Within just a few hours of touching down in Canada, 20 Australian Travel Agents and one journalist found themselves blinking incredulously on top of the world.
About an hour’s drive north of Vancouver airport, the Sea to Sky Gondola operates year-round and, in only 10 minutes, ferries visitors to a breathtaking spot 885 metres above Howe Sound.
It was our first taste of ‘Super, Natural’ British Columbia (better known as BC), nearly a million square kilometres of stunning mountains, woods and water in which to engage in pretty much any outdoor adventure sport under the sun. From kite surfing to sailing, kayaking to rock climbing, nature is always offering up something to do here.
Travel Agents from Australia suited up for an afternoon’s whitewater rafting in Squamish, BC.
The Australian Agents had two days to sample and explore as much as we could of BC from our comfy base at Executive Suites Hotel & Resort in Squamish.
Here are five of our favourite must-do adventures:
“Talking Trees” Walking Tour
Talaysay Tours gave Agents insight into how the indigenous people use nature for food.
Squamish First Nation guides Candace Campo and Wes Nahanee took us on a fascinating, meandering one-and-a-half-hour stroll through pristine stands of small pine, spruce, larch and cedar trees.
We learned how their people live in harmony with the land: cedar trees are used for natural colouring, to make canoes and to ‘brush off negative vibes’. Sharleen Wright from TravelManagers was impressed by the views and the detailed knowledge displayed by Candace and Wes.
“It’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, to experience nature and fresh air but it’s so close to Vancouver,” said Sharleen.
Talaysay Tours, phone +1 604 628 8555, or click here for more information.
Mountain Biking
Tim Sherman from Helloworld Geelong Central showing how it’s done.
A few plucky Agents tackled Squamish’s rugged mountain bike tracks with names including Wonderland and White Rabbit.
“It was pretty challenging,” said Tim Sherman from Helloworld, Geelong Central. “There were a lot of tree roots and rocks and we rode over tree trunks that had fallen across the track or been deliberately placed there. The scenery was fantastic.”
Worth C$5200 each, the hire bikes were top of the line, including button-touch seat adjustment and hydraulic suspension. “It’s one of the best mountain biking places in the world and people come from far and wide to ride the 200 kilometres of tracks here,” said Tim.
Sea to Sky Adventure Company, phone +1 888 284 2453, click here for more information.
Kayaking
Travel Agents ready themselves for kayaking on the waters of Squamish Bay and Estuary.
The dark water slips past almost silently, reflecting a surreal upside down world of green pines, yellow maples and rolling, mist-shrouded mountains. Suddenly a huge bird spots our kayaks and takes flight, squawking loudly as it goes.
“I call ‘em Pterodactyls,” joked our guide, Murray Watt. “On account of that awful noise they make.”
Our tranquil kayak tour of Squamish Bay and Estuary took about 2.5 hours and we learned much from Watt long the way. “There’s an incredibly diverse concentration of wildlife here,” he said. “There are bears, an abundance of sea birds, seals come in to eat salmon – it’s just an incredible area to go paddling in.”
Sea to Sky Adventure Company, phone +1 888 284 2453, click here for more information.
Mine Museum Tour
View over Howe Sound from the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish.
Before Squamish became an outdoor adventure destination, the mining and timber industries ruled. Several Agents enjoyed learning about that rich history with a tour of the multi-award-winning Britannia Mine Museum.
Beth Paton from Discover Travel & Cruise learnt the former copper mine closed in the 1970s, reopening later to address pollution issues, which has brought the local ecosystem back to life.
“Our guide, Marshall, told us real stories about what it was like – it was really authentic,” said Beth. “I think the tour would appeal to people of all ages; anyone interested in history and how things were and how things work.”
Britannia Mine Museum, phone +1 604 896 2233, click here for more information.
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting in the stunning rivers of British Columbia.
It’s all fun and games until Will, our whitewater rafting guide started talking about what to do in the event of capsizing. Fortunately, it never happened. Instead, three yellow rubber boat-loads of wet suit-wearing Travel Agents bumped cheerfully down the Cheakamus (AKA Cheekymouse) River until they reach the Squamish.
Ellie Heath from Infinity Holidays had previously had a bad experience on the water so for her this was a form of therapy. “They made it seem really fun and friendly. And, all jokes aside, it was a really pleasant ride – great for any first-time rafters or those who may have done it before.”
Canadian Outback Rafting, phone+1 866 565 8735, click here for more information.
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