Family holidays in Canada guide

Small group holidays are great for families that want to meet other families. You’ll be in a band of up to 13 people following a set itinerary – particularly appealing for single parents or guardians hoping to holiday with likeminded people who aren’t preteens. The minimum age is usually eight, due to included activities like horse riding and rafting, and longer drives.

Best of all, a guide will steer the way all the way. They’re the ones who know how to approach this vast country best – and how to translate it. They’ll show you how to hike safely in bear country, how to set up a camp in the wilderness, and add backstory to the paths and canoe routes long used by Aboriginal Canadians.

Tailor made holidays aren’t always explicitly labelled as family trips, but they usually are by nature. The holiday company will create a holiday that suits your likes and dislikes: whether that’s swapping summer holidays for spring break or staying at a campsite you’ve had on your wish list for years. They’re also great if you’ve got very young children: you can request accommodation and activities suitable for pint-sized travellers.

Whichever type of holiday you choose, accommodation, some meals, camping equipment (apart from your sleeping bag) and transport are usually included.

The best family holidays are pure Canadiana, putting you up in a mix of campsites, hotels and motels. Some small group holidays include eight nights of camping – just enough for you to get to know your fellow campers and mine your guide for stories. You’ll usually be asked to bring your own sleeping bags. Outdoor cookouts are a Canadian must-do; they’re a well-earned feast after a day on the hiking trails or river rapids. You’ll usually be expected to chip in with cooking, washing up and breaking down the campsite – it’s when you’ll find you and the kids making friends for life. Wherever you lay your head, a good night’s sleep is guaranteed. You’ll be sacked out.