Canadians are officially extending the travel calendar, trading peak-summer heat and crowds for shoulder-season immersion, according to G Adventures fall booking data.
“The defining story of Canadian travel late this year is seasonality expansion,” says the Toronto-based travel company. “Rather than compressing their trips into narrow peak-summer windows, Canadians are extending their travel calendars well into the autumn shoulder season. This shift is allowing travellers to experience classic global favourites with less crowding, while driving growth in emerging destinations.”
Below are some of the key data trends shaping how Canadians are embracing shoulder season travel, and community spotlights as travellers look ahead to the new season.
- The growth landscape: Fall classics vs. emerging hotspots
While appetite for classic autumn staples remains strong, Canadian booking behaviour shows a clear desire to explore new regions during shoulder season. Traditional fall favourites like Peru, Morocco, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey remain the top-booked overall destinations for Canadians this autumn, mirroring 2025. However, the most significant year-over-year (YoY) fall booking surges reflect a growing curiosity for non-traditional itineraries:
- Canada: +250%
- China: +205%
- Indonesia: +98%
- Uzbekistan: +88%
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: +64%
- Poland: +57%
- Sri Lanka: +50%
- Uruguay: +41%
- Egypt: +38%
- South Korea: +33%
- Costa Rica: +23%
- Albania: +21%
- Solo travel takes flight (+40% surge): Independent travellers are increasingly opting for autumn departures to bypass peak summer heat and congestion. Fall solo departures have surged 40% compared to summer months, with women representing 76% of these solo bookings. While core solo mainstays include Peru, Morocco, Italy, Japan, and Vietnam, emerging solo favorites for autumn include China (+120%), India (+17%), and Egypt (+12%).
- Sports tourism meets cultural travel: Aligning with the return of European football, sports tourism is proving to be a major driver for travel demand. To capture this momentum, G Adventures introduced ‘Away Games’ this summer, a collection of itineraries built around iconic European football culture, with first departures kicking off this fall.
“Away Games is about much more than watching a match. It’s about belonging and being part of something bigger, singing with locals in supporter pubs, celebrating a last-minute goal with fellow travellers after the final whistle, and experiencing a destination through the lens of its football culture,” said Yves Marceau, VP of product at G Adventures.
- More trends on the radar:
- Deadzoning: A growing response to digital burnout, “deadzoning” is the trend where travellers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, intentionally disconnect from devices and social media to prioritize mental well-being and real-world connection. G Adventures data reveals that relaxing and disconnecting from daily pressures are top drivers for booking trips, with over a quarter of young travellers citing device-free time as a primary source of holiday happiness.
- Gap year in your 30s: A growing trend among age 30-something professionals using career pivots and off-peak group travel to reset their work-life priorities, embrace independence, and pursue meaningful personal growth outside traditional timeline expectations.
- Canadian community spotlight: When discussions turn to deforestation, marine ecosystems are often left out of the conversation. Yet the dramatic decline of underwater kelp forests along Canada’s Pacific coastline has deeply impacted marine biodiversity and threatened traditional food systems for local Indigenous communities. Through G Adventures’ Trees for Days initiative, support is directed toward Coastal Kelp, a pioneering project partnering with the Tsawwassen First Nation, Nuchatlaht Tribe, and Lax Kw’alaams Band to restore marine habitats along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast.
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