What does the FML in FML Adventures stand for?

Fuck my life, duh! (Only joking). In our case, FML stands for the three things that we believe best represent our beautiful country – forests, mountains and lakes.

Who is FML Adventures for?

FML Adventures will be tailoring our trips towards millennial backpackers aged 19-30. If you’re slightly older than this age range but want to kick it with the FML family, just get in touch and we’ll do our best to get you sorted! Unfortunately, we cannot accept anyone under 19 as that is the legal drinking age in the majority of Canada’s provinces (and yes, we will be partaking in some partying).

What do the tours include?

Each tour includes a breakdown of what is included in the price. For the majority, our tours include:

• All Accommodation: A combination of front country camping, hostels and cabins

What type of accommodation can we expect?

The tours focus on experiencing Canada’s great outdoors. Our accommodation will differ from place to place, but will mainly feature front country camping, staying in cabins, yurts, and/or hostels.

How does food work?

This tour is all about family-style travel. At the beginning of each trip we all put $200 into a ‘food fund’. This is then used to buy ingredients that make up the delicious feasts we eat along the way. We shop for food together, cook together, and clean together! As we’ll be shopping for our own groceries, we’ll be sure to accommodate everybody's dietary restrictions. Initially, we will have some recipe cards to get the ball rolling, but then the creativity can start flowing and travellers can cook whatever they’d like for the FML family! Occasionally, the group may decide to go out for a special lunch or dinner together, and in those instances, travellers will be responsible for covering their own meal if they choose to join.

What if I have food allergies or restrictions?

As we will be shopping at supermarkets as a group, we will have the opportunity to purchase food that accommodates to everyone’s dietary restrictions and needs. We will also have recipes for the group that can be easily altered to adhere to everyone’s dietary requirements! When booking a tour, please be sure to mention any dietary restrictions and food allergies so that we can plan accordingly.

What should we pack?

Canada - being massive and all - has many differing climates from coast to coast. As such, it’s important that you come prepared for your journey. While our tours are offered during Canadian summer, it’s important to remember that nights may get colder, and that we’re bound to get some rain throughout the adventure. Pack for sun, rain, wind, and maybe even snow in the higher altitudes! Once you have registered for a tour, you will be sent a welcome package, which will go into further detail regarding your trip - including what to pack for your month-long adventure!

How do I get on the bus if I’m flying in? Will I be picked up at the airport?

All travellers will be responsible for arriving at the designated pick-up location. The pick-ups will take place in central city hostels in Vancouver and Halifax. The exact hostel and address will be provided to you in the welcome package once you have registered for your tour. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer airport pick-ups, however we will happily help with your personal arrangements. If you require any assistance or have any specific questions regarding this, please get in touch!

What’s not included?

• All travellers will be responsible for their own flights and for arriving at the designated pick-up location.

Do I need a visa?

Most travellers need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport. What you need depends on:

• the type of travel document you will travel with;

Can I share a room with my partner?

The majority of the trip will be camping, and each 3-person tent will be shared amongst 2 people. It is your choice who you choose to share a tent with - whether that is a partner/friend/a new friend, it’s up to you! When staying in hostels, we will be staying in shared dorms with single beds.

How much luggage can I bring on the bus?

The maximum weight capacity for each person’s main bag is 15kg. This main backpack will be stored in the trailer, and you are more than welcome to bring an additional personal bag on the bus with you.

What is your cancellation policy?

Our cancellation policy is as follows:

• If cancelling a tour with more than 14 days before a trip departure, you will receive 90% of your payment back. This will allow us to try and fill that remaining spot, as well as give us sufficient time to reflect any changes with our suppliers. The 10% deposit is non-refundable, and no refund will be given on that portion.
• If cancelling a tour between 72 hours - 14 days before a trip departure, you will receive 45% of your payment back.
• If cancelling a tour within 72 hours of a trip departure, no refund will be given. As such, it is highly recommended that you purchase cancellation insurance in case of an emergency.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, we highly recommend that you take out comprehensive insurance cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, personal baggage, money and public liability before you travel. As with any domestic or international trip, it’s strongly encouraged to travel with insurance coverage. If you choose not to travel with travel insurance, please be aware FML Adventures or any of its affiliates will take no liability for any cost incurred while traveling with us.

What currency should I bring? Do places accept USD?

While most places do accept USD, you should plan to convert your money to Canadian dollars. You’ll be traveling across Canada for quite some time, so it will definitely benefit you to have our local currency handy! We would also recommend travel cards (such as the Revolut Travel Card) which would make it easier to convert currency at the best possible rates, and to spend money across the globe without any fees. Many of our UK travellers have used it while traveling and seemed to be very happy with it!

Can I travel on my own or will I always be with the group?

We will be moving from place to place as a group, however due to the flexibility of this type of travel, many times you’ll have the opportunity to venture out and explore on your own. This is definitely a “go with the flow” kind of trip, so if you’re looking to hang with the group or looking to have a little you time, it’s all good with us! It’s up to you, just be sure to discuss your plans with the tour guides beforehand.

Are any of the activities optional?

Yes, we offer a variety of optional activities at the destinations we visit. These include activities such as white-water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, canoeing, ziplining, and much more. Each tour has an itinerary breakdown, which outlines the included and optional activities. Take a look and see which ones you want to participate in!

What is the tipping policy in Canada?

Typically, it is encouraged to tip approximately 15% of your bill to restaurant servers. Of course, if you have received exceptional customer service where the waiter or waitress has gone above and beyond, feel free to tip more!

Will I have wifi on the bus / accommodation?

We will not have access to Wi-Fi on the bus, which will make it the perfect time to disconnect from your phone and connect with your fellow travellers. We will stay at many places where Wi-Fi is available, however it is not a guarantee. Many of the campsites we visit will not have access to Wi-Fi, so if connectivity is important to you, it’s encouraged to purchase a Canadian sim card upon arrival so that you have access to 4G and LTE where Wi-Fi is not available.

Do I need to be physically fit for the activities?

FML Adventures trips are backpacking/camping trips and have been designed for physically fit passengers aged 19-30. The style and operation of our trips have been specifically planned for young and independent travellers. This should be recognized when booking, however, with that being said our trips are flexible and if you’d like to opt out of certain hikes or activities, that’s totally cool with us. We will do our best to be as accommodating as possible to everyone’s needs/desires to ensure everyone has the best Canadian experience. If you have specific questions regarding this, please feel free to reach out directly!