2 Weeks in Canada - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Western Canada Road Trip: From the Rockies to the Pacific

This two-week itinerary is an excellent introduction to British Columbia and Alberta as it includes a road trip through the Canadian Rockies, covering Banff, Jasper, Kamloops, Vancouver, and Tofino. Ride the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff, be amazed at glacier-fed Louise and Moraine lakes, see canyons and waterfalls in Jasper National Park, and tour Grouse Mountain and Granville Island in Vancouver.

Collect your rental car and drive to Banff. Visit the Park Museum, stroll along the Bow River, and ride the gondola up Sulphur Mountain to embark on the Boardwalk Trail. Spend a day in Banff National Park admiring the striking Lake Louise and Moraine Lake before dining at the grand Fairmont Château. Continue through the Canadian Rockies and the Icefields Parkway, stopping at Miette Hot Springs and Bow and Peyto lakes on your way to wild Jasper. Take a boat trip in the national park on Maligne Lake to see Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls, or ride the Jasper SkyTram to the top of Whistler Mountain.

Next, drive through Mount Robson and Wells Gray provincial parks en route to Kamloops to hike amid the hoodoos. Carry on to Vancouver to tour Stanley Park, Chinatown, and Gastown, and ride the Skyride gondola to Grouse Mountain. Discover over 60,000 sea creatures at Vancouver Aquarium, and enjoy the many culinary delights at the Public Market on Granville Island. Ferry to Victoria on Day 9 to see the Royal Museum and the Parliament Buildings, then drive up the island to hike the Rainforest Trail, whale watch, and enjoy the beaches in Tofino before returning to Vancouver for your departure. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Canada Scenic Rail Adventure: Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Winnipeg & Churchill

This two-week scenic rail adventure affords the opportunity to explore multiple provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. Eat your way around Vancouver's Public Market, ride the Rocky Mountaineer Train to Kamloops, enjoy the picturesque scenery in Banff National Park, experience the historic streets of Winnipeg, and see the wildlife in Churchill, a far northern city only accessed by train or plane.

Arrive in Vancouver and head straight for Granville Island. Ferry to Vancouver Island to meet the First Nations people of the Cowichan tribe and explore Butchart Gardens and Victoria. Return to the mainland and spend an afternoon relaxing in Harrison Hot Springs before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer Train to Kamloops. Go wine tasting at Monte Creek Winery, then continue east through the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies to Banff, Alberta. Explore the eponymous park to see the sights of Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, and Surprise Corner. On Day 7, you'll explore the stunning Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

The following day, fly to Winnipeg, the small Manitoba capital. Explore the Historic Exchange District, wander Forks Market, and learn about the region's First Nations people at the Manitoba Museum. Board your overnight train to isolated Churchill, which takes the whole of the next day to reach. Snap pics at the Polar Bear Holding Facility and visit the Polar Bears International House for a lesson on polar bears. Transfer to the Tundra Buggy Dock for an excursion into the Churchill Wildlife Management Area to spot local wildlife (polar bears and other sub-Arctic animals). Board a flight back to Winnipeg for your last night. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Eastern Canada by Train: Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix

Another itinerary that uses trains as a means of transport, this time focusing on Eastern Canada, covering some highlights of Ontario and Québec. Admire city views from the top of the CN Tower in Toronto, take a day trip to Niagara Falls, cruise the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, embark on a food tour in Montréal, walk the historic cobbled streets of Québec City, and embark on a scenic train into Charlevoix for a whale watching tour.

Begin with a stroll through eclectic Kensington Market, visit the Royal Ontario Museum, and admire city views from the Toronto Islands before dining at the 360 Restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. Take a day trip to Niagara Falls to see the Bridal Veil Falls and the thundering Horseshoe Falls, then check out the British-colonial town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Board a train to the capital, Ottawa and tour the Parliament Buildings, eat your way around Byward Market, and cruise along the Rideau Canal. Jump on another train to Montréal and check out City Hall and Notre-Dame Basilica before joining a food tour in Mile End.

Journey to Québec City to admire beautiful Château Frontenac and the Saint‑Louis Forts and Châteaux. Travel on the Train de Charlevoix, a scenic railway, to Baie-Saint-Paul or La Malbaie in the Charlevoix region. The next day, head into Grands-Jardins National Park to hike up the 3,215-foot (980 m) Mont du Lac des Cygnes, then join a three-hour whale watching cruise along the St. Lawrence River. Learn about Huron-Wendat culture as you canoe along the Kabir Kouba River and embark on a self-guided tour of Île d'Orléans before returning to Montréal to ride La Grande Roue de Montréal. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Discover Québec's Wildlife & Nature on a Fall Road Trip

Take two weeks in the fall to discover Québec's wildlife and scenic landscapes blanketed with fall foliage. From Montréal to Québec City, you'll board a seaplane and fly over the Saint-Maurice River, get up close to black bears, spot whales on an excursion in Saguenay, and admire the colors surrounding Montmorency Falls.

Pick up your rental car in Montréal and head for Montebello. Check out the largest log structure in the world, Montebello Château, and spot wild bison, black bears, and wolves in Parc Oméga. Drive to La Mauricie National Park to explore the many ski trails or go ice climbing, and keep your eyes peeled for wild bears, moose, and beavers. Enjoy the views of the Saint-Maurice River and the St. Lawrence Valley on a seaplane adventure. Then take a thrilling bear-spotting tour from Mauricie before driving to Saguenay to swim or canoe at Lac des Sables, followed by an exciting whale watching tour on the Saguenay River.

Take part in hiking, kayaking, and ziplining activities in Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux on Day 8 at the edge of the stunning Saguenay Fjord. Continue to Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park in the Charlevoix region to embark on one of the many hiking trails. Stop at Montmorency Falls and dine at Manoir Restaurant and Terrace before arriving in Québec City. Wander through Old Québec and take a self-guided history, food, and wine tour of the 22-mile-long (35 km) island, Île d'Orléans. Head back to Montréal for a bit of exploration before leaving Canada. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Western Canada's Scenic Hikes: Canadian Rockies & Okanagan Valley

Sticking to a classic west coast route from Calgary to Vancouver, this 14-day active itinerary perfectly introduces some of the provinces' best scenic hikes (and drives). With options to suit all experience levels, you'll spend time hiking Banff National Park, Kananaskis in the foothills of the Rockies, Yoho National Park, and E.C. Manning Provincial Park, as well as whitewater rafting in Golden and sampling wine in the Okanagan Valley.

Land in Calgary and collect your rental car to drive to charming Canmore on the edge of Banff National Park. Hike the Bow River and Hoodoos trails, or for more of a challenge, try Mount Norquay's via ferrata. The next day, you'll choose from numerous hiking trails in Kananaskis, just southeast of Canmore, such as the Smith Dorrien Trail or the Mount Lorette Ponds Trail, excellent for bird-watching. On Day 4, drive along the Bow Valley Parkway to Yoho National Park, making stops to trek a trail or two, like the cantilevered walkways of Johnston Canyon. In Yoho, walk the easy Emerald Lake Loop or the challenging Iceline Trail, a 13-mile (21 km) loop.

On Day 6, you'll have another opportunity to choose a trail in and around Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Consider Lake Louise's Plain of Six Glaciers, which leads you to a remote teahouse, perfect for a mid-trek respite. 

Stop in Golden on Day 7 for whitewater rafting and walking amid ancient hemlocks on the Hemlock Grove Trail before arriving in Revelstoke for the night. Continue through the relaxed Okanagan Valley to Vernon the following day. Sample wine at Hainle, Stoneboat, and Burrowing Owl Estate wineries and dine on a farm-to-table lunch on Day 9 on your way to Osoyoos, home to Canada's only desert. Spend three days here, relaxing, swimming, and sampling wines before hitting the road again and lacing up your hiking boots to hike the Heather Trail to Three Brothers Mountain en route to Vancouver. 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.