WATER WAYS

1 SAIL THE GREAT LAKES

Visit all five of the Great Lakes in 15 days on a new Viking Expeditions cruise that also takes in Niagara Falls as it weaves across the USCanadian border from Toronto to Minnesota. Activities include kayaking over shipwrecks, hiking lake shores and learning about the region’s Indigenous Anishinaabe heritage. From £10,095 per person, all-inclusive, international flights extra. vikingcruises.co.uk

2 EXPLORE TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

The only Canadian national park run entirely by Inuit staff, this 3,745sq mile expanse of wilderness in remote northern Labrador has no roads and no permanent settlements but plenty of polar bears. Tailor-made multi-day backpacking treks (mid-July to late August) can be combined with kayaking and rigid inflatable boat exploration. Prices on request. parks.canada.ca

3 CANOE ON THE YUKON RIVER

Even if you don’t sign up for the world’s toughest marathon paddling race, the sight of canoes battling 444 miles through the Klondike, from Whitehorse to Dawson City, is reason enough to visit. This annual event brings canoeists from across the world to test their mettle, while a new ‘half quest’ provides a less gruelling alternative for seasoned oarsmen. 4-7 July 2023. yukonriverquest.com

4 NAVIGATE THE HIGH ARCTIC

Located in Canada’s Northwest Territories, high above the Arctic Circle, the Thomsen River is the world’s most northerly canoeable river. Flowing through Aulavik National Park, the waters are a wildlife haven: most of the world’s muskoxen can be found here. One for canoeists with whitewater experience. 13 nights of guided canoeing and camping from £7,000 per person, all-inclusive, flights extra. blackfeather.com

5 RIDE THE RIDEAU CANAL

This 125-mile waterway (complete with Victorian-era locks) connects Kingston, on Lake Ontario, and the Canadian capital of Ottawa. Explore it on your own 36ft-long boat. No experience or licence needed. Moor at quaint, one-shop waterside hamlets for overnight stays and swim pretty much wherever you like. Seven nights from £1,894 per five-berth boat. leboat.co.uk

6 CANOE & CAMP IN QUEBEC

Adventure options abound in Quebec’s watery backcountry, from kayaking the vast Saguenay Fjord to canoeing the lakes that skirt Mont-Tremblant. Some parks and reserves offer pre-erected tents and glamping options, with guides available for instruction. From £68 per person per night, including pitch, canoe and equipment. Book via Sépaq, which manages activities in the reserves. sepaq.com SB