Quick answer
Spend three days on Toronto and Niagara Falls, fly to Calgary for four nights in Banff covering Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway, then finish with a night in Vancouver. Book an open-jaw ticket into Toronto and out of Vancouver. Mid-range land costs start at about ₹1,90,000 per person, best from mid-June to September.
The route
- Delhi
- Toronto
- Niagara Falls
- Calgary
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Icefields Parkway
- Banff
- Vancouver
- Delhi
Day-by-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Arrive in Toronto
Morning: Land at Toronto Pearson and take the UP Express train downtown, about 25 minutes.
Afternoon: Check in and rest; walk the harbourfront along Queens Quay.
Evening: Dinner in the Distillery District or Indian food on Gerrard Street East.
Stay: Downtown Toronto
- 2
Day 2
CN Tower and the Toronto Islands
Morning: CN Tower and the glass floor, then Ripley's Aquarium next door.
Afternoon: Ferry to the Toronto Islands; hire bikes on Centre Island.
Evening: Skyline at sunset from Ward's Island, then back to the city.
Stay: Downtown Toronto
Book CN Tower tickets online for a timed entry and skip the ticket queue.
- 3
Day 3
Niagara Falls
Morning: Drive or take a tour to Niagara Falls, about 1.5–2 hours. Board the boat to the base of Horseshoe Falls.
Afternoon: Journey Behind the Falls, then Niagara-on-the-Lake for its old main street and wineries.
Evening: See the falls lit up at night; fireworks run on many summer evenings.
Stay: Niagara Falls (Fallsview area)
A room with a falls view costs more but is the main reason to stay overnight.
- 4
Day 4
Fly to Calgary, drive to Banff
Morning: Drive back to Toronto Pearson and fly to Calgary, about four hours. You gain two hours.
Afternoon: Pick up a hire car at Calgary airport and drive to Banff, about 1.5 hours.
Evening: Stroll Banff Avenue and the Bow River trail.
Stay: Banff town
- 5
Day 5
Moraine Lake and Lake Louise
Morning: Early Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake; climb the Rockpile for the classic view.
Afternoon: Lake Connector shuttle to Lake Louise; walk the lakeshore trail or rent a canoe.
Evening: Back to Banff for dinner.
Stay: Banff town
Private cars cannot drive to Moraine Lake. Book shuttles the moment your dates are fixed.
- 6
Day 6
Icefields Parkway and the Columbia Icefield
Morning: Drive north past Bow Lake and the Peyto Lake viewpoint.
Afternoon: Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Skywalk.
Evening: Drive back to Banff, about three hours, watching for bears and elk.
Stay: Banff town
Fill the tank in Lake Louise; fuel stops on the Parkway are few and expensive.
- 7
Day 7
Banff Gondola, Johnston Canyon and the hot springs
Morning: Johnston Canyon catwalks to the Lower Falls before the crowds.
Afternoon: Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, then a cruise on Lake Minnewanka.
Evening: Soak at the Banff Upper Hot Springs.
Stay: Banff town
- 8
Day 8
Fly to Vancouver
Morning: Drive to Calgary airport, return the car and fly to Vancouver, about 90 minutes.
Afternoon: Cycle the Stanley Park seawall and finish at English Bay.
Evening: Dinner in Gastown or on Main Street.
Stay: Downtown Vancouver
- 9
Day 9
Capilano and the flight home
Morning: Capilano Suspension Bridge or Granville Island's public market.
Afternoon: Head to Vancouver airport for your flight home.
Evening: Overnight flight to India.
Is 9 days enough for Canada?
Nine days covers Canada's three headline experiences, Niagara Falls, the Rockies and Vancouver, if you fly between them. Canada is huge: Toronto to Banff is a four-hour flight, and driving it would take three days.
Why give Banff four nights?
The Rockies are the reason most people go, and the weather in the mountains changes fast. Four nights gives you a spare morning if cloud hides Moraine Lake, and keeps the Icefields Parkway as a full, unhurried day. Staying in one base also means unpacking once.
How should you book flights?
Book an open-jaw ticket into Toronto and out of Vancouver; it usually costs about the same as a return. Add the two internal flights, Toronto to Calgary and Calgary to Vancouver, when you book. A hire car is only needed for the four Rockies days.
What will it cost?
Mid-range land costs start at about ₹1,90,000 per person, twin sharing, for eight nights in 3★–4★ hotels, two internal flights, four days of car hire, park passes and the main tickets, excluding international flights. Banff hotels are the biggest single cost in July and August. Our Canada trip cost page has the full breakdown.
Apply for your Canada visitor visa at least three months ahead; processing has been taking one to three months. See the Canada visa guide.
Plan the season with our best time to visit Canada page, and choose bases with where to stay.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see Toronto and Banff in one trip?
Do I need a car for this Canada itinerary?
Can I do this itinerary in winter?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
