Canada without a shadow of a doubt has been the spotlight of the travel community this year for many reasons. Rated the top country for travel in 2017 by Lonely Planet. So the reasons why you are asking? Canada hosts a polite community with a renowned reputation. Picture snow-capped mountains and beautiful glacial lakes which sparkle like dazzling emeralds.
So how much will it set me back?
Sadly Canada isn’t cheap. Tax is not included for practically all food and drink so prices can be deceiving. In addition to this tax, tipping is expected at 15-18% for food, drinks and excursion tours. However, that said, food, accommodation, and activities are fairly comparable to the rest of Europe or Australia.
It’s not all bad! There are a number of ways in which costs can be kept down here. With a sensible travel budget of $80 USD per day you can expect to cover your accommodation costs (e.g. dorms and humble AirBNBs), food, and potentially activities. This will depend however, on which type of accommodation you choose and whether or not you choose free entertainment or booked excursions. A mid-range amount would consist of $80- $150 USD per day for those of you who like to splash out a little more and enjoy the finer things in life. Needless to say Canada does have excellent travel opportunities for everyone regardless of your budget as long as you plan your trip and expenditures carefully.
When is the best time to visit?
Canada is a beautiful country and has a lot to offer all year round. Ultimately, trip timing should be based on what you want to see. You really are spoilt for choice here. Every season offers something new and different for you experience ranging from different food to try, festivals and various displays throughout the changing seasons. So really the time to visit is totally down to you.
Winter (November – February)
Winter in Canada is snowy and obviously which goes without saying cold. During the winter our beautiful landscapes of mountains, rivers, and forests become more imposing when draped in a big fluffy layer of snow. Canada’s top winter highlights include:
The spectacular Canadian Rockies are not to be missed giving light to Snow-smothered mountains and landscapes (British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories are great for this). Winter sports are also a popular choice and these can be found all over Canada, giving host to excellent ski resorts as well are sledding, snow-shoeing, and ice skating.
Quebec is also worth a visit hosting its French-influenced province with delightful European vibes. Montréal and Quebec City are magical during the pure magic in the winter months.
If the temperatures dip low enough, a frozen Niagara Falls will colour the sky during the Fallsview Winter Festival of Lights. Alongside the beautiful landscapes for the food lovers out there you can enjoy a local treat of maple taffy (maple syrup drizzled on snow, twirled onto a popsicle stick, as random as that sounds.) Or for the more civilised of you a warming glass of mulled wine to warm you from the inside out.
There are many winter festivals in Canada. Popular ones include the Quebec Winter Carnival, Winterlude in Ottawa, and Montreal’s Festival of Lights.
Spring (March to June)
This is your opportunity to spot 10,000 year old glaciers floating through the ocean. Alongside the many outdoor activities like white water rafting which gains popularity with increased river flow from snow melt-off in early spring.
Visit Vancouver’s Cherry Blossom Festival in spring, which celebrates the city’s perfumed blossoms, which embellish the city in hues of pink.
Summer (June to September)
Summer is sadly a fleeting season in Canada but highlights include the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, camping, hiking and wildlife spotting.
Summer is great for the festival goers amongst you and Canada is packed with events from music and art, to food and wine. Ones not to miss include Calgary Stampede (Alberta), Celebration of Light (Vancouver) and Montreal Jazz Festival (Québec).
Try your hand at the ultra-Canadian choice – portaging. Portaging is an alternation between canoeing and carrying your canoe overland for water and land-based exploring. Not for the faint hearted!
Fall (September to November)
Highlights in the autumn include fall foliage in Ontario and polar bear spotting. These expensive tours are well worth your money for a once in a life time experience.
Alongside the polar bears you can go Spirit bear watching. These are a rare subspecies of black bears which are mystic creatures that are around in the fall period pre hibernation. The Spirit Bear Lodge is a dedicated lodging tour operator for spirit bear spotting.
Canadian Thanksgiving takes place on the second Monday of October every year. Which involves a big feast and not to be missed!
Where to Go
West Coast
Lake O’Hara, Yoho National Park, British Columbia. Here you can find stunning mountainous scenery and mountain based activities. The Canadian Rockies certainly have the “wow” factor when you see the stunning neon emerald lakes. Alongside the beautiful Whistler, home of the Winter Olympics in 2010 with its stunning gondola rides above the mountains.
If you choose to visit Vancouver, then Stanley Park is not to be skipped. Arguably the most beautiful city park in the world, Stanley has oceanside views, towering forestry, and the delectable scent of cedar, fir, and spruce trees hanging in the air. Which is truly breath taking.
Whitehorse, Yukon and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories are the most accessible places for spotting the incredulous Northern Lights. September to March is the best time for viewing.
The North has several stunning national parks including Kluane National Park (Yukon), Auyuittuq National Park (Nunavut), and Nahanni National Park Reserve (Northwest Territories). Camping or cabin-hopping here is a great way to explore.
Besides Alberta, Canada’s prairies are one of the nation’s lesser visited regions. But don’t be mistaken, this area is teaming with unexpected treasures. While much of this region is well, prairies, which harvest a large supply of the world’s wheat, don’t miss out on any of these gems!
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