Inspired by TV show Race Across the World? Book one of these holidays to the wild, and jaw dropping host country, says
PLANES, trains and automobiles have made travel easier, but imagine going back to basics and having to plot a journey over long distances day by day.
That’s the premise of Race Across the World, which sees competitors aim to reach a destination with a meagre budget and a lot of help from kind locals.
The BBC1 series challenges teams to cross Canada from coast to coast
– an epic undertaking that will highlight not only skills of ingenuity but also the beautiful backdrop of a country so vast and varied it spans six time zones.
If you’re inspired to visit, here are a few of the holidays to choose.
Based on a novel written in 1903 and set in this late 19th century period of prosperity, Call Of The Wild, starring Harrison Ford, was shot in the region. Visit locations featured in the film, such as Dawson and Whitehorse, and try your luck panning for gold. A ‘flightseeing’ trip over the Kluane National Park’s glaciers, the world’s largest nonpolar icefields, gives an insight into an area of the world few people get to see.
How: Original Travel (020 3582 4990) offers a 12-day Call Of The Wild Yukon trip from £3,100pp, including flights. Whale watching Fries mixed with cheese curds doesn’t sound like the most appetising dish, but poutine is a guilty pleasure across the French-speaking province of Quebec. Try it at several stands and cafes along the charming, cobbled streets of Quebec City before venturing further into the wilds.
Adventure activities are high on the agenda; canoe on Lake Sacacomie and bathe sore muscles in its natural pools.
Between May and October, observe whales from Tadoussac, the first French settlement in North America, founded in 1600.
Black bears and wolves can be found in the Saguenay Fjord region on a kayaking cruise. How: Trailfinders (020 7084 6500) offers a 14-night trip from £2,278pp (two sharing), including car hire. Excludes flights.
Canoes, pools and fine food Venturing off-track up north
This year, the northern Yukon territory celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush.
A maritime adventure
Only a short sevenhour flight from the UK, the Canadian Atlantic coast is within easy reach. Whalewatching, wine-drinking and hiking are all on offer in the offbeat, quirky Maritime Provinces, which can be explored on a two-week tour. In Nova Scotia, drive the Cabot Trail, flanked by highlands scenery. New Brunswick’s rivers, pine forests and mountains provide many sanctuaries for wildlife, including the Bay of Fundy, known for its extreme tides and whale-watching opportunities. At the Reversing Falls, it’s possible to watch rapids flowing backwards at high tide. Although better suited to bracing strolls than sunbathing, Prince Edward Island’s beautiful red sand beaches are the ideal setting for a seafood supper of lobster and mussels. How: Bon-voyage (0800 316 0194) offers a 14-day Atlantic Canada fly-drive of the Maritime Provinces from £2,595pp, including car hire and flights from London, Manchester or Glasgow.