Grizzlies, Orcas & Black Bears
This flexible self drive holiday takes you across to the natural wilderness of Vancouver Island. Here you will drive through pristine forests and over scenic passes, take a floatplane flight to the remote Knight Inlet where you will embark on your first bear watching adventure. Continue through Cathedral Grove with its 800 year old Douglas Fir and Cedar trees to Tofino where you have the choice of a whale watching or Black Bear watching cruise. Visit quaint artist communities such as Chemainus where the city walls are adorned with murals, and Duncan, the 'City of Totems'.
Another whale watching adventure awaits you in Victoria, where you will travel 50 - 80 kms in search of orcas, minke whales, grey whales, porpoises, harbour seals and other marine life before heading back to Vancouver via Butchart Gardens.
DAY 01
Fly from the UK to Vancouver, on arrival you will be met and transferred to your downtown Vancouver hotel. The evening is at your leisure.
Travel to Vancouver
VancouverFly from the UK to Vancouver, on arrival you will be met and transferred to your downtown Vancouver hotel. The evening is at your leisure.
DAY 02
A full day at leisure in Vancouver, you may wish to explore the downtown area on foot, visit Chinatown or take an optional tour to Stanley Park or a floatplane flight over the skyline of Vancouver for a birds eye view of this Pacific Coast city.
Vancouver
VancouverA full day at leisure in Vancouver, you may wish to explore the downtown area on foot, visit Chinatown or take an optional tour to Stanley Park or a floatplane flight over the skyline of Vancouver for a birds eye view of this Pacific Coast city.
DAY 03
This morning you will collect your car from the downtown depot and head off on your Canadian wilderness adventure. Drive to Horseshoe Bay and catch the ferry for a 1 hr 45 min sailing to Vancouver Island. Once you have disembarked from the BC Ferry, you will head north on Vancouver Island to Nanaimo, the island's second largest city. Your final destination today will be Campbell River, historically known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World.'
Vancouver - Campbell River (105 miles + ferry)
Campbell RiverThis morning you will collect your car from the downtown depot and head off on your Canadian wilderness adventure. Drive to Horseshoe Bay and catch the ferry for a 1 hr 45 min sailing to Vancouver Island. Once you have disembarked from the BC Ferry, you will head north on Vancouver Island to Nanaimo, the island's second largest city. Your final destination today will be Campbell River, historically known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World.'
DAY 04
Knight Inlet is inaccessible by road, so today you will take a thrilling 30 minute floatplane flight from Campbell River to the mouth of Glendale River where your accommodation at Knight Inlet Lodge floats on large cedar booms. This will be your first bear watching and wildlife viewing opportunity, hopefully you will get to see grizzly bears that frequent this area. Accommodation Options
Campbell River to Knight Inlet Lodge by Floatplane
VancouverKnight Inlet is inaccessible by road, so today you will take a thrilling 30 minute floatplane flight from Campbell River to the mouth of Glendale River where your accommodation at Knight Inlet Lodge floats on large cedar booms. This will be your first bear watching and wildlife viewing opportunity, hopefully you will get to see grizzly bears that frequent this area. Accommodation Options
Included
Fairmont Pacific Rim
DAY 05
Early mornings are a great time to look out for bears, so you will return to the bear viewing platforms for a last photo opportunity before departing for Campbell River by floatplane. Drive across Vancouver Island to Ucluelet on the rugged Pacific coast. There are plenty of opportunities to stop along the way including Cathedral Grove with its 800 year old Douglas Firs and Cedars. Accommodation Options
Knight Inlet to Campbell River by Floatplane / Campbell River - Ucluelet (140 miles)
TofinoEarly mornings are a great time to look out for bears, so you will return to the bear viewing platforms for a last photo opportunity before departing for Campbell River by floatplane. Drive across Vancouver Island to Ucluelet on the rugged Pacific coast. There are plenty of opportunities to stop along the way including Cathedral Grove with its 800 year old Douglas Firs and Cedars. Accommodation Options
Included
Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
DAY 06
During your full day in Tofino you can choose from a whale watch cruise in search of gray whales, humpback whales, sea lions, sea birds and resident bald eagles or you can join a bear viewing cruise in search of Black Bears that venture to the ocean edge for their food. Accommodation Options
Tofino Whale Watch Cruise or Black Bear Cruise
TofinoDuring your full day in Tofino you can choose from a whale watch cruise in search of gray whales, humpback whales, sea lions, sea birds and resident bald eagles or you can join a bear viewing cruise in search of Black Bears that venture to the ocean edge for their food. Accommodation Options
Included
Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
DAY 07
Today you will drive back to the East Coast of Vancouver, take time to stop at the artist community of Chermainus where exterior walls throughout the town are adorned with giant murals. Visit Duncan, the City of Totems or the heritage village of Quw'utsun. Accommodation Options
Tofino - Victoria (195 miles)
VictoriaToday you will drive back to the East Coast of Vancouver, take time to stop at the artist community of Chermainus where exterior walls throughout the town are adorned with giant murals. Visit Duncan, the City of Totems or the heritage village of Quw'utsun. Accommodation Options
Included
Inn at Laurel Point
DAY 08
Take an exhilarating cruise in search for Minke whales, Orcas, Grey whales, Harbour seals, porposises and other marine wildlife. Return to Victoria for an afternoon of leisure. Accommodation Options
Victoria
VictoriaTake an exhilarating cruise in search for Minke whales, Orcas, Grey whales, Harbour seals, porposises and other marine wildlife. Return to Victoria for an afternoon of leisure. Accommodation Options
Included
Inn at Laurel Point
DAY 09
This morning take the scenic route to Butchart Gardens, a beautiful 55 acre floral display in a pristine setting. Continue to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal for your 90 minute ferry ride to Tsawwassen. Enjoy the stunning views and scenery of the Gulf Islands as you sail through the Strait of Georgia. Continue to Vancouver Airport to return your vehicle ready for your return flight to the UK.
Victoria - Vancouver (43 miles + ferry)
This morning take the scenic route to Butchart Gardens, a beautiful 55 acre floral display in a pristine setting. Continue to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal for your 90 minute ferry ride to Tsawwassen. Enjoy the stunning views and scenery of the Gulf Islands as you sail through the Strait of Georgia. Continue to Vancouver Airport to return your vehicle ready for your return flight to the UK.
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