Tour Canada

[the_menno]

Hi Folks,

I'm just doing some preliminary research regarding Europeans wishing to tour Canada on motorbike. So I'm asking everyone that reads this thread to give me their thoughts on the IDEAL Canadian tour. Consider things like: 1) location (Canada is HUGE), 2) guided group tours or solo riding, 3) costs, 4) distance and duration of trip........

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

The Menno

 

[araspitfire]

How long for?

As you say Canada is Big... the British Isles fit very comfortably in any one of the Western Provinces... Heck.. that little Island on the West Coast is longer than England....

If you like mountains, I'd stick to BC and Alberta.

If you like "culture"... I'd tour around the Maritimes... (add to this trip a drop-down into New York State and Mass...

If you like flat fields of wheat, mosquito infested lakes, and long straight roads, I'd tour Eastern Alberta, Sask. and Manitobo, to central Ontario...

If you like Mosquitoes and exotic locals... endless miles on gravel roads... a trip up the Alaska and Dempster Highways to the Arctic Circle is in order...

Al...

 

[squid]

I'd wish to go from one side to the other. Toronto to Victoria or the other way. Taking in the Rockies and any other sights. I think going far up north would also have its appeal.

Doing it this way makes a lot of sense as the plane can be caught either side for similar money.

I can Guess what the Rockies might be like, I've been to Niagra falls and Algonquin park (spelt wrong!) I've also been around Kinkardine area BUT I have no idea what most of the country is like.

Its not something we hear much about to be honest.

 

[Shane]

Include some white water rafting to liven things up a bit.

 

[Popeye]

How long for?

As you say Canada is Big... the British Isles fit very comfortably in any one of the Western Provinces... Heck.. that little Island on the West Coast is longer than England....

If you like mountains, I'd stick to BC and Alberta.

If you like "culture"... I'd tour around the Maritimes... (add to this trip a drop-down into New York State and Mass...

If you like flat fields of wheat, mosquito infested lakes, and long straight roads, I'd tour Eastern Alberta, Sask. and Manitobo, to central Ontario...

If you like Mosquitoes and exotic locals... endless miles on gravel roads... a trip up the Alaska and Dempster Highways to the Arctic Circle is in order...

Al...

I think he is looking for ideas from people who WISH to go to Canada and what would be THEIR ideal tour. He's based in Canada and is, I guess, looking to put guided tours together.

 

[bladerunner]

One week:

Fly to Vancouver

ride Rockies East (following as many of "destinations Highways" as possible)


Fly back via Calgary


Next visitors reverse above to get bikes back West.


Two weeks:
fly to Vancouver
2 days Vancouver island
2 days Lund and desolation sound - throw in a days ocean kyaking
ride east via Whistler to Calgary via slightly more DH's
fly out Calgary

reverse

3 weeks:

all above plus those natty slightly offroady roads North Canada

just my 2 pennoth

 

[boundless]

I'd wish to go from one side to the other. Toronto to Victoria or the other way.

Toronto to Tofino, surely.

Has a ring to it. (And you wouldn't want to miss the Lobster dinner in Clayoquot Sound to start/round it off, eh?)

 

[Thermo King]

Canada

I'd like to tour The Canadian Rockies. Start finish in Vancover. Two weeks would be ideal. It's on my to do list for 2008

Regards,
Kieran.

 

[araspitfire]

Toronto to Tofino, surely.

Has a ring to it. (And you wouldn't want to miss the Lobster dinner in Clayoquot Sound to start/round it off, eh?)

Uhh.... St. Johns (not St John) Newfoundland to Tofino....

There is a LOT of Canada East of Toronto...

And if you grew up in Tofino, as I did, everywhere in Canada is "out East"... and if you grew up in St. Johns... every other Canadian is a "Westerner"...

Ironic.... they grow Lobster on the East Coast of Canada... Tofino does these wonderful crab by the make of "Dungeness"... if you order a lobster dinner in Tofino, you may as well be wearing a camera around your neck and ask loudly where the tour-bus is parked... "Tofino has crabs!"

Al...

 

[GringoRojo]

Ideal Canada?

I'd like to fly to Calgary, hire a bike and travel in a meandering route to Vancouver Island taking in some wildlife spectacles during the trip, then fly home from Vancouver.

actually, menno, we're planning this sort of trip for three weeks next June. looks like we might have to settle for an RV for the first part until we get to Vancouver and only have about a week on two wheels. however, any advice/suggestions are welcome.


Background info: I spent 6 months in Canada with my family in 1980 when I was 12, staying for most of it in Nova Scotia, but we decdided to travel all the way across before heading home, so Dad bought a 1972 Ford Econoline van (in tasty two tone brown) drove all the way across to Banff before we had to turn back. always wanted to complete the trip, and looks like I'll be doing it for my 40th.

 

[harry the cat]

I've done run from Calgary to Jasper via Banff, Bow Valley parkway, Icefields Parkway in a car and wouldn't mind repeating it on a bike. The views in places are outstanding. I agree with others that Vancouver is an excellent stopover and I'd love to explore the area along the west coast either north or south from VC.

 

[tor12gs]

Hi,
In 2006 my wife and I took a 3-month trip, crossing Canada twice. We did this 2-up on adn R1150R (recently traded in for an 07 GS). It's a huge country. We covered over 27000 km stretching from Labrador to Yukon.
I don't know where to start with this.

What is your time frame?
Budget?
Do you camp or strictly hotels/B&B's?
Riding solo?
Is there anything in particular you don't want to miss?

Most of our route was on secondary highways. This was intentional, as you can cross the country in 2 weeks taking the Trans-Canada Highway - - but that would be boring!

Have a look at our travel site (www.motorcycle-overland.com) and feel free to contact me directly with any questions - as I could write for the next hour on this!!

I'd do it again in a heartbeat...

P.S. Tofino is pretty cool - especially the ride there from Victoria

 

[jims adventure]

Just checked your site out and the journey the pair of you have done looks awesome. Fantastic pictures and scenery to die for. Im moving to canada in three years and my first port of call is the local BMW dealers for a GS and i think i will be taking time out to try that trip.

 

[Jazbee]

St John's to Vancouver?

Having visited St John's NF a good few times in the past through work I often thought it would be a great kick off point for an East to West Canadian tour. There are very good sea freight links into here because of the oil & gas industry, its a very busy port. Any of you experienced Americas travellers any advice on how I would go about getting my bike to St John's and then out at Vancouver? I have a route in mind visiting some places I've been in the past (non-bike) and some new ones. Cheers

 

[fishburger]

I would like to go

to Canada,have been to more or less all the citys that is by the sea from east to west,as I used to sail these waters for many years.

I would like to air cargo my bike and my self to Gander and go cross country to Vancover and maybe to Alaska.

My plan is an 8 weeks trip
Do you know how much the cost for air freight of the bike Europe\Canada
return.
Do you know any airfreight company that will ship bikes?
To late this year\summer but next year I am ok.

fishburger

 

[davegs]

Transport.

I can reccommend James Cargo Services, these are based near Heathrow
and give a brilliant service. Phone them on1753 687722. E-mail [email protected] I have no connection with these people except as
a very satisfied customer, used these last year on my trip with Globebusters
on our end to end trip from Alaska to Argentina. Give them a ring.
dave gs.

 

[Wapping]

Will there be hundreds of crazed, gun waving, Americans, firing wildly at bears, around every corner?

 

[Thermo King]

I've recently booked a two week self guided tour of British Columbia and The Rockies starting first week in August. We're renting a1200GS and ST1300. Hoping for good weather and twisty roads.

Regards,
Kieran.

 

[earthmover]

I've recently booked a two week self guided tour of British Columbia and The Rockies starting first week in August. We're renting a1200GS and ST1300. Hoping for good weather and twisty roads.

Regards,
Kieran.

Now that does sound like fun. Look forward to reading your report.
Will be watching this thread for more ideas.
Mark