Canada Escorted Tours & Guided Holidays

Frequently asked Questions about Touring Canada

What are the best tours of Canada?

To really get to know this glorious country - there is no better experience than the Grand Tour of Canada - journeying from East to West and encompassing a ride on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train. Alternatively, you can choose to take time in the East - enjoying the cosmopolitan city of Toronto in our Toronto and Niagara Winter Escape or explore all the way up to Quebec City on our Eastern Splendours tour.

What are the highlights of Canada?

With its unspoilt natural wonders including crystal clear lakes like Lake Louise, deep and vast forests and mountainous backdrops - most visitors to Canada would agree that the highlight of Canada is the landscape itself. And let's not forget the bucket list experience of a visit to the spectacular Niagara Falls!! 

However the cities of Canada deserve a mention here too - world famous for offering their residents high quality of life, clean living and vibrant, thriving environments. Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Quebec are places to behold.

Frequently asked Questions about Touring Canada

The below guidelines apply mainly to the settled areas of southern Canada. Travellers heading to northern areas, such as the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Labrador, should bring warm clothing for all but the summer months (and even in summer, at least a lightweight jacket is advisable)

For all months of the year, we recommend layers of clothing. This will allow for any change in weather conditions. Although most of Canada can enjoy warm summer temperatures, one waterproof top is always useful for occasional rain.

March: Moderate temperatures. Winter clothing with some medium weight clothing.
April: Milder days but the evenings are cool. Medium weight clothing including a topcoat and umbrella is recommended.
May: Warm days but cool at night. Medium weight and summer clothing recommended.

June: Warm, summer clothing with some medium weight clothing for cool evenings. The weather in June is ideal for travel and all outdoor activities.
July/August: These are the warmest months of the year. Lightweight summer clothing is recommended.

September: Warm days and cool evenings. Light- to medium weight clothing recommended.
October: Cool, with the first frost in the air.
November: Cool to frosty. Medium- to heavyweight clothing is recommended. First signs of snow.
December/January/February: Winter temperatures. Winter clothing is necessary (eg overcoat, hat, boots and gloves). Heavy snowfall in most provinces.

In the winter months it is useful to take sunglasses with you as the reflection of the snow can be a strain on the eyes. Rubber soled shoes are also recommended.

What is the food & drink like in Canada?

Canadian cuisine is as varied as the country. The colonial influence is still strong, with European menus available in all major cities. The French influence in Québec is easily discernible in the many restaurants that specialise in French cuisine. Areas where particular groups of immigrants have settled have their own distinct specialties; look for German-style cuisine in south-western Ontario, Ukrainian dishes on the Prairies and Asian foods in Vancouver, for instance. Waiter service in restaurants is common. Dress requirements and billing procedures vary. Imported European and 'New World' wines and spirits are widely available.

Specialities:

• The hundreds of miles of coastline offer varied seafood.
• The central plains provide first-class beef and agricultural produce.
• Some more unusual games meats include elk, bison and caribou

What are the time zones in Canada?

As Canada is such a vast country (3,000 miles from coast to coast), it has been divided into time zones.

• Toronto is 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• Montreal is 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• Calgary is 7 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• Banff is 7 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• Vancouver is 8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

From April to late October, Canada adopts ‘daylight saving time’, which is equivalent to our British Summer Time, so the time ratios remain the same between the two countries.