Hey there, Travellers,

I hope you're all enjoying these quieter few weeks between seasonal fervour, when the vampires have returned to their coffins, but the turkeys are blissfully unaware of what is to come. 

Here at Jack's, there's little rest for the wicked (or naughty, or nice), as the buzz is already building towards the B word (Black Friday). It's basically our version of Christmas, and we're currently trying to work out what to put on our lists. 

For a little inspiration, I turned to Wanderlust's Reader Travel Awards. The country named 'Most Desirable in the World' will hardly come as a surprise, and it's definitely on my "strong maybe" list for 2026. But there's one destination I think I'll find hard to ignore if Flight Santa drops a bargain in our laps — the world's 'Most Desirable Region', Alberta.

Our Canadian team happen to be experts in the area, and, quite frankly, won't shut up about it. Keep reading to see why, and get a taste of the great Canadian outdoors, courtesy of Marshall. Or if there's somewhere else you're hoping for a great Black Friday bargain to, let us know in the comments.

Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

This new series, From Eh to Zed, is your digital pass into Canada’s hidden pockets and sweeping horizons. Brought to you by not just the team here at Jack's Flight Club, but by your fellow Jack's Travellers in every corner of the globe, too.

In this edition, Navigator Marshall is dragging you (willingly, we hope) across some of Canada’s most underrated, jaw-dropping trails. Bring your sense of adventure — and maybe a change of socks. Things are about to get outdoorsy… 

By Marshall - Navigator

One of our Canadian Crew, Marshall is equal parts adventurer and amateur naturalist — the kind of guy who’ll chase a flight deal to the edge of the map, then stop midway to ID a mushroom. Be it on the trails or the high seas, he's happiest on an adventure.

Howdy readers! This week, I’ll be walking you through some of my top hikes I’ve scratched off my list this year. While the cold snap may be imminent here in Alberta, and the luxury of lush, green forests soon to be a daydream, it’s never too early to start prepping for next season.

These highlights are from backcountry trips (hikes where we camped overnight), day hikes, and nature walks. For those of you who aren’t avid outdoor enthusiasts, feel free to reach out in the comments below with any questions, or if you’ve got some worthy hikes to share :-)

So, grab your bear spray, a baggie of GORP (Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts), and let's get into it!

May 18th - Cox Hill, AB

To get our rusty legs warmed up, we chose a moderate, gradually inclining trail tucked along the Jumpingpound Ridge near The Dawson Day. Touted as a great winter hike, we figured it would be a safe choice.

Yet, spring kicked off with a SLIPPERY start this year. Feeling confident, we decided to tackle the hike anyway (bold move for someone in runners). 

Everyone in the party had some slips, which was great comedic relief to distract us from the whiteout conditions.

Positives: No one on the trail

Negatives: No trail

Tip: AllTrails was our only way to be sure we stayed on track. I highly recommend this app if you’re going out into the wilderness (or looking to brag about your stats). You can also download maps beforehand to track your progress even without service.

Taking on the Pinnacle of thru-hikes

Jul 6-9th - Rockwall Trail, BC

This is one of the premier through hikes in Canada. And with it right in my backyard, it's been a bucket list item for as long as I can remember. I’ve made two separate attempts to take on this 55km beast, both kiboshed by inclement weather and forest fires.

This time, I was determined to see it through.

Day 1: Numa Creek

The mountains looked dauntingly high, but spirits were higher. After a breakfast of champions on the drive up (an A&W bacon & egger and a large dark roast), we strapped up our gear and tied our shoes. We took our time on the first stretch, anticipating the climb to come; we knew it would be pointless to exhaust ourselves early.

Day 2: Numa to Tumbling Creek

With over half of the total elevation gain completed on day one, we were acutely aware of just how much this hike would challenge us. 

Sore would be an understatement here, but that’s what they invented painkillers for. Climbing to the ridge felt like a battle for each step. While I’m not exactly the specimen of human fitness, I pride myself on my ability to tackle most inclines, but this was truly on another level.

You don’t need to zoom much to see that our backpacks were roughly the same size as the boulders we encountered...

What you can’t tell is that it felt like they weighed the same, too (the synthesizer and portable projector dangling off the side probably contributed to that).

Once we reached the plateau, it was smooth sailing. With strong winds pushing us forward, we bathed in the sunlight and absorbed the splendor of this colossal range. It felt bittersweet to reach this point; we knew this was the hike's apex, so we took our time coming down into Tumbling Creek.

Day 3: Tumbling Creek to Helmet Falls

Beautiful trail, check.

Sore feet, double check.

Just when we thought the dramatic landscapes were behind us. BOOM, another, arguably even more incredible row of mountains pierced the sky in front of us...

Keep reading...

Answered by Katy

Detour Editor Katy is a budget travel aficionado who has already travelled to more than 50 countries. Whether she's at home or on a foreign adventure, she has a particular talent for stumbling upon tasty Georgian restaurants.

Ciao, Mel! We’re absolutely on the same page as you here — why pay over the odds for a trip lasting only a few days if you can make it into a longer and even more memorable excursion?

I’d highly recommend travelling there by train if you’re the kind of people who enjoy the journey as much as the destination. You might have already read our mildly unhinged blog from the time that nine of the Jack’s team raced across Europe from London to Istanbul on public transport. Okay, you won’t need to run for tight connections or hit certain checkpoints like we did, but much of the spirit remains.

Travelling by train gives you the chance to stop off in places you’ve never heard of and gawk out windows at the towering, jagged Alps while sampling a local snack or two. Those mountain landscapes stretching from Switzerland to Slovenia have to be my favourite. Try to plan your route to include the Bernina Express and/or the Glacier Express for a real tour of the region’s epic snowy peaks.

Having spent a week during each of the last three summers gallivanting along the rails in Europe, I’d recommend looking into Interrail passes. You’ll still need to account for seat reservation fees on certain routes, but the pass quickly becomes worthwhile if you stop off in a few spots along the way. Keep an eye on the Interrail site over the upcoming sale periods — I got a cracking discount last festive season.

On that note, we’ve already had a few airline sales rolling in over the last week, and we’re guaranteed to see more over the next month. Even if you take the train to Rome, a cheeky discount on those in-demand flights home won’t do any harm. Alternatively, you could wait to see where else in the region goes on offer, and let the airline gods decide for you!

In case you’re in need of a little more Italian inspo before you impulsively hit ‘book’, check out our Italy collection, featuring articles and past editions of The Detour designed to make you crave a pizza and spritz. Sorry, not sorry.

How do you think Mel and her husband should make their way to the big match? Since all roads lead to Rome, there really are no wrong answers. Share your wisdom in the comments!