Canada 10-Day Itinerary: Complete Day-by-Day Plan

Canada 10-Day Itinerary 2026: Complete Day-by-Day Plan

A 10-day Canada itinerary covers Vancouver + Whistler + Banff + Lake Louise + Jasper — the classic Rockies + West Coast combination showcasing Canada’s landscape diversity.

Quick Itinerary Summary

A 10-day Canada itinerary covers Vancouver + Whistler + Banff + Lake Louise + Jasper — the classic Rockies + West Coast combination showcasing Canada’s landscape diversity.

10

Days

9

Day Plans

2026

Updated

Canada 10-Day Itinerary: Day-by-Day Plan

Day 1-2

Vancouver

Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain.

Daily spend: $150-250/dayNote: 2 nights Downtown

Day 3

Sea-to-Sky Highway + Whistler

2-hr drive — Shannon Falls, Squamish Sea-to-Sky Gondola, Whistler village. Stay Whistler.

Daily spend: $180-280/dayNote: Gondola $50

Day 4

Whistler-Blackcomb + Drive to Banff (or fly)

Morning Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Afternoon fly Vancouver-Calgary (or 13-hr drive). Stay Calgary or Banff.

Daily spend: $200-300/dayNote: Flight $150-300

Day 5

Banff Town + Lake Minnewanka + Tunnel Mountain

Sulphur Mountain Gondola, Banff Springs Hotel, Lake Minnewanka boat cruise, Bow Falls.

Daily spend: $150-250/dayNote: Park pass $11

Day 6

Lake Louise + Moraine Lake

Sunrise Moraine Lake (limited cars — shuttle required). Lake Louise canoe rental. Hike Plain of Six Glaciers.

Daily spend: $170-280/dayNote: Shuttle $24

Day 7

Icefields Parkway to Jasper

Drive Banff-Jasper via Icefields Parkway (5 hrs, “most scenic drive in Canada”). Stop Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Athabasca Glacier.

Daily spend: $160-260/dayNote: Athabasca Glacier walk $130

Day 8

Jasper National Park

Maligne Lake boat to Spirit Island, Maligne Canyon walk, Athabasca Falls, wildlife viewing.

Daily spend: $150-240/dayNote: Boat tour $90

Day 9

Drive back to Banff or Calgary

Long drive Jasper-Calgary (4.5 hrs) — break at Saskatchewan River Crossing. Or train Rocky Mountaineer.

Daily spend: $130-220/dayNote: Train premium option

Day 10

Calgary + Departure

Calgary Tower, Heritage Park, fly home from YYC. Or extend to Drumheller (dinosaurs, 1.5 hr east).

Daily spend: $150-250/dayNote: Last day flexible

Budget Breakdown

Style | Daily | Total Trip Cost
Budget | $130/day | $1,300 + $700 car/flights
Mid-Range | $220/day | $2,200 + $1,000 car/flights
Luxury | $450/day | $4,500 + $2,500 car/flights

Pro Tips for this itinerary:

Book Moraine Lake shuttle 60+ days ahead — limited capacity Jun-Oct

Discovery Pass $151 CAD = entry to all Canadian national parks 1 year

Whistler 30% cheaper Sun-Thu vs. Fri-Sat

Carry bear spray when hiking ($45 at MEC, sells out summer)

Rental car essential for Rockies (4WD not needed unless winter)

Quebec/Toronto require separate trips — too far for 10 days

Planning your Canada trip? See our Canada travel guide, visa requirements, trip cost, packing list, or the Ultimate Bucket List.

Canada 10-Day Itinerary FAQ

How much does 10 days in Canada cost?

Mid-range $2,200-4,500 USD per person including flights + rental + park fees. Budget $1,400-2,200. Luxury $7,000+.

Best time for 10-day Canada trip?

June-September for accessible mountain lakes + open trails. December-March for skiing (Whistler, Banff).

Should you fly Vancouver-Calgary?

Yes — 13-hr drive vs. 1.5-hr flight ($150-300). Drive only if road-tripping for scenery.

How long do you need at Banff vs Jasper?

3-4 days Banff + 1-2 days Jasper + 1 day Icefields Parkway drive. Banff has more activities; Jasper is wilder.

Is Vancouver worth visiting on Rockies trip?

Yes — gateway city + Stanley Park + Sea-to-Sky Highway. 2 days minimum.