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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 Following a reduction in entry points and carriers in response to COVID-19, the frequency of air services and number of airports being served is now increasing. Air Canada (aircanada.com), Air Transat (airtransat.com), British Airways (britishairways.com) and WestJet (westjet. com) operate flights from the UK to Canada. Once in Canada, visitors can fly domestically with Air Canada and WestJet. Air Canada’s budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge (flyrouge.com), and Porter Airlines (flyporter.com) count among the options for travel within Canada. Air North (flyairnorth.com), Calm Air (calmair.com) and Canadian North (canadiannorth.com) 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 light traffic, make Canada ideal for road trips in a rental car or motorhome. Self-drive holidays provide a framework for travellers to explore independently, with motorhomes known as recreational vehicles in Canada, a term
travelling british colombia on the rocky mountaineer
A kayak excursion during an expedition cruise
commonly abbreviated to RV. They present holidaymakers with freedom 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 wake in the countryside or ready to explore cities. Typically, drivers aged from 21 years of age can get behind the wheel of an RV. Traffic is light in most of Canada, making driving a 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 market: Couples; families; groups of friends; holidaymakers with time to explore. Key players: Cruise Canada (cruiseamerica. com), Canada Travel Specialists (canadatravelspecialists.com), Canadian
Affair (canadianaffair.com), Canadian Sky (canadiansky.co.uk), Frontier Canada (frontier-canada.co.uk) What it doesn’t offer: The security of a guided group and someone else taking the strain of doing the driving. Book It with... Canadian Affair The Best of Canada’s West Holiday, from £1,495pp, includes return flights to Vancouver, 15 days’ motorhome hire with a 2,000km allowance, a suggested itinerary encompassing the Okanagan Valley, Banff National Park and Jasper, plus one night in a Vancouver airport hotel. canadianaffair.com 0203 424 9797
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. The Canadian, which connects Toronto and Vancouver in three-and-a-half
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