Canada tours & holidays

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.

Travellers 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 traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it is important that you check for the latest information.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

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, mobile 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 travelling 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 travelling 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 centres and often labelled 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.