Destinations · North America

Canada.

Glacier-fed lakes, towering Rockies & friendly cities.

Scroll

The country

Canada travels on a scale that is hard to take in until you are standing in it. In the space of one trip you can paddle beneath the glaciers of the Canadian Rockies, ride a seaplane over the harbor in Vancouver, feel the spray of Niagara Falls and walk the cobbled lanes of Quebec City, a slice of old France set down on the edge of a vast northern wilderness.

What surprises most first-time visitors is how easily the wild and the civilized sit side by side. You can spend the morning watching for grizzly bears or spotting a moose at the water's edge, then be back in a sophisticated city for dinner that evening. The cities are clean, walkable and genuinely welcoming, and the open road between them is lined with some of the most cinematic scenery on the continent.

We design Canada itineraries that balance the headline national parks with the quieter moments in between: a sunrise canoe on a mirror-still lake, a drive along the Icefields Parkway with no other car in sight, a long table of fresh lobster on the Atlantic coast. However you want to travel it, we build the route so each stop has room to breathe.

Capital: Ottawa
Currency: Canadian dollar (C$)
Ideal trip: 9–14 nights
Best for: Mountains, lakes & cities

When to go

The best time to visit Canada.

Canada runs on short, glorious summers and long, snow-bright winters, with very little in between. This is the calendar as we'd sketch it across the desk — when the Rockies open up, when the maples turn, and when the country tips into deep cold and the skis come out.

Prime season Shoulder Quieter & better value

June–September

Our favorite window for the Rockies: long days, warm weather, turquoise lakes at their most vivid and every mountain road and trail open. The prime season for Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and the national parks.

September–October

Fall color sweeps the east, from the maples of Quebec and Ontario to the vineyards of the Niagara region, with crisp, clear days, thinner crowds and the first golden larches in the mountains.

December–March

Winter is for skiing in Whistler and the Rockies, frozen-lake magic and the chance of the Northern Lights in the north. Cold but spectacular, and ideal for a snow-focused trip if you pack for it.

November, April & May

The shoulder weeks on either side of winter: melting snow or the first freeze, fewer visitors and good value, though high passes and some trails open only later in spring. A quiet time for the cities between the seasons.

Where to go

The regions of Canada.

Canada is the second-largest country on earth, so the secret is to choose a couple of regions and let scenic drives, the train and the occasional flight link them rather than trying to cross the whole continent at once. These are the regions we weave together most often, from the glacier-carved peaks of the west to the French-flavored cities of the east.

Region

The Canadian Rockies

The crown jewel: Banff and Lake Louise, the turquoise glacier lakes, the Icefields Parkway to Jasper and a wildlife-rich wilderness of grizzlies, elk and soaring peaks.

Region

Vancouver & Whistler

The relaxed Pacific gateway: Vancouver's harbor, Stanley Park and Granville Island, with the mountain-resort village of Whistler a stunning two-hour drive up the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Region

Toronto & Niagara Falls

Canada's biggest, most multicultural city beneath the CN Tower, with the thundering cascade of Niagara Falls and the vineyards of wine country an easy day trip away.

Region

Quebec City & Montreal

French Canada at its most romantic: the walled old town and Chateau Frontenac of Quebec City, and Montreal's cobbled Old Port, world-class dining and European soul.

Region

The Maritimes

Atlantic Canada's salt-washed coast: the lighthouses and lobster shacks of Nova Scotia, the red cliffs of Prince Edward Island and the tides and trails of the Bay of Fundy.

Coming soon

More from Canada on the way.

We're busy writing up our favorite Canada experiences. There's far more here than we can list, so the fastest way to start is simply to tell us what you're dreaming of.

Plan a Canada Trip

A sample journey

One way to spend a week in Canada.

1

Days 1–2
Vancouver & Whistler

Begin on the Pacific in Vancouver: the seawall around Stanley Park, the stalls of Granville Island and the harbor floatplanes, then drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway up to the alpine village of Whistler.
2

Days 3–6
The Canadian Rockies

Fly to Calgary and into the mountains for the heart of the trip: Banff, the turquoise water of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and the glacier-lined Icefields Parkway north to Jasper.
3

Days 7–9
Toronto & Niagara Falls

East to Toronto for the view from the CN Tower, the galleries and the multicultural neighborhoods, with a day trip to the thundering Niagara Falls and a tasting in the surrounding wine country.
4

Days 10–12
Quebec City & Montreal

Finish in French Canada: the walled old town and Chateau Frontenac of Quebec City, then Montreal's cobbled Old Port, its markets and some of the best dining in the country.

Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.

Getting around

By domestic flight: The country is too wide to drive end to end, so we use short flights to link the western mountains with the eastern cities. It keeps your days in the places, not on the highway.
By car on the scenic highways: In the Rockies and along the great coastal roads, a rental car is the way to go — the freedom to stop at a glacier lake or a roadside herd of elk is half the experience. We map the drives before you set off.
By VIA Rail: For a slower, more romantic crossing, VIA Rail's long-distance trains glide through the mountains and across the prairies. We build a rail leg in where the journey is the point.
In the cities: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and walled Quebec City are all walking cities at heart. We book hotels so the seawall, the market or the old town is just outside the door.

Where to stay

Banff & Lake Louise: We favor the grand mountain hotels above Lake Louise and in the town of Banff, where staying overnight earns you the lakes at sunrise without the day-trip crowds, with cozier lodges out toward Jasper.
Vancouver: A stay in the walkable downtown, around Coal Harbour or near Stanley Park, puts the seawall, the markets and the floatplane terminal on your doorstep, with easy access to the road north to Whistler.
Quebec City: Inside the walls of the Old Town, a stay near the Chateau Frontenac and the Petit-Champlain quarter rewards you with the city's most atmospheric evenings on cobbled, lamplit streets.
Toronto: We base travelers downtown near the waterfront and the Entertainment District for walkable access to the CN Tower, the galleries and the dining, with Niagara an easy day trip to the south.

Internal flights, car hire, VIA Rail tickets, transfers and any wildlife or floatplane excursions are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the logistics are handled before you arrive.

Good to know

Canada travel questions.

How many days do you need in Canada?

Nine to fourteen nights is the sweet spot, since the country is so large. A week and a half comfortably pairs the Canadian Rockies with one or two cities, while closer to two weeks lets you combine the western mountains with Toronto, Niagara and French Canada at an unhurried pace. We link the regions with short flights so you spend your time in the places, not in transit.

When is the best time to visit Canada?

It depends on what you want. Summer, from June to September, is prime for the Rockies, the lakes and the national parks, with long, warm days. September and October bring brilliant fall color to the east. Winter, from December to March, is for skiing, frozen-lake scenery and the Northern Lights. We match the season to the trip you have in mind.

Should we visit the Rockies, the cities, or both?

If you can, both, as they show two very different sides of Canada. The Canadian Rockies around Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper are the scenic headline, while Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal each have their own character and table. A short domestic flight links the western mountains to the eastern cities, and we often build an itinerary that combines them.

Do we need to rent a car in Canada?

For the Rockies and the great scenic drives, a car makes a real difference, since the freedom to stop at a glacier lake, a viewpoint or a roadside elk is half the experience. The cities are best on foot and by transit, and the distances between regions are huge, so we usually combine a rental car for the mountains with domestic flights or the VIA Rail train between far-flung cities.

Will we see wildlife like bears and moose?

Very possibly, and it is one of the joys of a Canadian trip. The Rockies and the national parks are home to grizzly and black bears, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and more, often seen from the road or on a guided drive. We can build in a dedicated wildlife excursion, from a grizzly-viewing tour to a whale-watching trip on the coast, and always with safe, respectful distances.

From the journal

Reading on Canada.

All stories →

Ways to Explore

How to travel Canada.

Tailormade Trips

A private journey designed entirely around you, your pace, and your people.

Cruises

River, ocean and expedition voyages, from the Danube to Antarctica.

Escorted Tours

Expertly guided, end to end, with the world's finest local operators.

All-Inclusive

Effortless resort escapes; we cut through the haze to the right one.

Let's begin

Design your
Canada escape.

Tell us your travel dates and what you love, and we'll handle every detail.

Plan Your Trip

Canada.