Sep 4, 2019
Canada is absolutely spectacular any time of the year, and a visit will leave you in awe of this beautiful destination. However, when is the best time to visit? With so much to see, in a country that’s so vast and varied, we recommend timing your visit with what you want to see most and the type of weather you prefer.
To help you plan your next trip to Canada, here is a general guide of the best times to go, broken down by season.
Spring
For wildlife viewing at its best, a trip to Western Canada in May is a must. Bears and their cubs are coming out of hibernation and this is a great opportunity to see grizzly and black bears in the wild. Also keep an eye out for elks, moose, bighorn sheep, caribou and deer as well as beavers.
Spring also marks tulip season and an uplift of colour with blooming flowers all around. The best place to see these beautiful flowers is Victoria’s Butchart Gardens. Stroll through the Sunken Garden, smell the roses in the Rose Garden and relax under a shady tree.
With snow beginning to thaw and temperatures starting to rise, we recommend wearing layers and bringing a hat and gloves for those chilly mornings and milder days.
Spring also marks tulip season and an uplift of colour with blooming flowers all around. The best place to see these beautiful flowers is Victoria’s Butchart Gardens. Stroll through the Sunken Garden, smell the roses in the Rose Garden and relax under a shady tree.
With snow beginning to thaw and temperatures starting to rise, we recommend wearing layers and bringing a hat and gloves for those chilly mornings and milder days.
Summer
Summer marks peak tourist season for Canada and is also the start of a season of outdoor festivals. In July, visit Calgary for the Annual Calgary Stampede, known as ‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’, showcasing the best in rodeo and featuring wagon racing, international entertainment and agricultural exhibitions. For music lovers, head to Montreal for the International Jazz Festival, which holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world’s largest jazz festival.
With the weather averaging around 20-30 degrees Celsius, summer is also the perfect time for outdoor pursuits. Go hiking through Banff and Jasper National Parks, relax on a float trip along the Athabasca River, or canoe the tranquil Pyramid Lake in Jasper.
For something more thrilling, enjoy a sidecar tour on a Harley Davidson Motorcycle or soar above the mountains in a helicopter and admire the aqua blue glacial lakes from above.
With the weather averaging around 20-30 degrees Celsius, summer is also the perfect time for outdoor pursuits. Go hiking through Banff and Jasper National Parks, relax on a float trip along the Athabasca River, or canoe the tranquil Pyramid Lake in Jasper.
For something more thrilling, enjoy a sidecar tour on a Harley Davidson Motorcycle or soar above the mountains in a helicopter and admire the aqua blue glacial lakes from above.
Autumn
Time your visit for September and early October to see the fabulous Fall colours as the tree leaves change to rosy reds and crimson oranges.
Head to the Rocky Mountains and enjoy a hike on one of Banff’s many hiking trails to see these beautiful colours up close. Eastern Canada is also bursting with colour, and you can admire these bright colours even in the popular cities of Montreal, Toronto and Québec City.
Autumn is also a great time to spot grizzly and brown bears as they become more active searching for food before their winter hibernation.
Head to the Rocky Mountains and enjoy a hike on one of Banff’s many hiking trails to see these beautiful colours up close. Eastern Canada is also bursting with colour, and you can admire these bright colours even in the popular cities of Montreal, Toronto and Québec City.
Autumn is also a great time to spot grizzly and brown bears as they become more active searching for food before their winter hibernation.
Winter
Although one of the coldest times of the year to visit Canada, with temperatures dipping below zero degrees Celcius, it is also one of the most magical. There are plenty of winter activities available like snowboarding, skiing and snowshoeing, but there is enjoy so much more to Canada in the winter. View snow-capped mountains, snuggle up in a cosy cabin and go in search of Canada’s winter festivals.
Winter marks the best time to visit the Yukon, for those in search of the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Watch the clear skies in Whitehorse and look for this magical display of light, as it dances across the sky – a spectacular natural phenomenon. You will also have the chance to go dog sledding, try snow shoeing, or simply warm up with a long soak in the hot tub in one of many deluxe lodges.
Experience this on our 5 day Spectacular Northern Lights extension, departing between September and March. View brochure to learn more.
Experience this on our 5 day Spectacular Northern Lights extension, departing between September and March. View brochure to learn more.
