Canada rewards travelers who are willing to go beyond its most familiar landscapes, revealing a country of extraordinary scale, radical remoteness, and experiences that can feel almost impossible to find elsewhere. Its wildest corners are also home to some of its most thoughtful hospitality, creating journeys that move effortlessly between genuine adventure and understated luxury. Below, we will share some of our favorite reasons to explore Canada, from remarkable wildlife encounters to far-flung places to stay and unexpected experiences across The Great White North.

Snowcapped mountains, lush rainforest, emerald lakes and endless plains. National parks the size of countries, the world’s longest coastline, and the biggest vertical drop on the planet. Picturesque lighthouses and quaint fishing villages, playful pods of whales, and majestic polar bears. Canada is a place of extreme contrasts – a place where luxury resorts sit on the edge of the dramatic ocean, where stargazers count the galaxies in vast dark sky preserves, and where adventure-seekers scale some of the highest and most stunning summits in North America.

Canada’s intoxicating combination of rugged wilderness and exquisite hospitality is nothing short of legendary. A trip across The Great White North is a sublime adventure for the lucky few.

1. What Are The Best Wildlife Experiences in Canada?

From polar bears and muskoxen in the Arctic to grizzly bears, humpback whales, bald eagles, seals, and sea lions along the Pacific coast, Canada offers extraordinary opportunities to encounter animals in vast natural habitats. For wildlife lovers, the scale of these experiences is part of what makes the country so remarkable.

STAND BESIDE 2,000 BELUGA WHALES

Walking or sea kayaking among thousands of friendly beluga whales is as extraordinary as it sounds. Listen to them communicate – it’s non-stop squeaking, whacking, and grunting! And watch mother whales teach their babies how to swim.

Canada gives wildlife travelers the chance to experience these animals in dramatically different environments, from frozen Arctic terrain to temperate rainforest and open ocean. The country’s sheer size allows for a wildlife-focused journey that can feel entirely different from one region to the next, making it especially compelling for travelers who have already experienced more traditional wildlife destinations.

THOUSANDS OF BALD EAGLES

Click here to watch as 1,000 bald eagles swarm, hunt, and scavenge right before Mark’s eyes…

“I had never seen more than one of these elusive birds at a time. I didn’t even know something like this was possible. Hands down, one of the greatest wildlife encounters of my life.” – Mark Lakin

When water currents are strong, schools of Pacific herring are propelled up into the air with such force that their stomachs actually burst from the pressure – a phenomenon known as “herring bounce”. The oils inside the fish attract bald eagles and other predators, waiting on the shoreline for this explosive moment to occur.

ICE AGE SURVIVORS

Known as the shaggy survivors of the Ice Age, muskoxen have roamed the Earth for hundreds of thousands of years. These large hoofed mammals weigh over 600 lbs, and during fights over females, two males will run towards each other at up to 30 miles per hour and smash skulls. To see these mythical dinosaurs in real life is truly incredible.

QUAD BIKING WITH POLAR BEARS

Quad bike in search of polar bears, coming within just 50 feet!

Traveling by quad bike makes the search itself part of the wildlife experience. Rather than following a conventional route, you move across vast stretches of Arctic terrain where the landscape feels almost completely untouched and every sighting is dictated by the wild. Few encounters compare to seeing a polar bear in its natural habitat with nothing but tundra stretching out around you.

2. What Are The Top Remote Wilderness Lodges in Canada?

Some of the country’s most memorable luxury accommodations are found well beyond the major cities, in places chosen precisely because they feel difficult to reach. Remote Arctic lodges, wilderness retreats, island hotels, and environmentally conscious properties allow travelers to experience Canada’s landscapes without sacrificing comfort.

THE MOST NORTHERLY FLY-IN LODGE ON EARTH

Welcome to Arctic Watch – located on a world-class beluga whale observation site on Somerset Island, 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Owned and run by the Weber family – Richard Weber is the ONLY person to have made it to the North Pole and back on foot unsupported. The camp runs exclusively on unfiltered glacial melt. Your playground is unspoiled Arctic terrain, and the toys with which to explore it are all top notch…private planes, helicopters, outfitted Mercedes unimogs, quad bikes, mountain bikes, and the best dry suits. Polar bears, narwhal, muskoxen and thousands of beluga whales take center stage here. Click here to watch a short & breathtaking video of our Founder Mark Lakin’s stay.

A SECRET RETREAT WITHIN A BIOSPHERE RESERVE

This lodge setting is true wilderness. The things David Attenborough documentaries are made of. A wildlife refuge with rich biodiversity. A whimsical adventure at every turn. A home to some of the last remaining ancient temperate rainforests in the world where thousand-year-old trees extend an astonishing 300 feet up into the sky. A stunning mosaic of emerald valleys, snow-capped peaks, rushing rivers, clustered islands, ocean and rocky coastal shores. Welcome to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge. Just 25 luxury canvas guest tents, cedar hot tubs with sweeping views, and an open-air riverside bar… Bears, whales, seals, and sea otter rafts are delivered with excitement by your very own private guide accompanied by their very own canine companion. *Click here to watch a short video of Mark’s journey. *

A LUXURY INN AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

Wander through a 90-square-mile stretch of 10 minuscule fishing villages with colorful clapboard houses, its very own time zone, and an atmosphere undeniably reminiscent of the 18th century. With one gleaming exception – a $40 million, luxury inn. Part edge-of-the-earth destination, part economic-engine-on-stilts, the inn was conceived by eighth generation Fogo Islander and remarkable individual, Zita Cobb. Fogo Island is a beautiful success story of how a single hotel can regenerate an entire island economy. Built exclusively with materials found on the island, employing locals only, a hub for resident artists and traveling guest chefs – Fogo Inn is one-of-a-kind.

A HYDROELECTRIC LODGE SINCE 1981

From the very beginning, this property’s founding family had one goal – to share their dream of living off the land while minimizing their footprint on the environment itself, before anyone else was even thinking about the impact of fossil fuels. The location of Nimmo Bay was entirely dictated by the presence of streams and waterfalls – and has run on a hydropower system since it welcomed its first guests in 1981. Their sustainable practices don’t infringe on the luxury or comfort associated with your experience, if anything, they enhance it.

Fine coastal dining is excellent here because they sustainability source and support local farms, the wildlife sightings are exceptional because they fund groundbreaking research and aquaculture activism, and the surroundings remain spectacular because they build on floating docks in lieu of deforesting land. Nimmo Bay is a living reminder that if you respect the wild, it gives back tenfold.

The best places to stay in Canada are often destinations in their own right. Rather than simply providing a base for sightseeing, these properties use their surroundings to shape the experience: Arctic wilderness, ancient rainforest, remote coastlines, local communities, and conservation all become part of the stay. For travelers seeking privacy and a genuine sense of place, Canada’s luxury lodge scene can be every bit as compelling as its landscapes.

3. What Are The Most Extraordinary Adventures in Canada?

Beyond its famous national parks and mountain scenery, the country offers experiences that range from cycling across frozen ocean to gathering ingredients from the Pacific coast, dining in extraordinary wilderness settings, and exploring one of North America’s most naturally beautiful cities. Below are some of the experiences that show how varied a luxury trip to Canada can be.

FAT BIKING ON THE ARCTIC OCEAN

Pedal across two-meter thick sea ice, over pools of rich turquoise waters, past sunbathing seals and flocks of snow geese.

Fat biking turns the frozen Arctic Ocean into an adventure route of its own. Oversized tires make it possible to travel across thick sea ice while taking in an environment that few travelers will ever experience from this perspective. With turquoise melt pools breaking up the white landscape and Arctic wildlife appearing along the way, even the simple act of cycling becomes something completely extraordinary.

EXQUISITE FOOD

Indulge in elegant tented dinners by candlelight, decadent spreads by the bonfire, and high-altitude alfresco picnics, all prepared by world-class chefs. Or get hands on and forage for sea kelp, dive for sea urchins, and haul up fresh Dungeness crab.

THE CITY OF VANCOUVER

A bustling west coast seaport surrounded by mountains. Tons of green space, ample opportunity for activities in the great outdoors, a beautiful waterfront, and one the most ethnically diverse cities in the country. As the sun begins to set over the Pacific Ocean, the sandy shores of Vancouver’s beaches come alive with vibrant drum circles, happy people, drink, song, and dance. Vancouver has a thriving arts and theatre scene, exceptional restaurants, excellent shopping, and is absolutely spotless.

The diversity of things to do in Canada allows a single journey to move between complete extremes. Travelers can spend one day surrounded by Arctic wilderness and another discovering coastal food, outdoor adventure, sophisticated restaurants, or a lively city waterfront. It is this ability to combine completely different experiences within one country that makes Canada especially rewarding for travelers who want more than one style of vacation.

What Makes Canada Unlike Anywhere Else?

What makes Canada especially compelling is not simply the number of extraordinary things to see, but the feeling of experiencing them in places that remain genuinely wild. There is space here — to venture farther, stay longer, and experience landscapes on a scale that is increasingly rare.

The most memorable journeys through Canada are often built around contrast. An exhilarating morning can give way to an impossibly peaceful afternoon; an expedition into remote wilderness can end with beautiful food, thoughtful service, and a deep sense of comfort. The luxury never needs to compete with the landscape. At its best, it simply gives you a more extraordinary way to experience it.

And perhaps that is Canada’s greatest appeal: even for travelers who have seen much of the world, it still has the capacity to surprise. The distances are greater, the wilderness feels wilder, and some of the most remarkable moments happen in places you may never have thought to look.

To begin planning a bespoke journey through Canada, reach out to The Legacy Untold at [email protected] or visit www.thelegacyuntold.com.