I have just returned from my trip to Canada … 3 months Canada = 1 Trip of a Lifetime!
Here are a few numbers about my trip:
81 days, 9.6000 km by car, over 1,000 km on foot 9 ferry crossings 64 days walking 5 days kayaking 2 countries 5 provinces 1 seaplane flight Lots of grey whales Lots of humpbacks 1 pod of dolphins countless porpoises Resident and transient orcas 1 large sea cucumber Countless seals 3 large groups of sea lions 2 sea otters
1 beaver A flock of Dall's sheep in the distance So many! Bison 1 moose More elk 1 Cariboo 2 grizzly bears 12 black bears Countless bald eagles Several sea stars 2 porcupines 9 loonies 1 pair of worn walking boots
1 lost walking stick Several river crossings almost 10,000 photos Many interview partners Countless amazing experiences Simply incredible Canadians So much support Lots of money spent Every penny worth it!
Of course, I brought countless stories with me.
The best travel tips for the West Coast
Here are some of the topics I'll be writing about in the coming months - I'm sure I'll come up with lots more once I've finished looking through my 10,000 photos ...
The 75km West Coast Trail
is on the bucket list of many adventurers. It was originally created to give the survivors of stranded ships on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island a chance of survival.
The hikers climb more than 100 ladders with heavy packs, trudge through deep mud, wade through mountain-fed rivers in fast-flowing, sometimes waist-deep water, and brave every weather the wild west coast brings - often heavy wind and rain.
How difficult is it?
Whales from boat, kayak and on land
What is the best way to watch whales off Vancouver Island?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Searching for bears
Where is the best place to see bears? I'll tell you!
Kayak Tour Johnson Street
A kayak tour with Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures is suitable for beginners and children, but ambitious paddlers will also get their money's worth. You will sleep in a camping base camp with excellent catering.
There are different packages. I had a 3-day tour on which we saw starfish, sea cucumbers, seals, sea lions, white-headed sea eagles, two different species of orcas and humpback whales from the boats and from land.
A walk in the (Stanley) Park
For the 1st Nations, every plant, every tree has its own unique story. On a walk through Stanley Park in Vancouver, Indigenous Seraphin tells how her ancestors have used the land for food, medicine and technology for thousands of years. She also speaks openly about the dark past of colonial history. A topic that is almost unknown to us.
My favourite hikes around the Canadian Rockies
From Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho, Banff and Jasper National Parks to Mount Assiniboine and Spray Valley Provincial Park - every day for a month I was on the lookout for the most beautiful hike!
Via Ferrata for All
You don't have to be an experienced climber to tackle the Mt Norquay via ferrata.
There are 5 different difficulty levels (from 2/Explorer -6 hour Summiteer) to climb the mountain. The brave venture (well secured) up a thin wire rope to the summit.
Calgary Stampede
Said to be the largest outdoor show in the world! Rodeo, covered wagon races, a huge amusement park, music festival, cowboy meeting and 1st Nations Powwow. Bombastic and entertaining, but animal rights activists are on the barricades: is the over 125 year old and historic gathering still up to date?
Calgary Heritage Park
If you want to see what Canada looked like 100 years ago (or more), Calgary Heritage Park is the place to go. Old houses, farms, trains, ships, teepees etc. have been collected from all over the region and rebuilt here as a huge open-air museum. Visitors can stroll through the streets, ride a steam locomotive, visit old forts and watch craftsmen at work. Depending on the season, there are suitable events - for autumn, for example, Halloween and Christmas. Super entertaining for all ages and open all year round.
Yukon - Into the wild!
Tombstone Provincial Park
3-day hike with backcountry camping through Canada's Patagonia
Kluane National Park
Here you will find the most glaciers outside the polar caps.
3-day hike along the Slim River to the largest glacier. For us a long water search ...
Road trip
with side trips to Alaska: Whitehorse - Dawson City - Tok - Kluane - Haines - Skagway - Whitehorse
Dawson City
Lucky Luke and the Gold Rush ...
Meet the locals
During 3 months in one country I met a lot of people. Some of them I will introduce to you ...