Canada West Coast Road Trip

Day 1 – Arrive Vancouver

Welcome to Vancouver! One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Vancouver is surrounded by towering mountains and sparkling ocean. Pick up a rental SUV at the airport and drive to your downtown hotel for the night.

 

Feature Dinner in Vancouver

Did you know Vancouver is one of the top culinary destinations in the world? We want to make sure you have a great dining experience in a beautiful setting. Included is a meal at one of our favourite local spot overlooking the harbour.

 

Overnight in Vancouver.

 

 Day 2 – Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast

Accessible only by ferry or air, this strip of beaches, cedar forests, hiking trails, and artist colonies is just 2 hours away from Vancouver. The ferry ride takes 45 minutes and boasts stunning scenery. Fresh seafood is the order of the day, and time at leisure can be spent attending arts and crafts shows by local artisans, or beachcombing. We guarantee you will fall in love with this hidden piece of paradise.

 

Spend the night in a remote yet luxurious wilderness lodge on the Sunshine Coast.

 

Day 3 – Discover Princess Louisa Inlet

Relish the open water and relax on a Princess Louisa Inlet boat tour. Wind your way through wilderness areas of Jervis Inlet, then pass through Malibu Rapids into stunning Princess Louisa Inlet – the inlet possesses a unique ecological system in the only true example of fjord land on the Pacific coast. Mile high cliffs teem with stunning waterfalls that trickle down from craggy granite bluffs looming over you from both sides.

Activity rating: Easy

 

Overnight on the Sunshine Coast.

 

Day 4 – Explore Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park

Today we recommend you hike through coastal rainforest to visit Skookumchuck Rapids. Watch in awe as millions of cubic feet of saltwater rush through the Narrows and create an enormous standing wave. Your hike ends right at the water’s edge, where you can watch white-water kayakers brave the rapids.

 

Overnight on the Sunshine Coast.

 

 Day 5 – Sunshine Coast to Vancouver Island

Venture to the northern tip of the Sunshine Coast, where two spectacular ferry journeys will take you across the Strait of Georgia. Arrive in quaint Courtenay on Vancouver Island – home to long, sandy beaches, award-winning vineyards, and farm to table dining experiences.

 

Overnight in Courtenay.

 

Day 6 – Explore the Central Island

With so much to see, you are spoiled for choice today. Travel north to Campbell River – gateway to the Discovery Islands and spectacular Strathcona Provincial Park. Or drive south to visit the seaside towns of Qualicum Beach and Parksville, Cathedral Grove’s old-growth giants and the charming Coombs Country Market. Either way, make sure to leave plenty of time to stroll one of the area’s long sandy beaches.

 

Overnight in Courtenay.

 

Day 7 – Courtney to Ucluelet

Today the scenery changes as you drive west across Vancouver Island to Ucluelet, located in Pacific Rim National Park. A small town tucked along the beaches of the wild and rugged Pacific, Ucluelet showcases all its “big sister” Tofino has to offer, but in a smaller, quieter, and less busy setting. Indulge in delicious local cuisine, savour the awesome power of nature that surrounds you, and get lost in endless ocean views.

 

Overnight in Ucluelet.

 

Day 8 – Wildlife Viewing in Clayoquot Sound

Ucluelet and Tofino are part of the UNESCO designated Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, a protected area providing habitats for a vast array of rare or endangered species. Choose from 2 of Tofino’s best wildlife viewing options today:

 

• Option 1: Whale Watching in Tofino

Tofino is famous for its whale watching, so choose from a covered vessel or rigid-hull zodiac boat and head out with your camera. The rich and nutrient filled ocean surrounding Tofino is loaded with a variety of marine wildlife including many different species of whales as well as harbour seals and sealions, sea otters, porpoises and a myriad of birdlife including puffins, blue herons and bald eagles.

Activity rating: Easy

 

• Option 2: Bear Watching in Tofino

Board a rigid-hull zodiac boat and head out with your camera on bear watching adventure. With a specialist guide, see Clayoquot Sound’s black bears up close as they forage the beaches for rock crab, starfish and even a bit of kelp.

Activity rating: Easy

 

Overnight in Ucluelet.

 

Day 9 – Active Adventures in Pacific Rim National Park

The old-growth rainforest and open waters of Pacifc Rim beckon to be explored today. Choose from 2 of our favorite active tour options:

 

• Option 1: Kayak Tour

The sheltered waters of the Ucluelet harbour offer an ideal location for a relaxing paddle. With a guide and small group, visit a beautiful hidden waterfall, visit the local fish hatchery, or explore the inner boat basin. The harbour is full of wildlife; so watch for black bears along the shoreline, rich intertidal life beneath your kayak and eagles circling overhead.

Activity rating: Moderate

 

• Option 2: Guided Rainforest Hike

With a private guide, wander along the boardwalk trails and sandy beaches of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Learn about local ecosystems of this coastal rainforest, and explore the rich history of the region, from the fur-trade to whaling and everything in between.

Activity rating: Moderate

 

Overnight in Ucluelet.

 

 Day 10 – Ucluelet to Vancouver

A leisurely drive across the Island brings you to Nanaimo, where you’ll take a scenic ferry ride back to the mainland. Spend an evening close to the Vancouver airport – we recommend a visit to the Steveston Docks for fish and chips and some final souvenir shopping.

 

Overnight in Vancouver.

 

 Day 11 – Depart Vancouver

Drop off your car at the Vancouver International Airport. With fond memories made, your vacation comes to an end.