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Five reasons to choose a tour through Western Canada

Clint Bizzell | September 18, 2017 | 3:00 pm | 7 Comments

tour through Western Canada

Western Canada is a bucket-list destination. This is simply one region in the world where you want to maximise every available minute to enjoy what’s on offer. The scenery, the people, the wildlife, the culture. Everything that surrounds you is part of the magical experience, and every corner you turn confronts you with something new.

We recently jumped on board Travelmarvel’s Enchanting Rockies land tour through Western Canada (which can be extended with a 7-day Alaskan Cruise!). To our delight, we didn’t have to spend weeks beforehand researching the best things to see and do. We didn’t have to worry that we had missed something amazing in our itinerary, or that we hadn’t planned enough time in each location. All we had to do was turn up and enjoy it.

Expert local guides

One of the best things about visiting Canada are its people. It’s hard to imagine a more welcoming bunch ready to show you the country they are so passionate about. From the people who make your coffee to those that welcome you to their hotels, the locals are genuine and warm, and you will love getting to know them.

tour through Western Canada
Touring Banff with local Nicole

We found that our tour maximised our connections with the local people. From our incredible local tour director Simone, who was so passionate about sharing her country with us, to each of the local guides we met along the way, everyone made sure our experience didn’t just ‘skim the surface’. Our tour literally put us in the hands of these people, who know the country better than anything, and the rewards were huge.

tour through Western Canada
Wes, the ultimate Jasper guide

From our guide Nicole who took us around Banff and showed us parts of the town and surrounding National Park that I don’t think we would have known about without her, to Wes, our wildlife guide in Jasper National Park, who had been guiding there for 43 years and knew the land like the back of his hand… Thanks to these people we had a surprise interaction with a moose, spotted our very first bear, and learned all about these amazing locations than we could have ever hoped to. They also shared stories with us that took us deeper in Canada’s culture – answering any, and all, questions we had and treating us like friends.

tour through Western Canada
Canadians go out of their way to welcome you.

Canadian’s aren’t there to simply provide a service – they genuinely want to share their country with you and we sincerely recommend taking them up on it!

Availability

Let’s face it. There are more than just a few people in this world that want to experience Canada. There is more than enough room for everyone, being such a big country, however those exclusive experiences such as travelling on the Rocky Mountaineer and visiting The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise can book out many, many months in advance. Piecing together the ultimate trip on the dates that suit, and including all of the highlights, is the definitive jigsaw puzzle – unless you let a tour do it for you.

tour through Western Canada
On board the Rocky Mountaineer

We knew that every departure of the Rocky Mountaineer was booked out around the time we travelled. We also travelled up the road to Lake Louise and watched cars being turned away. We could all relax with the peace of mind that it had all been taken care of for us, and we were going to be experiencing all the highlights with none of the hassle.

tour through Western Canada
Lake Louise, one of the most popular destinations in Canada

Navigating yourself around

We all know that driving in another country can be a bit of a challenge – especially on the other side of the road! Some people love the freedom (and you all know that road trips are up there with our favourite kind of holiday) however, when the destination is foreign, road rules are different, and you want to see as much as you possibly can, sometimes it’s nice not to take on the extra work and responsibility!

We travelled in an air-conditioned coach where we could simply sit back and look out of the panoramic windows, and enjoy the commentary of our Tour Director Simone along the way. Questions you naturally have as you drive past something of interest could be immediately answered, we never got lost, and never had to drive around looking for a park!

tour through Western Canada
Must-see viewpoints along the way

Our tour stopped at the must-see viewpoints along the way without us needing to guess where they were, and we were always taken to the road stops that served the best coffee (a necessity for us!).

The best experiences

Who knew that tucked in a deep valley in a little place called Blue River in British Columbia, one of the most incredible wildlife river safaris existed?

tour through Western Canada
Blue River Safari

Who knew that in the middle of adventurous Banff, we could meet real-life cowboys and enjoy a cowboy cookout while getting to learn of their history and culture?

tour through Western Canada
Cowboy Culture in Banff

And who knew that a heli-skiing lodge would also be open in the summer, welcoming overnight guests to its spectacular alpine location surrounded by the Rocky Mountains?

We were continuously amazed with the experiences that unfolded day after day, that we were sure we wouldn’t have heard about otherwise. Experiences that turned out to be just as priceless as the iconic must-see’s that we had all turned up to tick off.

tour through Western Canada
Learning about Whistler’s First Nations history

And learning the history and heritage of Canada along the way – well, I can only say we were all blown away by the tales that were shared. From Canada’s First Nations history, to the influence the Canadian Pacific Railway had on what Canada is today – none of our experiences would have been as meaningful without this information, always shared in a way to entertain us.

This type of itinerary could only be planned by the locals – local experts who know the region and all the things a visitor needs to see and do to have a truly rich experience. Of course, we had flexibility. In almost every location we were given a choice of things we could do to best suit us, and all we simply had to do was make that selection. Or, we could simply enjoy free time and do as we pleased. The choice was ours.

All the little things

Aussies are notoriously hopeless at tipping in North America. We are not used to it, and often forget or are scared we are tipping too much, or too little. We saved ourselves the hassle on tour – where tipping was all taken care of for us!

tour through Western Canada
We got to sit back and enjoy the trip with our fellow passengers

Other things such as airport transfers, booking the appropriate accommodation in each location, entry tickets and the best places to eat were also looked after – we didn’t even have to think about them.

To rest your mind about these little things, leaving room only to enjoy and appreciate the experience, in our books is priceless.

Have you taken a tour through Canada, or planning to? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments!

 

Offering the perfect balance of comprehensive inclusions and more free time, Travelmarvel provides premium cruising and touring experiences at exceptional value. Fun, exciting and hassle-free, Travelmarvel holidays are designed for those who seek organised  travel on their own terms. From river cruising to land and rail journeys, Travelmarvel offers memorable  experiences worldwide – from Europe to the Americas, Asia to the Outback.

About Clint Bizzell

From climbing mountains, to finding himself in bronco-branding competitions in the Outback, Clint is always up for a good time and willing to give anything a go. Clint enjoyed 12 years as an AFL footballer, but these days he shares his love for the world and it's people through Places We Go.

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Comments

  1. Deanne Lindsay says

    September 21, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    This is something I have always wanted, it is a dream to visit Canada, do a tour of the Ranches. I have watched the Series of ‘Heartland” and has even put more pressure on my heart to visit the beautiful scenery, wildlife, and to meet the amazing people.
    You never know, I may be fortunate enough to win a competition of my dreams to do a rail and Cruise journey of Canada and Alaska, I know of others from my state of Tasmania who have done this trip and are ready to go again, but I would never be able to afford the trip without winning it. Fingers and toes crossed… Thank you Dee xx

    Reply
  2. Louise Vardanega says

    September 22, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    Ditto Deanne Lindsay..
    My husband and I have watched many shows and listened to friends excitement and stories of their adventures in Canada, the Rockies, the stunning Lake Louise, my name sake. the list goes on. We will make our dreams a reality one day. I say , be positive and visualize, and it will happen. then we too can boast about our amazing experiences in Canada and the beautiful towns, people and nature. I am sorry I missed the program on TV.
    Thanks for the info, always enjoyable.
    Louise V

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Daldy says

    September 23, 2017 at 1:23 pm

    Over 13 years ago I travelled to Canada but only visited Vancouver and areas around there. Would love to go further, especially Calgary as my bridesmaids live there. I haven’t seen them since my wedding in 1965.

    Reply
  4. lynette thomson says

    September 25, 2017 at 6:28 am

    This is a dream of a life time to see such a beautiful country, so many people have told us how great it is. Travelmarvel are also really great to travel with.

    Reply
  5. Helen Kempton says

    September 29, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    I visit BC regularly as my daughter went there 10years ago and never left. Before every visit, I have an exhilarating anticipation, and every time I leave I feel a bit sad to have to go. We always spent most of our time in the great outdoors hiking/biking in summer, snowy stuff in winter, and every visit I get taken somewhere ‘new’, and do something ‘different’. Every visit is joyful and energising. I love it.

    Reply
  6. Barbara Smith says

    October 5, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    In 2000 I had an incredible holiday travelliing from Calgary,following the Alaskan Highway to Delta Junction,time in Fairbanks/ Juneau,cruised inside passage,by then byroad “behind” Rockys back to Calgary,…then the Rocky Mountain train adventure,completing this wonderful amazing journey in a stopover in lovely Vancouver, We were catered by the company Cardinal Tours, seventeen later I still recall Canada as the most enjoyable,fabulous journey,the people,the scenery were second to none. We had previously travelled USA,UK,several countries of Europe,South Africa,Asian areas of Thailand,Malaysia,Singapore,all states of our own beautiful country,

    Reply
  7. Max Phillips says

    October 5, 2017 at 10:03 pm

    My wife’s most preferred travel destination has always been the west coast half of Canada. She also has an extensive array of places and a SMALL sample is, Vancouver, Ketchikan, the glaciers, Lake Louise, Banff and I dare not forget the Rocky Mountaineer which only makes position two. Although she often talks about it all, the saving for these adventures is her hardest part although we still remain positive. I still hope all good things come to those who wait.

    Reply
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MUNGO NATIONAL PARK IN FOCUS WHERE IS IT? South-w MUNGO NATIONAL PARK IN FOCUS

WHERE IS IT?
South-western NSW

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?
Drive, if you can! Approximately 11 hours from Sydney, 6 hours from Melbourne and 7 hours from Adelaide, or alternatively fly into Mildura and drive the two hour journey from there!

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU STAY?
Ideally 2-4 days, although you can do a day trip if time is an issue. 

WHAT DO WE LOVE ABOUT IT?
Despite being one of the country's most remarkable natural wonders, it remains relatively unknown. 

Untouched, starkly beautiful and unlike anywhere else - the park's landscape is one of dry lake basins and sand formations, spanning some 278 square kilometres. 

The region holds great spiritual importance for local indigenous communities who have inhabited the land for thousands of years, and is famously known as the burial site of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man - the most important human remains ever found in Australia - dating back some 42,000 years. We're talking some of the earliest anatomically modern human remains discovered anywhere in the world.

Globally significant, Mungo NP is rich in beauty, culture and history, and is an absolute must-see! 

X 

📷 Tourism Australia #MungoNationalPark #AustralianWonders #NaturalBeauty #CulturalHeritage #AncientCivilizations #GeologicalMarvels #IndigenousCulture #WallsOfChina #SandDunes #ClayFormations #ExploreNSW #NaturePhotography #LandscapesOfAustralia #WildernessWanderlust #HistoryUnearthed #SpiritualSignificance #AustralianOutback #BucketListDestination #DiscoverAustralia #OutdoorAdventures #TravelInspiration
Have you heard of the world heritage listed Bungle Have you heard of the world heritage listed Bungle Bungle Range in Purnulu National Park in WA's Kimberley region? 

Well if you haven't, let us introduce you! 

The first of the two photos are the banded domes synonymous with the region, made of sandstone deposited some 360 million years ago. Which is mind boggling when you think about it. Over time the sandstone was eroded by creeks and rivers that carved out these signature domes, along with gorges and chasms. It's seriously gorgeous.

The second photo is of Cathedral Gorge, which is a fairly spectacular natural amphitheatre located in the heart of the park. 

We would love to hear from you, have you been? Do you want to go? Message us in the comments below x

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We think you'll find this interesting (we certainl We think you'll find this interesting (we certainly did) but did you know the first public zoo opened in New South Wales in 1884 on a site known as Billy Goat Swamp in Moore Park, Sydney?

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ABL x

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This revered institution holds a significant place in the nation's identity and pays homage to the brave men and women who served in the defence of their country. 

As you step through its grand entrance, the stories of heroism and resilience are highlighted through exhibits, memorials, and interactive displays. It's a moving experience, and one that is enhanced by beautifully considered architecture. 

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