16 Days in Canada - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Cross-Canada Train Journey: From Vancouver to Montréal

Experience the highlights of Canada's cuisine, cities, and diverse landscapes on this Vancouver to Montréal train trip. Travelers looking for a balance of outdoor adventures and urban exploration will enjoy tasting tours of Granville Island and Jean-Talon Market, a hike through Maligne Canyon, a relaxing soak at Miette Hot Springs, a zipline ride over Niagara Falls, and guided walking tours in Old Québec and Old Montréal. The train journey and private transfers ensure you can sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Get your first taste of the West Coast's city of Vancouver, including fresh seafood, with a guided foodie tour of Granville Island, followed by a helicopter ride offering city, mountain, and fjords views. From there, you'll board an overnight train to Jasper, Alberta, where you'll hike through Maligne Canyon and unwind in the natural pools at Miette Hot Springs. Then, you'll travel cross country by train—passing diverse terrain such as prairies, forests, and lakes—to Toronto, Ontario. Here, a guided tour leads you to some of the city's top spots, like the St. Lawrence Market, where you can sample butter tarts and other local favorites.

Next, you're off to Niagara Falls for a boat tour (yes, you'll be in the splash zone!) and a zipline ride over the thundering waters. Return to Toronto and catch your train to Ottawa, where you'll learn about the historic locks on a cruise down the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal. Board another train to French-speaking Québec, passing small villages and countryside hills before reaching Québec City. You'll have time to stroll the cobblestone streets and shop the Petit Champlain boutiques before taking the train to Montréal. Lastly, you'll savor maple syrup, artisanal cheese, and more on a food tour of Jean-Talon Market. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Road Trip Across British Columbia & Alberta: Vancouver, Whistler, Kamloops, Jasper, Banff & Kelowna

This Alberta and British Columbia road trip is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who want to focus their time on the west coast. You'll go whale watching in Vancouver, take a guided walk on the Horstman Glacier, hike the Cinnamon Ridge Hoodoos Trail, spot moose and other wildlife in Jasper National Park, follow a tea house trail along glacial lakes near Lake Lousie, embark on a guided evening walk to see nocturnal creatures in Banff, visit the Athabasca Glacier, and kayak in Kelowna. There'll be opportunities throughout the trip to relax and savor local culinary delights, such as sockeye salmon in Kamloops and Okanagan wine in Kelowna.

On arrival, get a birdseye view of Vancouver with a seaplane tour, then hop aboard a catamaran for a whale watching cruise. Afterward, hit the road northeast to Whistler, where a helicopter ride over the snowcapped peaks awaits you. You'll also enjoy a restaurant-hopping foodie tour and free time to take a guided walk on the Horstman Glacier. Then, drive to Kamloops to hike amid the rock spires of the Cinnamon Ridge Hoodoos Trail and refuel on local sockeye salmon. Continue into Alberta to Jasper, where you can take in views of Athabasca Glacier on a trek along Wilcox Pass and spot moose in Jasper National Park.

On Day 9, you'll drive to Lake Louise to trek to a tea house, enjoying views of the iconic glacial lake along the trail. Your adventures continue in Banff with an evening walking tour to see owls and other nocturnal creatures. You'll also have time for a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain and a day trip to see the 1,260-foot (384 m) tall Takkakaw Falls. Following this, you'll head to Columbia Icefield and venture to the Athabasca Glacier aboard the rugged Ice Explorer vehicle. Round out your trip with wine tasting and kayaking in Kelowna, back in British Columbia, before returning your rental car to Vancouver. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Self-Drive Eastern Canada Highlights: Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montréal, Mont-Tremblant, Québec City & Charlevoix

Travelers interested in the food, culture, and adventures of Eastern Canada can embark on an Ontario and Québec road trip. Highlights include a boat tour at Niagara Falls, sampling street eats in Toronto's Kensington Market, tasting poutine in Montréal's Mile End, ziplining down Mont-Tremblant, hiking in Jacques-Cartier National Park, biking around Île d'Orléans, whale watching in Charlevoix, and learning about maple syrup production at a "sugar shack" in the forest. 

On arrival in Toronto, Ontario, you'll have free time to explore, perhaps browsing First Nations artifacts at the Royal Ontario Museum downtown and visiting Casa Loma uptown, North America's only castle. Next, you'll drive to Niagara Falls for a boat ride to the roaring Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the three falls here. Then, you're off to the Niagara Peninsula to sample the region's ice wine at a local vineyard before heading east to Montréal, Québec. A local expert will guide you to some popular eats, such as poutine (fries topped with cheese curds and gravy) and smoked meat sandwiches, on a food tour of Mile End.

Continue to Mont-Tremblant on Day 7 for a gondola ride to the mountain's summit and a zipline ride down. Then, you'll drive to Québec City, your base, for a hike in Jacques-Cartier National Park and a day trip to idyllic Île d'Orléans. The latter offers the chance to bike around the islet, sampling local cheese and produce from roadside vendors. Afterward, make your way back to Montréal, stopping to see the 272-foot tall (83 m) cascade at Montmorency Falls and do some whale watching on the Saguenay River. Cap off your trip with a tour and tasting at a "sugar shack," a forest cabin where maple syrup is produced. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Winter Adventures in Canada's Yukon & Alberta: Whitehorse, Calgary, Banff & Jasper

Experience Canada's winter wonderland on this active Yukon and Alberta tour. In the Yukon, you'll go dogsledding and chase the northern lights in Whitehorse, learn about First Nations at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, and try your hand at ice fishing with a local expert while in Alberta, take an ice walk through Johnston Canyon, go snow tubing at Mount Norquay Ski Resort, embark on a sleigh ride through Bow River Valley, enjoy two days of skiing or snowboarding in Banff, and warm up with a relaxing dip at the Miette Hot Springs. This trip is best for those who prefer a slower pace and cold weather activities. 

Kick off your winter adventures in Whitehorse, Yukon, with a dogsledding excursion and an evening under the northern lights. Next, you'll spend a morning snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, then search for elk, bison, and other animals on a guided tour of Yukon Wildlife Preserve. The following day, you'll have the chance to engage with First Nations culture through exhibits, performances, or interactive workshops at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. You'll also have time for an ice fishing excursion on a frozen lake and a soak in the Takhini Hot Springs before catching your flight to Calgary, Alberta, on Day 6. 

Feast on Arctic char while taking in city views at Sky 360, a revolving restaurant atop Calgary Tower. In the morning, drive to Banff for a helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies and an ice walk on the frozen Johnston Creek. Then it's time to hit the slopes—first, for some tubing at Mount Norquay Ski Resort, and then for two days of skiing or snowboarding at Sunshine Village or Nakiska Ski Area. Continue to Jasper, where you'll visit frozen waterfalls in Maligne Canyon and unwind at the Miette Hot Springs. Finally, you'll return to Calgary and scout souvenirs at the Calgary Farmers' Market before departure. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Canada Scenic Rail Adventure: Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Winnipeg & Churchill

Adventurers keen on culture and nature should opt for this Canadian rail itinerary that takes you off the beaten path to Manitoba's Churchill, an Arctic port town. You'll learn about Vancouver's multicultural influences through its restaurants and museums, take a treetop walk at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, get acquainted with Secwépemc traditions in Kamloops, ride horseback in Banff, trek along glacial lakes in Yoho National Park, and, best of all, search for polar bears and northern lights in Churchill. 

Your first stop is Vancouver, where you'll experience some of the area's multicultural influences with a wander (and dim sum!) in Chinatown and a visit to the Quw'utsun Syuw'entst Lelum' Culture and Education Centre, home to Cowichan cultural exhibits. Then, ride a gondola up Grouse Mountain for panoramic views of Vancouver before taking a treetop walk at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. A two-day journey on the Rocky Mountaineer train brings you to Kamloops, where you'll hike the Cinnamon Ridge Hoodoos Trail and learn about Secwépemc traditions at the Secwépemc Museum & Heritage Park.

Back on the train, you'll head to Banff for a horseback ride on the Sundance Loop, with views of Bow River's blue-green waters. Then, join a guided walk in Yoho National Park for more photo ops with glittering glacial lakes before flying to Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital city. Browse First Nations and LGBTQ+ exhibits at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, then indulge in some souvenir shopping and food stall hopping in Forks Market. Your grand finale awaits in the northern town of Churchill, where you'll watch for polar bears on a tundra buggy excursion by day and search for the northern lights by night. Learn more

More Great Canada Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Canada? Check out these other Canada itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.