Discover Canada

Canada is the world's second largest country covering an area of almost 10 million sq km. It is situated north of the USA and extends 7700 km from the Pacific west coast to the Atlantic east. The 30 million strong population is a multi-cultural society of native Canadian, French and British people who are mainly concentrated along the southern border regions leaving much of this vast nation uninhabited and unspoilt. The diversity of Canada's natural environments is unbelievable, ranging from Arctic tundra in the far north, across prairies, lakes and mountains to rainforest, desert, fjords and lush orchards in the south. The Rocky Mountains are a major geographical feature of Western Canada while the east is home to many of the country's larger cities, as well as its most visited natural phenomena, Niagara Falls. The ancient glacial landscape of the Canadian Shield covers much of the northern territories, the furthest parts of which remain frozen almost permanently, and the abundance of mountain scenery provides endless holiday opportunities for skiing enthusiasts, with top quality facilities and homes and chalets catering specifically for winter activity vacations.

Canada is a country of scenic beauty, interesting culture and dynamic cities. While the archetypal image of Canada as a snowy mountain-clad country is true of many regions, many visitors are surprised to learn that Canada also boasts wide sandy beaches, sky-scraper filled, bustling cities and lush forests.

The climate in Canada is largely influenced by latitude in that the further north you travel, the colder it becomes, with more than two-thirds of the country experiencing long, hard winters. Average January temperatures can plunge to -18 degrees Celsius, meaning that July and August are the warmest months, especially in the south when the mercury climbs to the upper 20's. Both western and eastern coasts can be wet during winter months, while the prairies of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and eastern Alberta are dry all year. Obviously, timing a holiday in Canada depends on individual requirements, so freezing temperatures won't be a problem if you're looking for a self catering chalet in British Columbia from where you intend to make full use of the ski slopes! For touring vacations, late spring, summer and autumn are the ideal times to investigate the breathtaking extent of Canada's natural history and cultural heritage, with something to appeal to people of all ages and physical capabilities.

Getting There
Canada is very well connected to the rest of the world. Flights from many cities around the world are quite frequent and usually quite cheap. Canada is also accessible by land using car, bus or train. Some ferry services on the coasts from the USA operate routes into Canada and cruise ships and freighters also carry passengers which stop at selected Canadian ports.

By Air
Major airports in Canada include Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. However, connecting flights and some times direct flights can be obtained to many other Canadian cities. Most flights to other cities require a connection in Toronto or Vancouver, or you can fly via the USA.

By Land
Bus, train and car access are all available for entry into Canada. The Greyhound bus service provides service across the border from the USA into Canada with many routes operating regularly to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Trains from New York connect Montreal in just over 10 hours going through Niagara Falls. Chicago trains go to Toronto and on the west of Canada, Vancouver is connected by trains from Seattle in just 4 hours.

There are many places to drive across the border from the USA into Canada. Highways from the USA connect with Canadian highways and eventually to the Trans Canada Highway.
During holidays and warm weekends the border crossings can be very busy. Less popular crossing points are usually quiet all year around but this can lead to over cautious border security.

By Sea
Ferries provide links from the USA to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on the Atlantic coast and to Victoria and Vancouver on the Pacific coast. Ferries operate regularly and offer an often quicker way of crossing the border, especially from Nova Scotia.
Two ferry routes link Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Portland and Bar Harbor in Maine, USA. A ferry from Deer Island, New Brunswick runs to Eastport, Maine, USA.