Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you pack your gear.
General FAQs
What is The North? Who's this for?
We create international sports tours where the game is just the beginning. It’s competition, travel, and the kind of connection you don’t get staying home. If you’re into your sport and up for adventure, you’ll fit right in.
What sports can I travel with?
Right now, Free Agent tours run for hockey, baseball, softball, and golf, with more coming. Already have a team? We’ll build something custom around your sport, your level, and your travel goals.
How do I get in on this?
You reach out or apply. We connect, get a sense of who you are and what you’re after, and make sure it lines up. Once you’re in, we take care of the rest.
Am I showing up alone?
Maybe. Most people do. You can come with a friend or small group if you want, but either way, you won’t be on your own for long.
First time leaving the country?
Even better. You’ll have a plan, a group to explore with, and someone leading your tour on the ground. We’ve got you every step of the way.
Free Agent or Custom Team Experience, what's the call?
Free Agent
Travelling solo doesn’t mean travelling alone. Sign up individually or with a few friends and join a group of like-minded people who share your passion for the sport. You’ll arrive as individuals and head out as teammates.
Team Experiences
Already have your roster? We build the trip around your team, with competition, travel, and cultural experiences tailored to your group, goals, and schedule.
How do you build a team that actually works?
We pay attention. Your level, your position, how you play, what you want out of it.
What's included in the tour package?
A typical tour package includes accommodations, all sport commitments, all breakfasts, select team dinners, private coach bus transportation between cities and countries, airport transfers, north apparel and a dedicated tour leader. Airfare, insurance, lunches, and your extras are not.
Each tour is different. Team tours are completely customizable.
What's the level of play like?
Games are competitive, fun matchups with local teams. Most trips included 6-8 games, enough to settle in, find your rhythm, and build something as a team.
What happens when the games end?
That’s where the magic happens. Post-game dinners at local spots. A few drinks that turn into a night. Long conversations with your teammates, and oftentimes the team you just played. You come for your sport, but this is where the memories are made.
Am I going to feel out of place?
No. On our free agent tours, most people start off as strangers. By the end, you’ve developed meaningful connections through the game and the journey.
What about flights and getting around?
We’ll guide you on when and where to arrive so you’re synced up with the group. Once you land, you’re covered. We handle the logistics, making sure you travel comfortably and worry-free.
Is there time to actually explore?
Of course. We schedule free time into our tours so that you’ll have time to wander and explore.
Can I stay longer?
You wouldn’t be the first. A lot of people tack on a few extra days or continue their travels once the trip is over.
Where am I staying? Who am I with?
Central accommodations, close to city centres, fun nightlife, and sporting venues. Rooms are typically shared. We pair you up in a way that helps the group come together. If you’re coming with someone, we can keep you together.
What do I get and who's running things?
Prior to departure you’ll get a full North kit and your game jersey. Extra gear may also be available for purchase. You’ll have a coach for the games, and a tour leader and our team behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly.
When do I lock this in?
Sooner than later. Spots go quickly once our tours are announced. Don’t see a tour that works in your time window? Fill out an application and join our waitlist to be the first to find out about what’s coming next.
What's the cost and what's extra?
Pricing depends on the trip and is laid out clearly. Payments are split up into three instalments. Insurance, lunches, and personal spend are separate. No surprises. All pricing on the website is in Canadian Dollars (CAD). USD estimates may also be shown for reference.
Am I on my own out there?
Not even close. You’ll have a tour leader with you the whole time, plus support both on location and behind the scenes. You’re free to enjoy yourself, we’ve got you covered.
Do I need insurance?
Yes. Medical insurance is required to participate. If you do not have coverage, we can suggest providers based on where you’re coming from.
Are these trips suitable for first-time travellers?
Absolutely. The guided nature of our trips makes them a great entry point if you haven’t traveled internationally before. You’ll have support from start to finish.
What happens when it's over?
You’ll get all the photos and clips from the trip via our official photo sharing app. But more than that, you leave as a part of a community that continues long after the adventure ends.
Can I do it again?
Not only can you, but you’re encouraged to. People always come back. And a lot of the time, they’re already talking about running it back with the same crew before this one is even finished.
Custom Tours FAQs
What is a Custom tour?
It’s your trip, built from scratch. Custom experiences are fully curated international sports tours designed around your group, your sport, your level and your vision. Competition, travel, and culture, woven together into something that doesn’t exist until we build it for you.
Who are Custom tours designed for?
Club teams, groups of friends, recreational athletes who want more than a vacation. No strangers. Just your crew, competing in a new country, and coming home with a shared experience that you’ll never forget.
What sports can you build Custom tours for?
Baseball, softball, hockey, golf, rugby, lacrosse, just to name a few. If your group plays it, we can usually build a trip around it. Reach out and we can figure it out.
What's included in a Custom tour?
Competitive games, accommodations, ground transportation, select meals, cultural activities, and full on-the-ground support from The North team. Team apparel too, if you want it. Airfare, insurance, and some meals aren’t included by default, but everything’s on the table when we sit down to build your package.
How does the planning process work?
We start by getting to know you and your crew. Travel dates, what you’re after, what matters most. From there, we design the full picture, including competition, travel, activities, etc. From there, we’ll refine it together before locking it in.
Can the tour be built around our goals?
That’s the whole point. Some groups want a loaded competition schedule. Others want more time to explore. Most want both. Whatever the balance is, we build to it.
How do you match competition level?
We tap into our global network to find opponents that fit your group’s level and the kind of experience you’re looking for. Think tight games, and fair matchups that are fun for your entire group.
Can we include training, tournaments, or extra activities?
Yes. Training sessions, tournaments, skill work, cultural excursions, it all depends on how you want the trip structured. We’ll build it the way it makes sense for your group.
How far in advance should we plan?
9–12 months ahead is ideal, giving us more time to explore options and shape the trip around your team. That said, every trip is different, and we’ve made great tours happen on much shorter timelines. The earlier you start, the more flexibility we have, but it’s always worth starting the conversation.
Can friends or family join the trip?
In a lot of cases, yes. We can build companion or extended member travel options depending on your group and the itinerary. Ask us and we’ll work it out.
What makes a Custom experience different?
This isn’t a pre-packaged tour, it’s a fully built international experience around your group. Every detail is designed to bring sport, travel, and culture together in a way that feels personal, competitive when it needs to be, and unforgettable long after the trip ends.
North Varsity FAQs
What is a North Varsity experience?
North Varsity experiences are fully customized international tours built for schools, universities, and athletic programs. Each trip is designed around your team’s goals—whether that’s a training camp, competitive preparation, team building, or a full international playing experience. Programs we’ve serviced include University of McGill men’s hockey, College Notre-Dame de Montreal, and more.
Who are Varsity experiences designed for?
Varsity trips are built for athletic programs at every level, from elementary and high school teams to college and university programs. We work directly with coaches, athletic departments, and administrators to create structured international experiences that fit your team.
What is included in a Varsity trip?
Every Varsity experience is fully customized, but typically includes competitive games, training sessions, accommodations, ground transportation, meals (based on package), cultural activities, and full on-the-ground support from The North team. We handle the details so your staff can focus on the team.
How does the planning process work?
It starts with a conversation about your program, including your goals, timing, roster, and budget. From there, we build out a full itinerary and refine it with your staff. Once everything is locked in, we handle all logistics from start to finish.
Can the experience be tailored to our team’s goals?
Absolutely. Every Varsity trip is built around what your program is trying to achieve. Some teams focus on training and development, others on competition, and many want a mix of both—we design it accordingly.
How do you handle competition level?
We tap into our international network to schedule matchups that align with your program’s level and goals. While we can’t guarantee perfect matchups every time, we do our best to create competitive, balanced games that make sense for your team.
How many athletes and staff can travel?
We can scale trips for full rosters, coaching staff, and support personnel. Each experience is built to fit your group size and how your program operates.
Can you support school or athletic department approval processes?
Yes. As a licenced travel agency, we regularly work with schools and universities and can provide detailed itineraries, risk management information, and supporting materials to help you get approval across the board.
How far in advance should we plan a Varsity trip?
9–12 months ahead is ideal, giving us more time to explore options and shape the trip around your team. That said, every trip is different, and we’ve made great tours happen on much shorter timelines. The earlier you start, the more flexibility we have, but it’s always worth starting the conversation.
What sports can you support?
A wide range. While we have deep experience in sports like baseball, hockey, and softball, our network allows us to build Varsity experiences across many different sports. If your team plays it, we can usually build something around it.
Can families or supporters travel with the team?
Yes. We can build companion travel options depending on your program and how you want the trip structured.
What makes a North Varsity experience different?
We don’t just organize travel, we build complete international experiences around your team. Every trip is designed to strengthen the group, support development, and give athletes a shared international experience that fosters their love for the game, and sticks with them long after they’re back home.