Canada tours & vacations

Most nationalities can travel to Canada without a visa but must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before arriving. United States passport holders do not require an eTA but citizens of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, France and many others do.

Travelers from South Africa, China, Russia and a few other countries need a visa to travel to Canada. For more information, please visit the Government of Canada’s official website to find out if you need to apply for a visa or check the Essential Trip Information.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it is important that you check for the latest information. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government’s foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their adventure. Your leader will record your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of healthcare around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

Learn more about travel insurance

Tipping is very much a part of the culture in Canada. It's expected in restaurants, cafes and bars, and usually won’t be included in the bill.

People typically add 15-20% to the bill but feel free to tip a higher amount if you’ve enjoyed your experience. Tipping taxi drivers and valet attendants is also customary. Many bills in Canada do feature a tipping indicator under the subtotal, which is a handy method for choosing how much to leave. It's your choice, just remember that tipping in North America is culturally ingrained and wait staff are usually paid minimum wage, so understanding this and tipping accordingly is appreciated.

This depends on where you’re traveling and when. The diversity of seasons rules out a one-size-fits-all packing list, so our advice is to consider both the season and the activities you’d like to participate in. 

You’ll be able to get away with light clothing for most of the summer, like a shirt and shorts or light trousers, plus a jacket to wear in the cooler evenings. During spring and autumn, it’s best to bring layers. Temperatures can drop below freezing, especially at night, so if you’re checking out Vancouver’s nightlife or enjoying a nightcap in Toronto, it’s best to layer up. You’ll need to take the comfort dial up a notch in winter with thermal base layers, warm fleeces and jackets, and at least one wind-breaking outer layer to keep you warm. A beanie, scarf and neck warmer are all highly recommended.

For a more comprehensive list on what to wear and what to pack for Canada, be sure to check the packing list included in each trip’s Essential Trip Information.

Drinking water from taps in Canada is considered safe unless otherwise advised. Canada has some of the best tasting tap water in the world!

For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable bottle or canteen.

Canada’s internet is very good and it's easy to get access in most cities and towns.

Hotels, hostels and cafes are usually the best places to access the internet. It may be included with a booking or available at a small fee. Some fast food chains, cafes and restaurants have open wi-fi networks available, which are often accessible with a code from a purchase receipt. Be sure to keep an eye out for the international wi-fi symbol to connect.

Cell phone coverage is generally very good in Canada, but it may be patchy in remote areas such as national parks. Depending on the service provider, coverage in remote areas can sometimes be non-existent.

Your best bet, if you have an unlocked phone, is to purchase a prepaid SIM card when you arrive in Canada for all your calling, texting, and data needs. Canada has a few network providers and while voice coverage can be patchy, cell data is generally good in tourist areas, so using internet calling apps like Skype and WhatsApp is often preferred.

If you are from the United States (or are also traveling in the US), there is often an option to upgrade or purchase a prepaid roaming plan with a US service provider to use across the border. Otherwise, you could activate global roaming when traveling through Canada. This can incur extremely high fees so be sure to check with your local service provider before you leave your home country to know the costs.

Western-style, flushable toilets are the standard in Canada. Public toilet facilities are usually available in shopping malls and town centers and often labeled as washrooms. If you wish to use a washroom in a cafe or restaurant, expect to be told to make a purchase beforehand to gain access.

In many regards, Canada is a world leader in recognizing LGBTQIA+ rights. It is consistently named as one of the most queer-friendly countries in the world.

Canada is home to some of the largest Pride parades in the world, in Toronto. Toronto is also home to the Church and Wellesley neighborhood, which is known as an LGBT hotspot of the city. Similar LGBTQIA+ friendly neighborhoods exist in Vancouver (Davie Village), Montreal (commercial district), and Ottawa (Bank Street); however, this is not to say that other neighborhoods are not as socially accepting.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex before you travel.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support The Intrepid Foundation. In Canada, we partner with Water First. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar matching all traveler donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Water First

Water First work with Indigenous communities in Canada to address critical water challenges through education and skills training programs. Donations support three of their programs – preparing young Indigenous adults for careers in their community's water treatment plants, training Indigenous community members to restore places of local significance, and engaging Indigenous school children with fun and unique learning resources.

Learn more or make a donation

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries where possible.

Canada is making clear progress on aiding those with disabilities, especially travelers with mobility issues. Many public buildings around Canada’s major cities and tourist zones have access to lifts and ramps, while pedestrian crossings often have sloping curbs.

For more logistical information on air, bus, rail and ferry transportation, visit the Canadian federal government’s Travel portal.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.