Our journey begins in trendy Vancouver, ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. This bustling, multicultural city is perfectly situated on the coast and within easy reach of the mountains and sea that surround the city. Transfer to your hotel in the city and settle in before meeting up with fellow travelers and your tour director for a welcome dinner and orientation at the city’s famed waterfront. Watch float planes take off and land, then walk along Canada place, situated on the Burrard Inlet waterfront and consider catching a ‘Fly over Canada’ show or join your tour director for a pub crawl to some local hot spots.
Dinner
- Inclusions:
- Welcome orientation
- Welcome dinner
- Pub crawl
This morning we explore Stanley Park with its famous collection of totem poles and amazing views from Prospect Point. We bike along the paths of the Seawall, featuring numerous magnificent views of the city and connecting the park to downtown Vancouver. This afternoon may find you exploring the city’s diverse and distinctive neighborhoods. Discover small boutiques on Main Street or sip on a cappuccino at a coffee shop on Commercial Drive. Visit the red-brick bars of Gastown or stroll by the beachfronts homes of Kitsilano Beach. Chat with the locals wherever you go: like most people, Vancouverites love talking about their town and will gladly make recommendations. If you are in the mood for an adrenaline rush, opt to join us on an excursion to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Cross the 140 m long bride and appreciate nature with breathtaking perspectives from 70 meters high above the Capilano River.
Meals: Breakfast
- Inclusions:
- Tour of Stanley Park and Seawall
- Bike rental at Stanley Park
- Optional activity:
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Excursion
- Look up free time suggestions for:
This morning, we head to the Tsawassen Ferry Terminal and board a ferry to Victoria. Enjoy the fresh air out on the deck, breathtaking scenery one can only see from the water, and a chance of spotting marine wildlife, such as whales, dolphins, or sea lions that frequent this route. Upon arrival in Victoria we visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens, designated a National Historic Site of Canada. See some of the world's greatest floral displays in the amazing 55 magnificent acres of flowers and show gardens, including the Japanese, Italian, and Rose gardens. This evening we venture out to Victoria Harbour, where the fashionable part of Government Street begins. The Royal BC Museum, the Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel are located here and in the summer and on weekend this area is often full of buskers, artist and street vendors. Explore the area with fellow travelers and visit some the many restaurants, bistros, bars, breweries or cafes.
Meals: Breakfast
- Inclusions:
- Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria
- Admission and tour of Buchart Gardens
- Victoria Harbour
Compared to the glassy skyscrapers of Vancouver, Victoria is more laid back and low rise. It has become trendier and more sophisticated in recent years but, in pace and essence, it remains comfortingly old fashioned. This morning, use your included hop-on hop-off double decker bus ticket to explore the city on your own. Consider a visit to Thunderbird Park with its carved totem poles, and Canada's oldest Chinatown. This afternoon we make our way to Sooke, a harbor side village located on southern Vancouver Island. Explore the area’s unspoiled beaches, rainforest trails and breathtaking vistas of Washington State’s Olympic Mountains. Walk along the water's edge where you can watch the Bald Eagles and Harbor Seals play. After dinner, sit on your deck or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the water's edge then take in the amazing sunset and clean ocean air while you cozy up to a beach camp fire.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Inclusions:
- Hop-on hop-off double-decker bus ticket in Victoria
- BBQ dinner and beach camp fire in Sooke
Plan today based on your interest and energy level. Early risers may want to join us for a beach yoga session. Consider a whale watching tour or sign up for our optional hiking trip to Mystic Beach, one of the area's most scenic beaches, located along the shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The area features a small waterfall that cascades from the sheer cliff above the beach area along with incredible views of the rugged, Pacific Northwest coastline. We reach a suspension bridge that crosses Pete Wolfe Creek, then continue along the trail through forests thick with trees before reaching shore. Visit French Beach with time to relax and enjoy a picnic lunch. Take a cool dip in the ocean, test your SUP skills or go kayaking. See if you can spot whales or roaming pods of resident orca offshore, as well as otters, seals and sea lions. French Beach is also a good spot to observe Bald eagles, ospreys and a variety of seabirds.We return to the hotel after lunch. Explore the neighboring areas on your own or sign up for an optional trip to Sooke Potholes Reginoal Park, located on the banks of the remarkable Sooke River featuring potholes unlike anything you've seen before. These rare geological formations, a series of deep, smooth rock pools, feature some of the best freshwater swimming around. The pools and potholes are crystal clear and refreshingly clean. We end our optional excursion with a visit to a local pub.
Meals: Breakfast
- Optional activity:
- Mystic beach hike and French Beach water sports incl. SUP/kayak , picnic lunch
- Sooke Potholes Regional Park hike and swimming, pub dinner
We travel to Nanaimo today to take the ferry to Horseshoe Bay. From here we continue to Squamish.
Squamish used to be a pit stop on the way to Whistler, British Columbia’s famous ski destination. Today it is a top destination for kite-surfers riding the winds at Howe Sound or climbers trying their skills on the daunting rock-walls of The Chief. We enjoy our journey to the summit by gondola, taking in the sweeping views over lunch, then relax on the deck of the Summit Lodge before boarding our ride down the gondola. We return to Vancouver for the final adventure which takes us to Granville Island, an urban island with art galleries, theaters, cafes, fresh product markets, dining by the water and unique shopping experiences. Afterwards, give your ears a treat with some live music in the alleys of Yale Town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Inclusions:
- Nanaimo ferry to Horseshoe Bay
- Squamish Gondola Ride to Summit
- Summit Lodge lunch and stunning views
- Granville Island excursion
- Vancouver music scene
- Farewell dinner
After breakfast we say farewell to our new-found friends with plans for a reunion trip in the very near future.
Meals: Breakfast