Two people and a black and tan dog pose for a selfie in front of a turquoise alpine lake, with a dramatic jagged mountain peak and forested slopes in the background under cloudy skies

Bohdan Dryhval

Co-founder · Routes & Logistics

Bull elk with large antlers standing beside a cow elk grazing near a lake surrounded by coniferous forest

Anna Dryhval

Co-founder · Stories & Photography

About Bohdan

I’m Bohdan, a Ukrainian-Canadian travel writer and the co-founder of Explorer Canada. Together with my wife Anna and our dachshund Nika, I’ve driven over 23,000 km across Canada and through 12 countries in Eastern Europe — and I write about every kilometer of it.

My obsession with road trips started long before Canada. Back in Ukraine, my favorite weekends were spent driving between small towns with Anna — no hotels booked, no plans beyond the next coffee stop, just music, road, and the slow unfolding of places we’d never seen. When we moved to Winnipeg in 2023, I expected to lose that feeling. Instead, I found a country built for it.

Canada turned out to be a road trip in itself. Endless prairie highways, mountain passes that change weather every twenty minutes, lakes you find by accident on a side road. Most travel guides tell you about Banff and Niagara Falls. I write about the parts in between — the parking lot in Saskatchewan where we watched a thunderstorm roll in, the picnic spot in Birds Hill Park 30 minutes from Winnipeg that locals take for granted, the gas station coffee on the way to Riding Mountain that I still remember.

On Explorer Canada, I cover routes I’ve actually driven, costs I’ve actually paid, and stops worth the detour. No AI-generated itineraries. No “10 best places” lists written from a desk. Just real roads, real distances, and honest notes on what was worth it and what wasn’t.

If you’re planning a road trip across Canada — or a 4-day drive from Riga to the Transfăgărășan — start with the routes section. If you have a question about a specific province, border, or pet-friendly stop, get in touch. I read every email.

Why trust my routes

My favorite journey

Ontario Parks Permits, Camping, Outdoors Cards and Fishing Licences

A step-by-step guide to Ontario Parks day-use permits, campsite booking, Outdoors Cards and fishing licences, including our upcoming Zone 5 trip.

Bohdan's stories

Lions Gate Bridge spanning across Burrard Inlet with North Shore mountains in the background under clear blue sky
We rented a tandem two blocks from Stanley Park and rode the seawall around it — about three hours of waterfront, the bridge and stops wherever we felt like it.
Marine mammal pool at a zoo or aquarium with a blue tent structure, viewing platforms, and visitors watching a performer in the water, surrounded by forested landscape and mountains
Canada's largest aquarium sits right inside Stanley Park. It was busy, it took us about two hours — and the best surprise was that half the life here is outdoors.
Pond surrounded by mature trees and shrubs with lily pads covering the water surface and autumn foliage in the background
Two hours of paths, lawns and gardens in the middle of Vancouver — and, tucked away inside, a small apiary of two beehives we didn't expect to find.
Busy urban plaza with historic red-brick buildings, strung pendant lights, a bicycle detour sign, orange globe street lamps, and pedestrians browsing outdoor market stalls with yellow and red umbrellas
One sunny day, four stops: a garden with its own beehives, Canada's largest aquarium, the Stanley Park seawall on a tandem and Gastown after dark.
Turquoise lake surrounded by forested mountains and snow-capped peaks, with weathered wooden pilings and a concrete structure in the shallow water
We left Canmore in fog at six in the morning and reached Vancouver twelve hours later. One driver, homemade jerky, a dachshund with opinions about speed, and mountains the whole way.
Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area sign at night, located in Manitoba, Canada, with a circular emblem featuring three geese in flight against a blue sky
We wanted one quiet evening under the stars, and every search pointed to the same place as the closest option to Winnipeg. It's better than the city — but it isn't the dark sky we were hoping for.

Share your Canada story

Tell us briefly about your trip. If your story inspires us, we'll reach out by email to hear the full version — and feature it on Explorer Canada.

Thanks! 🍁 We read every submission. If your story fits Explorer Canada, we'll email you within a few days to hear more.