This four-day tailor-made cottage getaway is as exclusive as it comes, not least because you will be staying in your own cabin on a private island, accessible only by canoe. You and your family or friends will sleep in the Algonquin Provincial Park island cabin, where you can roast hot dogs over an open fire, swim, watch the nighttime stars, paddle around the lake looking for moose and beavers on the shore, and just enjoy the stillness and quiet of the Canadian wilderness. It doesn’t get any more tranquil than this.
Arriving at Algonquin Park, check in at the Voyageur Quest Outfitting office, where an expert will conduct a canoe lesson, and talk about what to expect from your holiday. Paddle over to a tiny island in the middle of the lake and settle into your home for the next three nights. Celebrate your first night in paradise by sitting on the deck, watching the sunset and listening to the haunting call of the loon.
After breakfast, throw on your lifejacket and embark on a day of exploration around the local waterways, keeping close to the lake shores. Practice your canoe paddling skills before heading out into the wider waters of Kawawaymog Lake. Head back to your cabin for a nap, dinner in the well-outfitted kitchen, and an outdoor fire.
The next day, paddle down the Amable du Fond River, a popular canoe route, through the morning mist. Keep a sharp eye out for moose – more than 3,500 of the mammals reportedly live in the park – beaver lodges, and lots of birds (the park is a birdwatcher’s dream, with more than 270 species). Expect some spectacular photography opportunities before you paddle back through the calm waters to your cozy cabin.
Enjoy a final, precious morning on your private island before paddling over to the Voyageur Quest Outfitting office to check out. If time allows, stay for lunch or dinner at the Broken Paddle Patio, the outfitter’s licensed lakeside cafe, offering pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ steak dinners, and the Trippers Hot Sunrise Breakfast.
Head back to Toronto, about four hours away, or continue on to your next destination.
