Canada is often seen as one landscape, but some destinations look and feel so different that visitors often compare them to entirely different parts of the world.
1. Drumheller, Alberta Looks Like Mars
The badlands around Drumheller feature deep canyons, layered rock formations, and dry terrain that feels more like a desert planet than central Canada. It is also home to one of the richest dinosaur fossil regions in the world.
2. Haida Gwaii Feels Like a Separate Coastal World
Off the coast of British Columbia, Haida Gwaii has dense rainforest, remote beaches, and strong Indigenous cultural heritage. Its isolation and ecosystem make it feel distinct from mainland Canada.
3. Fogo Island Feels Like a Nordic Coastal Village
With its rocky shoreline, small fishing communities, and modern architecture set against harsh Atlantic conditions, Fogo Island is often compared to remote parts of Iceland or Scandinavia.
4. The Badlands of Saskatchewan Resemble the American Southwest
In certain regions of southern Saskatchewan, dry valleys and exposed rock formations create landscapes that resemble parts of Arizona or Utah.
5. The Yukon Feels Like a Frontier Territory
With vast open space, mountains, and extremely low population density, the Yukon often feels closer to an untouched wilderness frontier than a typical Canadian region.
6. Prince Edward Island Feels Like a Coastal Storybook Setting
Rolling green fields, red sand beaches, and small historic towns give PEI a slower, almost European countryside atmosphere that contrasts with much of North America.
7. The Okanagan Valley Feels Like a Wine Region in Southern Europe
With its warm climate, vineyards, and lakefront towns, the Okanagan is often compared to wine regions in France or northern Italy rather than western Canada.