Three new stargazing experiences in Canada
Increased demand for experiences with wide-open spaces and fresh air means stargazing holidays are in the spotlight. Madeleine Barber highlights three top options for visitors to Canada, a destination where the night sky is at its best
For northern lights seekers: Western Canada
With Yukon’s Whitehorse offering more than 300 days of potential Aurora Borealis sightings every year, travellers visiting the province’s capital on Canadian Affair’s new Western Canada and Starry Nights – Stargazing and Northern Lights Expedition have good chances of seeing the spectacle.
This itinerary launched in 2021 in response to increasing demand for experiential travel, says Stuart Rogers, product manager at the tour operator. “We are seeing stargazing become available at more hotels… resulting in stargazing holidays being a popular choice for 2022,” he says.
This new tour includes a four-day expedition in Whitehorse, a journey through the Rockies with stargazing and a two-night stay in Vancouver.
Book it: The 13-night tour costs £4,129pp, based on a September 2022 departure including flights and accommodation. agents.canadianaffair.com
For glamping enthusiasts: British Columbia
The summer Siwash Star Camp at British Columbia’s Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort launched in 2019 atop The Ridge, which is a wildflower-surrounded spot overlooking a lake and the Marble Mountain Range.
The private luxury tented camp is a 10-minute wander from Ranch House, the heart of the destination, so guests will find themselves in the most remote location the resort offers. Tents have skylights and there’s an expert on hand to point out constellations, so it’s impossible to miss the starry shows, while a roaring campfire and cedar hot tub ensure stargazers are kept warm both during the day and at night.
Stays at Siwash Star Camp span three, four or seven nights, with the site sleeping eight guests, or 12 with pull-out sofas.
Book it: A seven-night all-inclusive stay at Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort costs £9,071 per adult, £6,597 for those aged 13-18 and £5,360 per child aged 6-12. siwashlake.com
For intrepid explorers: Nova Scotia
At Trout Point Lodge in the Unesco-listed Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, guests can accompany a staff astronomer on nightly stargazing excursions, as well as enjoy astrophotography workshops and daytime solar-gazing. The luxury wilderness lodge also has forest bathing, guided hiking and kayaking. There are 12 suites and one two-bedroom lakeside cottage to choose from; all offering views over the water.
Janette Wallace, media relations specialist at Tourism Nova Scotia, recommends Trout Point Lodge’s Starlight Culinary Escape, explaining: “After enjoying a gourmet meal, [guests] head off on a guided stargazing walk complete with an outdoor viewing platform, telescopes and in-house astronomer.”
Book it: A seven-night stay at Trout Point Lodge, based on a 10 May 2022 departure and two people travelling, costs £2,858pp including flights and car hire. northamericatravelservice.co.uk
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