Canada

Canada claims a number of impressive records: it’s the second largest country in the world, it shares the longest land border with the United States and it has the world’s most extensive coastline. It is indeed a vast and varied land. And, with great cities, glorious scenery and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, Canada is undoubtedly one of the world’s most tempting travel destinations.

Linked by a series of national parks, the Canadian Rockies are one enormous adventure playground. From Waterton Lakes in the south to Jasper National Park in the north there are over 3,000km of hiking trails to lure visitors away from the lively tourist centres into some of the most stunning scenery on the planet.

Banff National Park is home to Lake Louise, the world’s most photographed lake, whilst Jasper has the Columbia Icefield – the largest and most accessible in all the Rockies. Linked by the breathtaking Icefields Parkway these are undoubtedly the jewels in the crown of the Rockies. Our Gentle Walking Canadian Rockies holiday bases itself in the heart of the Rockies from where the best trails and most spectacular viewpoints are within easy reach.

• Capital city: Ottawa, which is located in the east of Canada between Toronto and Montreal
• Population: 36,286,425 (2016 estimate)
• Size of country: 9.98 million km2
• Currency: Canadian dollar
• Power supply: The standard voltage is 120V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz
• Sockets: There are two types in Canada: 2 pin flat or 3 pin (2 flat pins and 1 round)
• Language: English and French
• Time difference: GMT -3.5 hours (east coast) to -8 hours (west coast)
• Visas: British nationals don’t need a visa to but do need to complete an Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter Canada
• Religion: According to the 2011 census, 67% of Canadians identify as Christian; 24% declared no religious affiliation, whilst the remaining 9% are affiliated with non-Christian religions, the largest of which are Islam (3.2%) and Hinduism (1.5%)
• Popular dishes: Poutine is a Canadian staple. This is a dish comprising chips covered in cheese curd and gravy. On the west coast, salmon is unsurprisingly a very popular dish.
• Popular drinks: Canadian’s love beer and coffee and they are the largest producer of ice wine in the world.
• Did you know: Canada is home to the longest street in the world (the 2,000km long Yonge St in Ontario), the world’s longest land border (8,893km shared with the United States) and the world’s longest coastline (202,080km).
• FCDO advice:

Hiking in the Rockies is best done in the summer months from late June to mid-September when the days are longer and warmer – often quite hot. Although rainfall is higher at this time of year this is the peak season, and the towns are busy, it is easy to escape the tourist hordes by taking to the trail.

Visiting western Canada in the summertime also provides superb opportunities for wildlife viewing and whale watching, bears, elk and moose are commonly sighted in the region’s national parks.

If you can't make the dates of our group departures, then take a private departure on dates to suit you, or we can create a Tailor Made holiday to Canada, especially for you and your family or friends.