Our 19-Day Canada itinerary with Children
We spent 19 days in Canada, including the two travel days. It was such a dream trip, and planning it with our kids in mind made all the difference. We wanted to see a lot, but not push the pace too much – had it just been Thomas and me, we would probably have sped things up. With the children, though, our plan turned out to be just right.
Here’s the route we ended up with:
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Day 1: Flight from Copenhagen to Vancouver
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Day 1–5: Vancouver
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Day 5: Vancouver to Qualicum Beach (Vancouver Island)
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Day 6: Qualicum Beach to Tofino
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Day 6–9: Tofino
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Day 9: Tofino to Whistler
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Day 9–12: Whistler
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Day 12: Whistler to Clearwater
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Day 13: Clearwater to Jasper
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Day 13–16: Jasper
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Day 16: Jasper to Penticton
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Day 17: Penticton to Vancouver
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Day 17-19: Vancouver
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Day 19: Flight from Vancouver to Copenhagen
How we planned our trip
We started by booking our flights to Vancouver – that was step number one. We knew that British Columbia was the place, that we wanted to explore, so booking our flight to Vancouver was an easy pick. The flight was with Icelandair with a stop in Reykjavik. Once we knew where we were landing, we spread out maps, watched YouTube videos, and read a ton of travel blogs to get inspired.
Because we travelled in July – peak season – we booked all of our hotels in advance. I would really recommend doing the same. Yes, it means you have less room for spontaneity, but most of our bookings came with free cancellation until the day before, so we still had flexibility.
Step by Step: How we made our itinerary
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Flights first: Always the first piece of the puzzle. With dates fixed, everything else falls into place.
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Set the route: We both agreed that Vancouver Island had to be part of the trip. Thomas and I had been there on our honeymoon, so returning was a must. Tofino especially had our hearts. From there, we decided on Whistler as the next stop. Since the drive out to Tofino is quite long, we added a stopover along the way. After Tofino, we planned Whistler. That drive we did in one day. From Whistler, Jasper was high on our wish list. The drive is very long, so we added an overnight stop. After Jasper, we considered Banff (and honestly, it would have been possible), but instead we returned towards Vancouver with another overnight stop on the way. Looking back, those extra days in Vancouver could just as easily have been spent in Banff – we’d seen most of Vancouver at the start.
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Book the ferry: Before booking hotels, we secured ferry tickets to Vancouver Island. It was essential to know we could get across before locking in accommodation.
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Sort out the car hire: Always a bit of a headache! The trick we’ve learnt is to book directly with the rental company, not through a booking site. That way, when you take out full insurance, the company itself covers everything – no chasing refunds if something happens. With booking sites, you usually end up paying the rental company first and then claiming it back from the agent. And remember to take plenty of photos – or even a video – when you pick up the car. Do it while the rental staff are present, and make sure to go over the entire vehicle with them.
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Hotels: My favourite part! We spent hours reading reviews and looking at options. With children, we always book family rooms, and those can be limited, so booking early is a must. Free cancellation is the best safety net – it gave us peace of mind while we fine-tuned the route.
Final Thoughts
Planning a big trip like this can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down step by step made it manageable and very fun. The key things for us were: secure flights, outline the route, book essentials like ferry and car hire, and then enjoy choosing hotels. With children, having family rooms and a clear plan kept things smooth and stress-free.
It worked out perfectly for us – enough adventure without feeling rushed. And Canada? Absolutely unforgettable. I hope we can go back one day.
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