This year's contestants are racing across the world's second largest country, Canada. We explore some of the varied cities, towns, and islands they've experienced along the way...
Father and daughter duo Kevin and Claudia in Stanley Park (BBC/Studio Lambert)
It was a tricky start for the contestants, in particular for Trish and Cathie who found it difficult to just get out of Stanley Park. But several teams spent the majority of the first leg on Vancouver Island, a 456-kilometre long island that’s part of the province of British Columbia. The teams split up and travelled on different routes across the island, from Horseshoe Bay to the port city of Nanaimo. The latter is where you can find Nanaimo Museum, located in the heart of the city, and where visitors can learn about the history of Vancouver Island, both industrial and indigenous. Vancouver Island is still home to many First Nation peoples, including the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwakaw’akw. There are many experiences available to help you learn the history and values of these indigenous cultures, from wildlife viewing to dining opportunities.
The contestants race across the beach to the first checkpoint (Shutterstock)
The first checkpoint for the racers is Tlell on Graham Island, the largest island of the Haida Gwaii archipelago. After arriving via ferry, the teams don't get to spend long on the island before they set off for their next checkpoint. It’s a shame, as the small area of Tlell is known for its collection of artisan shops, from gold jewellery to authentic Haida carved argillite sculptures. You’ll also find art galleries, studios, and quaint accommodation in this creative community. The village sits on the coastline and south of Naikoon Provincial Park, a rich ecosystem of rainforests, bogs, and sand dunes.
The snow-covered mountains in Whistler (Shutterstock)
Zainib and Mobeen are the only team to pass through the town of Whistler during the first leg. The British Columbian town is home to the largest ski resort in North America, hosting the Winter Olympics back in 2010. As well as downhill skiing, there are other winter activities such as snowshoeing and tobogganing that can be enjoyed, while in summer, hiking, biking, ziplining and bear watching are just a handful of things you can do here.
Colourful, historic buildings in Dawson City (Shutterstock)
After travelling more than 2,000 kilometres north, the contestants reach Dawson City in the Yukon. Due to its strong link with the Klondike Gold Rush in the very late 1800s, the Dawson Historical Complex was created to protect this city’s heritage, with several examples of boom-town architecture still existing here. The Dawson City Museum is where you can learn more about the Gold Rush, with exhibits on the region's geology as well as the town’s original settlers.
The ancient site of Miles Canyon is not far from Whitehorse (Shutterstock)
All teams travelled through Whitehorse to reach Dawson City. Capital of the Yukon territory, Whitehorse is often called the 'Wilderness City’, thanks to the great outdoors that perches on its doorstep. It has more than 700 kilometres of marked trails running alongside its river and out to beautiful lakes, great for both hikers and bikers. Once done exploring, head downtown to refuel at a local coffee shop, explore heritage buildings, or visit one of the city's artisan shops or quaint museums.
Lake Louise in Banff National Park (Shutterstock)
The teams race back south to reach the resort town of Banff in Alberta. Sitting within the Canadian Rockies UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banff is surrounded by striking mountain peaks and lakes. One of Banff National Park’s most iconic sites is Lake Louise, a turquoise pool of water fed by the surrounding glaciers (this is where contestant Claudia was desperate to visit but didn’t have time to go). This area is unsurprisingly fantastic for outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, and wildlife watching – look out for grizzly bears and elk.
The Calgary Stampede (Shutterstock)
The largest city in Alberta is Calgary, home to the 190-metre Calgary observation tower as seen on Race Across the World. Although cosmopolitan, the city still keeps its strong western influence and is fondly known as ‘Cowtown’. Every July, it hosts the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’: The Calgary Stampede is an annual festival, rodeo and exhibition that celebrates and preserves the city’s western heritage.
Polar bears playing on the ice in Churchill (Shutterstock)
With no roads leading to Churchill, the only way to reach this remote Manitoba town on dry land is on a train from Winnipeg, running only twice a week. The gruelling journey takes 48 hours (or 16 if boarding at Thompson), but the two-night trip is said to be worth it. Churchill is known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’, where there is said to be ‘one bear for every person’. In the fifth episode of Race Across the World, we see the contestants awe-struck by the frozen Arctic seas as they take a leisurely trip from Hudson Bay to the territory of Nunavut – inhabited by the indigenous Inuit. Here you can see more of Canada’s exciting marine life, including beluga whales and seals.
Aerial view of Saskatoon downtown (Shutterstock)
Saskatoon has two nicknames – Paris of the Prairies (because of its eight bridges), but also POW City, for its supply of potash, oil and wheat. Due to the latter, the restaurants here are known for their farm-to-fork dining. To the north of the city, you can explore Wanuskewin Heritage Park along the Meewasin Trail. The park is home to exciting archaeological discoveries and sheds light on the early lives of Northern Plains’ Inuit people. Kevin and Claudia visit Wanuskewin for an evening, and are hosted by a Cree artist who shares some Indigenous experiences with them. They listen to a traditional drumming song and spend a night in a tipi.
The sunset on Manitoulin Island (Shutterstock)
The longest leg of the journey at nearly 3,000 kilometres finishes on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It’s the largest freshwater island in the world, and has more than 100 lakes within it. With so much water, it’s popular for activities such as boating and fishing, but there’s also wonderful hikes, including the Cup and Saucer Trail (named after the island’s unusual rock formations). For some history, the Sheguiandah archaeological site is where artefacts dating back to 10,000 BC were discovered in the 1950s. Manitoulin is also home to six First Nations communities: some of the best ways to immerse yourself in the island’s indigenous cultures is on a guided spirit walk or canoe tour.
People enjoying a frozen Assiniboine River (Shutterstock)
With more than 12% of its population from Indigenous decent, Winnipeg has many First Nation experiences for travellers, from the Manito Ahbee Festival held in May, to the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq. When the temperature drops in winter, the Red River and Assiniboine River that run through city freeze over, creating the longest ice skating rink in the world. There’s also plenty of places to pick up one of Canada’s most-loved pastries – a butter tart. To follow in Monique and Ladi’s footsteps – head to the Butter Tart Lady bakery.
The contestants race to Place Royale public square (Shutterstock)
The contestants have their first real language barrier in Québec City, where 80% of the population speak French as a first language. We see the contestants racing through the historic lower town to the cobbled square of Place Royale. This is where the city was founded in 1608, and also where you'll find the oldest stone church in North America, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. The picture-perfect streets of Petit-Champlain are nearby, lined with boutique shops and restaurants. Old Quebec is like travelling back in time.
To fill up on food, head to Grand Marché, a large market where local producers sell everything from seafood, to maple syrup, to craft beer.
And just a 15-minute drive outside of the city will take you to Parc de la Chute Montmorency, a historic site with a breathtaking 83-metre waterfall.
Claudia and Kevin at Niagara Falls (BBC/Studio Lambert)
Both father-daughter duos opt to travel to Quebec City via Toronto. Although not the capital, Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, with one of the country's most iconic skylines starring the 553-metre CN Tower, once the tallest free-standing structure in the world. Only Claudia and Kevin have time to take a trip to nearby Niagara Falls, where more than 3,000 tons of water plummets into the river below every second.
Tulips in front of the Parliament Building in Ottawa (Shutterstock)
Trisha and Cathie stop in Ottawa, Canada's capital, where they earn back some money promoting the Ottawa Fringe Festival. Taking place for 10 days every June, the festival provide all performing artists – whether emerging or established – a platform to showcase their work. The city is famed for its history museums and art galleries, and also hosts the Canadian Tulip Festival every May.
Next week, the contestants head to Liverpool in Nova Scotia.
Catch up with latest series (and series one and two) on iPlayer now!
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