Grand Tour of British Columbia

Day One: Vancouver to Victoria

Our tour starts with a pickup service anywhere in the greater Vancouver area for a 40 minute drive through agricultural country south of the city to catch the British Columbia Ferry service to Vancouver Island. Priority boarding whisks us on board ship for a truly breathtaking 1.5 hour cruise through the Gulf Islands that stand between the mainland, and Vancouver island.

Arriving on Vancouver Island , we proceed directly to the world famous Butchart Gardens. The gardens are one of the world's premier floral show gardens. Jennie Butchart began to shape this magnificent landscape in 1904. She established, in the style of the grand estates of the period, several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences. An abandoned limestone quarry was transformed into the dramatic Sunken Garden, a reflection of the early 20th-century beautification movement, and an exceptional achievement in Canadian gardening history. Through successive generations of the Butchart family, the Gardens has retained much of its original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays.

We depart the gardens late-afternoon for the brief drive to the city of Victoria, the picturesque provincial capital, often called the "garden city" because of its' many private and public gardens.

Once we arrive in Victoria we will do a city tour including: Legislature Buildings, the Inner harbour, James Bay, Chinatown, Antiques Row, Empress Hotel, Beacon Hill Park and more.

After checking into your hotel you will enjoy some free time to explore this fascinating city and all it has to offer. Overnight in Victoria.

Butchart Gardens

Victoria, BC

Day Two: Victoria to Tofino

Depart Victoria and travel over the Malahat pass and up Vancouver Island along the scenic Island Highway our first stop is:

Chemainus:
From just five murals and lots of spirit in the summer of 1982, Chemainus has struggled, grown and succeeded in literally putting itself on the map. In 1983, it won the prestigious New York Downtown Revitalization Award for redevelopment of the town core. It has since gained world wide acclaim for the integrity and superb artistry of its huge depiction of the town's history, earning the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award (the Americas) in 1994.

Thirty-six larger-than-life historic paintings in this open air gallery and many statues now greet the gaze of hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Chemainus thrives as a result, but it remains a small town, with just over 4,500 residents. These welcoming people still dish out island hospitality, along with ice cream and afternoon tea and scones just as they always have.

View along the Malahat

Sandstone shore

The Quw'utsun Cultural Centre brings the heritage of the Cowichan people to life through live demonstrations, hands-on activities and a moving multi-media presentation of their oral history. There are 2.4 ha ( 6 ac) of landscaped grounds and a number of traditional buildings to stroll through and enjoy - don't pass up this unique chance to lunch on freshly barbequed wild salmon on the banks of the historic Cowichan River.

Lunch: Native Dance and Salmon BBQ
Experience the sights and sounds of traditional dance and food along the Cowichan River. The Cowichan Tzinquaw Dancers will perform on the river bank the traditional songs and dances passed down from many generations. The Barbeque features fresh salmon cooked on cedar stakes over an open fire in traditional native style. Every table receives their food on a cedar plank by servers in traditional native regalia. Guests favor our freshly baked native scow bread and blackberry pie.

The Bastion

The Bastion is the oldest freestanding Hudson's Bay Company fort in North America. A curious, octagonal building of three floors, it was constructed in 1852 without the use of nails, using 20-cm (8-in) squared cedar timbers that were notched and then fitted together with dowels.

This French-Canadian construction method was called "poteau sur sole" ("post on sill"). The third floor, considerably larger than the first and second, was originally intended as a refuge for Hudson's Bay Company employees and their families in the event of an attack by the "natives" (no such one occurred). The building has since served many functions in the Nanaimo community, including jailhouse, meeting place and, currently, museum.

Cathedral Grove;

Walking through the immense, ancient trees of Cathedral Grove is a singular, awe-inspiring experience. The dense canopy creates a magical, dappled green light, matched by a profound quiet broken only by the occasional birdcall. One giant Douglas-fir on the south side of the highway measures more than 9 m (29.5 ft) in circumference. On the north side, western red cedars dominate the landscape by nearby Cameron Lake. Cathedral Grove is one of the most accessible stands of old-growth Douglas-fir trees on Vancouver Island - and not to be missed.

Coombs Market

The Market with the famous "goats on the roof" is located in Coombs, northwest of Nanaimo. Thousands of people each year travel through Coombs, stopping to visit with the goats.

By evening we arrive on the far west coast for Vancouver Island, and overnight in Tofino/Ucluelet.

Day Three: Tofino

Tofino (population: 1,466) sits on a narrow peninsula bordered by Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, north and east. Tourism has replaced timber and fishing as the mainstay of the local economy. No wonder: Tofino lies in the centre of a United Nations World Biosphere Reserve, an ecologically significant area that supports many uncommon plant and animal species. Its scenery, which includes miles of sandy beaches, stands of massive old-growth cedars and a seascape dotted with verdant islands, is breathtaking by any standard.

This morning we embark on a Whale Watching trip. Most often viewed are the Pacific Gray Whales. From April on through November, we have our 'Resident' Gray whales feeding in Clayoquot Sound and Barkley Sound. Humpback whales are seen throughout our season, with the heaviest sightings in February, June, July, August and September. We see Orca whales (Killer whales) as well. There are 12 pods of 'Transient' Orcas that we see about once every two to three weeks throughout the year.

The Gray Whales hug the shoreline on this northern migration, making the West Coast of Vancouver Island one of the best viewing areas in the world!  From mid-April on, three to twenty or more of these magnificent creatures stay and feed on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, with a few in Barkley Sound just out of Ucluelet, and the rest in Clayoquot Sound near Tofino.  These 'Resident' whales, as we call them, remain feeding in our area right through mid November at which time they head out to sea to join with the main migration as it passes our coast on the southern journey.

The Humpback Whale usually ranges between 12–16 m long and weighs approximately 36 tonnes. It is well known for its breaching (leaping out of the water), its unusually long front fins, and its complex whale song. It is a migratory species, spending its summers in cooler, high-latitude waters found on the west coast of Vancouver Island while mating and calving in tropical and sub-tropical waters. We see Humpback Whales occasionally March through May and quite regularly June through October.

Afternoon free to explore the village and enjoy the local beaches. Overnight in Tofino/Ucluelet.

Pacific Rollers

Humpback

Gray

Orca Whales

Day Four: Tofino to Telegraph Cove Area

This day we make a late morning departure, and head up island into one of the most beautiful areas on the coast. There will be remote forest walks, visits to small villages along the way and plenty of time to stop and smell the roses, both figuratively and literally.

Overnight in Telegraph cove Area

Day Five: Telegraph cove to Port Hardy

Our second whale watching adventure will be off Stubbs Island, and feature the Orcas of Robson Bright, and the famous sand stone rubbing grounds where the whales come to scratch, folic, and socialize.

Then it's on to the remote village of Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island.

Overnight in Port Hardy

Day Six: Port Hardy to Prince Rupert

Depart Port Hardy at 7:30 AM we cruise the inside passage aboard the MV Northern Adventure. The very same route as the Alaska cruise ships.

This sheltered, yet dramatic passage cruises the coast between the mainland, and offshore islands sometimes becoming so narrow you can almost reach out and touch the trees on the sides of the mountains. Wild and rugged, the area is home to many species of large mammals, such as Bear, Moose, Otter, Sea Lions, and Whales, which are often seen from the deck of the ship.

The Northern Venture is a coastal ferry with plenty of outside deck space as well as plenty of comfortable seating, a cafe, gift shop, restaurant, and a lounge. A very relaxing day with superb scenery.

About BC Ferries: They are known for safety, spectacular scenery and a proud maritime history. What began in 1960 as a two vessel, two terminal operation has grown into one of the largest, most sophisticated ferry transportation systems in the world. Thier fleet of 36 vessels serves a diverse range of communities - up to 47 ports of call - along the coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Arrive in Prince Rupert 10:30 PM, Overnight in Prince Rupert
.

Day Seven: Prince Rupert to Prince George

Depart 8:00 AM by Train on a fabulous 1,160-kilometre (725-mile) journey over two days, the Skeena travels between Prince Rupert on the Pacific coast and Jasper National Park in the heart of the superb Canadian Rockies. And thanks to an overnight layover in Prince George you'll arrive in the Rockies feeling refreshed! The Skeena is a wonderful way to discover the region's scenery, Native culture and other attractions. On board, you'll be comfortably ensconced in a wide seat with headrest. You can stretch out your legs, and enjoy the scenery on either side: a huge, luminous window, snooze or socialize. Snacks and meals are available on board as well as a drinks service.

Arriving in Prince George in the late afternoon we are transferred to our hotel, and the evening is free. Overnight in Prince George.

Day Eight: Prince George to Jasper

Departing Prince George we spend a second relaxing day on the Skeena to arrive 4:00 PM in Jasper in the Rocky Mountains. Jasper is a walking town. A short walk will find you downtown to wonder leisurely through jasper's unique boutiques, where you will find local art, pottery, unique clothing and jewelry, and fantastic souvenirs to remember your holiday.Have dinner at one of their many restaurants, and stop by The Den, Jasper's wildlife museum where Alberta's natural beauty is on display.

Evening free in the charming town of Jasper.

Overnight in Jasper

Day Nine: Jasper to Banff

Early morning departure on the most scenic highway in the world, the Jasper Parkway, we travel along the Parkway past amazing mountain peaks, lakes, and glaciers with stops at:

Athabasca Falls, which is among the most powerful and breathtaking falls in the Rocky Mountains, the Athabasca River thunders through a narrow gorge where the walls have been smoothed and potholed by the sheer force of the rushing water carrying sand and rock.

Sunwapta Falls; Sunwapta is a Stoney Indian word for "turbulent river". At the falls, the Sunwapta River abruptly changes course from northwest to southwest and plunges in a cloud of spray into a deep canyon.

And a tour of the Columbia Ice Fields, where we will ride the famous glacier buses across the permanent ice fields of the continental divide. The all terrain Ice Explorers takes visitors on a 90 minute ice adventure. Designed and manufactured in Canada especially for the Columbia Icefield, each ICE EXPLORER carries up to 56 visitors over the surface of the Athabasca Glacier. Equipped with huge low-pressure tires, traveling over ice 300 meters thick is safe and effortless for this one of a kind vehicle. An adventure found nowhere else on earth- unforgettable.

Peyto (pea-toe) named for Ebenezer William Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area. Wildlife is common along with the spectacular mountain scenery; these shots were taken on just one trip along the parkway.

Overnight in Banff Area

Jasper Parkway - The most Scenic highway in the world

Athabasca Falls

Sunwapta Falls

Peyto Lake

Day Ten: Banff

Banff is one of only two municipalities within a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to 8,721 residents, it hosts approximately 3 million guests each year. The community has embraced an aggressive growth management plan as a means to preserve this unique small town. The footprint of the Town of Banff is just 3.93 km2 and will never be bigger. This means: Everything is just 10 minutes away -- maximum. And you can walk anywhere. All residents must meet the federal regulation of ‘need to reside’, which means individuals must be employed in the town in order to live there.

Morning tour of Banff including visit to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada, commemorating the birthplace of Canada's National Park system, which began here in 1885. Naturally-occurring, warm mineral springs can be found inside the cave, and outside in an emerald coloured basin.

Sulphur Mountain gondola with its', viewing-decks and Summit Ridge interpretive boardwalk, is the very best vantage point to see Banff and the surrounding area. Safely seated in 4 passenger gondola cabins, visitors are transported in 8 minutes to the summit at an elevation of 2,281m (7,486 ft) above sea level.

Afternoon free in Banff. Over Night in Banff Area

Day Eleven: Banff to Three Valley Gap

Early morning departure with stops at:

Lake Louise

A great place for a cup of tea with a view, or perhaps a stroll on the lake side.

Lower Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint

A fascinating display explains the history and operation of this amazing engineering feet, the spiral tunnels. A railway tunnel that travels in a spiral in order to gain the needed altitude to cross the pass. From the platform, visitors have a spectacular view of the Yoho Valley, Yoho Glacier and the lower spiral tunnel portals in Mt. Ogden. Clearly viable is the spiral railway tunnel.

Rogers Pass

Travelers between Revelstoke and Golden near the British Columbia-Alberta border travelers must negotiate Rogers Pass, one of the great mountain crossings in the province and certainly the Trans-Canada Highway's crowning glory.

Traveling through Rogers Pass requires you to go through five long tunnels, which add a measure of protection from avalanches, although they can be a bit unnerving the first time. The lofty sensation of crossing Rogers Pass is one of the rewards for traveling here.

Rogers Pass (elevation 4,534 feet/1382 m) is located at the summit in Glacier National Park, and operates the Park's main Interpretation Centre. The Information Centre is the principal source of information regarding the park.

Through Yoho National Park, then on to the Kicking Horse pass with stops at the Spiral Tunnels, and Takakkaw Falls - one of Canada's highest at 254 meters.

Picnic lunch in the mountains is included.

Three Valley Gap is tucked into the mountains on a clear lake where three valleys connect(hence the name), and is a perfect introduction to the Rockies A steak barbeque (included) welcomes you in the ghost town. The evening will be free to explore the Three Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town , a unique collection of heritage pioneer buildings, which transports visitors back to the 1800s.

Also included is the Antique Auto Museum features automobiles from 1902 through 1929, and guests can also explore the vast Railway Roundhouse, the largest covered Turntable and Roundhouse complex in Canada. (Or perhaps even take in a performance at the Walter Moberly Theater.)

Overnight at Three Valley Lake Chateau.

Lake Louise

Mount Stevens, Rogers Pass

Takakkaw Falls

Day Twelve: Three Valley Gap to Vancouver

From the edge of the Rockies we travel down into the fur tile Okanogan Valley. Sunny and dry it is prime fruit growing country as well as home to wine vineyards rapidly developing in reputation as some of the finest anywhere. So we could not think of missing a stop at the leading winery: Mission Hill Family Estate. They offer winery tours, wine tastings and much more, of which we will partake. (Included in tour fee of course.) We will join their experienced and knowledgeable wine educators as they lead us through their transformed winery, high atop Mission Hill.

Please note: All tours have a wine tasting component - we are required by law to ask you for two pieces of ID (one with a photo) if you appear to be under 19 years of age. Thank you for your understanding.

From Mission hill we will travel through ranching country, and then hug the side of the mountain down the length of the Fraser Canyon stopping at Hell's Gate Rapids. We will take a cable car across the rapids to the far side for a great view of Hell's Gate, as named by early explorers.

Evening arrival in Vancouver with drop off at your hotel, and the end of the tour.

This whole tour is carefully designed to provide the most enjoyable experience, by mixing free time with included activities, and all at a leisurely pace. We are always looking for special opportunities for adventure, and have not hesitation in literally going the extra mile for you. We have put all our skills into making sure it will be a trip of a life time.

Mission Hill Winery

Hell's Gate Air Tram