Booking travel trips has traditionally fallen into two different preference categories: travelers are either looking for a few weeks of total relaxation on the beach or by the pool, or they want to cram in as many experiences and adventures as possible during their travel time.
However, we are seeing an increase in the number of people who are choosing slow travel, where the focus is still to make the most of travel experiences but to do it at a slow pace. Adventures such as road trips across the US or interrailing through Europe are packed with opportunities to see a long list of destinations and landmarks, but sometimes travelers feel like they are simply ticking places off the list rather than immersing themselves in the culture. Once this type of trip finishes, travelers don’t necessarily feel refreshed and rested because they have been constantly on the move.
Destinations such as Canada are now becoming a hotspot for slow travel due to factors such as the vast space to explore and the smaller concentration of major cities compared to places like Europe. These are some of the reasons why Canada is a popular choice for slow travel trips:
1. Spacious Landscape
Canada is the second-largest country in the world based on land area, but it is 38th in the world in terms of population. There is a large portion of remote land in the country, with around 90% of the land being unpopulated.
In Canada, most built-up areas are fairly spread out, which means there is less temptation to squeeze in a short visit while you are passing through an area. The scale of the country makes it difficult to base your entire trip around staying in busy towns or cities, as you will need to travel through more remote parts to get from one major destination to another.
2. Slower Pace of Life
Canadians are renowned for enjoying a slower pace of life compared to residents in major US or UK cities. When you are spending time in a place where the people around you are not rushing around, you are more inclined to fall into sync with their pace of life.
This means that you will be more likely to take your time to enjoy the surroundings and plan activities that give you time to relax.
3. Better Access to Nature
In Canada, hobbies tend to be focused around spending time outdoors because the natural beauty is appealing and there is ample green space, mountains for snowsports or hiking, and lakes for watersports.
Participating in these types of activities while you are visiting Canada will give you more time to appreciate the outdoors rather than dashing around a busy city to see as many landmarks as possible. The appeal of spending time outdoors in Canada is a big draw for travelers who are looking for adventures that take a slow pace.
4. Accommodation Focused on Relaxation
While hotels will usually be the common choice when visiting large cities, travelers visiting more rural areas in Canada have other options, such as camping, staying in cottages, or cabins. This type of accommodation is typically found in more remote areas, where you won’t be disturbed by other hotel guests, and you won’t walk straight out into a busy street.
Booking a secluded cabin doesn’t mean you have to disconnect from the world completely. Instead, you can have both worlds at your fingertips because many of Canada’s rural properties offer excellent high-speed internet, thus allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds. After a long day of hiking, you can transition into a relaxed evening of modern entertainment. Whether you prefer winding down with a streaming service or trying your luck at immersive live casinos, Canada style, having access to these platforms ensures you can enjoy standard city comforts while still being completely surrounded by pristine nature.
When booking accommodation, there are also lots of options for self-catering, so you do not have to book into busy restaurants where you have a limited time slot for eating. Instead, spending time cooking and dining at your own pace can provide a more relaxing experience.
5. World-Class Iconic Rail Journeys
Slow travel can be achieved by ensuring that the actual process of getting to the destination becomes the focus of the entire experience, and not just a method of reaching there. In Canada, there are some of the most renowned train trips in the world, such as the Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail’s The Canadian, which runs between Toronto and Vancouver. Traveling on a train compels one to relax and admire different scenes of the vast prairies and mountains, as well as other magnificent views that are missed while traveling by air.
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6. Deep Immersion in Indigenous Tourism
Slow travel is highly associated with deep cultural understanding, and this is especially true for Canada, since there are plenty of opportunities to gain knowledge about indigenous people. In the Canadian provinces and territories, there are many chances for tourists to explore the cultures of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit through local guided tours, storytelling, and art workshops. The idea is that travelers should have a strong connection with nature and history.
7. Explicit Wildlife Viewing and Foraging
Contrary to hectic holiday periods, when viewing animals is done from inside the comfort of a tourist bus, Canada’s ecosystems will teach you the value of patience. If you are looking for the orcas on Vancouver Island’s coastline, waiting in silence in a hide in Manitoba hoping to see a polar bear, or hunting for wild berries and mushrooms in the Atlantic provinces, you will have no other choice but to live in the moment.
8. The “Great Trail” and Endless Multi-Day Hiking
Active slow travelers will find that there is the Trans Canada Trail, previously known as the Great Trail, in Canada. This trail system is the largest trail network for multiple recreation purposes all around the world. With a length of more than 24,000 km (14,913 mi), the trail runs from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans, connecting almost every single part of the country.
This means that the travelers do not have to drive through regions, as this can be very time-consuming and difficult in some parts, but they can hike or cycle through them. This is one way of experiencing the wonderful sites of this great nation in North America.
9. Vibrant Small Towns and “Cottage Country” Culture
Even though places like Toronto and Vancouver attract large numbers of people, the real essence of slow travel in Canada is found in its small towns and individual regional cultures. Whether it’s the old fishing communities of Nova Scotia or the small mountain communities of the Kootenays in British Columbia, things move differently outside of these big centers. If you spend a whole week in one region, then you become a part of the fabric of that community through visiting the same bakery and local farmers’ market every day.
10. The Rise of Off-Grid and Eco-Certified Lodging
Completely compatible with sustainable tourism, there is an explosion of eco lodges, geodesic domes, and off-grid chalets in Canada, which have been designed in such a manner that they make minimal impact on the environment and are extremely tranquil. These lodging facilities are often situated in dark sky preserves, which makes for wonderful stargazing. The selection of such lodging facilities helps travelers to settle down once and explore the surroundings thoroughly.
When people are living busy lives with demanding jobs, travel time should provide them with the opportunity to recharge their batteries and not feel like another to-do list. From the slower pace of life to the ample land and distance between built-up areas, Canada almost forces visitors into a slower travel experience.
Canada is the ideal location for slow travel, where people can still plan fun days of activities, but with more focus on wellbeing and enjoying the picturesque surroundings than seeing famous buildings or spending hours traveling from one place to another.