Films to Make You Fall in Love With Western Canada

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Movie set clapper | Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Western Canada is a very popular filming location, due to its photogenic natural beauty and urban landscapes. Vancouver is where many TV shows and movies are currently filmed. But it’s the beautiful mountains and lakes that draw in the big names and big productions. If you want to see the best of Western Canada on film, here are the movies to make you fall in love with the region.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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The A Team (2010)

Based on the TV show of the same name, this film is all about the action and the comedy. Fortunately, British Columbia is a great backdrop for action sequences. The A Team was filmed in Vancouver, Kamloops, Cache Creek and Ashcroft — all locations in beautiful British Columbia.

The Revenant (2015)

Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant

One of the big winners during the 2016 Awards season, The Revenant is an excellent advertisement for Canada’s untouched natural landscapes. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as an 1820s frontiersman who’s fighting for his life in the wilderness after being mauled by a bear and left behind by his hunting team. The movie was shot in rivers, mountains and forests around Squamish in British Columbia, and Fortress Mountain in Kananaskis, Alberta.

I, Robot (2004)

This futuristic action film, set in the year 2035, stars Will Smith as a cop investigating a crime done by a robot. Although I, Robot was set in Chicago, it was filmed in Vancouver and its neighbouring towns Surrey and New Westminster. Vancouver looks just as good in the future as it does in the present.

Godzilla (2014)

Godzilla sets and scale models in Toho Studios

This epic science-fiction reboot was nearly entirely shot in the Greater Vancouver area. Monsters took over the city during filming, with Godzilla shooting on location in the downtown area, Burnaby, Coquitlam, West Vancouver, New Westminster and Steveston. Any movie or TV show filmed in Steveston will make you fall in love with British Columbia’s plethora of cute seaside towns. Here’s looking at you, Once Upon a Time.

The Twilight Series (2008–2012)

Twilight mania took over Vancouver during filming. The book series is set in Washington State, but filming took place around the entire Pacific Northwest area, including in Oregon and British Columbia. The Northwest is known for its green landscape and moody weather, so each state is a perfect choice for a vampire movie. Scenes were shot in places like Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver; Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, Squamish; Belcarra Regional Park in Port Moody; and Pemberton, British Columbia.

Man of Steel (2013)

British Columbia becomes Alaska in Man of Steel, showing that Western Canada has just as much natural beauty as its US counterpart. Ucluelet on Vancouver Island steps in for an Alaskan town in the movie. Superman also soars through Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and North Vancouver.

X2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Rose Byrne in X-Men: Apocalypse

At the time, associate producer Dave Gordon said that X-Men: The Last Stand was the biggest production ever filmed in Canada. One of the movie’s biggest scenes was filmed at Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park. The visually appealing Xavier Mansion’s exterior is Hatley Castle, a National Historic Site on the campus of Royal Roads University in the Greater Victoria area. Downtown Vancouver also became San Francisco for quite a few city scenes.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

This Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger masterpiece was set in Wyoming, but filmed around the Canadian Rockies in beautiful Alberta. The countryside imagery and mountain scenes in Brokeback Mountain were primarily filmed on the Kananaskis Range near Canmore. Other small Alberta towns that charmed their way onto the screen include Rockyford, Cowley and Fort Macleod.

Rise (2011) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Once movie-makers fall in love with Western Canada, they keep coming back to make sequels. The first movie in this series, Rise of the Planet of the Apes was filmed almost entirely in British Columbia, except for the Hawaii-based opening sequence. The forested Robert Burnaby Park in Greater Vancouver became San Francisco’s Muir Woods in the first movie. However, in the sequel the production team filmed outdoor scenes in the lush rainforest-like landscapes of Vancouver’s North Shore and neighbouring Maple Ridge.

Interstellar (2014)

This sci-fi film starring Matthew McConaughey is about space travel and ensuring humanity’s survival. However, the earlier Earth scenes were filmed in Alberta. It seemed to follow in Brokeback Mountain’s footsteps coincidentally, shooting on location in Fort Macleod, Canmore, Calgary and Longview. The ranch house where McConaughey lives was built purely for filming near Longview. An interesting fact is that the roughly 202ha (500 acres) of corn needed for an important Interstellar scene was grown by the crew and then sold for a profit.

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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