Details may vary depending on departure date. Please choose
We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
Local Costs
| |
UK |
Canada |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
CA$1.80 |
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
CA$1.70 |
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
CA$1.70 |
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
CA$5.20 |
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
CA$25.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
CA$45.00 |
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
CA$25.00 |
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
CA$12.00 |
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
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Please note: Please note that flights on the tour may transit through the USA. According to US law, passengers will have to disembark, collect luggage and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight.
Holders of the UK, AUS, NZ, CAN and several EU country passports can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they hold a machine readable passport. They must also be entering the country by sea or air on a carrier participating in the visa waiver scheme, holding a return/onward ticket. As well as being machine readable, if your passport was issued on or after 26 October 2005, it must contain both a digital photograph of the holder and also an integrated circuit chip that stores biographic information.
All passengers travelling to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme must provide their details online no later than 72 hours prior to travel. British travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely to be detained and sent home. In addition to passport information, you must also supply the full address of your first night’s accommodation in the USA. This information can be obtained from your joining instructions which are sent out approximately 3 weeks before travel.
Anyone applying for ESTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to travel under the Visa Waiver system will be charged a fee of 14USD (9GBP).
For more information, and to apply online, please visit the following website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Once obtained, the application will be valid for a period of two years, or for the validity of your passport (whichever is shorter).
For more information about who is eligible for the VWP, or any other questions you may have regarding your eligibility, or machine readable passports, please contact your local consular office, or visit www.usembassy.org.uk
Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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Visas are not required by citizens of UK, AUS, NZ, USA. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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Vaccinations & Protection
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
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Nothing required. Tetanus recommended.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Climate
May-Sep is the best time to visit, when the weather is usually warm, dry and pleasant. Temperatures can be a little cooler on the coast and in the mountains; rain can be expected at any time. Early in the season, there can be snow in some areas which may limit walking possibilities.
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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
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No hard suitcases. Bring only the bare essentials—one backpack or holdall plus a daypack for hikes and trips and for personal items carried with you inside the mini-bus. (Main luggage is stored in the closed trailer towed by the mini-bus). Bring plastic bags to keep things dry. Total allowance: 32lbs/15kgs.
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Clothing
Pack as for ‘All Tours’. Include some loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts with tight-closing cuffs (insects). Warm clothing for cool nights beside water or at higher altitudes is essential as is a good waterproof jacket. Also bring swimwear, sunglasses and a sun hat.
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Footwear
Hiking boots are a must. Bring sandals or comfortable shoes for walking in the cities and at night at the camp.
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Equipment
Bring a 3-season sleeping bag (see below), sleeping bag liner, a water bottle, biodegradable soap and shampoo, towel, sun block, and a small torch. Do not forget your camera. Binoculars are useful. Small flies and mosquitoes are part of the environment during forest evenings, so equip yourself with insect repellent—buy it in Canada—and wear clothing to exclude insects (as noted above).
Please note: Sleeping bags can be provided locally. These must be reserved at the time of booking for the duration of the trip at a cost of 50CDN$ which you must pay to your tour leader on arrival.
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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
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General Information
Trip Summary
Our 2-week adventure starts on the wildly beautiful Vancouver before travelling to Vancouver Island framed by the blue waters of the Pacific. Heading east we travel at a leisurely pace, exploring and discovering an area whose master sculptors were the great glaciers of the Ice Age. Our next destination is the Rocky Mountains where we could discover glaciers, emerald lakes and wildlife. Our journey reaches its dramatic conclusion in Calgary where the prairies that have stretched for hundreds of miles buckle up to form the Rockie Mountains. If you enjoy outdoor activities such as day-hikes, mountain biking and river rafting (all optional, walks are graded as easy with a couple of more moderate sections), plus some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, this is the tour for you. During the trip we see some of Canada’s finest highland panoramas, with some time on Vancouver Island. Travelling from west to east, without having to loop back on ourselves, means less time spent in the vehicle and more time enjoying Canada’s great outdoors. This tour will have a driver / leader. Like many adventures of this type, much of the teamspirit, fun and camaraderie is developed through mucking-in and helping set up camp, prepare meals and other camp chores. Participants should therefore be prepared to help out as required.
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Electric Supply & Plugs
For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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