Canada
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Country
Canada: the magic of the great outdoors.
Nature and wildlife reign on the vastness of Canada, the second largest country in the world. Imagine valleys and mountain slopes covered with pine forests ... A country where wildlife is found everywhere. From east to west, from north to south, you will fall in love, in all seasons, with this nature in its raw state.
In the footsteps of the pioneers, in the parks of the Rocky Mountains, less frequented than their American counterparts, the encounter with the West is up to your expectations. In Quebec, from the whales of St. Lawrence to the impulses of the northern forest, the magic of the wilderness operates all of its charm!
As for the Canadians, Anglophone or francophone, they are a warm people. One thing is for sure ... A trip to Canada will not leave you indifferent!
Nature and wildlife reign on the vastness of Canada, the second largest country in the world. Imagine valleys and mountain slopes covered with pine forests ... A country where wildlife is found everywhere. From east to west, from north to south, you will fall in love, in all seasons, with this nature in its raw state.
In the footsteps of the pioneers, in the parks of the Rocky Mountains, less frequented than their American counterparts, the encounter with the West is up to your expectations. In Quebec, from the whales of St. Lawrence to the impulses of the northern forest, the magic of the wilderness operates all of its charm!
As for the Canadians, Anglophone or francophone, they are a warm people. One thing is for sure ... A trip to Canada will not leave you indifferent!
Highlights
- A variety of trips, from East to West, each with their own atmospheres
- Wide range of travel periods to choose from
- The guarantee of a highly reliable organization through our own Mountain World Travel agency in British Columbia and our experience in the field for more than 15 years.
- Supervision by Canadian guides, true wilderness lovers.
Climate
The continental climate of Canada is very strong across the country, with cold winters and warm summers. The closer you approach to the coasts, in the West Pacific or Atlantic in the East, the climate is temperate, but much more humid.
The ideal time to visit Quebec and the Maritimes extends from June to October. It is generally hot (average of 68° Fahrenheit). The most beautiful colors explode in September and October. Temperature changes can be significant between day and night.
The Rockies and British Columbia are at their most ideal for visitors between June and September. Precipitation is rarer in the Rockies than on the coast. The weather in the mountains is mainly marked by the altitude (peaks over 9,000 feet), with temperatures varying between 36 and 72 ° F. The snow in the mountains may stay until mid-July and return as soon as mid-September.
In winter:
- In the Rockies: when the rainy Pacific winds reach the Rocky Mountains, they have lost much of their moisture as a result of their forced ascent of the previous mountain ranges (including the Coastal Range). Thus, precipitation, particularly on the east side, is relatively light.
- In the Columbia Mountains: the climate is more humid than in the Rockies, and therefore, snow is usually of a much greater importance.
Temperature and weather are comparable to that of the Alps during the same corresponding time periods at 6,000-9,000 feet in altitude. It is reasonable to consider deep snow for all of our circuits.
- In Quebec: harsh winter (with temperatures down to -13 ° F), rather long and snowy, which the Quebecois have learned to tame. But, at the same time, the number of hours of sunshine in the winter in Quebec is higher than in Paris or London.
The ideal time to visit Quebec and the Maritimes extends from June to October. It is generally hot (average of 68° Fahrenheit). The most beautiful colors explode in September and October. Temperature changes can be significant between day and night.
The Rockies and British Columbia are at their most ideal for visitors between June and September. Precipitation is rarer in the Rockies than on the coast. The weather in the mountains is mainly marked by the altitude (peaks over 9,000 feet), with temperatures varying between 36 and 72 ° F. The snow in the mountains may stay until mid-July and return as soon as mid-September.
In winter:
- In the Rockies: when the rainy Pacific winds reach the Rocky Mountains, they have lost much of their moisture as a result of their forced ascent of the previous mountain ranges (including the Coastal Range). Thus, precipitation, particularly on the east side, is relatively light.
- In the Columbia Mountains: the climate is more humid than in the Rockies, and therefore, snow is usually of a much greater importance.
Temperature and weather are comparable to that of the Alps during the same corresponding time periods at 6,000-9,000 feet in altitude. It is reasonable to consider deep snow for all of our circuits.
- In Quebec: harsh winter (with temperatures down to -13 ° F), rather long and snowy, which the Quebecois have learned to tame. But, at the same time, the number of hours of sunshine in the winter in Quebec is higher than in Paris or London.
Profile
| Population | 33 millions habitants |
| Surface | 3,854,085 square miles |
| Capital | Ottawa (Ontario) |
| Main Cities |
Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary |
| Peaks |
Mont Logan (19,550 feet) |
| National Parks |
Yoho, Jasper, Laurentides, Bic, etc. |
| Official Language |
bilingual English-French, but French in Quebec |
| Religion | Protestant and Catholic |
| Head of State |
Prime Minister, Paul Martin |
| Political Status | Federal Constitutional Monarchy |
| Time Shift |
Currencies
The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD)
Which currency to bring and where to exchange it?
We advise you to carry US dollars in small increments that you can exchange, with no problem, in main cities. Credit card payment is widespread. There are ATM machines in all of the cities; even the smaller onees.
Which currency to bring and where to exchange it?
We advise you to carry US dollars in small increments that you can exchange, with no problem, in main cities. Credit card payment is widespread. There are ATM machines in all of the cities; even the smaller onees.
Travel Warnings
As an organizer of worldwide trips, Mountain World Travel is concerned for our guest's safety and security. We always keep ourselves up to date with current travel warnings and always consider the government safety advices while organizing and preparing our different trips.
We recommend that participants consult the security instructions distributed by government authorities and the traveling recommendations made by government officials; available on websites specific for each country.
US citizens, please check with: US department of State
We recommend that participants consult the security instructions distributed by government authorities and the traveling recommendations made by government officials; available on websites specific for each country.
US citizens, please check with: US department of State
Our Story
Jerome Dubois, born in Quebec, crosses his home country in every direction for many years because he is passionate by the savage grandeur of this nature. At one time, a logger, then a miner, then a schoolmaster, Jerome then joined Mountain World Travel in 1991 as a travel guide, with his diploma as an European mountains tour leader in his pocket.
His fascination for regions where nature reigns, leads him to accompany our trips around the world, from Tanzania to the United States. But he does not forget his passion for Canada, where he guides many of our groups, on the trail of the famous "Ten Peaks" valley or in the more secret and confidential "Spotted Lake" areas, in British Columbia.
Sometimes on the ground, sometimes at the office to train a team of passionate travel experts, Jerome has been handling all of the logistical aspects of our trips to Canada since 1991. In 2004, he established an agency on the spot, along with Brigitte, his wife, Francois Gagnon, and Steve Hamel, Canadian Mountain World Travel tour leaders. This team of joined guides, fully imbued with the spirit of Mountain World Travel, is always ready for new adventures! They will share with you their un-relentless love for the wide open spaces of this country and it's ever so friendly people with great enthusiasm!
His fascination for regions where nature reigns, leads him to accompany our trips around the world, from Tanzania to the United States. But he does not forget his passion for Canada, where he guides many of our groups, on the trail of the famous "Ten Peaks" valley or in the more secret and confidential "Spotted Lake" areas, in British Columbia.
Sometimes on the ground, sometimes at the office to train a team of passionate travel experts, Jerome has been handling all of the logistical aspects of our trips to Canada since 1991. In 2004, he established an agency on the spot, along with Brigitte, his wife, Francois Gagnon, and Steve Hamel, Canadian Mountain World Travel tour leaders. This team of joined guides, fully imbued with the spirit of Mountain World Travel, is always ready for new adventures! They will share with you their un-relentless love for the wide open spaces of this country and it's ever so friendly people with great enthusiasm!
Some Useful Words
In Canada as elsewhere, it is advisable to approach people in their local language. French and English are the two official languages of Canada. However, even if the use of French clearly dominates in Quebec, it is uncommon in the West, although often understood by the people in contact with tourism. Even if the language of Moliere never did inspire you, learning a few key words can earn you the respect of your audience and facilitate your dealings. Some expressions in Québécois:
Y fait frêt (pronounced "frète") : It is cold
Y mouille : It is raining
Une patente : something
Un char : a car
Crisser son camp : to go away
Une lumière : a traffic light
Faire un flat : puncture a tire
Un marringouin : a mosquito
You can ask your guide how to pronounce these key words; your voyage will be only richer by your attempting to speak the local language!
And smile, it is often the best means of having good contacts!
Y fait frêt (pronounced "frète") : It is cold
Y mouille : It is raining
Une patente : something
Un char : a car
Crisser son camp : to go away
Une lumière : a traffic light
Faire un flat : puncture a tire
Un marringouin : a mosquito
You can ask your guide how to pronounce these key words; your voyage will be only richer by your attempting to speak the local language!
And smile, it is often the best means of having good contacts!
Respect of Customs and Habits
The Canadian society is marked by various complex influences, issues of historical tensions between the American Indians, the British and the French settlers, and also the constant influence of the United States; their bordering neighbor. European, Asian and Latin American immigrants have also brought with them their respective traditions. In spite of Quebec separatism, Canadians now form a lively multicultural society, whose identity is becoming stronger and stronger each day.
Some Advice
Are electrical plugs compatible with American equipment?
We recommend you not to carry an adapter, because plugs are 110 ones, as in the United States
What are some interesting souvenirs to bring back home?
Among native art, we cite the Huron snow shoes in Quebec and the cedar wood sculptures of Haida on the west coast.
What is the tip amount in restaurants?
In Canada, one should expect to pay 15% tax to the prices listed on the menus of restaurants and to leave 15% for service.
Can you do laundry during your stay?
Laundromats (washer+ dryer) are widely available, even in small towns and campgrounds, which should allow you to pack lighter.
We recommend you not to carry an adapter, because plugs are 110 ones, as in the United States
What are some interesting souvenirs to bring back home?
Among native art, we cite the Huron snow shoes in Quebec and the cedar wood sculptures of Haida on the west coast.
What is the tip amount in restaurants?
In Canada, one should expect to pay 15% tax to the prices listed on the menus of restaurants and to leave 15% for service.
Can you do laundry during your stay?
Laundromats (washer+ dryer) are widely available, even in small towns and campgrounds, which should allow you to pack lighter.
Safeguarding the Environment
Canada has a common border with the United States at its south and northwest (State of Alaska). The country stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west and up to the North Pole. Although being the second largest country in the world, the population is not dense. Concentration is mostly in the cities on the east and in the south of the country bordering the United States. The vast nature is pervasive, providing the most diverse lakes and forests, but also mountains, plains and even a small desert. Many national parks are highly regulated in order to preserve the richness of the environment.
Canadians are generally very law-abiding and respectful of their environment. The same behavior is expected from the tourists. Obey the instructions given in the Parks (no picking flowers...., fire, bivouac (sleeping outside), visitor traffic, etc.). .
Some advice from of Jerome Dubois, our Canadian specialist:
- Do not leave the beaten tracks, where they do exist, to avoid trampling fragile vegetation zones.
Allow a proper distance from wildlife, so as not to frighten.
Particularly observe the safety regulations regarding bears to keep these animals from becoming dangerous and euthanized due to just reacting to bad human behavior.
Canada is "par excellence" a country where wildlife is found everywhere. From black bears in Quebec to grizzly bears that live above the forest floor.; Among the large mammals, you will also see white-tailed deer (from Virginia, wapiti), the "native American" moose that lives in the woods and caribou in the tundra. You can also see wild goats from the mountains and bighorn sheep from the Rockies. Among the smaller mammals; the squirrel, prairie dog and marmots or porcupine are easily observed. Birds are also numerous: the peregrine falcon, the knight in yellow legs, the bald eagle, geese that can be seen near Quebec lakes, the loon and the big white geese that you can spot out in Quebec during their migration in early October.
Canadians are generally very law-abiding and respectful of their environment. The same behavior is expected from the tourists. Obey the instructions given in the Parks (no picking flowers...., fire, bivouac (sleeping outside), visitor traffic, etc.). .
Some advice from of Jerome Dubois, our Canadian specialist:
- Do not leave the beaten tracks, where they do exist, to avoid trampling fragile vegetation zones.
Allow a proper distance from wildlife, so as not to frighten.
Particularly observe the safety regulations regarding bears to keep these animals from becoming dangerous and euthanized due to just reacting to bad human behavior.
Canada is "par excellence" a country where wildlife is found everywhere. From black bears in Quebec to grizzly bears that live above the forest floor.; Among the large mammals, you will also see white-tailed deer (from Virginia, wapiti), the "native American" moose that lives in the woods and caribou in the tundra. You can also see wild goats from the mountains and bighorn sheep from the Rockies. Among the smaller mammals; the squirrel, prairie dog and marmots or porcupine are easily observed. Birds are also numerous: the peregrine falcon, the knight in yellow legs, the bald eagle, geese that can be seen near Quebec lakes, the loon and the big white geese that you can spot out in Quebec during their migration in early October.
