Stepping into Canada welcomes you to a vastness that can’t be conveyed on paper. In the West, mountains tower upwards, backed by endless night skies illuminated by stars — open roads lead you into their depths, and train tracks cut silently through their backcountry. In the East, lakes stretch as wide as seas and are surrounded by thousands of miles of untouched woodland. In the North, plant life is low to the ground in starkly captivating tundra, and the Northern Lights dance in the sky.
In 2025, we continue to yearn for a more intentional kind of travel — one that offers intimate experiences as opposed to over-tourism and a slower pace rather than the urgency that comes with day-to-day life. We look to find lesser-visited destinations and smaller-scale experiences.
The mountains of British Columbia
But what if we told you that there is a country vast enough to let you feel alone among a crowd? Where, even in the busiest of seasons, there is enough space to be the only car on the road, look out into an endless forest, and find peace and quiet among the trees.
Canada, the second largest country on Earth, and with one of the ten lowest population densities, is that place.
Why Visit Canada in 2025?
Canada is the definition of vast: across its wildly varied landscape, mountains reach up, lakes reach out, and roads continue over the horizon, often only occasionally populated by traffic. It is easy to feel entirely alone, surrounded by miles upon miles of uninterrupted wilderness.
But, at the same time, Canada is made up of notoriously friendly people and endlessly welcoming communities. Pockets of bustle have found themselves in towns and cities, their individual cultures inseparable from the region where they are found. For visitors from the United States, the relatively weaker Canadian dollar makes it more affordable than many of the neighboring regions across the border.
So, whether you want rugged natural wonders or to settle into a cozy cafe on a street corner, watching a new town or city pass by (and soaking in the culture as you do), it’s all the same in Canada.
Popular Regions to Visit in Canada
In a country so big, and with such diverse landscapes, these are the key regions you should know before visiting (and why they are our favorites to recommend to travelers for their Canada vacation).
Western Canada
Western Canada spans from Vancouver Island lining its Pacific shore to the expansive prairies in Manitoba.
Canada's West Coast
This is where the great outdoors reigns supreme: rugged coastlines meet temperate rainforests, meet Vancouver, a city of glass and steel, meet towering mountains — one after the next, after the next.
Canadian Rockies
The most visited area in the region (and in Canada) is the Canadian Rockies. Show-stopping landscapes define the area, complete with mountain views of glacial peaks, thick pine forests, and stunning lakes.
Maligne Lake in the summer
Banff National Park & Jasper National Park
They feel wild in a way like no other and are best experienced as such — using their wealth of outdoor activities as an excuse to venture into the beautiful scenery. Whether through hikes in rural areas, kayak tours across lakes and along rivers, or a horseback ride, the feeling of being surrounded by miles of wilderness (and a range of local creatures) in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park is second to none.
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada is a broad region — the cities of Ontario offer a vastly different experience to those in Quebec, and the lakes between them offer another experience again.
The vibrant streets of Montreal
Quebec
People visit for many reasons — the European-esque architecture, long history, and cheese curds and french fries to name a few. But its biggest draw is probably the culture: distinct from the rest of Canada in its French influence. This is evident in its cities, Montreal and Quebec City, where locals (and visitors) may choose to have their coffee in grand stone buildings and attend festivals that parade through the streets all summer long.
Ontario
Toronto, though, is a more modern Canada. The skyline is dominated by glass skyscrapers, and its streets are a multicultural hub of life. Between towers, vibrant neighborhoods hide a charmingly grungier side of the city, making for a perfect day of exploration as you uncover their corners. Or, visit some of the country's most iconic landmarks, like the CN Tower in the city’s core, or Niagara Falls, just two hours away.
The charming Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia
The Maritimes
On Canada’s East Coast are the Maritimes: the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
Nova Scotia
Here, tucked between lush rolling fields and rugged cliffs plunging into the Atlantic Ocean, sit villages and towns — humble and charming in design and warm and welcoming by nature. That is to say, it’s difficult not to feel at home — or, perhaps, as though you’re in a storybook — among clapboard houses painted in bright reds, blues, yellows, and greens.
Prince Edward Island
The storybook feeling only continues on PEI, which inspired the world-famous Anne of Green Gables. Being further off the beaten track, the Maritimes offer a slow pace of travel, befitting the laid-back culture, and its scenic drives are best explored at your own pace.
Northern Canada is where polar bears reign
Northern Canada
The Canadian Arctic is arid in a way only the Far North can be — plantlife sits close to the ground, barely reaching above the rocks. It looks beautifully harsh in many ways, and that is much of the draw.
Most travelers go to Churchill, Manitoba, which, despite being far north of Winnipeg, is easily accessible by plane or train from the city. The town is best known for its polar bears (earning the title of ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’ in the process). But visitors should expect more than just bears — beluga whales swim along the coast, Arctic hares and foxes dash through the undergrowth, chubby seals laze atop ice, and over 200 nesting or migrating bird species nest and migrate throughout town.
The Canadian Arctic, it turns out, is teeming with life.
Canada Tours
At Canada by Design, we work with you one-on-one to craft custom Canada tours so that you tick off your must-sees. If you’re looking for a pressure-free vacation, this is it — just tell us where you want to go, and let us deal with the rest. Your personal Travel Designer will help you choose one of our expertly curated packages or craft something unique that matches your dream journey. We will give you the right balance between activity and comfort, packing stunning landscapes, vibrant stops, and amazing experiences into your time in Canada. To get you started, here are our 5 best recommendations for your next trip to Canada. If you see something you like (or are looking for something a little more custom), reach out to a Travel Designer, and they can handle the rest.
See nature’s grandeur by train
Canadian Rockies Train Tour Grand Circle
In our opinion, Canada tours don't get better than this.
In your seven days in the Canadian Rockies, you will make the journey a part of the experience. The Rockies make the perfect backdrop for the nostalgic charm of a luxury train ride — complete, of course, with fine dining on crisp linen and plush private cabins. And, to make the most of it, you will journey through the mountains aboard two different trains. To begin, step aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian train in Vancouver, bound for the mountains. This is mindful travel at its best. From the leather seats of your cabin, the domed skyline car, or, come dinnertime, the seats of the dedicated dining carriage, watch the world slowly pass by as the city fades behind you and you are welcomed into Canada’s true form: endless forested mountains. Once night arrives, fall asleep to the gentle sound of the train gliding along its tracks on a bed complete with creamy white sheets, plentiful pillows, and warm, heavy blankets.
From Jasper, your first port of call, experience authentic mountain life among the small community tucked into Jasper National Park. Then, take to the roads for a day of sightseeing with an expert private tour guide (and a gourmet picnic lunch along the way) before spending a quiet evening on the tip of Lake Louise. As you leave Lake Louise, take a scenic drive — flanked by the Bow River and the forested slopes of Castle and Storm Mountains — to Banff, before boarding your final train: the truly iconic Rocky Mountaineer, ending your Canada trip with two days of luxury on tracks. Centered around private hikes, wildlife chasing, and quiet glacial lake trips, and bookended by two different luxury rail experiences, on this Canadian Rockies tour, there is always balance between activity and relaxation.
A stunning drive through Banff National Park
Canadian Rockies Scenic Delights by Road and Rail
If you have a little longer to spare, start the journey by car and let the call of the wild pull for nine days of adventure through the mountains.
Start in Vancouver before trading sleek glass towers for gnarled wooden ones — adorned with pine needles and feeling as tall and impressive as the city. Between the endless forests, explore British Columbia’s resorts. In Whistler, paddle the River of Golden Dreams in a canoe, be suspended in its skies on the PEAK2PEAK Gondola ride, or journey into the wilderness by foot on guided tours to learn the forest’s secrets. And, in Sun Peaks Resort, take advantage of the ski slopes’ summer coat of alpine flora and hike its quiet mountaintop trails.
In Jasper National Park, you can venture on a boat tour of Maligne Lake to see Spirit Island, a spiritual site for the Stoney Nakoda First Nations. And in Banff National Park, find a unique way to see the region — a canoe tour or horseback adventure come to mind. From Banff, the lavish Rocky Mountaineer train will take you back to Vancouver, following a different path home. Across your two days aboard the train, save for a night spent in the small city of Kamloops, you can gaze through arched glass as the mountains pass by and you slip through forests. After the train meets the Fraser River and follows its path for a time, the city of Vancouver will reappear on the horizon to welcome you back from your time in the mountains.
This encompasses everything Canada tours should be: wild, adventurous, and a little bit luxurious.
Maritimes charm on display in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Wonders of the Maritimes Road Trip
Canada’s Maritimes — that is, some of the oldest provinces lining the easternmost coast of the country — is perhaps its best-kept secret. A ten-day road trip through the Maritimes offers colorful fishing villages, squat lighthouses, and historic sites perched on soft green fields lining the beautifully brutal coastline. Start in the bustling city of Halifax, perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, before venturing into the countryside. Hop between quaint and endearingly charming towns comprised of colorful buildings and tight-knit communities. Learn the history of Canada from the sea-faring folk that still make this part of the country their home, and hear the stories it inspired as you step into Anne of Green Gables' farm. Between the pockets of life, take in the landscape as green rolling hills become jagged cliffs that plunge deep into the ocean. As you stand on the cliffs, take in the ocean’s overwhelming power as it fills the Bay of Fundy with the highest tides in the world. Then, take to the water yourself, searching for lobster before dining on it fresh, for Canadian food at its best.
As you reach the end of your stay, take the Cabot Trail along Cape Breton’s northern shore, stopping to hike the Cape Breton Highlands National Park as you venture back towards Halifax. Whether you’re looking for a different side of Canada on a return visit or are looking for that perfect ‘off the beaten track’ vacation with fewer tourists, the Maritimes are sure to make you feel at home (and, in doing so, make it all the more difficult to leave).
Getting up close with a polar bear on a guided tour of Churchill, Manitoba
Polar Bears & Belugas | Ultimate Arctic Summer Adventure
Churchill, Manitoba, is best known for its massive polar bear population, outnumbering even humans. But what is less known is the even larger amount of beluga whales (850 people, 1000 polar bears, and 60,000 beluga whales). On this 7-day trip, you will live among the subarctic life in the center of Churchill town, staying in a cozy log cabin as you do.
Embark on expeditions by foot to see the ‘Polar Bear Jail,’ where curious bears are taken out of town for a kind of ‘time out’ before they are relocated far from human life, and the historic Prince of Wales Fort, perched on an isolated spit of land just north of the town. Then, take to the waters to crawl the coast, bear-spotting as you go and venturing further out to sea in search of beluga whales. End your stay with an excursion onto the tundra on a highly-specialized ‘Arctic Crawler,’ to see polar bears lazing on delicate pink wildflowers in the only place on Earth where the two coexist. While you are unlikely to see the northern lights in Canada in summer, the Far North has long summer days that spark a surprising amount of life. On this tour, you will be introduced to a vastly different side of Canada.
A luxury train through the Rocky Mountains
Vancouver to Toronto Train Journey
Pining for a slower pace of travel is at an all-time high and, with it, a renewed interest in the quiet luxury of a cross-country train trip, bringing with it a nostalgia for a bygone era of ‘Old World’ travel. On this 12-day journey across the country, start on the most luxurious train Canada has to offer — the Rocky Mountaineer — to slip gracefully into a slower state of mind. Enjoy your Hosts, dressed smartly in waistcoats and ties, as they tell stories of historic sites you pass, the landscapes that tower over the custom-designed domed windows, and the animals you might spot. All while they bring you an endless stream of drinks and regionally-inspired dishes. Between the two days of daytime-only travel, sleep easy in comfortable beds at an overnight stop in Kamloops. Once arriving in Jasper, deep in the Rocky Mountains, make an extended connection — that being a seven-day tour through the Rockies — to Banff to catch the VIA Rail Canadian train bound for Toronto. After your exciting time in the mountains, relax into three days of slow travel across the vast prairies and the lake-freckled Ontario woodland. Pass the time by watching for wildlife in the undisturbed countryside or relaxing with your fellow travelers in the communal lounge car. Your trip will end as you pull into Toronto and catch back up to the modern pace of life, ready to explore the city or head home.
Perhaps you’re a completionist at heart and can’t say you’ve ‘visited Canada’ until you’ve visited all sides of the country, or perhaps you long for a slower pace. Regardless of why, we want to show you all of Canada. If you have the time, this is the perfect way. And, if you aren’t ready to head home just yet, learn how you can continue on by rail to the Maritimes for a train trip entirely across Canada.
Planning Your Trip (the Right Way)
How Much Does a Canada Tour Cost?
The price of a trip to Canada varies wildly depending on where in the country you want to visit and what you want to do while you’re there. Typically, trips to the Maritimes cost less than those to the Rockies, and road trips cost less than rail journeys. But, if you’re looking for luxury options, Canada has a wide range of high-end options to suit any traveler's tastes.
Spring cherry blossoms in Vancouver
What is the Best Season to Visit Canada?
It depends on what you want to see and where you want to go — the differences in climate between the East and West coasts are big.
The peak travel season in Canada is summer, and is best for hiking mountains, paddling lakes, and spotting bears. In winter, Canada transforms into the Great White North, and snow-centered activities are abundant. In both spring and fall, color takes over the country as the West Coast is home to spring’s pink cherry blossoms and the East to the maple tree’s orange hue.
What is the Best Way to Tour Canada?
Here’s where we can help. There are so many ways to see Canada that choosing just one is tricky. If you’re looking for adventure, a self-guided road trip allows you to find your own way through Canada’s wilderness, while a rail vacation allows you to relax as the world passes you by. At Canada by Design, we will help you find the right balance for you, whether it’s all-or-nothing or somewhere in between, and offer tips, tricks, and secret expert insight into our home country to make the most of your trip.
What Do You Need to Know Before You Book?
Before you book, you should know a few key details that will make your time here perfect. Having a list of the the broad regions you’re interested in seeing, and the time of year you want to travel will help your Travel Designer craft the perfect trip for you. And, if you have any specific must-sees, they can work with you to ensure they’re included. Get in Touch with a Canada Travel Expert Today
Have questions? Reach out to our expert Travel Designers to have your questions about Canada tours answered! Call to book today or, if you’re still deciding, subscribe to our newsletter to get more inspiration, great deals, and more.