A patchwork of provinces with their own stories to discover, planning a trip to Canada can be a little overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Do you want to hike around old-growth forests and azure lakes in the Canadian Rockies? Experience the maritime culture of the Atlantic provinces? Or venture into the stark landscapes of the Arctic?
Whichever part of the country you choose to explore, we can create a Canada trip entirely around your passions. You might like a private guide to show you the historic sights and culinary delights of cities like Vancouver, Montréal, and Toronto. Or perhaps you’d prefer to spend time in the great outdoors, staying on a working ranch, cruising the iceberg-strewn and whale-populated Arctic waters of the Northwest Passage, or heading out on a 4x4 tour in Whistler to spot grizzly and black bears.
Below, we’ve collated a selection of our specialists’ top Canada tour ideas. With these to inspire you, we can design a trip that helps you see the country your way.
1. Cities of eastern Canada
From the cobbled streets of Québec to Toronto’s glittering skyline, this route takes you to a quartet of culturally rich cities in the east of Canada. Whether you want to focus on their food, history, art, or gardens, we can help you discover each one in your own way.
Where the trip could take you:
You’ll fly into the multicultural metropolis of Toronto, then make your way east to Québec City via Canada’s capital, Ottawa. Finally, you’ll head back down to lively Montréal. You can spend as much time as you like in each city, journeying between them on trains that take you past dense evergreen forests and snow-capped mountains.
Experiences you can have:
You could take a private walking tour of Old Montréal’s narrow streets, where you’ll learn about the city’s history as you take in the intricate Gothic Revival architecture of Notre-Dame Basilica and hear street musicians play in Place Jacques-Cartier square. Meanwhile, in Ottawa, you could drift along the Ottawa River or the Rideau Canal on a boat to see the city’s sights from the water. And in Québec City, you can explore the local culinary scene on a food tour.
This may be a city trip, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have the chance to experience Canada’s natural beauty too. We can arrange a guided tour of the thunderous Niagara Falls from Toronto — including a cruise to the mist-engulfed, frothing foot of the falls in the summer — followed by a tasting at one of the region’s renowned wineries.
2. The parks & prairies of Saskatchewan
Authentic cowboy ranches, welcoming cities rich in history, and bison-dotted grasslands that ripple under skies so vast and dark they seem specially crafted for stargazing. The landlocked province of Saskatchewan might not be the first place people consider when planning a trip to Canada, but it has plenty to offer — especially on a second-time visit to the country.
Where the trip could take you:
After flying into Calgary, you’ll spend several days exploring the prairies of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and Grasslands National Park. You can balance out your time in the great outdoors with stays in cities like Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon. For a look at prehistoric Canada, we recommend also including a visit to the fossil beds and lunar-like landscape of Drumheller.
Experiences you can have:
Saskatchewan’s parks provide great opportunities for wildlife spotting, whether it’s moose in the spruce forests of Cypress Hills or bison on the sprawling Badlands of Grasslands. And on clear nights, the wide skies and lack of light pollution make it easy to spot the myriad constellations twinkling above you.
To really get a feel for life on the prairie, we can arrange for you to spend time on a working cattle ranch on Lake Diefenbaker. Here, you could ride horses over the grasslands, swim in the lake, learn traditional cowboy skills, or toast marshmallows over a campfire.
It’s not all about the countryside, though. Beneath the streets of Moose Jaw, you can take a guided tour of the network of tunnels used for rum-running during the American Prohibition. Meanwhile, at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre in Regina, you can find out more about the Canadian “Mounties”.
3. Discovering the Canadian Rockies
With their dense forests, colossal ice fields, and startingly turquoise lakes, Canada’s Rocky Mountains are a beacon for those who want to experience the country’s wilderness. Whether you’d like to explore their slopes on foot, by boat, or from the air, we can arrange for you to discover both the highlights of the Rockies and their lesser-known spots with local experts by your side.
Where the trip could take you:
A tour of the Canadian Rockies can include four different national parks, from wildflower-filled Waterton Lakes to the sheer, snow-capped peaks of Banff. You’ll also visit outdoorsy mountain cities like Fernie, Nelson, and Revelstoke, which combine small-town charm with a big sense of adventure.
Experiences you can have:
Hiking is a major draw of the Canadian Rockies, and we can recommend some of the best routes to suit you. That might mean a privately guided hike of the crevasses and ice caves of the Athabasca Glacier, or keeping an eye out for elk, moose, and deer on the trails in Elk Valley. Afterwards, we suggest a visit to one of the area’s many hot springs to soothe your muscles.
You can also journey through the region on the water, whether that’s a leisurely cruise on Lake Minnewanka or white-water rafting down the Kootenay River. There’s even the option to combine your trip with an Alaskan cruise, where you’ll have the chance to spot humpback whales in Glacier Bay National Park.
To see the Rocky Mountains from a different perspective, we can arrange for you to take a helicopter tour around the pyramidal peak of Mount Assiniboine and the Gloria Glacier that tumbles off it.
4. Searching for wildlife in western Canada
From whales breaching the ocean’s surface and eagles circling overhead to bears prowling through the forest and along the shoreline, there are plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife on a trip to western Canada. Throughout your journey, we’ll pair you with expert guides to give you the best chance of seeing the country’s most celebrated animals up close.
Where the trip could take you:
Following your flight into Vancouver, take a couple of days to explore this dynamic city, then head to the small town of Campbell River. From here, you journey east into the wilderness of Egmont on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast and mountainous Whistler. You’ll also spend time in Wells Gray Provincial Park and Jasper National Park, before ending your trip in the Rockies.
Experiences you can have:
During your stay in Campbell River, you can join a whale-watching cruise for a chance to see orcas and humpbacks surface alongside your boat. You might also spot porpoises and dolphins frolicking in the water and bald eagles soaring above you.
For those who prefer to keep their feet on dry land, Wells Gray Provincial Park has an extensive network of hiking trails, from which you might spy bears, moose, deer, and elk.
If a bear encounter is top of your list, we can arrange a private 4x4 tour in Whistler. Here, your guide will drive you through the backcountry in search of grizzlies and black bears. And in Jasper, you can take a wildlife tour with an expert Métis guide. They’ll tell you about the history of Métis people in the national park while you look out for bears, mountain sheep, moose, and wolves.
5. Polar-bear spotting in northern Manitoba
A furry white polar bear lumbers up to your tundra vehicle, sniffing at the wheels before peering through the windows at you, his breath fogging the glass. In the distance, a pair swipe at each other in the snow with their huge paws. If you’re planning a trip to Canada specifically to see polar bears, Manitoba is the place to go.
Where the trip could take you:
You’ll fly into Winnipeg and spend a day or two exploring the city, then catch a charter flight up to Churchill in northern Manitoba. Nicknamed “the polar bear capital of the world”, this is where you’ll spend most of your time, before returning to Winnipeg for your onwards travels.
Experiences you can have:
Hundreds of polar bears migrate to Churchill every year, and one of the best ways to get a close-up look at them is on a tundra vehicle tour. These will safely transport you across the rough terrain while your expert guide tells you all about the wildlife you spot. In addition to polar bears, you might spy Arctic foxes, hares, and caribou. You can also take evening tours to see the bears — and, if you’re lucky, on clear nights the northern lights might be dancing above you too.
Polar bears may be Churchill’s main draw, but they aren’t the only animals you could come across. In the summer, you can head out on a kayak or Zodiac boat to see playful beluga whales. We can also arrange for you to take a dog-sledding expedition through the snow with your own pack of huskies.
6. Cruising the Northwest Passage
This route enables you to sail through the Arctic waters of Canada’s Northwest Passage, which joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to learn about Inuit culture and the history of the region, spot narwhals and beluga whales from the deck, and explore the remote tundra on foot.
Where the trip could take you:
After flying into Toronto, you’ll take a charter flight to Greenland and board your ship. As you cruise along fjords and past icebergs, you’ll stop at a series of locations to explore the landscape on foot. These include Sisimiut, Greenland’s second-largest city, the Arctic community of Mittimatalik, and Devon Island — the world’s largest uninhabited island.
Experiences you can have:
In Greenland, you can explore the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site by Zodiac boat. Here, you’ll sail past colossal icebergs calved from the glacier at its base.
There may also be the option to hike across the country’s tundra with an Inuit expedition team, who’ll teach you about local plants and wildlife as you go. You can learn more about Inuit culture by attending a cultural performance put on by a local theatre group, and trying your hand at traditional games.
Whether on board your cruise ship or smaller skiffs, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spot marine life as you journey through ice-strewn straits and fjords. That includes minke, beluga, and humpback whales, as well as narwhals, sea birds, and even polar bears. Throughout your voyage, you’ll also have the chance to hear stories about historical expeditions to open up the Northwest Passage.
7. Getting to know Newfoundland
The windswept and wave-splashed island of Newfoundland sits off Canada’s east coast, in the iceberg-prone waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Besides being a prime location for watching these eerie glacial chunks drift past, Newfoundland boasts welcoming cities, moose-filled national parks, and seas teeming with marine mammals.
Where the trip could take you:
Your stay in Newfoundland can take you all across the island, from the character-full capital, St. John’s (Canada’s easternmost city), to the historic fishing villages of Trinity Bay and Twillingate. You’ll also spend several days exploring the exposed cliffs and ribbon-like fjords of Gros Morne National Park.
Experiences you can have:
During your time in Gros Morne, we suggest lacing up your hiking boots and following the trails through dense boreal forests and across exposed stretches of ocean crust and the Earth’s mantle at the Tablelands. Keep your eyes open for moose as you go — the park has one of the highest densities of these animals in the world.
If you have an interest in history, we recommend a visit to L’Anse aux Meadows. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America, and gives you a glimpse into what life was like here 1,000 years ago.
To really get away from it all on your trip to Canada, we can arrange for you to stay in a restored lighthouse on Quirpon Island. Here, you’ll spend your time watching out for orcas, humpback, and minke whales, as well as icebergs floating past your doorstep. You can also join a boat tour from Trinity Bay or Twillingate for an even closer look.
8. Coastal trip in Nova Scotia & New Brunswick
With fishing towns full of brightly painted houses and rocky coastlines lashed by powerful tides, Canada’s Atlantic provinces are very much shaped by the sea. Whether you want to photograph lonely lighthouses or tuck into freshly caught lobster, we can show you all the best sides of this salt-splashed region.
Where the trip could take you:
Beginning and ending in Halifax, this self-drive Canada trip follows Nova Scotia’s “lighthouse route”, giving you the chance to explore historic towns like Lunenburg, as well as the Cabot Trail through the highlands of Cape Breton Island. Then, in New Brunswick, you can explore the biodiverse Bay of Fundy and riverside Fredericton. You also have the option to visit Prince Edward Island.
Experiences you can have:
To find out more about New Brunswick’s maritime heritage, you could join a lobster cruise in Shediac or take a guided tour of the lighthouses on Campobello Island. This is also home to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s summer residence, where you can sample ginger cookies made to Eleanor’s own recipe. Meanwhile, in the Bay of Fundy, you’re able to kayak on the highest tides in the world and then walk on the ocean floor when the tide is low.
Over in Nova Scotia, we could arrange for you to have a private tour and whisky tasting at Glenora, the oldest single malt distillery in North America. For an outdoor adventure, Cape Breton Highlands National Park offers forested hiking trails and sandy beaches, or you can go on a whale-watching tour from Ingonish to spy pilot, fin, minke, and humpback whales.
9. A quest around Québec
The province of Québec combines cities that have a tangible European cultural heritage with nature on an epic scale. On this trip, we can help you discover its history and gastronomy, as well as explore its sheer mountains, boreal forests, and rivers visited by a multitude of whales.
Where the trip could take you:
We suggest first spending a few days in Montréal before heading to the forested Mauricie region or Lac Saint Jean. You’ll then follow the path of the St. Lawrence River, stopping at Tadoussac and journeying through the Charlevoix region on your way to Québec City. There’s also the option to spend a couple of days in the Eastern Townships before your international flight home.
Experiences you can have:
You can get to know Québec City on a private walking tour of its labyrinthine lanes with an expert local guide who’ll tell you stories of its history and the people who’ve lived here through the centuries. To find out more about the region’s culinary scene, we can arrange for you to attend a tasting of wines and spirits made with local honey in Baie St-Paul.
If you’d like to see some wildlife on your trip to Québec, we recommend searching for moose on the hiking trails of Gaspésie National Park. Its leafy slopes are home to one of the largest populations of these ungainly animals in North America. You can also join a whale watching tour in Tadoussac for a chance to spot beluga, humpback, and — if you’re very lucky — blue whales.
10. On the road in Ontario
From the multicultural hub of Toronto to the roar of Niagara Falls, there’s no shortage of big-name sights in Ontario. And thanks to our specialists’ in-depth knowledge, we can plan a trip here that also includes lesser-known attractions, whether that’s learning about Canada’s First Nations heritage or listening out for wolf howls in Algonquin Provincial Park.
Where the trip could take you:
You’ll fly into Toronto and spend a couple of days here before heading south to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Your trip to Ontario can also include time in Algonquin and Killarney Provincial Parks, a stay on Manitoulin Island, and a visit to the lakeside town of Tobermory.
Experiences you can have:
While you’re in Toronto, we recommend heading to the top of the CN Tower for 360-degree views of the city. And in Tobermory, you can see things from a different perspective with a glass-bottomed boat ride in Fatom Five National Marine Park to peer down at the ghostly relics of 22 shipwrecks as your guide explains how they ended up in their watery graves.
We can also arrange for you to go on a canoe tour in Manitoulin Island with a First Nations guide, who’ll tell you about the history and culture of the Ojibwe people as you explore.
Meanwhile, in Muskoka, you could attend a wine tasting at a cranberry farm and learn how this local delicacy is made. And, if visiting Niagara Falls is on your wish list, we can set you up with a private guide who’ll take you to the best spots to see them from.
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