Crossing the Rockies from Vancouver to Calgary

From London Heathrow, Air Canada fly direct to Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, St John’s, Toronto and Vancouver and British Airways provide non-stop services to Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. From London Gatwick, Air Transat fly to Toronto and Vancouver and WestJet fly direct to Calgary and Toronto. Both have seasonal services that include Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Vancouver and Winnipeg. There are also indirect flights from a range of airports all over the UK.

Direct flights from the UK take between 6 and 11 hours depending on the destination. Flights with stops en-route take between 9 and 14 hours.

Canada has six different time zones. Pacific Standard Time, which includes Vancouver, is -8 hours GMT, Mountain Standard Time is -7 hours GMT and Central Standard Time, which includes Winnipeg is -6 hours GMT. Eastern Standard Time, which covers Toronto is -5 hours GMT, Atlantic Standard Time is -4 hours GMT and Newfoundland Standard Time is -3½ hours GMT.

All UK citizens arriving in Canada by air need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation online prior to arrival in the country. The eTA is only needed for those travelling by air and is not required if arriving in the country by land or sea. Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay and, preferably, have more than 6 month’s validity remaining.

Try and catch a Canadian ice hockey game when you’re in one of the cities, the energy and atmosphere is captivating!

It is easy to get caught out by the weather in Canada. This is especially true if you are travelling across provinces as climates can vary considerably from region to region.

Bears can be found throughout national parks in Canada and especially during the summer months. Do be conscious of this and keep in mind that they can be a potential threat.

Do not swim on your own either in the sea or in fresh water lakes as there are often strong undercurrents or hidden rocks that could cause you harm.

Wildlife roams wild and free often crossing roads. In remote areas always be aware when driving, particularly at night.

If you are travelling in eastern Canada do remember to speak a little French – it will help you greatly and add to your experience.

The currency of Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD) and comes in notes and coins. Exchanging money is easy and can be done at international airports, most hotels and banks. It is also a good idea to ask for some small denomination notes. ATMs are common and reliable across the country and credit or debit cards are widely accepted. It is advisable to carry cash with you when travelling around national parks since you will not find an ATM until reaching the next town.

Tipping is not compulsory in Canada, however, those providing a service such as waiters and porters usually expect gratuities and in many cases rely on these to support their basic wage. It is usual practice to give a 15% tip at restaurants, bars and in taxis. In some restaurants, you may find that a service charge has automatically been added to the bill so always check before paying. Chambermaids will appreciate $1.00 per person per day and airport porters $1.00 per bag.

Thanks to the country’s multicultural influences, Canada offers a varied array of cuisines for you to enjoy. From rustic burger joints and contemporary Asian fusion food to freshly caught seafood and fine dining, the options are endless and the quality high. Maple syrup, an iconic Canadian product, is harvested from the maple forests that grow in the regions east of Manitoba and is a popular and common condiment found in the majority of restaurants and homes. Canada’s main wine producing regions are the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. On the whole, the wine produced in Canada is of a high standard.

There is a vast range of accommodation on offer in Canada. In cities and large towns there are a variety of hotels that will cover every budget and requirement. In more rural areas such as national parks or the Rocky Mountains, accommodation options may be limited to rustic cabins, luxurious lodges or specialist wildlife observing centres. Bed and breakfasts in Canada provide a homely option or, if you want to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy a true wildlife holiday, there are endless campsite options for your tent or campervan – all of which provide excellent facilities.

Quintessentially Canadian souvenirs such as maple syrup, woodcarvings, First Nation artwork and sports memorabilia are readily available throughout the country. There are also a wide variety of malls and shopping complexes throughout the country. Additionally, there are many Canadian brands that sell high quality outdoor clothing and equipment. It is also worth noting that there are three different types of sales tax throughout the country which are only added at the point of purchase, however, most sales assistants will be more than happy to check the total cost of the item you wish to buy before you commit.

Footprint, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet all have excellent and comprehensive guide books. Lonely Planet also have guides specifically for British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. Marco Polo and National Geographic also provide detailed and up to date maps of the country. For further reading material, below is a selection of suggested literature on Canada: ‘

A Concise History of Canada’ by Margaret Conrad
‘The Penguin History of Canada’ by Robert Bothwell
‘A Little History of Canada’ by H V Nelles
‘Canadian History in 50 Events’ by James Weber
‘Anne of Green Gables’ by L M Montgomery
‘Volkswagen Blues’ by Jacques Poulin
‘Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town’ by Stephen Leacock
‘Green Grass, Running Water’ by Thomas King
‘The Golden Dog’ by William Kirby
‘Canada’ by Mike Myers
‘Alone Against the North’ by Adam Shoalts
‘Great Lakes’ by Pierre Berton
‘The Native Trees of Canada’ by Leanne Shapton

Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.

For current information on Canada the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.