6 Must-Do Outdoor Activities in Canada

Canada is known for its cold winters, pristine landscape and variety of outdoor activities to keep even the most adventurous traveller busy. Canada's wilderness is usually accessed via aeroplane or through long drives into the countryside.

One of the must-do activities for the nature lover is whale watching off the Victoria coast. Orcas are frequently found in these waters and offer a magnificent spectacle not to be missed. There are many tours are organised by a variety of agencies, and some even offer aeroplane flights on a seaplane from the major city of Vancouver.

Canada is known for its amazing glaciers and there are many tours that traverse these glaciers. The most popular locales in the Columbia Ice fields include Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Mistaya Canyon. It's worth joining a tour group if you want to learn more about the history and geography of the region, as well as taking in the splendid views.

For those who want a bit more excitement, Canada also has spectacular white-water rafting opportunities in British Columbia. The season usually lasts from June to September in the south, while the north the season peaks in July/August. Arctic rafting is also popular, and is predominantly done during the summer. Rafting down the Alesk river provides ample opportunity for animal watching, with sightings of grizzly bear, wolverine and arctic fox almost guaranteed.

Cycling is a popular activity in southern Quebec. There are over 4000km of bicycle paths and routes on the "La Route Verte" passing through plains and farmland as well as the Appalachian mountains. Most cyclists plan their season in summer, where there is less rainfall and the weather is milder than in winter.

Vancouver Island offers prime hiking routes in the West Coast Trail, a 76km route that traverses coastline, bridges and ladders. The route takes three weeks to complete and registration is essential. The trail is open from May to September and stormy weather is to be expected. The rest of Canada offers many other hiking trails which are worth investigating.

One cannot consider visiting Canada without going skiing, and British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec provide ample opportunity. Whistler is the most popular resort, catering to both novices and experts. Kicking Horse in the Rockies is great for people looking for a challenge since the snow is powdery and dry. The Sunshine Village in Alberta is known for having longest season.

If thinking about flying to Canada to see these magnificent sights then why not save money on flights by cutting the cost while you shop? The Aeroplan rewards program from Amex allows you to save for flights while paying for other things you love.