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Getting a
move on Canada is a vast nation but there’s an array of transport options to discover it. Choosing how to get about plays an integral role in holidaymakers’ experiences, says Stuart Forster Flight paths. All travellers to Canada, whether entering by air, land, rail or marine vessel, must use ArriveCAN unless they are exempt from this requirement due to an accessibility need. This information must be submitted within 72 hours before arrival in Canada. Air Canada (aircanada.com), and Qantas (qantas.com) operate flights from Australia to Canada. Once in Canada, visitors can also fly domestically with Air Canada and a range of other airlines. Air Canada’s budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge (flyrouge.com), and Porter Airlines (flyporter.com) count among the options for travel within Canada. Another option is WestJet (westjet.com), which flies to around 25 destinations in Canada, and Air North (flyairnorth.com), Calm Air (calmair.com) and Canadian North (canadiannorth.com), airlines that serve destinations in the country’s north. Carbon neutral Harbour Air (harbourair. com), based in Vancouver, aims to be the world’s first commercial airline to operate only all-electric aircraft.
Cars and Rvs: On the road The experience: Excellent highways and country roads, usually with little traffic, make Canada ideal for road trips in a rental car
travelling british colombia on the rocky mountaineer
A kayak excursion during an expedition cruise
or motorhome. Self-drive holidays provide a framework for travellers to explore independently, with motorhomes known as recreational vehicles in Canada, a term commonly abbreviated to RV. These vehicles present holidaymakers with a ‘freedom option’ to explore the country at leisure during road trips, negating the need to book hotels. With sleeping quarters for between two and seven people, RVs allow travellers to overnight in the countryside - perhaps a national or provincial park – before setting out to explore the cities. Typically, drivers aged from 21 years of age can get behind the wheel of an RV. Fir those new to an RV holiday, stress that once outside of the cities traffic is often light in much of Canada, making driving a relatively stress-free experience. Best for: Touring the Yukon (and neighbouring Alaska). Western Canada between Vancouver and Calgary. Exploring Québec, from its cities to the Laurentians. Driving between the small towns,parks and waterways of eastern Canada.
When: RVs are ideal for summer travel (June until September in the Yukon; May until September in the west; May until October in eastern Canada). Key markets: Couples; families (specially those with young children); groups of friends; holidaymakers with time to explore. What it doesn’t offer: The security of a guided group and someone else taking the strain of doing the driving and map reading.
Trains: Stay on track The experience: Travelling by rail enables holidaymakers to sit back, relax and enjoy the country’s wondrous landscapes and passing wildlife. In some regions the network covers ground not linked by roads, such as northern Manitoba between Winnipeg and Churchill. Canada is not short of ‘must do’ train journeys. Top of the bill is perhaps The Canadian, which connects Toronto and Vancouver in three-and-a-half days, covering 4,446 km, which takes about 86 hours. The train rumbles through boreal forest, prairies and mountains on what National
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