Itinerary Highlights
- Explore vast beaches and lush rainforest trails along the Sunshine Coast
- See abundant wildlife, from Dall's porpoises to Steller sea lions and more
- Learn first-hand about indigenous culture, such as the 'Namgis First Nation
- Journey the path less travelled, from Campbell River to Alert Bay and Port Hardy
What's Included
- Accommodation Throughout
- Car Hire
14 nights from £5,120 - £5,985 per person
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
Embark on a spectacular 14-day adventure in Canada, combining the authentic charm of the Sunshine Coast with the rugged beauty of North Vancouver Island. Beginning in Vancouver, this self-drive road trip travels up the Sunshine Coast to explore expansive beaches, lush rainforest trails and the vibrant culinary and arts scene from Gibsons to Egmont.
From here, continue via ferry to Vancouver Island to experience the path less travelled from Campbell River to Telegraph Cove, Alert Bay and Port Hardy. All throughout your experience, you’ll witness British Columbia’s iconic wildlife, connect with unique indigenous cultures and marvel at the natural beauty that defines this extraordinary region.
Note, this is an example tour. To create your own tailor-made itinerary, please speak with our Travel Specialists.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Fly to Vancouver
Vancouver
Fly from the UK to Vancouver, a city with everything from stunning landscapes to remarkable cultural diversity. Each neighbourhood has its unique characteristics, whether that’s Gastown and its historic area of humble shops and restaurants or Chinatown with its traditional architecture and open-air markets. It’s no wonder that Vancouver has been named one of the world’s most beautiful and liveable cities. Check in to your hotel for the next three nights.
Day 2 | Vancouver
Vancouver
Today is at leisure in Vancouver. Some popular attractions you may want to visit include Granville Island and Stanley Park. Granville Island is famed for its public market, which houses everything from colourful food to produce stores and farmers stalls, all fresh from the ocean. Stanley Park, on the other hand, is ideal for biking. While riding through the 400-hectare natural rainforest, you could potentially spot threatened species such as barn swallows and elusive species like American mink.
Day 3 | Vancouver
Vancouver
As there are no plans for today, you’re free to explore Vancouver at your leisure. In the heart of Chinatown, you’ll find the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Explore winding paths mingled alongside rocks, plants and beautiful vistas. You may even want to cross Capilano Suspension Bridge and keep an eye out for Douglas squirrels or great blue herons in the vibrant rainforest. A trip to Grouse Mountain allows you to see resident grizzly bears, who emerge from hibernation in spring.
Day 4 | Vancouver to Gibsons & Madeira Park
Take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to the Sunshine Coast (Gibsons). This seaside village, with its captivating backdrop of the Howe Sound and coastal mountains, is your setting for lunch at a lovely waterfront restaurant. An optional ‘Talking Trees’ indigenous-led walking tour is also available, during which you’ll learn ecological practices and hear ancient legends passed down through generations. Travel to Madeira Park and check in to your resort for the next three nights.
Day 5 | Sea Kayaking in Sechelt
Sechelt
Spend half a day with a knowledgeable guide exploring hidden coves and marine parks of Sechelt, discovering abundant marine mammals and birdlife along the rugged shorelines. Typical paddling areas include Smugglers Cove Provincial Park, Halfmoon Bay and Sechelt Inlet. The afternoon is then free for you to relax on the beach or explore nearby towns of Sechelt, Gibsons and Roberts Creek.
Day 6 | Princess Louisa Inlet Tour
Princess Louisa Inlet
A spectacular fjord where 60 waterfalls cascade down a granite-walled gorge, Princess Louisa Inlet attracts visitors from all over the world. See how the gorge rises sharply from the water’s edge to heights of 2,100 metres before moving onto Chatterbox Falls, which tumbles 40 metres to kiss the waters below. Enjoy lunch and free time exploring the area. Then return to Egmont mid-afternoon, where you can embark on an optional hike to the rapids of Skookumchuk Narrows Provincial Park.
Day 7 | Powell River to Campbell River
Powell River
Get the ferry from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay (Powell River), where you’ll have lunch and free time. The city is the largest community on the Sunshine Coast, a place with a rich legacy in forestry and the pulp and paper industries. Afterwards, take another ferry, this time to Comox (Little River). From there, drive to Campbell River – nestled within the territory of the Lig??ildax?? peoples: the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and Kwiakah Nations. Check in to your hotel for the next two nights.
Day 8 | Explore Campbell River
Campbell River
This day is yours to enjoy at leisure in Campbell River. Perhaps you’d like to experience the area’s natural beauty from the hiking trails or waterfront boardwalks? In addition to this, you can explore Elk Falls Provincial Park – home to a thundering waterfall and various salmon species – or Strathcona Provincial Park – which has a 380-million-year history of volcanic eruptions. To make most of your time here, why not opt to board a comfortable whale-watching boat for a ‘Wildlife & Cultural Tour’?
Day 9 | Campbell River to Telegraph Cove
Telegraph Cove
After breakfast, depart Campbell River for Telegraph Cove. Uniquely built on stilts above the water and connected by a boardwalk, the quaint fishing village welcomes you to explore its colourful past. Many historic buildings still stand since it was established in 1912, from the salmon saltery to the general store. Following leisure time exploring here, check in to your resort for the next two nights.
Day 10 | Telegraph Cove
Telegraph Cove
For your second day in Telegraph Cove, enjoy leisure time or choose between four optional tours. These include half or full-day sea kayaking on the Johnstone Strait, grizzly bear viewing from Telegraph Cove, exploring the scenic shoreline of San Josef Bay and searching for marine life from Port Hardy. The latter allows you to potentially see species such as humpback whales, Dall's porpoises, Steller sea lions and more. You may wish to simply relax in the village or check out the local hiking trails.
Day 11 | Telegraph Cove to Alert Bay
Alert Bay
The morning is free to explore the town before departing for Alert Bay. A 500-strong proud and active 'Namgis First Nation community resides here, along with a mix of Kwakwaka'wakw tribes and small settler population. During your visit, head to the U'Mista Cultural Centre, which features the renowned potlatch collection and other exhibits on the history and culture of the 'Namgis First Nation. Then check in to your hotel for the next two nights.
Day 12 | Grizzly & Wildlife Tour
Alert Bay
Today, you join local indigenous guides on a well-equipped vessel for a day on the water. Heading deep into the channels and many islands of the Broughton Archipelago, you may witness humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, eagles, bears and seabirds. From boat to Zodiac to cruising the shoreline and then on foot, you’ll utilise multiple methods in search of the resident grizzly bears, who are regularly found feeding on salmon in the nearby streams. Along the way, the guides will share stories behind the scenery, of the First Nations who’ve called these lands home for millennia.
Day 13 | Alert Bay to Nanaimo
Nanaimo
Spend some free time in Alert Bay before continuing to Port Hardy. While in Alert Bay, you can enjoy a light hike through Ecological Park – a network of trails through an old, lush forest to an open bog. Get the ferry to Port McNeill and drive south to Nanaimo. The journey is roughly four hours, with the beaches and trails of Miracle Beach Provincial Park en route. Check in to your hotel for one night.
Day 14 | Flight Home
Take the ferry from Nanaimo (Duke Point) to Tsawwassen (Vancouver). From here, continue on a drive to Vancouver International Airport for your flight back to the UK.
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
14 nights from £5,120 - £5,985 per person
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
• All accommodation for 13 nights, including three nights in Vancouver, three nights in Madeira Park, two nights in Campbell River, two nights in Telegraph Cove, two nights in Alert Bay and one night in Nanaimo – mix of lodges, hotels and B&Bs
• Vehicle rental/usage and fuel
• Four breakfasts, one lunch
• Sea kayaking tour in Sechelt/Halfmoon Bay (half day)
• Boat tour to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls (full day)
• Indigenous-led grizzly bear and wildlife viewing tour from Alert Bay (full day)
• U'Mista Cultural Centre entry (optional add-on: Artist-led tour of the galleries)
• Ferries from Vancouver to Gibsons, Powell River to Comox and Nanaimo to Tsawwassen
• Custom itinerary design, local recommendations and remote support from during your trip
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
• Additional meals and add-on activities
• Flights to/from and within British Columbia
• Ferry to/from Alert Bay
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
