Canada Holidays

Overview

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Canada holidays are a breath of fresh air - literally! Eastern Canada has the magnificent Niagara Falls and the elegant cities of Toronto, Montreal and Quebec - don't miss the historic old town of Montreal, the beautiful basilicas of Quebec or Toronto's high tech architecture and dizzying CN Tower. Head west on holidays in Canada to explore the home of the great outdoors where you will discover Canada's iconic and incredible scenery, amazing wildlife and the cleanest air in the world!

Unmissable Resorts in Canada

Canada Highlights

Wildlife: There are few better places in the world to get up close and personal with whales, bears and many more animals in their natural habitat. There are plentiful trips from Vancouver and Victoria, and for the best experiences try Tofino or Banff and Jasper in the Rockies.

Whether your trip is by seaplane or high speed boat, seeing the Canadian wildlife is one experience not to be missed.

Scenery: Glorious vistas over snow capped mountains, crystal clear glacial lakes, beautiful autumn foliage and of course the mighty Niagara Falls - Canada will take your breath away. Whichever time of year you visit the sense of space and impossibly stunning views are hard to beat.

City breaks: Culture, history, shopping and nightlife - the Canadian cities have the best of all worlds. The eastern cities of Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto can easily be done as a long weekend from the UK. Bustling Calgary and laid back Vancouver on the west coast are ideal to add onto your majestic Rocky Mountains adventure.

The Rocky Mountaineer train: Billed as 'the most spectacular rail trip in the world', the ever popular Rocky Mountaineer transports you through the majestic Rocky Mountains leaving you with memories to last a lifetime. Day trips, overnight trips and longer tours are all available and why not spend a few days either before or after in cosmopolitan cities like Vancouver or Calgary?

Culture & History: Canada's capital, Ottawa, is steeped in history and great for exploring galleries and museums. Quebec and Toronto are great for those with a love of striking architecture and French Canadian flair. For a taste of the real wild west, head to Calgary for cowboys Canadian style.

Canada Factfile

When to go

Temperature Range: -20°C to 35°C

Travel Information

Direct flights: Air Canada, British Airways, Air Transat

Indirect flights: Delta Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Continental Airlines

Visa information: None for British citizens

Health information: No special vaccines required

Time Difference: Varies from GMT -5 hours (East) to GMT -8 hours (West)

When To Go

Best Value

To avoid the highest prices, stick to before and after the main summer season. There will be fewer crowds and you could get that same stunning scenery for a bargain price. Spring can bring lovely warm and sunny weather and the autumn leaf display rivals that of New England.

Best Time to Go

If you love the outdoor lifestyle, choose to visit between May and September when the weather is warmer and you'll find a wide variety of activities on offer. Winters are cold for city sightseeing but ideal for a trip to the ski resorts. March and April bring fewer tourists and can be beautifully warm, and September and October are ideal for experiencing the spectacular fall foliage.

Most Popular

Most people choose to visit Canada between during the summer so they can take full advantage of the outdoors with warmer temperatures and plenty of activities available. If you're venturing further North though, you may find the earliest snowfall comes in mid September. Autumn is also popular for the spectacular fall foliage. During the winter, people head for the ski resorts for alpine activities, and the cities for the stunning winterlude festivals.

Climate

The far north of Canada endures permafrost year round but the main tourist areas further south enjoy four distinct seasons where temperatures can reach 35°C in the summer and there can be heavy snowfall during the winter. Expect to enjoy mild springs, hot summer and crisp autumn days.

People flock to Canada to ski and board for the jaw dropping scenery and knee deep powder, but the resorts also boast great grooming, wide tree lined runs and little crowding or queues. Season dates are very much dependent on snowfall but the well known resorts of Whistler, Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise usually start up their lifts from early December. In a good year some slopes can remain open well into May or later.

Canada Travel Information

Tipping

Tipping is standard practice across Canada. In city restaurants, a 15% tip is expected, less is OK for an informal diner, while top end restaurants expect 20%. Bartenders expect $1 per drink. Taxi drivers and hairdressers expect 10% - 15%. Skycaps at airports and porters at nice hotels expect $1 a bag. It's polite to leave a few dollars for the hotel maid, especially if you spend several nights in one property.

Flight information

There are a number of carriers to offering flights to Canada from the UK.

Direct Carriers: Air Canada flies direct daily scheduled services to many Canada cities including Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver from London.

British Airways offers direct daily scheduled services to Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver from London.

Air Transat offers direct charter services to many Canada cities including Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver from London. Regional services from Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Exeter, Glasgow are also available.

Indirect Carriers: Delta Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Continental Airlines all offer flights to Canada from London via the USA.

Fastest Flight Time: 07hrs 15mins (London Heathrow - Montreal)

Visa information

British Citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Canada. However British subjects or overseas subjects who are subject to British Immigration control do require visas to visit Canada. If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offence including driving whilst impaired, you may be prohibited from entering Canada.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Canada.

However, as immigration and visa requirements do change we recommend that you check with the Canadian High Commission for the latest information.