The Bucket List: Canada’s 10 Iconic Travel Experiences

It’s time to explore our own backyard. Here are 10 bucket list adventures to experience in Canada.

1. Marvel at the Northern Lights

Witness the world’s greatest spectacle: The Aurora Borealis. People from across the globe flock to Canada to see the majestic northern lights. Travelling here, however, is no picnic.

Your trip will need thorough planning if you want to make the most of your adventure in the Yukon Territories and find the best spots to gaze at the universe in all its glory.

2. Experience a Canadian winter in the Rockies

Canada is synonymous with snowy winters. Travel to the snow-capped Rocky Mountains on a train out of Vancouver and watch the westerly wilderness give way to Alberta’s finest environmental wonders: Banff, Jasper and the famed Lake Louise.

3. Cruise up the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO Heritage Site

Made up of 47 locks, the Rideau Canal is the perfect way to explore Ontario’s charming countryside.

The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States. Fortunately, no war came. Today it’s a UNESCO Heritage Site and is home to scenic views, tranquil villages and a smorgasbord of culture.

4. Journey along glaciers from a mountain-top lodge

Heli-hiking really is as cool as it sounds. Voyage on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will have you traversing some of the most iconic mountains in Canada – The Rockies.

Few people are lucky enough to explore this isolated region, and a tour is recommended to experience all that this wilderness has to offer. Soar over glaciers, hike through alpine meadows, jump into glacial lakes and gaze far across the vast Canadian wild.

5. Hike the famous Cabot Trail

Canada is home to some of the best roads in the world, and the Cabot Trail is no exception. Weave your way across this sprawling highway on a two-week self-drive vacation and experience the unique charm of The Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

6. Explore the Arctic tundra

If beluga whales and glacial waters are your thing, look no further than a Canadian arctic wilderness safari. Travel 500 miles north of the arctic circle to Somerset Island and observe Canada’s most elusive wildlife, including the musk ox, polar bears and beluga whales.

7. Spot a grizzly bear in the wild

The Great Bear Rainforest is a quintessential part of Canada’s landscape, and it is aptly named. Home to the famed grizzly, this ecological paradise is the perfect place to explore the full realm of the Canadian wilderness. On an eight-day adventure tour, photograph orca whales, witness the salmon migration and gawk as bald eagles soar.

8. Witness 12,000-year-old icebergs

Drive Canada’s easternmost province, Newfoundland, on a 12-day self-drive adventure across roads with sweeping views of wave-battered headlands, steep cliffs and tranquil beaches. Oh, did we mention you can explore giant icebergs that are more than 12,000 years old?

9. Observe polar bears

Polar bears are one of the scarcest mammals on the planet, and seeing one is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. On a polar bear wilderness tour, venture out onto the Manitoban ice in a ‘Tundra Buggy’ and safely observe Canada’s greatest icon.

10. Voyage to the Pacific Rim and discover beautiful B.C.

West really is best. Explore British Columbia’s scenic Sunshine Coast and soak in the shoreline views, magnificent waterfalls and the quaint seaside towns of Tofino and Ucluelet in Pacific Rim National Park.

Receive up to $500 in add-ons and upgrades PLUS a Parks Canada Discovery Pass with every booking.

Exclusive to Zoomer readers, you can receive up to $500 in add-ons and upgrades PLUS a free Discovery Pass to Parks Canada with every trip booked with Fresh Tracks Canada. To find out more about this offer and to book a trip, speak with our vacation advisors today.