Teagan Gunter has a warning for travellers planning Canada: don’t make the classic mistake of trying to do it all at once. The Escape Beyond travel advisor and Destination Canada Radical Ambassador knows Canada is too vast, too seasonal, too culturally rich and too wildly varied to be squeezed into a single “best of” itinerary. She explains why the real magic of Canada is in seeing it as a destination to return to, province by province, season by season.
Many travellers arrive thinking they’ll see Canada in a single trip, only to realise the country stretches across six time zones, with endless captivating scenery and distinct cultures. Wildlife moments can arrive quietly, reminding travellers how much lies beyond the headline sights.
One trip quickly becomes the beginning of a lifelong love affair.
Every province has its own personality
On the West Coast, Vancouver blends rainforests, mountains, ocean and cosmopolitan energy in a way few cities can. Venture further into British Columbia and you’ll find alpine lakes, dramatic wildlife encounters, luxury wilderness lodges and road trips through the towering peaks of the Rockies. Then there’s Alberta, home to iconic scenery like Banff National Park and Lake Louise, where turquoise lakes and snow-dusted mountains look almost too perfect to be real.
Yet on the opposite side of the country, Québec feels worlds away. Cobblestone streets, French-inspired cuisine and centuries-old architecture in Québec City create a distinctly European atmosphere without ever leaving North America. The country’s scale is hard to grasp until you see it from above, where snow-covered peaks stretch far beyond a single itinerary.
There are some destinations you visit once, tick off the highlights and feel satisfied.
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Canada, in Gunter’s opinion, is not one of them.
The reality is simple: Canada isn’t designed to be rushed. Distances are vast, scenery feels untouched and there’s always another hidden corner waiting beyond the horizon. One trip may cover the Rockies. Another might focus on Canada’s rugged coastlines and food trails. The next could be an Arctic expedition, or a rail journey across the country aboard VIA Rail.
The seasons completely change the experience
One of the reasons Canada is impossible to conquer in one trip is that it transforms dramatically with the seasons. Summer is made for hiking, wildlife spotting, lakeside retreats and epic rail journeys. Autumn brings fiery foliage across eastern Canada and crisp mountain air in the west. Winter turns the country into a snow-covered playground filled with skiing, frozen lakes, dog sledding and cosy mountain towns. Then spring arrives with blooming scenery, cherry blossoms, bear sightings and fewer crowds.
A summer trip through the Rockies and a winter escape to Whistler feel like two entirely different holidays, and both are equally unforgettable. There are few places where you can spend one holiday kayaking alongside glaciers or watching the Northern Lights dance across the sky, then another sipping wine in rolling vineyards.
What keeps travellers returning to Canada isn’t just the scenery, although that certainly helps.
It’s the feeling the country leaves you with.
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The warmth of the people.
The sense of space and freedom.
The balance between adventure and comfort.
The moments that make you stop, breathe and realise you’ve barely scratched the surface.
Destination Canada is now seeking eight Australian travel advisors to become its new Radical Ambassadors, with the program returning for a third year in partnership with Air Canada and Globus. This time, the epic famil with purpose heads east, taking the next cohort on a nine-day journey from Toronto to Montreal in October 2026. Applications are open for advisors ready to share, sell and champion Canada in a whole new way.
