I have the great fortune to travel. In the first three months of 2018 I have flown in 737s, ATRs, turboprops, ski planes, helicopters, and a Dreamliner. I have been on 42 separate flights and will easily surpass 150 for the year. I have been to the largest airports in the world and a small trailer calling itself an airport. Read More >
CALL US 1 800 661 3830
We are working hard to update our website! In the meantime, please contact us for assistance.
STAFF PICKS
We want to paint a picture for you. Imagine you’re at a gathering with friends and acquaintances. It’s a fairly large group, let’s say around 15-20 people. Just as you begin to get hungry, someone brings out a large, layered cake. It’s smothered in rich, chocolate buttercream frosting – …
Way back in 2017 I wrote a blog in recognition of Canada Day; 50 Great Things Canada Contributed to the World. Since I wrote that blog I’ve been studying about the Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land we now call Canada for millennia – the First Nations and …
Saint Patrick’s Day brings Ireland and all things Irish to a lot of people’s minds. And, those of us lucky enough to be Irish or are of Irish descent, particularly so! My ancestors on both sides of my family emigrated to Canada from Ireland back in the mid to late …
There are so many things that we miss when it comes to travel, such as exploring new places, trying new things and meeting new people. What I miss the most, are those extremely peaceful moments where you can just take it all in. Whether you are enjoying a beautiful hike, …
Into the Belly of Iceland
April 03, 2018 | Ian Kalinowsky
On my most recent trip to Iceland I had the great experience of descending into the earth on three separate tours that involved ice, lava caves and a volcano. You could think of it as experiencing the hottest and coldest places on the planet all in one comfortable day. Read More >
Heliskiing in Iceland
March 09, 2018 | Ian Kalinowsky
“Enormous playground of never skied colours, chutes and wide opened glaciers” is how National Geographic starts their article describing skiing in Iceland.
“Without a doubt Iceland offers some of the most mind blowing heliskiing on the planet,” says snow magazine’s “top 10 Heliskiing experiences in Europe.” Read More >
Iceland – Beer Spa
February 12, 2018 | Ian Kalinowsky
It is common knowledge that Scandinavians love to partake in the ritual of hot tubs and saunas. In Iceland, which is blessed with an unlimited amount of hot water, created geothermally, hot tubbing or “going to the pool” is a most common ritual. What is uncommon is the newly opened BEER spa! It opened in July 2017 in the northern part of the country, just outside of Akureyri in the Troll Peninsula, the spa is an amazing place. Hot tubs filled with beer that you sit in while simultaneously pouring yourself a craft beer to drink and enjoy. Read More >
Temperatures in Iceland
February 05, 2018 | Ian Kalinowsky
There is a standing comment in Iceland – “if you don’t like the weather – wait 5 minutes.” I spent 8 days in Iceland in January 2018 and I can verify that the statement is accurate. In the eight days there was a blizzard and 100 mph winds; rain; sleet; fog; ice and glorious sun. But one thing that it was not, was COLD. The mercury did drop to a low of about -5C.
A Dinner Invitation
December 05, 2017 | Ian Kalinowsky
Hey there! We would like to invite you for dinner!
Sounds great – when would you like to go?
What are you doing in March?
Um, I don’t know? That’s pretty far in advance.
Well, this place is pretty spectacular and reservations fill up fast.
Sure, I can mark it on my calendar so I don’t book anything else that day – when is it?
Well, that’s the thing. It’s Monday, March 5th, but you won’t be home until the 6th.
I’ve never heard of dinner taking two days…
It’s actually 1000 km North of Winnipeg. I have already made you a plane reservation on CalmAir.
I am intrigued. A thousand km north of Winnipeg? Like Churchill?
Yes, but dinner is not actually in Churchill.
We have to go somewhere else?
Yes, a tundra buggy is going to come and pick us up and head out of town.
Cool so we are going to eat sandwiches in a tundra buggy.
No, in a tent.
What? A tent – isn’t the temperature about -20C?
It’s about -21C today, but the tent will be warm because it’s inside a massive 250-year stone fort.
So let me get all this straight. We are having dinner – in a tent – inside a fort – reached by a truck called a Tundra Buggy – after taking a 2-hour flight north from Winnipeg. Anything else I should know?
Oh, the tent is clear so we can watch the Northern Lights dance across the sky, in a location that NASA says is the best on the planet.
This is an amazing surprise. Do I even ask what is for dinner?
Actually, it’s a surprise. Chef Mandel Hitzer, from the celebrated Winnipeg restaurant Raw: Almond, will prepare a dinner inspired by the type of ingredients that explorers, adventurers and First Nations folks would have used in their meals 250 years ago while at the Prince of Wales Fort.
Ok! I’m fired up and ready to go!
One last thing: don’t wear heels.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
August 24, 2017 | Ian Kalinowsky
It is a little unusual to say, “I am really looking forward to going on a wet African Safari.” Most people wonder why you would want to go and sit in the rain. But a ‘wet safari’ is the experience offered in the Okavango Delta of Botswana and the camps that I had the privilege of staying at in March 2017. Read More >
The Bird is the Word
August 14, 2017 | Ian Kalinowsky
Our group was going on Safari to the Kalahari Desert; The Okavango Delta and the Linyanti Marshlands. We had all been on Safaris before and we were very much looking forward to spotting the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard and Rhinoceros) and the numerous types of antelopes, giraffes, ostriches and everything else that we could possibly experience. What was not on our excitement or anticipation list was birds. We just had not given birds much thought prior to coming on this safari and as we started out on the jeep that early morning they were the farthest thing from our minds. It is not that they weren’t present: we could hear the multiple songs and could see them flitter around in the early dawn light. It is just that birds had not once entered into any of our conversations or into our trains of thought as to what we were going to experience. Read More >
What to Take with you on Safari – A Comprehensive List
June 09, 2017 | Ian Kalinowsky
The brochure was very specific and it has caused me great concern. 15 KG of luggage is allowed. Are they serious? How on earth was I going to do that?
This is probably what causes the most questions and concerns for our clients when they go on Safari. So having returned from my trip to South Africa & Botswana, where I was on Safari at 3 different camps and spent time in Johannesburg and Cape Town, I thought I would lay out everything I took. Hopefully this gives you an idea that the allowance is really not much of a burden.
Top 5 reasons Cape Town is better than Florida for Canadian Snowbirds
May 30, 2017 | Ian Kalinowsky
One: Beauty
Cape Town is continually being compared to Vancouver or San Francisco. The ocean, mountains, trees, parks, beaches, golf courses, vineyards, marinas – you have it all in Cape Town
