Canada is a truly gargantuan country, and while its cities are just as frenetic and cosmopolitan as any in the world, its vast and unpopulated countryside, home to Inuit communities, striking blue glacial lakes and fresh mountain air, are the real draw.
If you’re planning a vacation to this diverse country, our Canada travel guides are packed full of useful information on how to make the most of your time. From whale watching and grizzly bear spotting, to immersing yourself in the world-class rodeo at the Calgary Stampede, there’s plenty to see and do in Canada.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Canada specialists
Our travel guides share our specialists' passion and knowledge for Canada. We travel here regularly to discover new experiences, explore untried areas and dig deeper into the better-known places and attractions. At the same time, we gather advice and up-to-date information on the best-quality guides, new hotels and restaurants, and the most memorable forms of transportation.
Escape the crowds: 6 lesser-visited spots in British Columbia
Kayaking in sparkling bioluminescent bays, tracking wolves with a First Nations guide, venturing into the world’s largest grizzly bear habitat… Specialist Rachel shares her top experiences you might enjoy in the lesser-visited corners of British Columbia.
Top 13 things to do on Vancouver Island
Waking to the whistle-like howls of a coastal wolf. Hiking through moss-draped rainforests in search of bears. Kayaking by fluking whales in pin-drop quiet inlets. Specialist Lucy shares her top experiences on Vancouver Island.
Top 14 things to do in Alberta
From staying in a lakeside lodge to hiking Athabasca Glacier, spotting elk and bears in Jasper, and attending the world’s largest rodeo in Calgary, Canada specialist Milly shares her top things to do in Alberta.
Canada’s Maritime Provinces
Canada’s Maritime Provinces offer a quieter alternative to the west coast. Here, you can follow coastal roads to secluded coves and traditional lighthouses. Visit peaceful fishing villages where saltbox houses line the waterfront. And, explore the area’s Celtic roots. Canada specialist Jon shares his highlights of the region.
Things to do in Atlantic Canada
Journeying across windswept coastlines on a Nova Scotia road trip. Watching crashing icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador. Fishing for lobster off New Brunswick. Relaxing on Prince Edward Island’s red-sand beaches. Canada specialist Jon shares the highlights of Atlantic Canada.
Self-drive vacations in Canada
Whether you choose a route circuiting western Canada’s renowned mountains, glaciers and lakes, or you’d rather go off-grid exploring the traditional fishing villages and coastal drives of the Maritimes, Canada’s well-maintained, easily navigable roads make it an excellent self-drive destination.
Family vacations to Canada
Whether you’re visiting the east or the west, Canada offers a wealth of things to do for families, from helicopter rides over Niagara Falls to whale watching around Vancouver Island. Canada specialist Kayleigh outlines her ideas for a memorable family vacation in Canada.
Polar bear watching in Canada
Churchill in northern Canada is known as the polar bear capital of the world. Every year, hundreds of bears congregate around nearby Hudson Bay waiting for the water to ice over so they can hunt seals. Canada specialist Emily shares the best ways to see them.
Canada & Alaska rail journeys
The vast wilds of Canada and Alaska were tamed by rail, and even now the land is crossed by some of the world’s most iconic rail journeys. Here we showcase some of the best.
Canada self-drive vacations: Ontario and Québec
By self-driving in Canada’s Ontario and Québec provinces, you can explore peaceful parks filled with wildlife, secluded towns and villages, and multicultural cities at your own pace. Canada specialist Rebecca shares her ideas for self-drive routes that take in the best of each province.
Self-driving in western Canada
Canada specialists Kerry and Annie share their tried-and-tested self-drive routes in western Canada. You might want to follow a lesser-known loop through the Canadian Rockies, detouring to the Okanagan wine region. Or, take in British Columbia’s coastline and Vancouver Island.
Highlights of the Canadian Rockies
With glacier-fed lakes, thick pine forests and sharp, triangular mountains, the Canadian Rockies are a true wilderness area. Activities can include hiking, canoeing and visiting glaciers. Canada specialist Emily explains how you can make the most of your trip to the Rockies.
Highlights of Ontario
Ontario offers forested landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and First Nations culture in a relatively compact area. Canada specialist Kayleigh outlines the region’s highlights, from touring Toronto’s markets to canoeing in Algonquin Provincial Park.
Cruises in Canada
Whether you’re embarking on an expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage or sailing along British Columbia’s untamed coastline aboard a luxury catamaran, exploring Canada by water can be the most rewarding way to experience the country. Our team share the best Canada cruise routes.
How to see the northern lights in Canada and Alaska
Elusive, silent and celestial, the aurora borealis is a spectacle that few get to witness. Specialist, and cold-weather enthusiast, Lucy discusses the northern lights in Canada or Alaska and suggests the best lodges to stay in to improve your chances.
Honeymoons in Canada
Country specialist, Caroline, picks some of her top places to stay and things to do on honeymoon in Canada. Her highlights include where to spot Canada’s wildlife, taking a food tour in Vancouver, finding seclusion in the Rockies and staying on an authentic ranch.
In the path of the grizzly: bear watching in Canada
Canada is well-known for its wildlife, but the stars of the show are arguably its resident bears. These often solitary creatures can be difficult to find, but our Canada specialists can recommend intimate bear-watching experiences that allow you to see them in their natural habitat.
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies
There are literally hundreds of hiking and walking trails in Canada's Rocky Mountains, appealing to all levels of fitness. Here we pick out some of the best places for you to put on your walking boots and experience the Rocky Mountains at your own pace.
Self-driving in the Yukon: chasing the ghost of the Gold Rush
Canada specialist Jon shares his tried-and-tested route for exploring the Yukon by car. He also suggests things to see and do along the way to make the most of your trip, from visiting time-frozen towns to hiking in lake-strewn parks.
Highlights of Québec: La Belle Province
With a character that’s distinct from the rest of Canada due to its French influences, Québec feels like its own country. Here, Canada specialist Jon shares what to see and do in the province, from historic cities to sleepy villages and whale-rich fjords.
Walking vacations in Canada
If you're planning a tailor-made walking vacation in Canada our specialists can advise on the best places to visit and where to stay to get the most out of your trip. Canada is also home to one of the most exhilarating forms of walking vacation — the heli-hike.
Active vacations in Canada: our pick of experiences
Hiking among mountains, rafting along rushing rivers, and spotting bears by land and water — the lure of the outdoors, whether in wilderness or a city, makes it almost impossible not to have an active trip when in Canada. We share our top active experiences.
Canada's Arctic, the Yukon & Prairie Provinces
Canada's northernmost territory is a remote and starkly beautiful landscape. We can recommend lodges or expedition cruises to provide the best opportunities of seeing wildlife and exploring the highlights of this spectacular wilderness.
British Columbia travel guide: a pathway to nature
Bear watching, waterfall chasing, and cities surrounded by water and mountains… in British Columbia, you can effortlessly reconnect with nature. Canada specialist Joe shares his highlights of the province, from embracing outdoor adventure to exploring First Nations culture.
Driving the Icefields Parkway: what to see and where to stop
One of Canada’s most celebrated scenic drives, the Icefields Parkway runs through the Rockies between Jasper and Lake Louise. With so much to see and do along the route, specialist Jamie shares her tried-and-tested highlights, from waterfall hikes to elevated viewpoints.
Luxury vacations in Canada: heli-hiking, glamping and ranch stays
Canada may be associated with log cabins and the simple pleasures of the great outdoors, but there are ways to add a touch of luxury to your trip. Our Canada specialists highlight places and experiences with a more exclusive feel.
Top 10 hidden highlights of Canada
Everyone’s heard of Canada’s lakes and mountains, but how about its vineyards, Badlands, prairies, and sand dunes? We share ten ways to experience a different side to the country, from fossil hunting and wine tasting to lighthouse and ranch stays.
A guide to Indigenous culture in Canada
With an Indigenous population of some 634 different First Nations alongside Inuit and Métis peoples, Canada is a diverse nation, but it can be difficult to know how to explore its rich mix of cultures authentically and sensitively. We share our recommendations.
Combining Canada & Alaska: 5 multi-destination trips
Discover Canada’s cosmopolitan cities before heading out into the vast Alaskan wilderness. Take a cruise through the ice-strewn waters linking the two destinations. Explore their shared gold-rush past in historic frontier towns. Audley specialist Jon shares his top trips combining Canada and Alaska.
Winter in Canada for families
Canada specialist and former Banff National Park resident Lucy explains why she thinks winter is the best time to visit this vast and varied country. She also shares her suggestions for the best places to go in the winter as a family.
When to visit Alberta: a seasonal guide
Having spent two years living in and exploring Alberta, Canada specialist Grace shares her highlights of the province’s distinct seasons, from turquoise lakes in spring to ice climbing in winter, to help you decide when to visit.
Top 12 wildlife experiences in Canada
Polar bears hunting from drifting ice floes, puffins zipping by wind-whipped sea stacks, choruses of wolves howling at star-speckled skies… Specialist Hollie shares her top picks for experiencing Canada’s wildlife.
Top 10 trips to Canada
Tasting your way around historic and multicultural cities, cruising waters dotted with icebergs and whales, searching for polar bears in the tundra — where will your trip to Canada take you? We’ve gathered our specialists’ top tour ideas to help you choose.
5 active winter experiences in Canada
It’s cold and snowy, yes, but that’s why Canada’s winter is ideal for trying some of the country’s more active experiences. Pedal an e-fat bike through wintry landscapes or climb a frozen waterfall. Specialists Lucy and Nathalie share their chosen activities.
Top things to do in Saskatchewan
Bison-studded prairies, the pomp and ceremony of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police parade, cattle wrangling on a ranch, or exploring what went on in Moose Jaw’s underground labyrinth… discover five of the best things to see and do in Saskatchewan.
A practical guide to winter in Canada
When preparing for a trip to Canada in the winter, it’s important to ensure that you’ve packed all the right things. Here, Canada specialist Lucy suggests what you should pack to help you to stay warm and enjoy your holiday to the fullest.
