. Rent a car and follow Icefields Parkway for the most scenic route. You will then travel from Lake Louise in Banff to Jasper. This way you kill two birds with one stone. Kootenay National Park is another pure gem. Several hot springs can be found here. Especially the hot springs at Paint Pots are special. Due to the iron that is abundant in the water of the springs, the earth here turns a dark red-orange. A beautiful face. And lastly: Glacier National Park. The name says it all: glaciers! In the park you will find many large glaciers that are still active. The largest cave system in Canada can also be found here. The park is located in British Columbia.
Canada and the Arctic Circle
Do you want a real adventure? Then a trip to the Arctic Circle is the ultimate challenge. Sightseeing flights are possible, but also a trip by boat. From Iqaluit, the capital of the province of Nunavut, you can sail by ship along the east coast of Baffin, all the way in the north of Canada. You will pass several islands, huge fjords and impressive cliffs. The sun hardly sets here, so count on 24 hours of light a day. A strange sensation, especially when you're trying to fall asleep. Arriving at Davis Strait, it's time to spot polar bears and walruses. If possible, step ashore to take excursions across the vast tundra and ice plains. The journey takes you right past the Arctic Circle to eventually return to starting point Iqaluit.
