Best time to visit Canada
Canada embraces extremes. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 45°C in Saskatchewan.The coldest was in the Yukon: -63°C![]()
With six time zones, two coasts, Arctic tundra and Rockies thrown into the mix, Canadian weather reports must go on for hours. It has a lot of it. So for working out when to go to Canada, rest assured that it varies greatly per region. Yes, it snows a lot in winter, but depends where. The Arctic borders have winter until July and, even then, the average temperature is only 12°C. But the Pacific Coast can be freeze free in winter. Head to the Rockies, however, for six months of skiing a year.
Vancouver Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
0
6
191
FEB
2
8
155
MAR
3
11
135
APR
5
13
97
MAY
8
17
73
JUN
11
20
56
JUL
13
22
48
AUG
13
22
50
SEP
10
19
80
OCT
7
14
152
NOV
3
9
207
DEC
1
6
228
Quebec self drive vacation, Canada
Gourmet food, whales and fjords in Quebec
From
£3250
12 days
ex flights
Western Canada family fly drive vacation
An action-packed family adventure in Western Canada
From
£3750
14 days
ex flights
Canadian Rockies activity vacation
Adventure through the Canadian wilderness
From
US $3230 to US $3645
15 days
ex flights
British Columbia and Alberta self drive vacation
Mountains wine and wildlife of BC and Alberta
From
£3225
14 days
ex flights
Canadian Rockies hiking vacation
Mountain and glacial scenery with flowers and wildlife
From
US $5599
12 days
ex flights
Kayak with whales in British Columbia, Canada
Kayaking expedition through remote wildlife-rich archipelago
From
CA $2195
6 days
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Canada, Month by month
Responsible Travel recommends
Peter Grubb the founder of our supplier ROW Adventures, tells us when to go to Canada if sea kayaking and seeing whales is your thing. And we think it is a very good thing:
“For sea kayaking on the north end of Vancouver Island, the best time is when the whales are there. They don’t really start showing up until early July, so even though the weather is lovely in May and June, the whales are truly a highlight from mid-July until the third week in September. Mid-July to mid-August is peak season here but, to be honest, it is not like it’s a crowded place. It isn’t like some European places which are miserable in peak season. Or even like some of the national parks. On the north end of Vancouver Island, we are really far enough away from everything to avoid any crowds. Bearing in mind it is a six hour drive from Victoria, it is a bit of a slog to get there, which means a lot of people don’t make it that far. So we never get really crowded.“
“For sea kayaking on the north end of Vancouver Island, the best time is when the whales are there. They don’t really start showing up until early July, so even though the weather is lovely in May and June, the whales are truly a highlight from mid-July until the third week in September. Mid-July to mid-August is peak season here but, to be honest, it is not like it’s a crowded place. It isn’t like some European places which are miserable in peak season. Or even like some of the national parks. On the north end of Vancouver Island, we are really far enough away from everything to avoid any crowds. Bearing in mind it is a six hour drive from Victoria, it is a bit of a slog to get there, which means a lot of people don’t make it that far. So we never get really crowded.“
Jared Cannon at our supplier, Great Excursions:
"If you want to have the true Canadian experience, come in winter. If you want to lose yourself in the vast wilderness, come in the summer."
"If you want to have the true Canadian experience, come in winter. If you want to lose yourself in the vast wilderness, come in the summer."
Toby Baxter is the Canada guru at our supplier Grand American Adventures is a great person to ask when to go to Canada: "The start or end of the summer season is brilliant. May is one time of the year when you can genuinely board or ski in the morning, then come down from the mountains and canoe in a t-shirt and shorts in the afternoon! Early September, as the season draws to a close, things tend not to be as busy. You still have beautiful summer days and may be able to catch the start of the fall when the changing tree colours are magnificent. If you're heading towards the mountains, then you should be prepared for all weather conditions all year round! However, if you don't like the cold, at an average of -20°C in many parts, don't go in winter. Also the Rockies in June can also mean mosquitos, mudslides, avalanches and flooding."
Our top trip
Western Canada family fly drive vacation
An action-packed family adventure in Western Canada
From
£3750
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
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Canada festivals & events
Did you know about...?
Yukon Quest
The Yukon Quest is an extraordinary event, where hundreds of ‘mushers’ or husky sled handlers take on a 1,600km race through some of the North’s wildest places. It lasts between 10-16 days, plus they are doing it in the heart of winter, usually February, with than less six hours of daylight, and temperatures between -10 and -50°C. Catch them en route. If you can. These guys are fast.
The Yukon Quest is an extraordinary event, where hundreds of ‘mushers’ or husky sled handlers take on a 1,600km race through some of the North’s wildest places. It lasts between 10-16 days, plus they are doing it in the heart of winter, usually February, with than less six hours of daylight, and temperatures between -10 and -50°C. Catch them en route. If you can. These guys are fast.
More Canada articles
Canada is all about freedom and openness, both in its landscape and culture. This guide aims to capture some of that.
Canada is packed with spectacular places to visit, from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic coast.
People usually think of the mountains first, but don’t forget to look to the seascapes and wildlife too.
There’s plenty of lakeside hiking, river rafting, glacier walking and hot spring wallowing to do.
Mountains, surf beaches, sacred rainforest, off-the-grid towns and choppy, whale-rich ocean.
The tiny town of Churchill, just south of the Arctic Circle, is polar bear watching central.
An exhilarating way to explore the wilderness, husky sledding in the Yukon belongs to a long tradition of using dog sleds.
Bear watching and whale watching here are some of the best in the Americas.
With lots of space and massive landscapes to take in, you can take your time here.
We have superb Canadian experts on hand here at Responsible Travel to give you all the advice you need.
This is a big country with some big issues. Read our guide for more details.
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