Travel tips for remote destinations

Adventure travel is booming in Canada’s remote and expansive wildernesses. In 2024, travel to remote, small airports in various provinces generated more than a billion in revenue. Travellers are drawn to hiking through quiet, untouched woods such as those surrounding Dease Lake in northwestern British Columbia, also known as a prime fishing spot. Imagine falling asleep under dark, starry skies not impacted by light pollution in Yukon’s Kluane National Park and Reserve.

While thrilling, travel to remote areas comes with unique obstacles and potential hazards, such as lack of access to emergency medical services and harsh weather conditions. When traveling remotely, consider purchasing travel insurance to help safeguard your safety and financial investment in your vacation plans.

Here’s more on some of Canada’s most alluring remote travel destinations, why travel insurance is important if you’re headed to a remote area and other tips for preparing for your next off-grid adventure.

Canada’s incredible remote travel destinations

From the towering Rockies to the open waters of Newfoundland, Canada is full of stunning remote and wild areas. We’ve highlighted places that stand out for their beauty, solitude and wildlife.

Algonquin, Provincial park

Located more than 243 kilometers west of Ottawa in southern Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park is the perfect destination for those who crave solitude and nature but aren’t quite ready to go truly off-grid. The park is a paradise for kayaking and canoeing due to its astonishing number of lakes – 1,500 to be exact. Visitors can also hike, bike or cross-country ski 15 trails.

Getting there: Highway 60 offers easy access to much of the park.

Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories

The historic, mostly Indigenous community of Fort Good Hope is a former fur trading post, established in 1805. Hike dozens of trails leading to prime spots for berry picking and trapping, including the 20-kilometre Rapids Trail, along the banks of the Tsintu and Mackenzie rivers, or the Fred Kelly Express Ski Trail, named for a cross-country skier who represented Canada in the 1972 Olympic games.

Getting there: “Fort Good Hope can be reached all year long by flights out of Inuvik, Norman Wells and Colville Lake, or by the winter road from Wrigley via Norman Wells,” writes Spectacular Northwest Territories.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Vancouver Island

Lovers of kayak camping should put Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on their list of must-see destinations. Pack your gear and paddle out to spend the night on Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound, accessible only by boat. Catch some waves and surf at the Long Beach Unit, accessible year-round. Be awed by nature while stormwatching on the observation deck at Wickaninnish Beach.

Getting there: The Long Beach Unit is accessible via a three-hour drive on Highway 4, starting from the ferry terminal at Nanaimo, or an hour-long flight from Vancouver.

Alert Bay Ecological Park

Located on Cormorant Island in British Columbia, Alert Bay is a wildlife watcher’s paradise. Keep your eyes peeled for groups of Orca, Minke and Gray whales, White-Sided Dolphins and otters. A visit to Alert Bay also grants the opportunity to learn about the culture of the First Nations of Canada. The area is home to the U’mista Cultural Centre, which showcases historic Kwakwaka'wakw ceremonial regalia.

Getting there: Board a ferry run by BC Ferries, or dock your own boat at the harbor. You can also book a flight into nearby Port McNeill and rent a car.

Risks of travelling in remote areas

Going off the beaten path to witness the beauty of remote wildernesses in Canada is worth the trek. However, travelling and recreating within remote areas may pose significant risks. These risks include getting lost in the backcountry, wildlife encounters, running out of provisions and sustaining an injury in a location far from medical facilities. You may also be exposed to severe weather conditions or not have adequate protection from natural disasters.

Travel insurance for trips to remote areas

Being prepared may help keep you safe in remote areas. As a precaution, consider purchasing travel insurance that includes emergency medical, trip cancellation, and delay benefits before your trip. It's also important to familiarize yourself with the specific offerings of emergency medical and trip cancellation and delay plans before choosing an insurance provider.

You should know that your provincial or territorial health insurance plan may not fully cover you if you travel outside of your home province. Travel insurance plans by Allianz Global Assistance that offer emergency medical benefits may offer more extensive protection.

In addition to benefits that reimburse payment for emergency medical treatment, you want to make sure your plan includes emergency medical evacuation, including repatriation if you are travelling in a remote area outside of Canada.

Emergency medical evacuation from a remote area canbe costly. A travel insurance policy that includes emergency medical evacuation and repatriation may protect your finances. Emergency medical benefits by Alllianz Global Assistance may reimburse non-refundable eligible expenses for emergency medical evacuation for medical emergencies included in your policy.

You should also consider travel insurance plans that include reimbursement for non-refundable expenses if your trip is cancelled or delayed. You never know when factors such as weather delays or illnesses may get in the way of your plans.

Prepare for your remote adventure

Purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy is just one way to protect yourself when venturing to remote areas. For more peace of mind, visit your doctor for a pre-departure to check up to make sure you’re fit to go exploring in the backcountry. Ask your doctor about vaccinations you may need before travelling. Pack essentials such as satellite phones, a first aid kit, map, compass and GPS. And always pack extra food, batteries, matches and other fire-starting materials.

As a world leader in travel protection, Allianz Global Assistance helps Canadians annually answer the call of adventure with confidence every year. Millions of travellers rely on us for help when they need it most. Let us be there for you too.

Travel insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators Group of Companies, administered by Allianz Global Assistance, which is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc.