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The Travel Experiences Canadians Are Prioritising This Year: From Wilderness Retreats to Culinary Escapes
In 2026, Canadian travellers are turning towards local explorations and encounters instead of leaving the country. The current drive towards local tourism in Canada tells a story: travel doesn’t have to be about ticking off the world’s most-posted destinations or the most famous landmarks to ever exist. What it should be about is experiences rather than ticking boxes: wilderness travel, wellness travel, cultural appreciation, and foodie travel are all gaining strength in Canada. This fits in well with similar trends operating worldwide: more and more people are leaning into gaining experience, learning, and being fulfilled by their travel choices rather than bragging rights and a couple of great Instagram reels. A BBC survey reports that 92% of polled Canadian travellers are planning to explore Canada and support local businesses when they travel this year. Let’s take a look at where they’ll be going and what they’ll be seeing as they explore their home country.
1. Prince Edward Island
This is Canada’s culinary island and is without a doubt a Mecca for foodies in Canada. If food is a travel experience (with a side of gorgeous views and a restful atmosphere), this is the place to be. Though the island is compact in size and simple enough to reach (direct private jet charter flights are easy to arrange, to make the entire experience simpler and seamless), there’s so much to experience: farm-to-table dining, the freshest seafood, a slow, rural pace of life, and beautiful road trips.
It’s precisely the size of the island that makes for an excellent culinary road trip: the food identity of the location is heavily built around potatoes, the local farms, and ocean-fresh Atlantic seafood (particularly lobster, clams, and oysters), and appreciating that natural bounty, so there are many restaurants and farm experiences to be had across the island. Charlottetown would be an excellent base to set out from: there are markets and restaurants aplenty to explore. The food on this island isn’t something you eat just to sustain yourself; it’s something to indulge and immerse yourself in.
2. Comox Valley, British Columbia
Enjoy a soft adventure trip when you visit Comox Valley. This is one of the most interesting, emerging Canadian destinations as it offers not only a way to experience the wilderness, but to do it in style and comfort. Earlier this year, Skyscanner pointed out Comox as being one of the fastest-growing Canadian destinations for Canadian tourists: in 2026 data, the site says that searches about the location have gone up 145% year over year.
It’s easy to see the appeal: glorious mountains, a glimmering ocean, and easy access to a plethora of outdoor activities. Visitors to the valley can go hiking and mountain biking in the morning and follow that up with an afternoon of kayaking or surfing. And all of this is available without the intense crowds that many similar locations bring in: a peaceful, connective experience. Comox embodies “soft adventure”: enjoying the outdoors paired with stays at comfortable, welcoming locations.
3. Victoria, British Columbia
Immerse yourself in gorgeous gardens and a serene coastal escape and wellness-focused, slow travel. Though Victoria is hardly an unknown destination, it is gaining momentum: again, according to Skyscanner, the search numbers are up 115% year over year. Victoria’s strength as a destination lies in its versatility: it isn’t just one thing for one kind of visitor. Enjoy coastal strolls, dreamy garden picnics and classic, heritage architecture all in one day, and that’s without exploring some truly stunning neighbourhoods and making the most of a super fresh, incredibly high-quality seafood meal.
Victoria is a great choice if you’re short on time or looking for a way to feel rested and restored rather than packing everything into one weekend.
4. Yukon Territories
If you’re after a taste of genuine out-there, far-flung, remote-feeling wilderness, it’s impossible to beat Yukon. A good suggestion is to start from Whitehorse, which is perfectly located to lead you into the territory. From there, you could move on to destinations like Kluane National Park or Tombstone Territorial Park where the skies feel enormous, and the landscapes are completely untamed. While the scenery is superb, it’s far from being the only attraction in the territory.
There’s a lot to be learned about indigenous culture in the area. Yukon’s First Nations offer a wealth of cultural enrichment and education that includes storytelling, Indigenous guided experiences, and lots of traditional art. Treat yourself to some communing with nature but also to a deeper understanding of the history of your home country.
5. Newfoundland and Labrador
The drama of both Newfoundland and Labrador cannot be understated. The scenery is wild, and even in larger communities and cities, the feeling of being close to nature and the wild is ever present. Visiting these locations can offer a fulfilling combination of experiences that will have you booking your next trip before the current one is even over.
The rugged coastlines invite long, cool afternoon walks; the many small fishing communities dotted along that same coast invite exploration and many stops to sample local delights. Crafting a road trip itinerary for yourself will provide a great overview of these destinations: begin at St. John’s (where the restaurant scene is always buzzing), take yourself hiking, visit local farms and indulge in the freshest, heartiest produce, meet with Mi’kmaq, Inuit and Innu guides and educators to learn more about local First Nations culture… It’s a smorgasbord of leisurely pursuits.
Local Love
Canada’s gorgeous destinations being chosen by the country’s own citizens speaks to the quality and variety that’s on offer. When in Canada, do as the Canadians do and choose these down-to-earth, food and nature-focused destinations for your next vacation.
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