Bus Tour on Vancouver Island

Transfer from the airport with the hotel-owned shuttle bus. Meet the guide and your fellow travellers in the airport hotel this evening for pre trip information.

You board the bus for the 90-minute ferry crossing across the Strait of Georgia to the island. Now you follow the coastal highway to downtown Victoria with the picturesque Inner Harbour framed by the stately Empress Hotel and the Legislature Building. Free time for some window shopping on Government Street, stroll down to Fisherman’s Wharf, the quiet of Beacon Hill Park or visit one of the museums. Hotel in downtown Victoria for the next two nights.

A mere 16 kilometers from downtown Victoria is Goldstream Park with massive trees, majestic waterfalls, a small river where salmon return every fall in order to spawn the next generation, flowers, birds and fascinating marine life. The guide suggests the steep 4 km round trip hike with 410 m gain (2.5 mi, 1345 ft) up Mt. Finlayson, or an easier 3 km hike with 60 m gain to waterfalls. Planned for this afternoon is a fun filled outing on electric bikes (included) on the Galloping Goose Trail. The name comes from a noisy gasoline rail car a hundred years ago which ran the 60 km through several small communities between Victoria and Sooke. Highly recommended for this evening would be an oyster and sea food feast in one of the excellent restaurants. Hiking time 2 hours.

The Juan de Fuca Marine Reserve protects a large part of the wild western shores of Vancouver Island. One of the most amazing parts is Botanical Beach at low tide. Here you can walk a long way out across flat sandstone and granite outcroppings to tide pools filled like jewel boxes with brightly coloured marine animals. Purple, red and orange starfish and sea urchins, blue mussel shells, white gooseneck barnacles, and green sea anemones and sea cucumbers. Killer whales and gray whales are often seen swimming off shore. The perfect lunch stop is by the shore of a lake during the drive through the mountains to the other side of the island. Time for a swim, or follow the guide on an easy 3.7 km loop with 115 m (2.3 mi, 377 ft) gain through craggy hills, the waters of the ocean far below, islands in the distance and mountain terrain all around you. Very impressive in the town of Duncan is the unique downtown forest of more than 40 cedar carved totem poles of the Salish First Nations. Waterfront Hotel in Tofino for three nights. Hiking time 2 hours

Today you set out for a west coast adventure in our group’s own private boat, guided by a local expert. On your way out to meet the whales you drop some crab traps. This intimate experience will not only take you on a journey to find whales, bears and marine life, but also is one of the best ways to see the Clayoquot sound. Miraculous coast lines, rugged points and exciting weather make this an unforgettable 4-hour trip. On the way back you retrieve the crab traps and hand your catch to the chef of the hotel’s restaurant. Fresh crab for dinner tonight!

Tofino offers a wide range of outdoor opportunities. The Wild Pacific Trail with vistas of the rugged shore and crashing waves. In Pacific Rim National Park you walk mysterious trails with boardwalks and stairs in a fairy tale forest of ferns, lichens, mosses and thousand year old trees. At Long Beach you admire the skills of the surfers. There is more: boutiques and small stores in the charming villages of Ucluelet and Tofino offer crafts and souvenirs made by local artists. The guide is happy to arrange optional bear watching tours, stand-up paddle board rental, sea kayaking, a sightseeing flight by seaplane, or a surfing course.

North on the coastal highway to Cathedral Grove and a walk through a remnant of an ancient Douglas Fir ecosystem on Vancouver Island. The biggest trees in the Grove are about 800 years old and measure 76 m (250 ft) in height and 9 m (29 ft) in circumference. Travelling north along the coast, the guide suggests a stop at Miracle Beach for a dip in the ocean. Campbell River is a fishermen’s paradise, the town calls itself Salmon Capital of the World. Your hotel for the next two nights is a legendary luxury fishing lodge and a gateway to nature. It’s a place for adventure where various excursions start to experience the wilderness. The lodge overlooks the Discovery Passage, home of bald eagles and other birds, as well as whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions. Hiking time 1 to 2 hours.

It is tempting to just relax and soak in the scenery at the Lodge, but there are also options of a 3-hour wildlife tour by boat, or a guided fishing adventure. Nearby Strathcona Park beckons the hikers with a 12 km and 600 m gain return hike to Bedwell Lake (7.5 mi, 1970 ft). The challenging trail is nothing short of fantastic. The hike up to the lakes is made slightly easier by the highly engineered bridges, staircases and boardwalks. The views of Big Interior Peak and Mt. Tom Taylor amidst the stunning ambiance of Bedwell Lakes is well worth the effort. For a milder but no less impressive day the group can opt to enjoy shorter walks to multiple waterfalls, some with observations platforms, like Lupin Falls, Lady Falls and more which cascade through the rugged terrain of Strathcona Park.

Heading south to Nanaimo and to the ferry back to Vancouver. Here the guide takes you on a short orientation tour of downtown with Stanley Park, Canada Place, Gastown and Chinatown. The afternoon is free time with so many options: there are shuttles to Capilano Park and Grouse Mountain, city tours on bicycles or Hop-On buses, the famous Museum of Anthropology and of course last-minute shopping and restaurants along busy Robson Street. Hotel near the Vancouver airport.

Transfer to the airport with the no-charge hotel bus.