Canada
Canada is a huge country stretching 6 time zones between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.
This incredible country has everything you could possibly want from a holiday. Awesome scenery, outstanding wildlife, welcoming, friendly communities, cosmopolitan cities, fly drive itineraries all over the country, sailing and cruising, not forgetting the bears; brown, black and polar.
You’re not going to cover this diverse country in one holiday, so pick the highlights you want to experience and we’ll tailor a trip you won’t forget.
The French speaking Quebec, is packed full of culture, history, gastronomy and is easy to combine with Toronto, Lake Ontario and Niagara. The Atlantic coast has some fantastic communities to visit and exploring by car makes for a wonderful holiday. As the spring and summer arrives, the ever popular itineraries through the Rockies bring tourists from all over the world. Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer is the highlight for many, while others choose to drive the whole route between Calgary and Vancouver (or visa versa).
Experiencing the wildlife is the main attraction for nature lovers and there are myriad lodges located for wildlife viewing. Particularly popular are the bears and fishing, and for those interested in the polar regions, you can head north to see the Polar Bears.
We’ve been selling this country for over 20 years and we know from experience that you’ll not be disappointed with your choice. Whether you want to visit a region by car at your own pace, take part in a guided group tour, cruise up to Alaska or simply mix and match shopping, culture, and some total relaxation, then you need look no further….
go on, AsktheTraveller.
Local weather information
Vancouver
When is the best time to travel
Canada is definitely a year round destination.
The winter can be extreme however, Canada offers world class ski resorts, with skiing, snowmobiling, sledging in fact and array of activities. Plus you are far enough north to witness the Aurora Borealis to add to the winter distractions.
From May until September, tourists flock to the Rockies; the fly drive and the rail journeys become popular as well as cruises from Vancouver along the Canadian coast up to Alaska.
The whole country has festivals and events throughout the summer months, with perhaps the most famous being The Calgary Stampede where for 2 weeks of the year the best of the best Cowboys come together to celebrate all the best things about western country living and music.
The Canadian Wilderness with its impressive array of wildlife comes alive in the summer months, where you can venture deep into the wilderness but still retain the creature comforts at night.
Canada in brief
Don’t try and ‘’do Canada’’ in 2 weeks. You’ll only scratch the surface.
This country has everything you could ask for, but decide first what you want to see and experience in the time you have and we can assist you in putting together your perfect itinerary. The distances are great so you’ll be relying on planes, trains and automobiles and if the west is your preferred location, why not make use of a stopover in the east on your way home?
Travelling by car, particularly through the Rockies and around the Atlantic provinces is popular in the spring and summer. If you want to experience a rail trip or cruise, then book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, plus the earlier you book a cruise, the cheaper the cabin is.
Some of the iconic hotels and lodges are limited in size, so think well ahead to include these in your itinerary. When you’re returning, don’t forget to take home our particular favourite, Canadian Ice Wine.
Canada history & Culture
The descendents of Canada’s First Nation and inuit communities would have arrived from Asia across the Bering Straits. The Viking Bjarni Herjolfsson arrived in AD 986 and is the first recorded European to land in Canada. The community in Newfoundland that he was part of, was eventually abandoned and the next European to arrive was not until 1497 with the arrival of Italian explorer John Cabot.
Quebec’s St. Lawrence river was discovered by the French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1535, although no permanent European settlement was established until 1604 in Nova Scotia.
Henry Hudson claimed Hudson Bay a British settlement a few years later in 1610. The British & French had been fighting over their territories for around 150 years and this came to a head after the Seven Year War when the French surrendered all their North American territory to Great Britain.
The proud French speaking population of Quebec were given the right to preserve their language, Catholic faith and civil law code with the Quebec Act of 1774.
Unlike the US, where immigrant communities were encouraged to integrate. Canada strongly promotes immigrant communities preserving their own cultures. This has created a multicultural country which has more than doubled its population in 60 years.