Natural wonderland

Swiss ski resorts bounce back

Driving from Banff to Jasper on the highway through the Rockies in the summertime you are likeliest to see brown bears.

For polar bears? "You'll want to go to Churchill in Manitoba later in the year," says Galpin. "In October or November, they are moving off the land, waiting for the Hudson Bay to freeze. You are 100 percent guaranteed to see them.

And you can get very close, very safely, he says.

"Big-wheeled tundra buggies scoot across the frozen ground, that haul 30 to 40 people very slowly across the tundra, and stop when they see a bear. The bear will come investigate, but the buggy always provides a barrier for safety.

"You are not allowed to get out of the tundra buggies, guides make sure people follow the rules," he adds with a grin. "Polar bears are not cuddly - they are dangerous wild animals that can eat you. Seeing them is one of the great thrills of out-of-the-way places in Canada."

IF YOU GO

Chinese tours: Yellowknife Tours has a Chinese staff that operates winter and summer tours in Mandarin, Cantonese and English from its base in the capital of the Northwest Territories. Bilingual website: www.yellowknifetours.com.

Dogsled race: The Yellowknife Dog Derby is a three-day, 240-km race from the city center to the Great Slave Lake that is run at the end of March.

What to wear: If you've been skiing in Northeast China, you may already have the right winter gear. Outfitters and tour operators such as Yellowknife Tours will ask for your size in winter jacket and shoes when you make reservations, so cold-weather gear will be waiting when you arrive.

Getting there: Yellowknife and nearby ski resorts can be reached with regular flights from Vancouver and Calgary, which are served by several Chinese airlines, Air Canada and several other international carriers.