Canada: Hidden Gems
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Boats in Vancouver Habour ©Destination Vancouver, Suzanne Rushton
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Two buffalos grazing in Waterton Lakes National Park in Southern Alberta ©Travel Alberta ©Destination Toronto
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Calgary skyline with Calgary Tower taken from the Bow River at night ©Travel Alberta ©Destination Toronto
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NW facing overall of Stampede Park showing midway, Ferris wheel and city skyline ©Calgary Stampede, Travel Alberta, Bill Marsh ©Destination Toronto
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Peace Bridge during the day with Calgary downtown in the background ©Travel Alberta, Sabrina Hill ©Destination Toronto
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A view of Okanagan Lake from a vineyard in Summerland ©Kelly Funk, Thompson Okanagan
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Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon (EC Manning Provincial Park) ©Similkameen Valley, Darren Robinson
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The village of Kaslo alongside Kootenay Lake ©Kootenay Rockies Tourism, Mitch Winton
Welcome to Canada
Canada is more than its hulking-mountain, craggy-coast good looks: it also cooks extraordinary meals, rocks cool culture and unfurls wild, moose-spotting road trips.
Explore hidden gems in Western Canada. During this tour, travel through British Colombia and Alberta, viewing the spectacular landscapes of Canada. A delightful combination of city and country, this tour covers the rolling hills in Kootenay Country and the modern Calgary.
Begin in Vancouver, an ocean-side cosmopolitan city whose majestic mountains and rainforests make it one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Head to the wine country to enjoy gorgeous scenery whilst sipping delicious wines. Additionally, learn about the fascinating history of the Doukhobors, a migrant group of Russian dissenters. Discover some of the unique cultural heritage of the region and enjoy the sense of being off the beaten track. Explore history by soaking in the hot springs also used by First Nation peoples. Visit centres of the silver mining boom and preserved heritage towns to glean insight into life there in the 1800s.
Waterton National Park is a pocket of tranquility. The flat praries stretch out lazily for miles before suddenly colliding with the Rockies. The park is a haven for wildlife; watch out for iconic Canadian wildlife such as grizzly bears and moose. Your tour will conclude in Calgary, where you can enjoy the modern architecture of this exciting and progressive city.
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Dates
Dates on request
Suggested Itinerary by Air
Day 1
Arrival in Vancouver
Make your way to London Heathrow in time for your direct flight to Vancouver International Airport. On arrival you will be met by a guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities.
Day 2
Vancouver
Majestic mountains, sparkling ocean, rainforests and beautiful foliage throughout all four seasons. After breakfast you will go on a guided tour of the city of Vancouver – highlights include Stanley Park with a stop at Totem Pole Display at Brockton Pont, historic Gas Town – Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood with it’s 19th century buildings, the Steam Clock and hidden passage ways and Granville Island and it’s famous public market. The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore Vancouver on your own.
Day 3
Vancouver – Penticton
This morning, travel through the fertile plains of Fraser Valley, the garden of British Columbia, and through Manning Provincial Park which offers spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains. The journey takes you through wilderness mountain areas, home to hundreds of animal and bird species, including cougars. Arrive in Okanagan Valley, the top wine producing regions of BC which is also famed for its fruit production. Be sure to try a glass or two of the local wine in this picturesque location.
Day 4
Penticton – Nelson
Today you will travel southeast along the US border and into a beautiful and relatively undiscovered area of BC. Journey through the changing scenery of green rolling hills and to Castlegar. An intriguing chapter in the Kootenay’s history centres around the Doukhobors who fled from Russia in the early part of this century. The museum in Castlegar describes the Doukhobors and their life in detail. Continue to Nelson, a charming Victorian town with well-preserved heritage buildings and a large splash of cosmopolitan sophistication.
Day 5
Nelson – Excursion in Kootenay Lake Country
Drive north along the shore of the Kootenay Lake to Ainsworth Hot Springs, which was used by First Nation people after long days spent hunting and gathering. Continue to Kaslo, home to the oldest intact passenger sternwheeler. Visit the nearby town of Sandon – this silver-mining ghost town has several historic buildings and an interesting museum of artefacts and old photographs but in it’s heyday was known as the ‘Monte Carlo of the North’. Continue to New Denver, another historical centre of the silver mining boom in the 1890’s, then drive south along the Slocan Lake back to Nelson. Spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore the local area.
Day 6
Nelson – Cranbrook
This morning you will travel to Cranbrook via Creston, which overlooks a broad, fertile Valley. Visit Fort Steele, a restored town from the late 1890’s which shows the lifestyle of the settlers in that time. Fort Steele was the commercial, administrative and social centre for East Kootenay during the mining boom of the 1890’s. Continue along the narrow Kootenay Lake to Creston before reaching Cranbrook in the late afternoon. Cranbrook is situted in the middle of the broad Rocky Mountain Trench and boasting more sunshine than anywhere else in British Columbia!
Day 7
Cranbrook – Waterton National Park
The journey today tarvels through Fernie, in a lush valley of ancient cottonwoods and giant Western red cedars. There will be a stop at Crowsnest Pass with it’s stunnign scenery and remarkable heritage based on an unmatched array of historic events, boom-town architecture and epic disasters – both natural and man-made! The final destination is Waterton – a cozy little lakefront town surrounded by the stunning vistas of the Canadia Rockies and the hub for the hidden gem of the Waterton National Park.
Day 8
Waterton Lake National Park
Spend the day at leisure.
There is an optional excursion to embark on an optional two hour cruise from Canada to the USA. Enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery the Rocky Mountains have to offer. View majestic towering cliffs, unique geological formations, beautiful waterfalls, snow clad mountain peaks and the International Border. Boats make photographic and wildlife stops: you may see moose, bear, bald eagle, deer, mountain sheep and mountain goats.
You could embark on a short but steep hike along Bear’s Hump walking trail. This hike offers an unparalleled view of Upper Waterton Lake and Waterton town. There are over 200km of hiking trails in this National Park so lots of different walks are available.
Day 9
Waterton Lake National Park – Calgary
Today you will travel north to Fort Macleod National Historic Site, built in 1874 as the headquarters of the North West Mounted Police. The Fort Muswum brings to life the story of Canada’s famous Mounted Police force through demonstrations and interactive exhibits. The Centennial Building provides a glimpse into the traditional First Nations culture.
Continue to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO world heritage site. The signidicance of this landscape lies in its cultutral, archelogical and scientific interest. The deep layers of bison bones buried below the cliff represent nearly 6,000 years of use of the buffalo jump. Ancient hunters would direct a herd of buffalo towards the cliff so that up to 300 animals would jump to their deaths. This hunting technique provided enough food and clothing for the native tribes to last through a long, hard winter.
Travel to Calgary for the final night of the tour.
Day 10
Calgary – Departure
After breakfast, enjoy a morning tour of Calgary, passing the main sights including Fort Calgary, the Stampede grounds, and the Calgary Tower. Visit the Heritage Park, a living museum showing the historical development of Calgary or ride up to the observation deck of the Calgary Tower for a last view of the Canadian Rockies and the prairies. Later you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Day 11
Arrive UK
Your flight will land back in London Heathrow in the late morning.
When To Go:
High Season (Jun–Aug): Sunshine and warm weather prevail; far northern regions briefly thaw. Accommodation prices peak (up 30% on average). December through March is equally busy and expensive in ski resort towns. Shoulder (May, Sep & Oct): Crowds and prices drop off. Temperatures are cool but comfortable. Attractions keep shorter hours. Fall foliage areas (eg Cape Breton, Québec) remain busy. Low Season (Nov–Apr): Places outside the big cities and ski resorts close. Darkness and cold take over. April and November are particularly good for bargains.
Things To Know:
Etiquette
Canadians are a fairly relaxed crowd and don’t offend easily; however, some rules of etiquette do apply.
- Politeness Canadians value their please and thank-yous. Bumping into someone without apologizing or not thanking someone for holding the door will earned shocked looks.
- Patriotism Commenting that Canadians and Americans aren’t much different is considered highly offensive.
- Language In French-speaking areas, always attempt to speak French before English (regardless of how poor your French is).
- Lining up While Canadians usually tut rather than speak out, jumping ahead in line is an exception and can cause a full-blown argument.
History
The human story of Canada begins around 15,000 years ago, when Aboriginal locals began carving thriving communities from the abundant wilderness. Everything changed, though, when the Europeans rolled in from the late 15th century onward, staking claims that triggered rumbling conflicts and eventually shaped a vast new nation. Much of this colorful heritage is accessible to visitors, with more than 950 national historic sites covering everything from forts to battlefields to famous homes.
Vaccinations; No special vaccines are required or recommended for travel to Canada. All travelers should be up to date on routine immunizations.
Stats
Currency: Canadian dollar, Primary Language: English, French, Primary Religion: 43% Roman Catholic, Population: 34.6 million, Time Zone: see below.
Visa Requirements:
British citizens are required to apply for a Canada eTA visa to enter Canada on a short term basis (under 90 days) for general tourism, business, transit or medical purposes. … It is advised that British citizens complete their eTA application 72 hours prior to their departure date.
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