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A friendly First Nations greeting History Canada and Alaska’s first inhabitants were native Americans, thought to have arrived across ice bridges over the Bering Strait from Eurasia many thousands of years ago. There is also evidence of Viking settlement, but it was the arrival of the Europeans, most notably the French and British, searching for whale-oil and furs in the 16th and 17th centuries, that forced the rate of change. The French colony, known as ‘New France’, was officially ceded to the British in 1763 and the country that is now Canada was formed in 1867 by the confederation of four British North American colonies. In the early days it was Canada’s natural resources, its furs from the hinterland and fish from the sea, that laid the foundations of its wealth, but as the second largest country in the world it is perhaps unsurprising that other assets were just waiting to be uncovered. Canada and Alaska struck the headlines with the discovery of gold in the Klondike and substantial oil deposits were later to be found. Over the years Canada has gained independence from the UK but is still a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. With small populations spread thinly over a huge landscape both Canada and Alaska remain pioneer destinations - independently minded and forward looking, and as any visitor will attest, many parts still feel barely explored: truly a new world. First Nations There are approximately one million First Nations Canadians today. This includes 200,000 Métis (aboriginal and French mixed race) and 50,000 Inuit. Their origins stem from the end of the last Ice Age, about 20,000 years ago, when nomadic tribes followed herds of mammoth and bison across the land bridge joining Siberia and Alaska. The people were misnamed firstly as ‘Indians’ by 16th century Spanish traders who mistakenly believed that they had reached India, and later ‘Red’ by the British who encountered Newfoundland’s Beothuks smeared in red ochre to repel insects. The natives of the extreme north were named ‘Eskimos’ which translates as ‘eaters of raw meat’. Unsurprisingly these names have been rejected by the aboriginal peoples in favour of ‘First Nations’ and, in the north, ‘Inuit’ meaning ‘the people’. Visitors today can experience a resurgent First Nations culture including the abandoned seaboard villages and totem poles of British Columbia, archaeological heritage sites in Alberta and Saskatchewan, modern day ‘pow-wows’ (singing, dancing, storytelling) in Ontario and Inuit communities in the north of the country. Accommodation The range of accommodation in Canada and Alaska is as diverse as the landscape itself. In the big cities you can stay in stylish boutique properties, often in restored historic buildings, luxury hotels with magnificent views or delightful bed and breakfasts tucked away from the hustle and bustle. In rural areas there are charming log cabins, often overlooking wilderness lakes, whilst ranch stays offer a chance to live the life of a cowboy. All the accommodation options detailed in this brochure have been carefully selected to offer you a range of alternatives but some of our favourite properties, for reasons of space, are not detailed in the following pages. Please call to discuss your requirements with our Canada and Alaska specialists: they have visited a huge range of properties and will have more suggestions to match your preferences and budget. Wherever you stay, friendly North American hospitality is bound to ensure your stay is a memorable one. Food & Drink In an area as large as Canada and Alaska the cuisine varies widely from region to region. Cities are hugely cosmopolitan, with all the cuisines of the world represented in urban centres such as Montréal with plenty of restaurants putting a North American twist on their Gallic heritage. The west coast has developed its own Pacific Rim fusion cuisine, while the Atlantic regions have access to some of the world’s freshest and largest lobsters amongst a wealth of other seafood. Inland, meals are more likely to be made up of locally-raised meats, with barbeques and steaks a traditional favourite: servings are often huge and North American breakfasts can be a real highlight of your stay. 4
Autumnal vineyards Market traders in Montréal Panning for gold Climate In general the east and west coasts are temperate while the central provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba experience fine summers but very cold winters. The Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska are delightful during the summer months between June and September but during the rest of the year temperatures are mostly well below zero. Travel to Nunavut and the high Arctic is best during the brief summer months of July and August when the sun only briefly dips below the horizon, whilst on the eastern seaboard the Maritime Provinces experience four distinct seasons with a mild spring, lovely summer, crisp autumn and a snowy winter. Ontario and Québec usually have hot summers and very cold winters but are also delightful in the brief spring and autumn seasons – May and September. British Columbia and Alberta’s Rocky Mountains are wonderful to visit in the summer while the winter provides some of the world’s best skiing and a wide range of snow sports. As a general rule of thumb, travel conditions are good from the beginning of May through to mid-September, with the shoulder seasons offering some lovely scenery and fewer visitors. Bear watching in Clayoquot Sound Guides Canada and Alaska are home to many natural wonders and local curiosities: a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide can add immeasurably to your experience. We pride ourselves on using only the best guides, all highly trained and aware of ecological, environmental and cultural sensitivities. Responsible Travel We are passionate about the countries we specialise in, and have always been firmly committed to the principles of ethical travel and sustainability. Our Responsible Travel policy has been awarded three stars – the maximum possible – by AITO, and we have drawn up a Travellers’ Code which will help you to ensure your trip does not threaten the sustainability of the places you visit. Audley supports the Friends of Conservation carbon offsetting scheme. For further details on how to offset the carbon emissions from your flight, please visit our website or talk to the country specialist arranging your trip. Throughout Canada and Alaska we make every effort to use properties and local operators that operate in a sustainable manner. Audley supports a number of good causes through the Audley Charity Portfolio – please refer to www.audleytravel.com/rt for more details. Musk ox Group Travel If you wish to travel with a group of friends – maybe with a special interest in common – we can make all the arrangements. For larger groups we may be able to offer a free place to the organiser. Please call us to discuss your plans. www.audleytravel.com If you are looking for travel inspiration, Audley’s website is full of journey ideas, month-by-month suggestions, destination guides, slideshows, articles and special features, responsible tourism details and a useful travel information section. Terms & Conditions and Insurance Your booking is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Audley Travel, which are detailed in a separate leaflet. It is vital that you have adequate travel insurance and we are able to offer a number of policies either for the duration of your trip or on an annual basis. Introduction Telephone: 01993 838 700 5
Page 1 and 2: C ANADA, ALASKA & THE A RCTIC TAILO
Page 3: How to plan your journey with Audle
Page 7 and 8: The prairies of Saskatchewan and Ma
Page 9 and 10: Lyubov Orlova Cruises Canada, Alask
Page 11 and 12: Big horn sheep Atlantic puffins Orc
Page 13 and 14: Fly fishing Heli-hiking mountain lo
Page 15 and 16: YUKON Atlin NORTHWEST TERRITORIES F
Page 17 and 18: Grand Canadian For those who wish t
Page 19 and 20: Victoria Harbour Red Crow on the Wa
Page 21 and 22: Beautiful British Columbia Home to
Page 23 and 24: Western Wonders The charming combin
Page 25 and 26: The Fraser River The Cariboo The ro
Page 27 and 28: 28 The Kootenay Rockies Naramata an
Page 29 and 30: Alberta Alberta is home to some of
Page 31 and 32: Moraine Lake, Banff National Park L
Page 33 and 34: Heli-hiking in the mountains Heli-h
Page 35 and 36: 36 Boots and spurs Cowboy Country M
Page 37 and 38: Saskatchewan Saskatchewan offers a
Page 39 and 40: Manitoba Geographically in the cent
Page 41 and 42: 42 Manitoba wheat fields Riding Mou
Page 43 and 44: Sunset on the tundra Churchill and
Page 45 and 46: Ontario This huge province stretche
Page 47 and 48: A birds-eye view of the falls Niaga
Page 49 and 50: A moose in Algonquin Provincial Par
Page 51 and 52: Ottawa’s Parliament buildings Hal
Page 53 and 54: 54 A polar bear foraging on the sho
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Québec As the largest French-speak
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58 Knowlton in the Eastern Township
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60 Québec City and the St Lawrence
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Fishing boats at the Rock of Percé
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64 Charming sea views Îles de la M
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The Maritime Provinces The Maritime
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Lunenburg waterfront Lunenburg Lune
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70 The Cabot Trail Liscomb Mills Th
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The Hopewell Rocks at low tide New
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West Point Lighthouse Prince Edward
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The Northern Peninsula Newfoundland
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Western Brook Pond Fjord, Gros Morn
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Arctic Expedition Cruising Beyond t
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Nordic village 82 Polar Star Polar
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Breaching bowhead whale Quark Exped
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Nunavut Nunavut is an immense terri
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Arctic Watch Lodge 88 ARCTIC WATCH
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The Northwest Territories Stretchin
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Virginia Falls, Nahanni National Pa
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The Yukon The Yukon is a magical la
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96 Dawson City Dawson City Few plac
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Alaska Alaska is a land of innumera
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Grizzly bears catching salmon at Br
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Stellar sealions Seward The coastal
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Mount McKinley, Denali National Par
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106 Glaciers in Wrangell St. Elias
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108 Humpback whale Skagway No town
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Tlingit totems and fireweed Anan Cr
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112 Snow Goose Alaska Cruises In a
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Fur seals on the Pribilof Islands 1
Page 115:
New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Ox
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