Specialist tour operator Best Served has launched a dedicated Best Served Canada programme for 2017, featuring a range of self-drive holidays and escorted tours across this beautiful country
The launch coincides with the 150-year celebrations that will be taking place across the country this year. “Historically, we have featured a small number of Canada itineraries as part of our Best Served Scandinavia portfolio, but we are delighted to launch a fully dedicated programme for 2017,” Lorna Curry, Product Manager, told Essential Journeys. “Our Scandinavia clients will love the similar offerings of Northern Lights viewing, snowy adventures, wildlife experiences and unique Ice Hotels in the winter, plus the incredible wilderness and away-from-it-all adventures in the summer. The experiences will be familiar, but the continents are different and will offer a new and exciting alternative for our clients. Best Served Canada will be available to book directly by clients through our website and our partner travel agents.”
With itineraries across the country, highlights of the new programme include:
Lakes and Lodges of Western Canada – The Lakes & Lodges of Western Canada self drive itinerary is a two-week trip taking in the stunning lakes and lodges of Banff, Jasper and beyond. Breathtaking scenery abounds in the Rockies, with Jasper and Banff National Parks and a number of beautiful lake,s including the well-known Emerald Lake and Lake Louise in Alberta. Starting with two nights in Vancouver before picking up a rental car to head along the scenic highway to Whistler, highlights along the way include the cascading Shannon Falls and the granite cliffs of Stawamus Chief Rock. Two nights are spent at Tyax Mountain Lake Resort, and other highlights on this trip include Pyramid Falls and the glaciers of the Albreda Icefields, Mount Robson, two nights in Jasper, Yoho National Park, Banff and Calgary. Best Served Canada offers a 14-day, tailor-made, self-drive itinerary from £2,295 per person including flights, 13 nights accommodation, 11 days car rental, full driving pack, touring and meals as stated.
Rockies and Rainforest – The Rockies and Rainforest itinerary is a 14-day, tailor-made, self-drive journey exploring western Canada from Vancouver Island to Jasper National Park. Along with Banff, also included is the Pacific Rim National Park and time spent in Whistler. The itinerary begins with two nights in Vancouver before taking a ferry to Vancouver Island with time in Victoria; Tofino for whale-watching and other wildlife viewing; and also Parksville. The next stop is back on mainland British Columbia, with a drive to Whistler. There is time in Jasper, home to the Rockies’ largest nature park, and Banff. Best Served Canada offers the itinerary from £2,405 per person including flights, accommodation, car hire and touring as stated.
Atlantic Canada Self Drive – This new holiday combines natural beauty with history and culture, including First Nations culture and the early European settlers and ‘founding fathers’. It should also prove popular with fans of Anne of Green Gables in the year that a brand new version of the perennially popular story will be brought to Netflix by Emmy winning writer Moira Walley-Beckett of Breaking Bad fame. The 12-day holiday includes the chance to explore Prince Edward Island, the setting for the iconic novel, where you can even visit Anne’s house as well as see many sites in honour of the book and its author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. Starting in Halifax, the tour travels up the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Route, taking in the beautiful Kejimkujik Scenic Drive through the National Park of the same name. The next night is at Annapolis Royal, a picturesque example of Atlantic Canada’s seaside communities and one of the oldest European settlements in Canada. From here, take the ferry across to New Brunswick, firstly to the city of Saint John and then for a few nights in Fundy National Park. Three days are spent on Prince Edward Island – with the chance to delve deeper into the story and setting of Anne as well as a visit to Charlottetown, where Canada’s founding fathers gathered to begin joining together British North America into one nation. Further nights are spent in the village of Tatamagouche, with its strong Mi’kmaq history; Pictou – where ‘New Scotland’ was formed; and then take the wonderful coastal route to Cape Breton Highlands National Park via the famous Cabot Trail. Finally on to the Fortress of Louisburg, a national historic site and major landmark during the battles that ultimately led to an independent Canada. Best Served Canada offers the Atlantic Canada Self Drive holiday from £2,325 per person, including international flights, 12 days car rental, accommodation, driving pack and some meals and tours. Operates May to October 2017. Alternative itineraries can be tailormade on request.
For something entirely different, you can head out on the Highlights of the Yukon itinerary. This covers the Kluane National Park and is ideal for hiking and photography enthusiasts, as well as those looking to immerse themselves in first nations culture. The 12-day itinerary is a journey unearthing Canada’s beautiful Yukon province, a nature lovers’ paradise filled with bears, moose, elk, glaciers, mountains and lakes. his scenic backdrop also offers visitors a rich and varied history, including the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century. Highlights include Kluane National Park, which is an internationally protected natural refuge, and Tok, which is known for its active sled-dog culture. Dawson City is visited, where the Gold Rush history can be explored. The 12-day tailor-made itinerary is from £2,625 per person including flights, 12 days car hire, 11 nights accommodation, admission to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, Alaska Marine Highway Ferry ticket and a personalised road map.
www.best-served.co.uk or telephone 020 7664 2241
Main image: Spirit Island, Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park
