Dear Traveller,
Happy Canada Day! We hope you're enjoying the day, whether you’re celebrating with a backyard barbecue, a trip to the cottage, or an extra-long weekend soaking up the summer sun. It's also a wonderful time to start thinking about what comes next. This iconic summer holiday is also the perfect time to plan what you’ll do when winter hits and you need a hit of adventure (and Vitamin D).
This month, we're sharing three journeys that are sure to inspire your travel planning. Two stay-put holidays, which offer a wonderful opportunity for slow travel in fascinating places, with the perfect combination of exploration, relaxation, and Mediterranean sun. Or if you’ve always dreamed of a trip Down Under, we’ve got you covered with an exciting journey through Australia and Newland that covers the best of the region.
Looking for something laid-back? Try our Portugal Stay-Put holiday for an immersive escape to the sun-drenched Algarve. It’s where golden cliffs meet the Atlantic, the seafood is fresh, and the pace is slow and relaxed.
If you love the sunny Med but want to try someplace a little different, consider our Cyprus Stay-Put tour. The island has a fascinating 10,000-year history, legendary mythology, and the kind of unhurried warmth that makes you never want to leave.
If the time has come to check Australia and New Zealand off your travel bucket list, we have the perfect trip for that. Our 19-day tour takes you from the Great Barrier Reef to incredible glowworm caves, from the Te Puia Thermal Grounds to the Hobbiton movie set. It truly is the experience of a lifetime.
The best thing about summer? Plenty of time to dream. You can find these tours and lots of other inspiring journeys in our latest brochures.
Happy Canada Day, happy planning – and here's to summer adventures ahead!
Danny Shay, President
Senior Discovery Tours
Portugal’s Algarve: Soak up the Magic by Slowing Down
There's a version of the Algarve most people experience on a quick visit: the dramatic cliffs at Ponta da Piedade, the golden light on the beach at sunset, a cold glass of vinho verde at a seaside café. While those are all worthwhile, seeing them is just skimming the surface.
When you spend a bit more time in this beautiful place, something shifts. With time to do more than just tick off the highlights, you slow down – and you see the things most people miss. And that's when the real magic happens.
Meander through the terracotta-roofed streets of quiet towns, explore unspoiled beaches and windswept clifftops, wander Moorish castles. Savour the moments that don’t appear on any itinerary, like pastéis de nata still warm from the oven, people watching in the town square, aimlessly wandering cobblestone streets as church bells ring in the background.
These are the experiences a longer stay makes possible, not because you planned for them, but because you gave yourself time for them to find you.
For a true taste of the Algarve, try a cataplana
This traditional dish is one of Portugal's great culinary treasures. Typically filled with fresh clams, shrimp, chorizo, tomato, onion, and white wine, the cataplana is slow-cooked and served at the table, lid lifted with a satisfying hiss of steam. It's a meal that demands you slow down, pour some wine, and stay a while. A fitting metaphor for the Algarve itself.
A stay-put holiday is a different kind of travel
Instead of waking up in a new place every few days, you can really settle in. Find your favourite spots, get to know people, and leave yourself time to just be. In no time at all, the rhythm of the place becomes your rhythm too.
Join us on our 16-day Portugal Stay-Put tour. Stay at a first-class hotel near Albufeira, with day trips, guided excursions and, of course, plenty of free time to explore at your own pace.
8 Reasons to Fall in Love with Cyprus
Tucked into the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Turkey, Cyprus is an island that rewards the traveller who lingers. Thousands of years of history, legendary mythology, exceptional beaches, and some of the warmest hospitality in Europe – there's a lot to love.
- It’s the birthplace of the goddess of love. According to Greek mythology, Cyprus is the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Petra tou Romiou, a striking sea stack rising from crystal-clear water on the southwest coast – is the legendary site of her emergence from the waves.
- 10,000 years of history. Cyprus has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, and the layers of history here are extraordinary. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans, each left their mark. It’s a living museum with ancient sites around every bend.
- Exceptional beaches. Cyprus consistently ranks among the Mediterranean's best beach destinations. The water is warm, clear, and brilliantly blue.
- Plenty of sun. Cyprus enjoys more sunny days per year than almost anywhere in Europe. Mild winters, warm springs and autumns, and a sea that stays swimmable well into November make it one of the Mediterranean's most reliably pleasant destinations.
- Amazing meze! A proper Cypriot meze is a leisurely parade of small dishes; hummus, halloumi grilled until golden, stuffed vine leaves, fresh-baked pita, octopus, and more that arrives at the table in waves. Pair it with a glass of local Commandaria, one of the world's oldest wines.
- Warm and friendly people. Cypriot hospitality is genuine and unhurried. Locals will recommend their favourite taverna, invite you for coffee, and really make you feel welcome.
- Cyprus is an architectural treasure chest. Medieval castles and Roman ruins. Ancient Byzantine churches and British colonial architecture. Wherever you look, another century reveals itself.
Fall in love properly with a longer stay
With the perfect combination of beach relaxation, cultural exploration, and rich history, our 16-day Cyprus Stay-Put tour is the perfect way to experience this remarkable island.
Up Close and Colourful: Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef
At over 2,300 km, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system on the planet and one of the most biodiverse, extraordinary places on earth.
Coral in every imaginable colour
Branching staghorn corals reach upward like delicate antlers. Massive brain corals sit like boulders on the sandy floor, their surfaces etched with winding grooves. Sea fans sway gently with the current. The colours are vivid: deep purples, bright yellows, electric blues. It’s hard to know where to look first.
Home to over 1,500 species of fish
Parrotfish cruise past, pecking at coral. Clownfish dart in and out of anemones (yep, just like the movie Finding Nemo is actually set here). Schools of surgeonfish move together in fluid waves. The humphead wrasse – enormous, ancient-looking, and surprisingly curious, might come by to check you out.
Sea turtles!
Few wildlife encounters match the quiet, unhurried presence of a sea turtle gliding past you underwater. Green turtles and loggerheads are both common sights, and are unperturbed by snorkellers, moving through the water with a slow, effortless grace.
Look closer and you'll find the reef's quieter wonders
You might spot a tiny nudibranch (a brilliantly coloured sea slug) tucked into a crevice, a starfish the size of a dinner plate spread across the sandy floor, or a moray eel peering out from a rocky ledge.
Seeing the Great Barrier Reef is an experience that stays with you, and no photo or documentary quite prepares you for the real thing. Have the best snorkel experience of your life on our Australia & New Zealand tour and see the best of everything these two incredible countries have to offer.
Why Travel with Us? Reason #7: Travel Carefree with Comprehensive Coverage
We include a full insurance package with every trip: health coverage while outside Canada, plus protection for cancellation and trip interruption. It's a truly unique offering in the Canadian travel market – one that lets you focus on the adventure, not the what-ifs.
Shrimp on the Barbie: an Australian Classic!
Few things capture the spirit of an Australian summer like seafood cooked over an open flame. This simple, delicious recipe brings a little Aussie sunshine to your own backyard.
- 700g (1.5 lbs) large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley
- Lemon wedges
Cooking Instructions:
1) Combine the olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, smoked paprika, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 20 minutes.
2) Thread the shrimp onto skewers and preheat your grill to high heat.
3) Grill for 2–3 minutes per side until shrimp are pink, lightly charred, and just cooked through.
4) Squeeze lemon juice overtop, scatter some parsley, and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges and crusty bread.
Pro tip: A cold Australian lager or a crisp Riesling from the Clare Valley makes an excellent pairing.
