Planning a Canada Tour

Amy's guide to planning the perfect Canada trip

Canada has some of the most dramatic landscapes on earth — turquoise lakes and glaciers in the Rockies, grizzly bears on the British Columbia coast, cosmopolitan cities and the French-speaking charm of Quebec. The hardest part is deciding where to start, because it's a vast country and you can't see it all in one go.

I've been planning Canada trips for our customers for years, and these are the tips I share most often.

When to Go

• Spring (April–May): a lovely time for Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, with fewer crowds and lower prices. The Rocky Mountaineer season starts in April, and bears are emerging from hibernation. Higher up, the mountains often still have snow — beautiful for photos, but some trails and lakes won't open until June.
• Summer (June–August): peak season for hiking, kayaking and road trips, with long days and every trail open. It's also the busiest and most expensive time, so book well ahead — especially for the Rockies. Calgary Stampede takes place in early July.
• Autumn (September–October): my favourite time to go. Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes blaze with red and gold, and it's prime time for watching grizzlies fish for salmon in British Columbia. From October into November, Churchill in Manitoba is one of the best places in the world to see polar bears.
• Winter (December–March): world-class skiing at Whistler, Banff and Mont-Tremblant, snowy Quebec City at its most magical, and dog sledding and Northern Lights in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Wildlife at a glance: whales on the west coast May–October and in Newfoundland June–September · bears feeding on salmon in BC August–October · Northern Lights in the far north September–April.

How to Get Around

By car. Canada is built for road trips — quiet highways, big landscapes and endless viewpoints. The Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper, the Sea-to-Sky Highway north of Vancouver and Nova Scotia's Cabot Trail are three of the world's great drives. Our Classic Canadian Rockies by Car trip is a great place to start.

By train. The Rocky Mountaineer runs between Vancouver and Jasper or Banff, with an overnight in Kamloops. It travels in daylight only, so you don't miss a moment of the scenery, and the food is excellent. For city-hopping in the east, VIA Rail links Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto quickly and easily.

By plane. Domestic flights make it easy to combine regions — Vancouver and the Rockies with Toronto and Niagara, for example, or a few nights in the Yukon for the Northern Lights.

By boat. Ferries are the most scenic way to explore Vancouver Island and the west coast, often with whales along the way. For something more adventurous, there are expedition cruises through the Northwest Passage.

Where to Stay

Mixing up your accommodation really adds to the experience:

• Boutique city hotels in Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax — central, stylish and walkable.
• Charming B&Bs in Quebec, the Maritimes and rural Ontario, for warm hospitality and homemade breakfasts.
• National park lodges — often simple, but you wake up beside lakes and mountains.
• Wilderness and bear lodges — from floating lodges to cabins in the woods, these are some of the most memorable places you can stay.

My Must-Dos

• A bear lodge. Guided viewing from platforms and small boats is a safe and unforgettable way to watch grizzlies in the wild. Knight Inlet on our Grizzly Bear & Coastal Wilderness trip is one of my favourites.
• A scenic drive or rail journey. In Canada, the journey really is part of the experience.
• Local food. Poutine in Quebec, lobster in Nova Scotia, smoked meat in Montreal and maple everything.
• An iconic city moment. Feel the spray at Niagara Falls, cycle Stanley Park in Vancouver or wander the old streets of Quebec City.
• A live event. An ice hockey game, or time your trip for the Calgary Stampede.
• Something different. A glacier walk, canoeing on a mountain lake or an Indigenous cultural tour.

My Top Tips

• Don't try to see everything. Distances are huge — it's better to do two regions well than four in a rush.
• Book summer early, especially the Rocky Mountaineer, Rockies hotels and bear lodges, which can sell out a year ahead.
• Check access in advance. Some popular spots, such as Moraine Lake, no longer allow private cars, so you'll need a shuttle or guided tour. We'll build this into your itinerary.
• Pack layers. Mountain weather changes quickly, even in summer.
• Get up early. Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk, and the best viewpoints are quieter too.
• Respect the wildlife. Keep your distance, follow park guidance on bears and moose, and use a guide if you're unsure.

Final Thought

With the right planning, Canada is one of the most rewarding countries you can visit. Take your time, embrace the outdoors and leave room for the unexpected — a moose by the roadside or a whale surfacing beside the ferry is often what people remember most.

Browse our tailor-made Canada holidays for ideas, or get in touch and we'll start planning together.

Amy
Canada Specialist, Jasmine Holidays