Canada is
ideal for touring on a RV road trip, but there are other modes of transport
that allow you to soak up all the spendid beauty it has to offer.
Rail
The
Rocky Mountaineers Western Canada
trips and
Via Rail's
coast-to-coast itinerary on The Canadian are relatively well known among UK
travel agents, but there are other ways clients can get back on the rails. For
a touch of nostalgia, catch a ride on the
Southern Prairie Railway, which provides an authentic pioneer experience. Tours showcase the prairies
of southern Saskatchewan and the beauty and wildlife of the grasslands en
route to Horizon to the west and Pangman to the East. In British Columbia's
Okanagan Valley, the
Kettle Valley Steam Railway
chugs along the only preserved section of the historic Kettle Valley Railway
built during 1910 and 1915. Alongside traditional trips, the company offers
seasonal themed voyages and murder mystery rides. Canada's autumn colours have
been described as 'supernatural' and
The Agawa Train
which runs through the
Agawa Canyon in Ontario is a great platform from which to see them. The 10-hour journey
operates from August to mid-October, departing from downtown Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario. Look out for waterfalls and bears along the way.
Sea Plane
British Columbia offers some of the country's best seaplane tours, with its
breathtaking nature best viewed from above. Described as one of Canada's most
authentic west coast experiences, options offered by
Harbour Air
reveal some of the highlights of the province and beyond. Packages and
flights, ranging from 10 minutes to day trips, are available as group tours or
private options. Take a turn over the skyline of British Columbia's capital,
Victoria, join an all-day island hopping tour of the
Gulf Islands, or explore the pretty
Sunshine Coast from the
air. The Vancouver seaplane tour is a popular option, with panoramic views of
where the cityscape, distant mountains and sprawling harbour meet. The
20-minute small group tour is limited to just 14 people and includes a carbon
offset levy for climate-conscious travellers. Near Whistler, local operator
Authentik Canada
runs 40-minute seaplane tours that give a bird's-eye view of the glaciers,
mountain peaks, volcanic formations and alpine meadows that surround the
waters of
Garibaldi Lake. It is not uncommon to see wandering black bears.
Motorbike
Perfect for cross-country tours and covering a lot of ground quickly,
motorbikes are a universal favourite for exploring both solo and in groups.
Bikes can also be taken off-road to explore nature in all its forms,
including the countrys mountains, national parks, forests and lakes. On the
east coast, the
Cabot Trail
is one of the country's most Iconic highways and a 'must-do' drive. The
300-kilometre road runs along the coast of Cape Breton and connects many of
the island's most popular attractions, quaint towns and villages - and
provides an adrenaline rush for anyone who loves to burn the rubber. Out
west, consider the southern route from
Edmonton,
Alberta, to
Victoria Island,
British Columbia. It passes through the
Crows Nest Pass
before turning westerly through
Sparwood and
Fernie and then
descending to
Osoyoos, the only desert in Canada. Plan a stop to visit Lake Osoyoos and its
orchards and wineries. Then it is briefly back into the mountain passes
before the ride all the way to the Vancouver Island Ferry at Tsawwassen.
Freedom Biker Tours
run guided motorcycle tours in the Maritimes, Ontario,
British Columbia
and Alberta, with options from seven to 10 nights. Groups of up to 15 will
explore the
Canadian Shield,
Cape Breton Island, the West Coast and Vancouver Island, through the Canadian Rockies, plus
the
Kootenay
and
Okanagan Regions.
Cycling
Take on some challenging and rugged routes on an e-fat bike tour as you plow
through the snow at
Banff National Park
or cruise the winding mountains of
Jasper. As part of a push towards more sustainable tourism, both Alberta
destinations are encouraging cycling as a preferred method of seeing the
local sites. Jasper began permitting e-bikes on all its multi-use trails in
2019, while 15 of Banffs 30 cycling trails are now e-bike-friendly.
Journey Bike Guides
offers private guided mountain biking tours in Jasper, starting from $129.
In
Banff, Bikescape's guided mountain e-biking tours start from $134. Keen solo explorers can
hit the trails independently by renting a cruiser e-bike from
SunDog Tours
in Jasper, starting at $50 for two hours. In Banff,
Snowtips Bactrax
offer a full kit for the ride to
Lake Louise, from $72 per day. Biking is not just a countryside pursuit, with many
cities offering affordable and convenient ways to sightsee. Montr4al's Bixi
bikes are a forerunner of London's 'Boris bikes,' offering the same concept
and with a handy app to help cyclists find rental stations across the city.
In Vancouver, Mobi Bikes is a public bike share scheme, that offers a
24-hour, 30-day, or 365-day pass that gives access to any bike at one of the
many docking stations. In summer 2022, Mobi expanded its network, adding 50
new stations and 500 e-bikes to its fleet.
