So far, so good: Best far flung travel from Southeast Asia to Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario

This wasn’t quite how I had imagined our adventure in the Canadian wilderness. It began with a standstill traffic jam, one hour south of Hawk Junction, where we were due to catch our train. Still, the breathtaking scenery made our unplanned stop more enjoyable, as flowing streams passed through the sprawling forests lining the road. 

It was a taste of things to come, as Northern Ontario is famed for its natural beauty. Its lakes, mountains and forests are home to a wealth of species, from moose and bears to wolves and grouse, and we were crossing our fingers hoping to catch a glimpse of them all. 

Glad at last to leave the gridlock behind, we boarded the huge Agawa Canyon Train and headed north from Sault Saint Marie to Hearst. After a magnificent two-hour journey, we reached Lake Wabatongushi and Al Errington’s Wilderness Resort. Accessible only by boat, this lake-side lodge is located on a remote island in the Chapleau Game Preserve, the world’s largest wildlife sanctuary. Al Errington and his family built and still run this rustic lodge and we were greeted like family. With its log-burning fireplaces and fur pelts lining the walls, it felt like we had arrived at the heart of Canada.

Ontario is a fisherman’s dream and, on every day of our three-night stay, we climbed aboard hand-made boats in a bid to bring back walleye and pike.

Our guide – Uncle Dean, as we came to call him – was a portly man with a walrus-like moustache and vast knowledge of the lake. But, as he took us out on that first damp morning under low, uninviting clouds, I wasn’t convinced this was the easiest, most enjoyable way to get lunch. We waited, chatted and waited a bit more – then 

I got a bite on my line. The excitement of my first-ever catch soared through me and I was – if you’ll pardon the pun – hooked from that moment on. Errington’s team cooked up our catches, preparing a “shore lunch” for our group, and we all agreed that fish tastes far better when you’ve caught it yourself. 

We also took a pontoon boat across the lake to look for moose, and had almost given up hope when we spotted something even better: a black bear by the edge of the lake. Fortunately our fascination was far from returned and we passed by unnoticed. 

The next day we took a float-plane south to the small town of Killarney, bedding down at Killarney Mountain Lodge. From there, we hiked over pink granite rocks and rugged terrain towards stunning views of Georgian Bay – although by far the best way to see the region’s coves and quartzite mountains is by boat, especially when you can sit back and sample the local whisky en route. 

For a city girl like me, to be so immersed in nature was very relaxing – and traffic jams are a distant memory when you’re on the road less travelled.

Benita Adesuyan 

For more on Ontario, visit www.ontario travel.net/uk. The Northern Ontario Wilderness Adventure runs from late June to early September. Prices are from £1,929 per person, based on two people sharing. Visit discover-the-world.co.uk. Return economy flights with Air Canada (0871 220 1111, aircanada.com) from Heathrow to Toronto start at £676.11 including taxes.