Tailor Made Canada Holidays

Time zone: -2:30 to -7 GMT (across 6 time zones)

Flight duration: From 5 hours 40 minutes (to Newfoundland) up to 9 hours 45 minutes.

Currency: The Canadian Dollar

Capital: Ottawa

Language: English and French is widely spoken in Canada.

Visa Information: British passport holders are require to obtain eTA to visit Canada for up to six months. 

Canada is filled with year-round adventures. Depending on when in the year you visit, you can embark on a choice of fascinating excursions, joining exciting activities and soaking up the breathtaking scenery of turquoise lakes, rolling mountains, lush forests and much more.

Visit in summer for the abundant wildlife, including eagles, elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, moose and cougars, as well as black and grizzly bears. Take to the water and search for minke or orca whales, porpoises and other marine life.

Opt to travel in autumn for the iconic scenery of orange and brown trees swaying in the cool breeze, coating the pathways with a blanket of autumn leaves. This is the best time to enjoy the season change and not be too cold to stroll around the city, enjoy some watersports on the lakes and hike through the mountains and forests.

In winter, you’ll be immersed in the glittering magic of Canada, with festive experiences to fill your days and magical sights of snow-coated trees and frozen lakes to skate across. Enjoy ice walks and glacier tours, guided hikes in Banff National Park, and even dog sledding through the alpine valleys with spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies.

Getting to Canada

Multiple direct flights are available from the UK, taking you to some of Canada’s renowned locations.

Seasonal direct flights from London Gatwick to St John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador: 5 hours 40 minutes

Direct flights from the UK to Halifax, Nova Scotia: 7 hours

Direct flights from the UK to Montreal: 7 hours 10 minutes

Direct flights from the UK to Toronto: 7 hours 55 minutes

Direct flight from the UK to Calgary: 8 hours 50 minutes

Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Air Canada Express offer a comprehensive schedule of domestic services connecting 62 Canadian destinations, making it easy to visit multiple destinations in one Canada Holiday.

Getting around Canada

Rail

VIA Rail Canada is the country's national rail service. It operates intercity services, such as Vancouver to Edmonton via Jasper, and connecting cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.

Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s most iconic rail journeys. It offers three routes connecting Vancouver with the Canadian Rockies. The First Passage to the West is a two-day journey from Vancouver to Lake Louise & Banff, with an overnight stop in Kamloops.

Journey Through the Clouds connects Vancouver to Jasper, a two-day journey with an overnight in Kamloops. The Rocky Mountaineer’s three-day journey, ‘Rainforest to Gold Rush’ also connects Vancouver with Jasper, but travel through Northern British Columbia with overnight stops in Whistler and Quesnel.

Seaplanes

This year-round service connects Vancouver with Victoria, offering scenic flights over the Gulf Islands. In the summer months, seaplanes operate flights from Vancouver to Whistler, Victoria, and Tofino as well as more off-the-beaten-track destinations on the British Columbia coastline and Vancouver Island, plus Seattle. This makes for a great method of transportation from one destination to another, while enjoying spectacular scenery from the air and reducing travel times, too.

Car and RV Rentals

For those seeking the most independence, car rental is the best way to tour Canada. Self-drive around Alberta and British Columbia, touring Ontario and Quebec, or visit the four provinces of Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador.

For those with an adventurous spirit, RV rentals are a popular way of touring parts of Canada, especially during spring, early and late summer, and autumn when the roads and campsites are less busy.

Cruising

Several cruise companies offer 7-night plus voyages from Vancouver through the Inside Passage and stopping off along the Alaska coastline. Other cruise options include from Montreal, out of the Gulf of St Lawrence, and along the Atlantic Canada Coastline to Boston or New York.

Best Things to do in Canada

Some of the best things to do include:

• Skiing from December to April in Whistler, or Lake Louise and Banff
• Exploring Banff National Park, Tweedsmuir Park and Jasper National Park
• Heading off from Newfoundland & Labrador on a Zodiac to see North Atlantic icebergs along the coast of Twillingate 
• Spotting Canadian wildlife including bears and moose
• Taking a boat trip out to spot whales
• Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer to see the majestic mountains 
• Visiting the cities for excellent dining options

Combine your life as a ranch hand with a little golf, white water rafting, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, windsurfing or a city break for the complete Canadian experience.

Find adventure in the Canadian Rockies and enjoy a skiing holiday with like-minded travellers. Canada is a must-go for a supreme skiing experience, with reliable snow conditions, fresh powder slopes, long seasons and a variety of terrain. Sun Peaks, Revelstoke, Lake Lousie, Banff and Whistler Blackcomb are home to some of Canada’s premium ski regions, offering panoramic views of snow-sprinkled mountain peaks, quaint ski villages and a lively apres-ski scene.

Enjoy exploring the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Canadian cities. From the chic city of Montreal to the charming streets of Quebec City, you can enjoy lively winter festivals, live music and indulgent restaurants and shopping scenes.