Ten days in Canada isn’t enough — it never is. But ten days done right gives you the Pacific, the Rockies, and the largest city in the country, plus a genuine sense of how vast and how varied this place is.
This itinerary focuses on the classic western-to-eastern Canadian journey: landing in Vancouver, driving through the Rockies, and flying out of Toronto. It’s the best introduction to Canada that ten days can offer.
The Overview
| Days | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Vancouver + Whistler | Stanley Park, Sea-to-Sky, Peak 2 Peak |
| 4-6 | Banff | Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Hot Springs |
| 7 | Icefields Parkway drive | Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield |
| 8 | Jasper + return to Calgary | Athabasca Falls, evening flight to Toronto |
| 9-10 | Toronto | CN Tower, Distillery District, Niagara day trip |
Flights needed: Vancouver (fly in) → Calgary (fly out to Toronto, or drive back to Calgary) → Toronto (fly home)
Budget estimate: $3,000-5,500 CAD per person depending on accommodation choices (excluding international flights).
Days 1-3: Vancouver and Whistler
Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver
Land at YVR, take the Canada Line SkyTrain to downtown ($4.55 CAD, 25 minutes). Check in and decompress.
Afternoon: Walk the Stanley Park seawall (10km full loop, or 2-3km to Prospect Point). Arrive at sunset — the Lions Gate Bridge and North Shore mountains in golden hour light are what Vancouver is for.
Evening: Gastown. Walk Water Street, see the steam clock, have dinner at a Gastown restaurant. The chicken and waffles at WildTale or oysters at the Flying Pig are solid choices. Budget $35-55 CAD per person.
Day 2: Vancouver Full Day
Morning: Granville Island Public Market. Fresh BC smoked salmon, Oyama sausages, artisan cheeses. Arrive 9am before the crowds.
Afternoon: Capilano Suspension Bridge ($64 CAD) OR Grouse Mountain (gondola $65 CAD, or hike the Grind free) — both excellent. Capilano takes 2-3 hours, Grouse a half day.
Evening: Kitsilano beach sunset, then dinner on West 4th Avenue. Trafalgars Bistro and Nandos are both good value.
Day 3: Sea-to-Sky to Whistler
Drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Hwy 99) to Whistler — 2 hours of spectacular scenery. Stops:
- Shannon Falls (free, 15-min walk, 335m waterfall visible from the road)
- Squamish (optional: Stawamus Chief viewpoint, the Sea to Sky Gondola)
Arrive Whistler mid-afternoon. Park your car and walk the Village Stroll. Ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola if it’s open ($59 CAD sightseeing). Explore Whistler and Blackcomb bases.
Evening: Apres culture in the Village. Merlin’s at the base of Blackcomb, or Handlebar on the Village Stroll.
Accommodation: Days 1-3: Downtown Vancouver (Days 1-2), Whistler Village (Day 3). Budget $100-200 CAD/night per room.
Days 4-6: The Canadian Rockies — Banff
Drive from Whistler back through Vancouver and east on the Trans-Canada (or fly Vancouver to Calgary and rent a car — often faster and not much pricier). Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff is 1.5 hours.
Buy your Parks Canada pass at the gate — $10.50 CAD/day or $75.25 CAD/year. Mandatory.
Day 4: Arrive Banff, Moraine Lake
Leave Calgary airport by 8am. Drive to Moraine Lake Road (open mid-June through mid-October) and arrive before 8am — the parkway lot fills fast and the Parks Canada shuttle fills next. The Valley of Ten Peaks reflection is at its best with morning light.
Then Lake Louise (25 min drive from Moraine Lake). The Chateau Fairmont above the lake is a staging point for canoe rental ($155 CAD/hour — book ahead). The glacial water really is that colour.
Afternoon: Explore Banff town. Banff Avenue for supplies, the Bow Falls viewpoint (short walk from town), Surprise Corner viewpoint at dusk.
Day 5: Icefields Parkway South
Drive south from Banff on the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93N):
- Johnston Canyon (40km south of Banff) — 5km return trail to Upper Falls. Allow 2 hours.
- Castle Mountain — visible from the highway, no stop needed.
- Peyto Lake viewpoint — 30-minute walk to the overlook. The blue-green colour is even more vivid than photos suggest.
- Return to Banff.
Evening: Banff Upper Hot Springs ($10.50 CAD adults). The 40°C natural mineral pool with Sulphur Mountain above you is the ideal end to a hiking day. Book online.
Day 6: Sulphur Mountain + Wildlife
Morning: Banff Gondola ($52 CAD) to Sulphur Mountain. Walk the 360-degree ridge boardwalk. Views of the Bow Valley in all directions.
Afternoon: Minnewanka Loop drive (30km loop north of Banff) for wildlife spotting. Elk are frequently seen on the road shoulders at dawn and dusk. Never stop in the middle of the road for a bear — pull completely off.
Evening: Park Distillery for dinner ($35-50 CAD mains). Alberta elk burger or bison chili.
Accommodation: Days 4-6: Banff town (multiple options $45 hostel to $600+ Fairmont). The Juniper Hotel ($200-320 CAD) is our mid-range recommendation.
Day 7: Icefields Parkway to Jasper — One of the World’s Great Drives
This is the day the itinerary earns its keep.
Leave Banff by 7am. Drive north on Hwy 93N (Icefields Parkway). The 230km drive to Jasper will take most of the day with stops. Do not rush this.
Stops:
- Bow Lake — Pull over at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. The turquoise lake and Crowfoot Glacier is one of the Parkway’s best scenes.
- Peyto Lake (if missed yesterday) — the most vivid blue-green lake in Canada.
- Columbia Icefield — The Icefields Discovery Centre marks the halfway point. The Ice Explorer tour ($53 CAD) drives you onto the Athabasca Glacier — walk on actual glacial ice. Or skip it and walk to the ice on your own (free, 20-minute hike from the Centre). The Glacier Skywalk ($29.95 CAD) is optional.
- Athabasca Falls — 30 min south of Jasper town. The most powerful waterfall in the Canadian Rockies. Free, 20-minute walk.
Arrive Jasper town by late afternoon. Walk the main street, book dinner.
Day 8: Jasper Morning, Then Calgary/Toronto
Early morning in Jasper: Maligne Lake (48km from town) for Spirit Island cruise ($75 CAD — book weeks ahead). Or skip Maligne and do Miette Hot Springs (60km, $7.50 CAD) for a spectacular mountain pool soak.
Drive back to Calgary via Edmonton (different route — Hwy 16 west to Edmonton, then Hwy 2 south — 4.5 hours total) or retrace the Icefields Parkway (same distance, more scenic).
Fly Calgary to Toronto (evening flight) — many daily options, 3.5 hours. WestJet and Air Canada both fly this route. Budget $150-300 CAD.
Days 9-10: Toronto
Day 9: Toronto Arrival and City Core
Land at Pearson (YYZ). Take the UP Express train to Union Station ($12.35 CAD, 25 minutes).
Afternoon: CN Tower ($45 CAD + optional EdgeWalk $225 CAD). Walk along the waterfront, take the ferry to Toronto Islands ($9 CAD return) for skyline views.
Evening: Distillery District. The craft beer at Mill Street Brewery, dinner at El Catrin (Mexican in the most beautiful venue in Toronto). ~$40-60 CAD per person.
Day 10: Neighbourhoods and Departure
Morning: Kensington Market and Chinatown on foot. No agenda — just walk and eat. The Chinese BBQ on Spadina ($10-12 CAD for pork and rice) is breakfast.
Midday: St. Lawrence Market if it’s a Saturday (Farmers Market on north side is the highlight). The peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery ($8 CAD) is the essential Toronto food experience.
Optional day trip: Niagara Falls is 90 minutes by car or 2 hours by GO Bus — if you have a morning before an evening flight, this is very doable.
Fly home from Toronto Pearson (YYZ).
Budget Summary
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (10 nights) | $500-800 CAD | $1,800-3,000 CAD | $4,000-6,000 CAD |
| Internal flights (Van→Cgy, Cgy→Tor) | $300-500 CAD | $300-500 CAD | $600-1,200 CAD (business) |
| Car rental (7-8 days in BC/AB) | $400-600 CAD | $600-800 CAD | $800-1,200 CAD |
| Activities and entrance fees | $200-400 CAD | $400-700 CAD | $700-1,500 CAD |
| Food | $350-600 CAD | $700-1,200 CAD | $1,500-3,000 CAD |
| Total per person | $1,750-2,900 CAD | $3,800-6,200 CAD | $7,600-12,900 CAD |
What to Pack for This Itinerary
This trip covers beach weather (Vancouver), mountain hiking (Banff/Jasper), and urban exploration (Toronto):
- Light layers for Vancouver (15-25°C in summer)
- Waterproof hiking jacket (essential for mountain weather changes)
- Hiking boots or trail runners for Banff/Jasper
- Bear spray (rent at $10/day in Banff — don’t buy it at the airport)
- Camera/phone with offline maps downloaded (cell service is absent on the Icefields Parkway)
- Parks Canada pass (buy online before you go)
Common Mistakes on This Itinerary
Underestimating distances: Canada looks compact on a world map. The Vancouver-Calgary drive alone is 10+ hours. This itinerary works best flying between those cities.
Not booking Moraine Lake transport: The parking lot fills by 7am in peak summer. Reserve the Parks Canada shuttle months in advance, or arrive before 6am.
Skipping the Icefields Parkway stops: Too many people drive it without stopping. Stop at every pullout that speaks to you — the cumulative effect of the scenery is what makes this drive legendary.
Ignoring the weather: The mountains make their own weather. Pack for rain and cold even in July. A waterproof jacket isn’t optional.
This is the Canada trip that changes how you see the country — vast, wild, beautiful, and genuinely unlike anywhere else on earth.