FAQ
| TRANSPORTATION, PICK-UP & RETURN
Where are the pick-up and return locations of the tours?
All of our adventures leave from and return to Canada Place in downtown Vancouver, about a 5-minute walk from the Waterfront SkyTrain station. Please approach any Discover Canada Tours staff, and we will check you in to start your tour. We dress in bright green, so don’t worry, you won’t miss us!
Our ‘Discover’ Day Tours also depart from the Sheraton Wall Centre, located on 1000 Burrard Street and Canada Place. If you are going on a ‘Discover’ single-day adventure with us, you can choose to meet us at the departure point of your choice. The corresponding individual tour pages show departure times for each pick-up point.
Please ensure to plan your route to the departure point well in advance. If you plan to take public transportation, please check TransLink’s website and choose the best route. If public transportation is unavailable in your area or at your departure time, consider other forms of transportation like taxis or car-sharing services, i.e. Uber or Lyft).
Can you pick me up at my hotel?
We don’t currently offer hotel pick-up, which helps ensure the most competitive market rates on all our tours. We depart from and return to Canada Place in downtown Vancouver, which is easily accessible via public transportation, taxi or car-sharing services like Uber or Lyft.
On our Discover Day Tours, we offer 4 pick-up and drop-off locations in downtown Vancouver. Check our Departure Information page to learn more.
What type of ground transportation is used on your tours?
All of our tours are guided using coaches ranging from 20 to 54 seats.
Are there washrooms in the buses?
None of our small group buses have washrooms on board, but we do make regular stops for breaks where you will be able to use the washroom. On our larger group tours, we use full-size coaches, which do have washrooms on board but for emergencies only. Like all our tours, there will be regular stops for washroom breaks.
Is there Wi-Fi on the coaches?
We currently don’t offer WiFi onboard as we want to encourage our guests to unplug from the outside world during your tour to make the most of the adventure. However, there is WiFi in all our hotels and most of the service stations. You can also always count on your Tour Guide to help you if there is any emergency.
Do you supply water on the tour bus?
We do not provide water bottles on our tour buses. In line with our commitment to sustainability, we are invested in reducing our reliance on single-use plastics. We encourage all of our guests to bring their own reusable water bottles. Our guides will be able to direct you to water refill stations along your journey to ensure you stay hydrated.
Can I reserve the first-row seats on the bus?
Yes, you can book the seats in the front rows of our bus on all of our Multi-day Tours at an additional cost, but not on our Day Tours. You will see the option at checkout when booking online, or you can contact us directly to add it at the time of booking or later, based on availability. Prices for the front row seats are:
- First row: $50/person for the full duration of the Multi-day Tour.
- Second & Third rows: $25/person for the full duration of the Multi-day Tour.
Are your buses and tours wheelchair accessible?
Unfortunately, our buses are not wheelchair accessible. We can take foldable wheelchairs, but you will need to be able to board the bus on your own or with your group. Not all of the activities offered in our tours are wheelchair accessible, but you can contact us at 1-855-689-8128 or via email at hello@discovercanadatours.com and we will be able to provide you with more information on specific tours.
What is the accessibility for reduced mobility on tour?
We do our best to accommodate and welcome passengers with reduced mobility on tour. However, due to capacity and vehicle configuration, we require advanced notice to assess the arrangements for reduced mobility.
We will also be able to provide you with more information regarding activities on specific tours. Different activities may have variable levels of accessibility. If you have reduced mobility, please contact us at least 72 hours before departure.
| LUGGAGE AND PACKING
What is the luggage allowance for the tour?
Due to space constraints, we currently only allow for one (1) piece of luggage and a small backpack or handbag per guest. You will need something that you can easily manage to maneuver. If you have excess baggage, we offer the storage of additional bags in Vancouver. Contact us for more information.
Where can I store my extra luggage while I am on tour?
We offer baggage storage in secure lockers for any extra bags you may have. The fee is $15 per day. Please remember that we can only accept one (1) large item of luggage and a small backpack or handbag per person on tour.
What should I pack?
Depending on the season and destination you are travelling to, your clothing choices will be different. For all our Summer adventures, we suggest you pack light clothing, as the days can get reasonably warm. Be sure to bring your swimsuit, as there are opportunities to take a dip in some of Canada’s most beautiful lakes! There are also hot tubs and hot springs at some of the hotels you will be staying at in both Summer and Winter. Remember to bring along a sweater as well, as temperatures can drop at night. And don’t forget your trusty rain jacket – British Columbia is famous for its rain!
In Winter, we suggest that you pack warm clothes for layering. It can get icy and cold in the Rocky Mountains. A good pair of waterproof shoes, an insulated, waterproof jacket and pants are also a good idea. Remember your toque (beanie), scarf and gloves as well. We do rent out snow clothing if you don’t have your own.
Sunglasses are helpful to protect your eyes from reflections of the sun off glaciers and water.
If you are travelling to see the Northern Lights, it is recommended that you bring arctic clothing with you. It is not unheard of for the temperatures to drop below -40C in the Yukon and Northwest Territories! However, don’t worry if you don’t have anything warm enough, as Arctic clothing rentals are included in our Northern Lights packages.
Lastly, remember to bring enough prescription medication for the duration of the trip, along with your passport and credit cards.
| GROUP & GUIDE INFORMATION
What languages are your tours guided in?
All of our tours are conducted in English. For a Custom or Private Tour, we will try to ensure that either the tour guide or a guiding assistant is a native speaker of your language to assist with translations.
How many people can join a tour?
Our tours are limited by the size of the coach. Most range from 20 to 54, depending on the adventure you are on. On each individual tour page, you will see the number of passengers per trip at the top of the page.
What are the age restrictions on your tours?
We use charters and mini-coaches for all of our tours. For consideration of our other guests, the minimum age to join our Multi-day Tours is 6. Also, some tours include wine, cider or beer tastings that are limited to guests aged 19 or older.
There is no age limit on our Day Tours. Toddlers aged 0-2 travel for free but are expected to sit on their guardian’s lap, as car seats are not included.
Can I bring a baby on tour?
Unfortunately, at this time, we do not allow children under six years old on our Multi-day Tours for the consideration of our other guests, especially during the bus rides.
We do allow children under six years old on all of our Day Tours. Infants and toddlers ages 0-2 travel for free on our Day Tours but are expected to sit on the paying adult’s lap, as car seats are not included.
Can I bring my pet on tour?
Please contact our office at 1-855-689-8128 or at hello@discovercanadatours.comand we will be able to assist you with the pet policy, as it changes depending on the hotel/s your tour group will be staying at.
Who are my travelling companions?
All of our tours vary in the traveller type according to our Travel Styles. We have segmented our adventures by the brand that operates them. These are just guidelines for more detailed information:
- Tours operated by Discover Canada Tours welcome students, adults, families, couples, seniors and solo travellers of all ages and diverse interests. The Extraordinary Experiences are for the more mature and experienced travellers, couples, seniors and for special occasions.
- Our West Trek Tours focus on adventurous young adults and young at heart travellers, usually ranging from 19-40 years old, although there isn’t a maximum age limit.
- The Destination Snow adventures focus on winter sports enthusiasts, groups and individuals of all ages and fitness levels.
- DC Student Adventures operate school trips for local and international elementary and high school students around the world.
- You can also book your Self-Guided Experiences and Private & Custom Tours with the companions of your choice by contacting us.
All Multi-day Tours have a minimum age of 6 years old. For the rest of the tours, there may be age limitations for certain activities, such as wine tasting.
| ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS
How does the rooming configuration work?
We have several rooming configurations. We currently offer Single, Double, Triple and Quad room fares. You can share a room and/or a bed, which will reduce the cost of your tour, or you can choose to have your own room in some or all of the hotels for an additional cost.
I'm a single traveller, will I be charged a single supplement?
If you choose to have your own room, then you will be charged a supplement. We do allow you to share with other guests that are travelling alone in either a double, triple or quad room on certain tours. Please refer to the tour page to see what packages are offered.
Can you provide me with a list of the hotels we will be staying at?
You can see the cities and general hotel locations on each tour’s individual page. Every tour has slightly different hotels based on availability, season and departure date. If you would like to know the hotels for a specific departure date, please email hello@discovercanadatours.com, and we will provide them to you.
Are there vegetarian or vegan options for meals included on your tours?
Please notify us in advance about your dietary requirements. We will do our best to accommodate but can not guarantee vegan options or special requests.
| TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS, INSURANCE & VISAS
Can I add travel insurance to my booking?
We recommend purchasing adequate insurance for your adventure in Canada. As a full-service travel agency, we can take care of not only your tour packages, but also your flights, hotels, car rentals and travel insurance through our parent company, Uniglobe Specialty Travel.
We can also book travel insurance for your further protection, including Cancel For Any Reason insurance. For more information, please contact our travel consultant specialist, Sepideh Sajjadi, at sepideh@uniglobespecialty.com, or call our office at 604-689-8128.
Can I join a tour late or leave early?
It is possible to join late or leave early, but due to the nature of our scheduled tours, the price of the tour will remain the same. You will also need to arrange your own transportation.
Is it okay to book a flight departing the same night I return from a tour?
We strongly advise against booking your departing flight on the return day of our tours as unforeseen circumstances can cause delays.
Can you help arrange my travel visas?
We do not currently assist in organizing travel visas. The confirmation email that you receive from us should be enough for the embassy to accept your application. If you have any questions, please email us at hello@discovercanadatours.com, and we can assist further.
Do your tours include international airfare?
None of our tours include international airfare. We do have a travel arm of our company that can assist you with airfares if you like. Please contact our travel consultant specialist, Sepideh Sajjadi, at sepideh@uniglobespecialty.com.
Are airport transfers included?
Airport transfers are not included. There is public transportation available through TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation network, and there are several taxi and car-sharing options, including Uber and Lyft, from YVR into downtown Vancouver.
We can also arrange private transportation for small groups with our fleet of mini-coaches and vans at vancouverbuscharters.com.
Can Discover Canada Tours organize flights and hotels before and after my tour?
Yes, we can assist you with your travel arrangements outside our tours. Contact our travel consultant specialist, Sepideh Sajjadi, at sepideh@uniglobespecialty.com, and she will put together quotes based on your budget.
| PRICING, CURRENCY, AND CANCELLATIONS
How can Discover Canada Tours offer such competitive pricing?
During our years of experience, we have built strong partnerships with all of our suppliers. These relationships help ensure that we give you the best prices in the market for all our tours and discounted prices on all of our included activities.
Is tipping included, and if not, how much should I budget?
Tips are not included in the cost of your tour. We suggest that you tip guides based on the level of service that they provide for you on tour. Our guides are grateful to accept cash tips in CAD and USD.
What does the tour package price include?
Tour pricing includes all transportation, accommodation, some activities and meals as indicated. Details can be found in the right column of each specific tour page. There are a number of optional activities available on each tour which we highly recommend booking in advance. Optional activities will be explained in further detail on each tour page.
What currency are the tours quoted in?
All tours are quoted in Canadian Dollars (CAD).
Can I cancel my tour?
You may cancel your tour at any time by notifying Discover Canada Tours at 1-855-689-8128 or via email at hello@discovercanadatours.com.
Make sure you read our cancellation policies to check if you’re entitled to a refund within the cancellation deadlines. Our Yukon tours or any tour with flights included are 100% non-refundable once a booking has been made.
Discover Canada Tours reserves the right to cancel any trip at its sole discretion. If a tour is cancelled, Discover Canada Tours shall have no responsibility beyond the refund of all monies paid by the passenger, which shall be deemed to constitute full settlement. Discover Canada Tours cannot guarantee weather conditions nor be responsible for any shutdowns, whether wholly or partially, of the operations of any services in connection with the trip, whether they are caused by weather or for any reason or cause.
I've cancelled within the deadline. How long will it take to process my refund?
As soon as your request has come in, we will process the refund internally. Once we have processed the refund, it can take between 5-7 days to be reflected in your account.
| SPECIAL TOURS & BEST TIME TO VISIT
Will I see the Northern Lights in the tours that include viewings?
Please note that since this is a natural phenomenon, we cannot guarantee that you will see the Northern Lights. We will ensure that your trip remains a bucket list experience, even if you are not fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis!
When is the best time to visit Western Canada?
Western Canada is beautiful any season, with summer being the most popular time. In the Rockies, summertime is the best time to see the lakes, as they are at their most turquoise blue. We also have tours running to Tofino, a quaint beachside town on Vancouver Island.
In winter, you will be greeted with snow, lots of it! The Rockies become a winter wonderland playground with ice skating on frozen lakes and visits to some of the world’s most famous winter sports resorts. We also run ski and board tours to all of the top mountains in the area, including Whistler/Blackcomb.
Our spring and fall tours have their unique charm. Some Activities we normally offer are closed, but this is remedied by the magical landscapes and colours you will encounter, as well as fewer crowds. In short, there is no wrong time to come to Western Canada; it all depends on what you want to see.
| COMPANY INFORMATION
Why choose Discover Canada Tours?
We make bucket-list travel dreams come true. We are experts in providing the best sightseeing and travel experiences in Western Canada through continuously developing innovative year-round tours. With an unparalleled focus on adventurers of all ages, we commit to providing our guests with unforgettable, authentic travel and sightseeing experiences for the best value. Our guests are always our top priority!