Canada is the true home of winter, with world-class skiing, lively après-ski and nature’s most phenomenal lightshow set against an inky star-strewn sky.
The annual Snow Travel Expo events, taking place during May 2023, provide the perfect opportunity for Australian travellers to connect with Canada’s best winter resorts, talk to the experts and start planning the ultimate winter snow holiday. The Snow Travel Expos are taking place in Melbourne on 21 May 2023, and Sydney on 28 May, 2023. Find out more and obtain your free tickets HERE.
In the meantime, read on discover three ways to discover your very own winter wonderland in Canada.
Chase the aurora borealis
The current solar cycle (a periodic 11-year change in the sun’s activity) is set to reach its peak between 2023 and 2026. This increase in solar activity results in more northern lights activity here on Earth, making it an outstanding time for aurora viewing. The pitch black, star-filled skies of Canada provide the perfect backdrop for this mystical, enchanting natural phenomenon.
Head to Yellowknife’s Aurora Village, lined with teepees to keep guests warm as they marvel at the northern lights. The aurora is known to dance in winter from late December through to March and visitors are recommended to stay a minimum of four nights to witness this natural phenomenon.
Canada’s Yukon Territory offers the quintessential winter postcard, complete with brilliant, dancing northern lights. Tour operators throughout Yukon offer unique ways to experience this awe-inspiring phenomenon. Soak in outdoor hot springs as you watch the neon lights dance across the sky, or stay in a glass-fronted chalet at Northern Lights Resort and Spa and enjoy the spectacle in comfort.
Discover world-class snow resorts
British Columbia is home to 13 major ski resorts, including the iconic Whistler Blackcomb, considered North America’s premier mountain resort. From Vancouver to the Rocky Mountains, you’ll find ski resorts with wide-open runs, deep snow, and friendly residents welcoming you with open hearts. A number of resorts in British Columbia boast ‘ski-in ski-out’ villages, include Sun Peaks, Silver Star Mountain Resort, and Big White Ski Resort. The fun continues well after the lifts shut down with an après-ski culture that will have you dancing in ski-boots with friends and friends-to-be.
In Alberta, SkiBig3’s three-for-one option is hard to beat, with a single lift ticket providing direct lift access at all three resorts: Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mt. Norquay.
Lake Louise offers one of the most scenic ski resorts in North America, with spectacular scenery, vast terrain, and the must-do Sightseeing Gondola. Acclaimed for its delicious, powdery snow and thrilling backcountry zone, Banff Sunshine Village offers the longest non-glacial ski season, while the family-friendly Mt Norquay offers the only night skiing in Banff National Park, as well as Alberta’s longest tube lanes for the young and young at heart.
In eastern Canada, Quebec’s Mont Tremblant hosts an impressive assortment of adult and kiddie ski programs at the Tremblant Snow School. The “Elle” category is reserved for women only, while the adult ski racing program and Summit Club offer various terrains where guests can improve their technique while zipping down the slopes.
Embark on dog sledding adventures
Feel your heart sing as you perch on a sled pulled by a team of friendly huskies, the crisp air turning your cheeks pink. There’s nothing quite like feeling the power of the canines and the connection between man and dog as together you explore a glittering winter wonderland.
Dogsledding is part of Canada’s DNA as the historic mode of transport used by Canadian fur traders and those living in the country’s northern locations. Today, Canada’s mountainous landscapes and professional tour guides offer idyllic dogsledding trails throughout the country.
Many of British Columbia’s winter ski resorts offer unforgettable dogsledding experiences, including Whistler Blackcomb and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in the Kootenay Rockies. Additionally, the alpine village of Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops is home to Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures, where you have the option to take the reins and become a fully-fledged dog musher.
In Canada’s north-western Yukon Territory, learn how to mush your own team of sled dogs at Sky High Wilderness Ranch, just 30 minutes from Whitehorse. You’ll be assigned your own team of friendly huskies, learn how to manage them, and set off on an exhilarating excursion that will take you back to the early days of transportation by sled dog.
In Alberta, Kingmik Dog Sled Tours offers an authentic dog sledding experience in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, from introductory to multi-day adventures, while in Quebec, Aventure Inukshuk dog sledding combines outdoor adventure with Indigenous culture. Visitors can embark on guided tours that take them through the breathtaking landscapes of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region while learning about the history and traditions of the Innu and Atikamekw First Nations.
Getting there
Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney, and direct to and from Brisbane four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Internal flights are available throughout Canada from all major cities, in addition to the VIA Rail train service.
For the latest information on travel to Canada please visit the Government of Canada website.
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