Experience Iceland in Vancouver Starting June 18

Credit: iStock

FlyOver Canada is the ultimate experiential travel adventure, on at Canada Place until August 30, 2020. 

One February morning in Vancouver I gripped the handles on my seat as I hurtled out of darkness and smack into clouds. Mist hit my face, the clouds parted, and my adrenaline surged as I found myself airborne, rushing through the jagged chasms of Iceland.

My feet dangled as I banked and dipped to avoid collision with the chasm faces. I managed to tear my eyes away from them and glance down at the turbulent river hundreds of meters below.

Thrilled, I hung on as the pilot propelled me over endless vistas of rugged terrain and glaciers; down towards herds of galloping horses then up again. We came so close to a mountain climber standing on a narrow peak that I jerked my legs to avoid clipping him.

Eight exhilarating minutes later I was plunged back into darkness. The sense of motion stopped, and the lights came on. I was sitting in a single aisle of seats with other travellers, and as we unbuckled and filed out of the theatre, we tried to keep our suddenly earthbound legs from shaking.

Credit: iStock

Pursuit captures the adventure and thrill of iconic places around the world with a world-class team of filmmakers and flight simulation technology.

This is FlyOver Iceland by Pursuit, which in Vancouver recently premiered at FlyOver in Canada Place. Since first being screened in Reykjavik last August it has earned the distinction of being named one of the top things to do in that city; and it, along with Pursuit’s FlyOver Canada, is why the Canada Place venue enjoys in excess of 600,000 thrill seekers annually.

 First introduced in Vancouver in 2013, the FlyOver experience is made possible by a world-class team of filmmakers and flight simulation technology in which fully-articulated seating telescopes out from the theatre aisle and puts viewers into the center of a 20-metre spherical screen (needless to say, the seatbelts are locked in place until the flyover is finished and the seats retract).

Credit: iStock

Experience endless vistas, rugged terrain, and the thrill of Iceland.

Pursuit’s goal is to be “the world’s leading provider of experiential adventure travel,” and it is growing a collection of short films shot in iconic locales throughout the world (as well as opening new venues in Las Vegas and Toronto in 2021 and ’22 respectively).

As a former film reporter who has experienced plenty of vertiginous open-door helicopter rides, all I can think is: ‘Iceland will be hard to top.’

You’ll think the same after hurtling over the Nordic topography and coming back to earth at Canada Place.

Need a taste? Check out this video to see what to expect from FlyOver Iceland.

FlyOver Canada’s ‘New Normal’

“Since we paused operations this past March, we have worked diligently to redesign a visitor experience that ensures the safety of our guests, staff and surrounding community,” said Lisa Adams, Vice President, FlyOver Attractions by Pursuit. 

New operational protocols will include reducing guest capacity during each ride and throughout the FlyOver Canada attraction, adopting stringent cleaning protocols as approved by Health Canada, and screening all staff before shifts. Physical distancing initiatives will also include the use of face masks for staff and the installation of plexiglass barriers where possible.

 “As we prepare to reopen our doors we want to provide guests with an increased level of assurance that when they are ready to visit us, they can do so with confidence knowing that we have their utmost safety in mind,” Adams says.

 Additional highlights of FlyOver Canada’s safety measures include:

• Implementation of reduced guest capacity with empty seat separation between groups and families to ensure appropriate social distancing.
• The ride will be fully sanitized between guests. This will complement high-frequency cleaning of all public spaces throughout the day.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be placed at all property entrances, public spaces and near washrooms. 
• Personal protective equipment will be provided to all attractions staff.
• Each small group will have a Flight Guide at all times to make sure social distance rules are being considered.

“With travel limited this summer, we offer a unique way for guests to immerse themselves in flight across dramatic and stunning landscapes in both Canada and Iceland, all without leaving the city,” Adams says. “We’re offering attractive rates for both individuals and families with children over the next few months, in addition to flexible cancellation policies, to ensure our guests are able to book with confidence this summer.”

 Further details on FlyOver Iceland programming and reopening specials can be found at www.flyovercanada.com/

 For information on the new Safety Promise by Pursuit visit flyovercanada.com/safety-promise/

Learn more about FlyOver Iceland at BC Place or click here to purchase tickets. This feature ride is on for a limited time, now until August 30, 2020.