13 Don’t-Miss Bucket List Experiences in Canada

Ease into your epic journey with a round-trip ride on the Banff Gondola, also known as the Sulphur Mountain Gondola, in Banff National Park. Climb roughly 2,300 feet (700 meters) in your state-of-the-art alpine funicular with large viewing windows overlooking six different mountain ranges and valleys below, including the Canadian Rockies, the Bow Valley, Banff National Park, and the town of Banff. Explore the Ridge Line boardwalk before returning back to town.

Whale encounters are a singular experience, no matter where they happen. But near Victoria, you can board a zodiac speedboat and ride closer to the majestic mammals than other whale-watching trips. With this tour, speed through the Haro Straight to the Strait of Juan de Fuca in search of humpbacks, minke whales, and orcas, learning about their life cycle and migration habits along the way.

Skiing trips in Whistler are a dime a dozen, but bobsledding like an Olympian —that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hop into a bobsled with a trained pilot and take downturns along one of the world's fastest sliding tracks, reaching speeds up to 78 mph (125 kph). The best part is this experience mimics a competitive bobsled ride, with a real track crew, safety checks, and the green-light go-ahead from the official control tower.

While the timid ride sluggish boats or hike to observation decks with partial views, soar above Niagara Falls and see it all with this speedy, scenic helicopter ride. Greet your pilot, don your headset for informative commentary, and view Niagara Falls from above: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Canadian Horseshoe Falls. You can easily spot the Niagara River and Whirlpool Rapids from up high, too.

While not as romantic as Rome, Montreal is the most European city in Canada—and it's a scooter town. Hop on a guided scooter tour and ride through four top districts of Montreal and around Mount Royal, home of two panoramic viewpoints. Choose between a morning, afternoon, or evening tour—whatever best fits your style.

From Kicking Horse to the Ottawa and Magpie, Canada's rivers are made for white-water rafting. This trip down the Clearwater River in the vast wilderness of Wells Gray Park is for the thrillseekers. Face your fears on some of Clearwater's most technical features, including an area where the waves break called the Tsunami. When you visit in summer or fall, you can take a breather with (relatively) low-key cliff-jumping and swimming in a natural pool behind a waterfall.

Stick to Whistler's slopes or explore the wild alpine backcountry on a snowmobile. Choose the latter and adventure through Callaghan Valley, where you'll speed across frozen lakes and catch memorable views of the Coastal Mountain Range. Enjoy an (optional) cabin pitstop for a Yukon breakfast of Canadian bacon, eggs, and pancakes topped with liquid gold, also known as real maple syrup.

Even beginners can attempt this extreme ice climb activity (under the watchful guidance of a trained instructor with all the gear you’ll need). After learning about ice-climbing techniques, safety, and gear, climb to the top of a frozen waterfall and parts of Maligne Canyon, a deep slot canyon with some of the best ice-climbing conditions in Jasper.

This cave-exploring quest starts with rappelling almost 60 feet (18 meters) into Rat's Nest, a cave without lights or stairs and just boundless opportunities for crawling, climbing, and rappelling—in other words, true cave exploration. Navigate your route to the Grande Gallery and the Grotto with its crystal-clear pool, stalactites, and stalagmites. All in all, you'll spend about four hours underground.

Seeing the northern lights is typically a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but this cabin outing can make an encounter with the light phenomenon even more special. Post up in a rustic cabin in the tundra near Yellowknife for a midnight dinner of home-cooked chowder and a night of storytelling. Keep an eye out for the aurora borealis, which often appears in the skies near Yellowknife in fall and winter.

Board your sailboat at the docks in Squamish, a small town north of Vancouver, and set sail surrounded by islands in the Howe Sound. No matter your level of sailing experience, you'll learn the basics and then some: Man the helm, grind the trim sail winch, and raise the sails as you pass under the Stawamus Chief granite monolith and Shannon Falls. Explore the Howe Sound fjord's northern reaches and watch for dolphins and orcas.

The Athabasca Glacier is part of the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains on both the American and Canadian sides of the border. More importantly, it comprises one of the most unique icy landscapes in Canada. On this tour, trek across the massive, ancient glacier with provided poles and crampons. If you want to take the mountain adventure level up a notch, you can (safely) descend below the ice surface with your guide.

A bucket-list journey through Canada is incomplete without an epic multi-day biking trip through the Canadian Rockies. With this tour, cycle 165 miles (265 kilometers) from Jasper to Banff over four days. From Jasper, ascend the mountains and ride past the largest icefield in the mountain chain and the turquoise waters of Lake Louise. The best part is that the meals, accommodations, van support, and airport transfers are already organized, so you can focus on the mile-high beauty.