Leave hacking – it’s not as scary as it sounds, we promise.
For the uninitiated, leave hacking is a strategy for maximising time off work by combining stat holidays and vacation days. The best part? It means more time for big trips.
So, request your leave, book your vacation and make 2026 your best year yet.
Key dates:
- New Year’s Day: Take off 29 to 31 December (2025) and 2 January for an 11-day break
- Family Day: Take off 17 to 20 February for a nine-day vacation (New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and BC only)
- Easter: Take 30 March to 2 April or 7 to 10 April off for a ten-day break
- Victoria Day: Take off 19 to 22 May for a nine-day vacation
- Canada Day: Take off 29 to 30 June and 2 to 3 July for a nine-day vacation
- Labour Day: Take off 8 to 11 September for a nine-day vacation
- Thanksgiving Day: Take off 13 to 16 October for a nine-day vacation
- Remembrance Day: Take off 9 to 10 November and 12 to 13 November for a nine-day vacation
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Take off 21 to 24 December for a ten-day vacation
January – New Year’s Day
Did you promise yourself last year that this winter would be different – that you’d break up the cold and dark days with a sunny escape? If so, the first week of the year is the perfect time for it. By utilising the New Year’s Day holiday, you can enjoy 11 days OOO with just four vacation days.
Start 2026 with a hike in Uganda during the dry season and see endangered gorillas in the wild or get up close to the Iguazu Falls on a short break to Brazil and Argentina. It’s a great way to tick off those resolutions!
February – Family Day
February fatigue is real – the novelty of a new year has worn off and spring still feels far off. But you can change your perspective by booking some leave. If you live in a province that celebrates Family Day, take 17 to 20 February off for a nine-day break.
Honour the holiday by staying with a host family in the northern region of Morocco, or travel by bullet train across Japan and see the country’s best bits.
April – Good Friday
Extend your Easter vacation by taking off either 30 March to 2 April or 7 to 10 April and enjoy ten days away from the office for the price of four.
With so much time on your hands, you can head to Jordan and float in the Dead Sea or follow in Inca footsteps in Peru. Prefer to stay closer to home? Try glamping under the stars after exploring Utah‘s red-rock landscape.
May – Victoria Day
May long weekend means one thing: summer is here. Be the envy of all your co-workers by taking off 19 to 22 May, making it a nine-day vacation.
With this extra leave, consider switching your cottage getaway for Croatia, where you can cruise the Adriatic Sea and island hop with fewer crowds than peak summer. Or spend the night on a boat in Halong Bay as you venture north through Vietnam.
July – Canada Day
You only need to use four vacation days – 29 to 30 June and 2 to 3 July – to get nine days off around the Canada Day long weekend.
Celebrate Canada Day in style by spotting wildlife overseas during the cool, dry season. You might see sea lions and hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos, or watch wildebeest and zebras crossing the Grumeti River in Tanzania.
September – Labour Day
Say goodbye to summer with one last adventure by transforming Labour Day weekend into nine days of vacation – just take off 8 to 11 September.
In September, you could get familiar with the many beaches in Costa Rica, dive into the history of ancient Greece by visiting the country itself or check out the pyramids in Egypt as the weather cools.
October – Thanksgiving Day
Sometimes you need a trip away from the everyday to know you’ve got it good. Be thankful this Thanksgiving by using four vacation days for nine days away.
Where you practice your gratitude is up to you. But our suggestion? Munch on meat tacos and sip margaritas in Mexico, ride a rickshaw around India‘s Old Delhi or walk through California’s best national parks.
November – Remembrance Day
If you’re in a province that gets November 11 as a stat day, beat the winter blues by booking 9 to 10 November and 12 to 13 November off too. With Remembrance Day in the middle, you’ll get a nine-day vacation.
Choosing the right country for a mid-November getaway is key. Cooler evenings in Morocco mean you can sleep comfortably under the stars in the Sahara, while Iceland‘s longer nights improve your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Even traditional summer spots like Italy offer something special in the off-season.
December – Christmas Day and Boxing Day
If you don’t have to work over the Christmas period, don’t! With just four vacation days, you can enjoy ten days off – perfect for some well-deserved R&R to end the year.
Give the gift of a cultural experience by taking the whole family to a Maya homestead in Mexico or by wandering around Central Europe‘s winter markets. Prefer your own pace? You could explore Thailand solo before joining a group around the temples and relics of Ayutthaya.
Inspired to maximise your time off? Join a small group adventure with Intrepid.
