Seasonal Highlights of Canada

This time of year brings back very fond memories of Canada for me, it was still a little too early for the fall colours of Ontario but as we gazed out over a vast forest we spotted just one lone maple tree in the centre of a sea of green with defiantly bright red leaves... Just a few more weeks and Algonquin Provincial Park would have been a riot of colour!  But aside from the obvious attractions of the autumn leaves, when is the best time to explore Canada?  Being such a huge country, with such a wide array of attractions, Canada really does have something to offer year-round:

Summer of course brings the best weather and is the ideal time for independent exploration by car on a self-drive holiday.  Wildlife lovers can swim with belugas in the Hudson Bay whilst humpback whales congregate off the Newfoundland & Labrador coast. One of the key summer events is of course the Calgary Stampede, which takes place each year in July – a rodeo not to be missed!

Early Autumn is my personal favourite, the days are still warm but there are fewer crowds, giving a better sense of Canada’s vast wilderness landscapes. Salmon spawning means that grizzly bears are very active – Knight Inlet is the ideal place to see them – and later on, in October and November, a visit to Churchill offers an unparalleled opportunity to see the world’s largest land predator  – the mighty polar bear.

Winter brings with it a blanket of snow, celebrated at ski-resorts such as Whistler, Banff and Mt Tremblant. But escape the resorts and head north into the wilderness – a trip to the Yukon in January or February offers one of the best chances to see the Aurora Borealis (northern lights) and the opportunity to try out dog-sledding and snow-shoeing. 

Finally, Spring offers some great low prices and is a great time for colourful flowers – British Columbia positively blooms with cherry trees, whilst Ottawa is renowned for its glorious display of tulips. It’s not only the bears that are coming out of hibernation, festivals abound to celebrate the arrival of spring! My favourite of course being the maple syrup festivals held throughout the eastern provinces… mmmm…

Taking the Bull by the Horns at the Calgary Stampede!

One of our Canada travel specialists, Lauren Brewer, was lucky enough to experience the famous Calgary Stampede last month...

Whilst out in Canada at the recent Calgary Stampede I had the amazing opportunity of experiencing ‘Fantasy Adventure Bull Riding’ - the world's first bull riding school! We took an early morning transfer from Downtown Calgary to a working rodeo ranch, just outside of the city. On arrival we were met by our guide, Joe, who spent some time explaining to us about history and sport of Bull Riding. We learnt about the rules and regulations of the sport including how points are awarded and scoring.

For those of you that have yet to experience the Calgary Stampede, Bull Riding is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a large bull and attempting to stay mounted for at least eight seconds while the animal attempts to buck off the rider. The rider tightly fastens one hand to the bull with a long braided rope. It is a risky sport and has been dubbed "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports!"

After learning the basics of Bull Riding, Joe took us for a back pen tour and into the bucking chutes, where we had an up close and personal look at the four legged superstars of the rodeo world! The ultimate experience for me was sitting on a 2000lb mountain of muscle, live bucking bull! Joe and his colleague helped me into the bucking chute before I strapped myself onto the bull and fastened my hand into the rope. And if the thrill of sitting on a bull wasn’t enough, the bull then started to buck! This exhilarating experience is must a must for anyone visiting Calgary!

Next year's Calgary Stampede takes place 08-17 July - contact our team for details on how to incorporate a bit of cowboy magic into your Canada holiday.

NEW North Face Trailhead App for iPhone

The North Face has launched a FREE new app for the iPhone - 'Trailhead' - that serves as a database of more than 300,000 trails from around the world. This incredibly nifty app offers suggestions for hiking, mountain biking, backcountry skiing and more. The free app also uses the iPhone's built in GPS and compass for route tracking in real time, features an interactive map, and measures speed, distance, and even elevation! 

What's more, the app also allows users to search for a trip based on location or activity, as well as sharing photos and notes from the field with Facebook and Twitter integration. Take a look at the Iceland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand ones, or how about exploring Norway this summer?  For holidays to all of these exciting destinations, take a peek at Discover the World's website for some itinerary suggestions, that will fit together nicely with some of these amazing trails!

The Trailhead app is bound to be handy for those of us who always take a good pair of hiking boots on their travels, or who just fancy hiring a mountain bike on the spur of the moment, and heading off.  The app (powered by EveryTrail.com) is invaluable if you suddenly feel like going for a hike, but are unsure of where to go.  However, do remember that it's safest to always check with park wardens/local guides for further advice if you're heading out into the wilds.  We can't wait to check it out for ourselves!
 

Aurora activity due in the UK

Fascinated by the Northern Lights? If so there may be a chance to see it in the UK. Particles from a recent solar eruption reaching Earth on the evening of August 3-4 may trigger a brilliant auroral display known as the Northern Lights here in the UK. If you miss this or the skies are cloudy, why not increase your chances to view this spectacular event and head for a winter break to the auroral zone, covering parts of Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and even Canada where sightings are far more regular. 

Canadian Highlights

As we celebrate Canada Day and launch our new summer tours I have been fondly remembering my first trip to Canada, many, many years ago when I was lucky enough to spend a couple of months working in Banff, in the heart of the Rockies. 

It’s hard to describe the beauty of Canada; its spectacular scenery is on such an epic scale, and offers such contrast from the grand peaks and glaciers of the west and the endless lakes and forests of the east; the picturesque fishing villages of the Maritimes and the wild Arctic landscapes of the far north… The country is home to fascinating indigenous histories and the wildest of wildlife, as well as a surprisingly diverse range of modern cultures and vibrant cities.   

There were countless highlights of my summer in the Rockies but the bright turquoise waters of Lake Louise remain a vivid memory to this day; setting foot on the Athabasca Glacier and climbing to the top of Mt Rundle were also incredible moments for me. Seeing elk wandering down the highstreet and even getting a glimpse of a bear one morning on my way out of town were heart-stopping – so much more exciting than the squirrels and foxes that frequent my own local neighbourhood!

A tour of Ontario and Quebec followed, where I searched in vain for moose and spent many happy hours canoeing through the still waters of Algonquin National Park, marvelled at the torrential Niagara Falls and practised my rusty French in Quebec City.

Much more recently I have just returned from a trip to Nova Scotia, a real gem of a province that offers a unique combination of picturesque charm and rugged scenery.  I barely scratched the surface of the Maritimes, but I did finally get to see that elusive moose…. albeit in a wilderness reserve rather than out roaming in the wild.  Ah well – there’s always next time…!

Passionate about Wildlife and Photography?

Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October sees the return of Wildscreen’s WildPhotos event, the UK’s premier photography symposium for those passionate about nature photography. With a sensational line-up of the world’s finest nature photographers and industry experts, including winners from the prestigious Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, this two-day event, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, promises to inspire and enthuse.   
 
WildPhotos is aimed at anyone with a passion for wildlife and high-quality imagery, whether amateur or professional photographers, working in the photography or publishing industries or wanting to make more use of the power of nature photography to move and inspire people.

This year’s event, hosted by Springwatch presenter and wildlife photographer Chris Packham, includes a keynote presentation by Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, National Geographic Editor at Large for Photography.
  
Over the course of the two-day event, more than 20 expert speakers will present their work, deliver inspiring talks and offer technical advice on topics ranging from marine, black and white and macro photography to how to sell your pictures.  

A one-day ticket costs £105; two-day tickets are £175. You can register online at www.wildphotos.org.uk or please contact WildPhotos on +44 (0)117 328 5975
/ wildphotos@wildscreen.org.uk

The Big Yin heads north!

It's with great excitement that we'll be tuning in this Thursday to watch ITV1's
new series 'Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World'

In his usual inimitable style Billy will be exploring the Arctic, from Nova Scotia across the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean, in search of bears, whales and icebergs. But perhaps what stands out the most are the variety of characters that he meets along the way, who have made this unique wilderness their home. Legendary explorers, tragic victims and quirky locals make up a rich tapestry of humanity past and present, and bring this frozen expanse to life.

For those of you that enjoyed his series 'Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand' back in 2004, this is definitely one to watch... You can find out more about some of the destinations featured - and start planning your own journey to the edge of the world - on our website. 

Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World can been seen on ITV1, Thursday 19th February, at 9pm

Polar Bears International - Research & Conservation

Polar Bears International is a fascinating website for all you polar bear enthusiasts out there!  The website has links to a Polar Bear Tracker providing invaluable information as to the movements of collared bears in the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska, and also features a Churchill webcam (which will be live in October - in the meantime the 'highlights' are well worth a look!).  As well as spying on what the bears are up to, the website offers comprehensive information regarding research into and the science of these majestic animals, as well as  outreach through an educational programme.  If you're considering taking one of our Polar Bear land-based tours to Churchill, then why not visit the above website for some background reading and a sneak preview of the fantastic polar bear sightings that you can anticipate on the Arctic tundra.

Polar Bear Watch - Nigel Marvin

That Nigel Marvin is a very lucky man indeed - first he brought us Penguin Watch from South Georgia, and this week he's on our screens in Channel 5's POLAR BEAR WATCH.  Tune in at 7.15pm (GMT) every evening this week (17-21 Dec 07) on CH5.  US viewers can catch the programme on the Animal Planet Channel - see schedules here (it's known as 'Arctic Exposure').

The intrepid film-maker and Zoologist has been tracking wildlife in the harsh conditions of the Canadian Arctic.  It is springtime and Nigel starts his nine-month quest to explore the realm of the polar bear. He takes a dogsled ride from Churchill to see Arctic foxes and caribou; braves temperatures of -30 degrees to witness the jaw-dropping majesty of the Northern Lights at Wapusk National Park; and follows a polar bear mother and two cubs across the tundra.

If you fancy following in Nigel's footsteps, then why not step aboard the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov and join us on a High Arctic voyage next summer.  These itineraries are fantastic for experiencing sea ice at its most powerful, whilst also taking helicopter and zodiac excursions deep into the landscape with a view to seeing wildlife and finding out about the culture of the Arctic peoples.  Learn about the history of those pioneer polar explorers such as Roald Amundsen from the expert expedition team.  Alternatively, take our 'Kingdom of the Icebear' tour and step aboard a Tundra Buggy in the remote town of Churchill, Manitoba - this outpost is where the wildlife documentary makers flock to year-on-year - it's known as 'Polar Bear Alley' for a reason!

Deadly Friendships

A photographer on a recent trip to Churchill, Canada, feared the worst when he saw a Polar Bear  approach his team of Huskies chained outside his tent. He was sure that he had seen the last of at least a few of them - what chance would a chained up Husky dog have of fighting a fully grown Polar Bear?

What the photographer saw was a sight that would warm even the frostiest of hearts. The Polar approached the pack, slowly, carefully, stalking up to them, presumably about to attack when.........he started playing?! For the next half hour, the Polar bear was seen rolling in the snow and playing with all the husky dogs, who in turn (after some initial trepidation) started playing with the enormous bear. It was a scene very reminiscent of an older brother play fighting with a younger sibling, when the huskies thought he was being too rough, they would let out a small whimper and the Polar Bear would back off.

The Polar Bear came back around the same time for the rest of the week and the Huskies were more than happy to play with the gentle giant.

I am sure there are some life lessons that could be learned here somewhere?

Discover the World offer a number of Polar Bear watching experiences in Canada and whilst we can not guarantee that you will see Polar Bears and Huskies play fighting each other, we can ensure that you witness these magnificent creatures up close and personal on a Tundra Buggy.
Visit the website for more information.