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

Bear Safety in Banff and the Rockies: How to Read the Reports and Stay Safe

A trail can close overnight because a grizzly moved in. Here’s how to read Banff’s bear reports, what gear to carry, how to hike safely with a dog, and what to do in an encounter.

Bohdan's stories

Curved highway with yellow centre line leading toward snow-capped mountain peaks, forested valleys, and a glacial lake under overcast sky
Nearly 2.5 million hectares have burned this season, from B.C. to Labrador. Here are the official live maps for every province, what's changed for travellers, and how to plan around it.
A calm lake surrounded by boreal forest, with coniferous and deciduous trees lining the shoreline, rocky outcrops in the foreground, and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds
A trail can close overnight because a grizzly moved in. Here's how to read Banff's bear reports, what gear to carry, how to hike safely with a dog, and what to do in an encounter.
Turquoise lagoon with green vegetation along the shoreline and blue sky with white clouds overhead
Our friends said Steep Rock wasn't worth it. We had to see for ourselves — and drove three hours to Manitoba's own little Mediterranean of limestone cliffs and turquoise water.
Turquoise lagoon surrounded by limestone terrain and sparse vegetation under a bright blue sky with white clouds
Emerald water, limestone cliffs dropping straight into the lake, and hardly a soul in sight — Steep Rock may be Manitoba's best-kept secret, three hours from Winnipeg.
Turquoise alpine lake surrounded by coniferous forest and snow-capped mountains under cloudy sky
The largest lake in Yoho National Park, found by the same guide who "discovered" Lake Louise — and, in our view, every bit as beautiful, with far less fuss.
Turquoise alpine lake with forested mountains shrouded in mist and low clouds, rocky slopes visible through the fog
A glacier-fed lake the Stoney Nakoda called the "Lake of the Little Fishes," framed by the Victoria Glacier — and the parking battle that comes with its fame.

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.