Best Canada itineraries (2024)

We’ve pulled together a selection of itineraries as sweet as maple syrup, together with the help of some trusted tour operators who can set things up. Take to the Canadian Rockies, journeying through a landscape of glaciers and rugged valleys, topping and tailing your visit with stays at Vancouver and Calgary. Dive into Toronto and Montreal, making time to stop at the Niagara Falls in between. Or, go whale-watching along the east coast, hit the less-visited hiking trails in the west and learn about the fishing villages and the traditions of indigenous communities along the way.

Main photo: the city of Quebec (Getty Images)

1. The Rockies (12 days)

This is an itinerary for outdoorsy types, a trip through the Rockies of western Canada that gets you out into some of North America’s most spectacular landscapes. You’ll hike to hidden waterfalls and lakes, drive past glaciers and through mountain valleys, and choose from a range of activities from biking and canoeing to high-adrenaline pursuits such as zip-lining and white-water rafting.

Begin in Vancouver, a diverse and striking city that has a host of things to occupy you. Take a turn around the Vancouver Art Gallery, occupying a former courthouse building and displaying 12,000 works by Canadian and international artists, or stroll the leafy Stanley Park, with its half a million trees, forest trails, lakes, aquarium and collection of genuine totem poles (erected here in the 1920s).

Next, drive 75 miles north to Whistler, renowned as a ski resort — and venue of the 2010 Winter Olympics — but in reality an atmospheric year-round playground for adventurers. Spend a couple of days biking or hiking the many trails, riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola (linking a pair of mountains) or, if you’re brave enough, flying through the woods on the Sasquatch — the longest zip-line in North America (at nearly two miles).

On day four, head five hours northeast — following the Gold Rush Trail, a highway laid on the route used by those seeking their fortunes in the 1850s — to Wells Gray Provincial Park. This alpine wilderness is a blissfully peaceful spot of valley meadows and 41 waterfalls, including the Helmcken Falls, which are the fourth-highest in the country at over 140 metres.

In the morning, move three hours northeast to Jasper National Park. The largest national park in Canada has more than enough to fill days five and six. Hike through the stirring lakeside landscape, drinking in the view of the famously blue Maligne Lake and the three glaciers you can see from its shore. Keep your eyes peeled for bears and elk, and for a different perspective take a ride on the Jasper SkyTram, which starts four miles south of Jasper, and carries passengers to a height of over 2,200 metres up Whistler Mountain.

On day seven you’ll experience one of the most highly rated drives in the world. It’s only 140 miles long, but the Icefield Parkway — running southeast through the heart of the Rockies — takes you past vast valleys, brilliantly turquoise lakes, towering mountainsides and magnificent hanging glaciers. Stop along the way in the Columbia Icefield for a guided hike on Athabasca Glacier, which in places is as deep as the Eiffel Tower is tall. End your day at the town of Golden, the ideal base for Yoho National Park.

Yoho is a Cree word meaning “amazing”, and Yoho National Park’s peaks and icefields are just that — this isn’t a place to forget your camera because there are photo opportunities at every turn. Highlights include the huge Takakkaw Falls (at 373 metres, the second-tallest in Canada), the Kicking Horse River — named by a man who was booted by his packhorse while exploring the river in 1858, and superb for white-water rafting — and the trail around the breathtaking Emerald Lake.

Banff National Park lies a short distance to the east. It was Canada’s first national park, established in 1885, and is yet another postcard-pretty place with its mountains, icefields, pine forests and high meadows. Lake Louise is a particular highlight, fed by glacial melt water and surrounded by snowy peaks. You can choose from several trails around the lake, heading to sites such as Fairview Mountain, Lake Agnes and Devils Thumb, and you can rent canoes and kayaks during summer on the northeastern shore. A gondola runs to the top of Sulphur Mountain, where there are observation decks to enjoy the views. And after a hard day’s hiking, ease any aches in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, an outdoor thermal pool that looks across a valley to Mount Rundle.

You’ve reached the final leg of your journey, a 70-mile drive east to Calgary. Soak up those last views of the Rockies before you reach one of Canada’s biggest cities, where you can take a day or two to explore its parks, head up the free-standing Calgary Tower (nearly 200 metres tall), wander the shops, museums and restaurants of Downtown Calgary, and visit the Heritage Park Historical Village (where staff are dressed in traditional costume and you can experience how people lived from the 1860s to the 1950s).

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2. Toronto to Quebec (nine days)

This trip through eastern Canada combines some glorious natural sights with some equally glorious urban centres, featuring the Niagara Falls and the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec and Montreal.

Head straight to Niagara Falls from Toronto (you’ll return to explore the city later). A network of attractions has grown up around the world’s best-known waterfalls, from restaurants to thrilling action-packed activities. Take a cruise that gets you close to the foot of the falls or join a tour that descends the rock face in a lift to allow you to walk behind the cascade of water. There are jet boat rides bumping at high speed along the Niagara River and scenic flights in helicopters to give a bird’s eye view of the roaring water.

On day three, drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a charming town at the meeting point of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. This is a town with a lot of history. It was the first capital of the province, and has some beautiful colonial-style architecture and excellent wineries, as well as Fort George, originally built by the British in the 1790s. The fort was largely destroyed during a battle with American forces in 1813, and the current incarnation is a reconstruction that serves as a living museum, teaching visitors about military life in 19th-century Canada.

From here, it’s a short hop to Toronto at the western end of Lake Ontario, where you should stay for a couple of nights. The city’s various neighbourhoods — including Chinatown, Greektown and Little India — reflect its supremely cosmopolitan character, and there are top-drawer museums, galleries and eating places. Test your mettle by doing the EdgeWalk — a walk around the outside of the CN Tower, 356 metres above the ground. For something a little less adrenaline-filled, take a wander along the Waterfront promenade, visit Fort York (site of a ferocious battle during the War of 1812), go shopping at the Eaton Centre or go to the Royal Ontario Museum — the biggest in Canada, with displays covering everything from dinosaurs to fine art.

On day five you follow the Maple Leaf Trail for 250 miles, tracing the northern shore of Lake Ontario and away eastwards along the St Lawrence River. Then shift north a short distance to Ottawa, the country’s capital. This is a cultured place, with several colleges and universities, as well as the centre of political power at Parliament Hill. You’ll find impressive Victorian buildings, the renowned Rideau Canal — a great spot for some boating or ice skating (depending on the season) — and a fabulous collection of art at the National Gallery of Canada.

The following day, move on to Quebec City (capital of the French-speaking province of Quebec), which dates to the early 17th century and is one of Canada’s oldest settlements. Its historical centre is the Unesco-listed Vieux-Quebec, comprising romantic cobbled alleys, the looming fortifications that make up the Citadelle, and the historic Château Frontenac hotel. The ramparts surrounding Vieux-Quebec are the only remaining such walls in North America.

For the final leg of your journey, double back to Montreal. This is a colourful, vibrant hub for a couple of days before you fly home. Set on its island in the St Lawrence River, the city has a glitzy waterfront of steel and glass, quaint cobble-covered alleys in the French colonial Vieux-Montreal (don’t miss a visit to the Notre-Dame Basilica, which is a masterpiece of gothic revival architecture), an enormous Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and a bohemian atmosphere among the cafés and bars of the Plateau area.

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3. The Maritimes (12 days)

The Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada — encompassing New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island — promise a wonderful itinerary featuring some striking landscapes. Explore the coast on land and sea during a tour that features a range of colourful experiences — including seeing the home that inspired the children’s book Anne of Green Gables, learning about the indigenous community of the Abegweit First Nation, joining lobster fishermen on their boat and going on a whale-watching trip.

You’ll start at Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Its Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is the biggest maritime museum in Canada, with exhibits including a 180ft steamship dating to 1913. Various exhibitions tell the fascinating history of the region, from the sinking of the Titanic (there are wooden items from the ship on display, including a deckchair) to the Halifax Explosion of 1917 (when explosives on a cargo ship detonated, devastating the surrounding area and killing nearly 2,000 people). Elsewhere, you can take a tour of the fortifications at the National Historic Site on Citadel Hill, trawl the works of artist Maud Lewis at the gallery in her former house, and visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, once an ocean liner terminal and a key site in the history of immigration to Canada during the mid-20th century.

On day three, drive two hours southwest to the Unesco-listed Lunenburg, founded in 1753 by British Protestants, with its colourful, original colonial buildings. Here you can learn about the history of fishing in the town, and lives lost at sea, and enjoy the produce of the local harbour-side restaurants, breweries and artisanal stores. Be sure to head over to the lovely Peggy’s Cove with its 19th-century lighthouse.

Drive four hours northeast to Cape Breton Island, connected to the mainland by the Canso Causeway. At the centre of the island is the Bras d’Or, a huge saltwater lake where you can take a scenic boat cruise, while the village of Baddeck offers a warm welcome with traditional food and nights of song and dance. Spend some time following the Cabot Trail, the striking highway that takes a loop around the north of the island through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and a landscape of dramatic coastline, mountains and waterfalls. Keep a look out in the sky for bald eagles, while you might also spot whales out to sea.

The next morning, you could visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, with its museum devoted to the inventor (including artefacts like his personal notebook and walking stick), before leaving for the four-and-a-half-hour journey to Prince Edward Island culminating in a ferry trip across the Northumberland Strait. Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province, but there’s much here to see. Base yourself in Charlottetown, the quaint capital with its pretty harbour and fishermen’s cottages. Pay a visit to the Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, the farm that inspired the classic children’s book of 1908, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. You could even go to the Confederation Centre of the Arts to catch a performance of the long-running musical based on the book.

Make time for a tour of the Abegweit First Nation, a reserve established by the indigenous Mi’kmaq people to the east of Charlottetown. Here you can learn about how the community is guided by the Seven Sacred Teachings. And go to Georgetown too, where you can tour the lighthouse and do some wine tasting.

On day nine, drive west to the province of New Brunswick. Here, at Shediac Bay, you can join a lobster boat to experience first-hand the life of a local fisherman — and sample a seafood meal. Go on to see the rock formations called Hopewell Rocks — also known as Flowerpots Rocks — and finish the day at Moncton.

Moncton is the biggest city in New Brunswick, and sits right at the centre of the Maritime Provinces — which gives rise to its nickname of “Hub City”. From here, you can get behind the wheel for the Fundy Trail Parkway, a coastal route that offers fabulous views, but also has hiking and biking trails to explore, a 60-metre suspension bridge, and the option to book kayaking or walking tours at the Interpretive Centre. After that, take a ferry to Digby, where you can stay the night at a hotel overlooking the Bay of Fundy, before spending your final full day taking a whale-watching cruise and soaking up the atmosphere at the historic town of Annapolis Royal. From there, it’s a short drive of two hours to Halifax and your flight home.

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4. West Coast winter walking (five days)

This relatively short trip — which can be incorporated into a broader holiday to Canada or extended with a longer stay in Vancouver — gives you a bracing taste of the country’s less-visited west coast. The stretch you’ll follow is known as the Sunshine Coast, running along the edge of the Georgia Strait. It’s a place of both charming coastal communities and rugged areas of wilderness, as well as beaches and adventure activities.

Start in Vancouver, British Columbia’s main city, and a cosmopolitan centre with many different neighbourhoods to explore. Check out Gastown, with its trendy restaurants and bars, creative art galleries and whistling Steam Clock. See the flora and birdlife at the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park, and pay visits to Stanley Park and Granville Island. Then, head to Horseshoe Bay to take a ferry around Bowen Island to Langdale, from where it’s a short drive to the little seaside town of Sechelt.

The next morning, it’s time to start getting to know the Sunshine Coast, with its artsy coastal communities, farmers’ markets and wood-covered mountains. Head northwards along the shoreline, drinking in those views and making the most of the many photo opportunities. After an hour or so you’ll reach Earls Cove, where you can take a ferry to the wonderfully named Saltery Bay. From there it’s another 30-minute drive to Powell River, gateway to the Sunshine Coast Trail, and your base for the next two nights.

After lunch, take a stroll along the Willingdon Beach Trail, a short hiking route — three miles or so — that takes you parallel to the beach along the Strait of Georgia. It’s ideal as an introductory hike, with flat terrain and well-marked paths. Look out for interesting remains of logging equipment from yesteryear, as well as seals basking along the shore.

On day three, get up nice and early for a hike along the Sunshine Coast Trail itself. The trail is 130 miles long in total (from Saltery Bay up to Sarah Point in Desolation Sound), linking various areas of old-growth forest, and with 14 huts to stay in along the way. Spend the morning walking a short section of it, hiking through rainforest to impressive waterfalls. You could extend your hike into the afternoon if you wish, or instead opt for some water-borne activity like kayaking — or perhaps enjoying liquid refreshment of another time at one of the area’s breweries or distilleries.

The following day, drive south to take the return ferry crossing from Earls Cove, and then continue to Skookumchuk Narrows, where you can hike to watch the fastest tidal rapids in the world. It’s quite a spectacle twice a day, as the tide switches and the turbulent water turns on itself to move in the other direction. Daredevil kayaks and surfers ride the swell in summer as the water rushes in, but it’s too cold in winter, so you’ll need to watch from the bank instead. After lunch, make for the diminutive town of Gibsons, which has some decent local museums and restaurants. Those who make the steep trek up Soames Hill are rewarded with lovely views towards Keats Island and out to the Strait of Georgia. It’s an atmospheric way to conclude your visit, before you make the journey back to Vancouver.

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Inspired to visit Canada but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Expedia and BA Holidays. And if you’re still unsure of where you want to go or what type of holiday to book, get in touch here and one of the Designer Travel experts will be in contact to help you arrange your perfect tailor-made break.

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