Stretching from pretty Prince Edward Island and the wild shores of Newfoundland in the east, to the Rocky Mountains and British Columbia in the west, Canada's breadth is simply amazing. Its northern border reaches the untamed shores of the Artic Ocean, while the south rubs up against the corn fields and country towns of the USA's upper states. Canada is sprawled over nearly 10 million square kilometres, but with just 30 million habitants the density works out to be a sparse three people per hectare, making it possible to truly get away from it all in areas like Nunavut, an isolated region near the Arctic Circle.

Throughout Canada you'll find endless opportunities to hike, bike, kayak, canoe, fish and snow ski. In fact, there are few sports you can't enjoy here. The country's national parks are a good place to start exploring, and many offer great hiking trails and easy access to lakes or rivers. Head to Newfoundland's Gros Morne for solitary hiking in an extreme setting, or to Mont Tremblant Park in Quebec for challenging trails. Hiking part of the incomprehensibly long Trans Canada trail, which stretches from one side of this mammoth country to the other, is an option too. For kayaking and other river sports, one of the best areas is in Kejiumkujik National Park, in Nova Scotia.

If you're after culture, good eating or shopping, head to Canadian cities like Montreal, the culture capital of Quebec, Quebec City, the most European of all North American cities, or Vancouver, known for its laid-back attitude. You could also check out Canada's capital, Ottawa, or the city of Edmonton, which proudly claims the world's largest shopping mall.