Canada Road Trip: West Coast Explorer

You will be transferred from Vancouver airport to your hotel in a private vehicle

Explore Stanley Park Seawall on Your Own

Get the complete Stanley Park experience by walking or biking the 5.5-mile Stanley Park Seawall. Stanley Park is Vancouver’s first and largest urban park. Encompassing 1,000 acres, it is almost completely surrounded by Vancouver Harbour and English Bay. The land on which the park stands was once home to First Nations people such as the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.

Most of Stanley Park Seawall was built between 1917 and 1971, to protect against erosion. The path is relatively flat, so it is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, and offers picturesque views of city's landmarks. It should take you between two to three hours to complete the loop, or one hour to bike it. Stanley Park also contains over 40 miles of wooded trails through trees that are hundreds of years old.

Guided Private Vancouver City Tour

Vancouver is a beautiful cosmopolitan city surrounded by stunning scenery and landscapes. Explore the city's many sights starting with the Totem Poles in Stanley Park and learn about the history of Canada's First Nations. Your next stop, the nearby Prospect Point, offers stunning views of Lions Gate Bridge and the North Shore mountains.

At Canada Place, marvel at Vancouver's world-famous and Best-Destination-Experience-Award-winning cruise ship terminal. View the majestic Olympic Cauldron, which was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics at the nearby Jack Poole Plaza. Explore the glittering shopping paradise of Robson Street before heading for Vancouver's historic and charming Gastown.

Don't forget to explore the second largest Chinatown in North America while you're in the area. Another must-do is to take in the stunning views at English Bay in the West End of Vancouver, before you finish off at Granville Island. Here, you will find an eclectic array of shops and galleries, restaurants, and of course the famous Granville Island Public Market.

Make your own way to the Vancouver center and pick up your rental car. Drive yourself from Vancouver to Whistler in your rental car. The duration of the trip is about two hours.

Enjoy spectacular landscapes along the iconic Sea-to-Sky highway, with dozens of scenic viewpoints. You could also stop in tiny Britannia Beach and take a ride into the underground! Travel along a mine railway through British Columbia's largest former copper mine at the award-winning Britannia Mine Museum.

Whistler is a popular resort town nestled in the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia, just a couple of hours north of Vancouver. One of the world's most popular ski destinations, this quaint little alpine town has the largest skiing area on the continent with the two main mountains called Whistler and Blackcomb. Just outside of Whistler village, you can spot the famous bald eagles of the region in the fall months.

Group Tour of Shared First Nations Museum in Whistler

Explore the history of the Squamish and Lil’wat people, at the Shared First Nations Museum, in the town of Whistler, located in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Your cultural journey begins with a welcome song, followed by a fifteen-minute film introducing the Squamish and Lil’wat people.

Then visit the various artefacts and exhibits, including a hand-carved journey canoe. Cultural Ambassadors share their stories and first-hand cultural experiences with the group, as well as tales of the past and present way of life of the Squamish and Lil’wat peoples. For a more hands-on experience, Ambassadors may also lead craft activities at the end of the tour.

Group Bear Viewing Tour in Whistler Blackcomb Mountains

Try to spot wild black bears as you range through Whistler and Blackcomb slopes on this thrilling tour. Set off in your comfortable 4x4 vehicle across a varied landscape from valley floors to serene skiing routes and mountain peaks. Learn from your naturalist expert about bear feeding and mating patterns, that change not just with seasons but with elevation as well.

Accompany your guide to sites where the bears feed and lounge in day beds. Visit dens where they spend nights and explore old-growth forests where they hibernate to tide over long harsh winters. By the end of the tour you will not only have learnt more about these majestic Alpine animals but felt a greater appreciation for the precious flora and fauna of the Whistler Mountains.

The next stop on your holiday is Egmont. Drive yourself from Whistler to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in your rental car. The final stretch of the Sea-to-Sky highway, or should we say Sky-to-Sea, easily ranks among the most beautiful and scenic drives in Canada.

Board your car ferry from Horseshoe Bay Terminal to Langdale Terminal. The ferry ride is about 45 minutes. Drive yourself from Langdale, BC to Egmont, BC. You should reach your destination in about 1.5 hours.

Explore Egmont, a compact waterfront village located on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Overlooking Secret Bay in the Sechelt Inlet, it's a gateway to the Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park. Alpine forest landscapes and pristine waters add to the beautiful scenery here. The Egmont Heritage Center houses special collections of artefacts that share stories of First Nations and early settlers.

Wilderness Retreat Package By West Coast Wilderness Lodge

Spend two or more days exploring the tranquil wilderness of British Columbia at the West Coast Wilderness Lodge! From your vantage point in the heart of Egmont, venture out to experience the beauty of the region with its idyllic water inlets against a backdrop of gently sloping mountains.

Start the day with a delicious breakfast before you set out on a hike along one of the numerous scenic hiking trails in the area. Wind your way through lush forests filled with cedars and firs, stopping now and then at viewpoints to gaze at the spectacular scenery. In the evening, sip on cocktails and tuck into a gourmet dinner on the cliff side patio while watching the sun set over the ocean.

Visit the local museum of Egmont on the following day to experience its small town charm. Head over to the Skookumchuck rapids, known to be one of the fastest tidal rapids in the world, and marvel at the sight of the water crashing over the rocks. Spend the rest of your time at the Lodge relaxing in the spa or on the sundeck. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also go on a kayaking tour or on a boat cruise through the inlets.

Drive yourself from Egmont, BC to Earls Cove, BC in your rental car (Duration: 10 mins). Board your ferry from Earls Cove Terminal to Saltery Bay Terminal (Duration: 1 hr). Drive yourself from Saltery Bay, BC to Powell River, BC in your rental car (Duration: 30 mins).

Board your car ferry from Powell River Westview Terminal to Comox Little River Terminal (Duration: 1.5 hrs). Drive yourself from Comox Little River Ferry Terminal to Courtenay, BC in your rental car (Duration: 15 mins).

Courtenay is an urban area of the Comox Valley that graces the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Nestled amid expansive farmlands, Courtenay has a charming classic-style downtown, and parks along the banks of Puntledge and Tsolum rivers. The rustic landscapes across Comox and Cumberland offer dozens of hiking and biking trails, along with campsites that have vistas of alpine forests and snow-capped mountains beyond. The Puntledge River Hatchery educates visitors about the lives of wild salmon, while an annual festival is dedicated to the protected trumpeter swans that descend on the wildlife-rich estuary every winter.

Drive yourself from Courtenay to Tofino in your rental car. You should reach your destination in about 3.5 hours.

The idyllic coastal town of Tofino is located within the traditional territory of the region's First Nations communities on the western shores of Vancouver Island.  It sits at the tip of a picturesque peninsula surrounded by the protected Clayoquot Sound region, which is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Group Bear Watching Tour by Cabin Cruiser

Venture through the inlets of Clayoquot Sound in a comfortable cabin cruiser as you go in search of bears. Settle in as the vessel sets sail down the scenic coastline. Along the way, learn about bear behaviour and the distinctive ecosystem of the region from your guide, who belongs to the Ahousaht Nation.

In addition, you can hear about the history of the First Nations people and their efforts to preserve their culture and traditions. Scan the shorelines for black bears emerging from the forest in search of food. If you are lucky, you may see a mama bear with her cubs.

You may also spot sea lions and harbour seals sunning themselves on rocks, while bald eagles and a variety of seabirds soar overhead. The region’s old-growth forests are also home to coastal wolves who tend to be quite elusive. After a couple of hours on the water, return to shore and disembark.

Group Kayaking Tour with Rainforest Hike

Explore Clayoquot Sound and the rainforest on Meares Island during this kayaking adventure. Make your way to the meeting point where you can collect your kayak and safety gear. Once you are ready, hop into your vessel and follow your certified sea kayaking guide on the pristine waters of Clayoquot Sound. As you glide towards Meares Island, take in views of the scenic surroundings and keep an eye out for small wildlife species.

On reaching the island, step ashore to hike the famous Big Tree Trail, which consists of boardwalks that winds through an ancient temperate rainforest. Walk amid soaring red cedar trees, some of which date back more than a thousand years. Along the way, listen to your guide’s captivating narrative about First Nations history, the ecology of the region, and the ongoing conservation efforts. After hiking for about an hour and a half, get back in your kayak for the return journey.

It's time to head back to Vancouver! Drive yourself in your rental car from Tofino to Nanaimo (duration: 3.5 hrs). Board your car ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay (duration: 2 hrs). Drive yourself in your rental car from Horseshoe Bay to Vancouver (duration: 30 mins). Make your own way to the Vancouver airport and drop off your rental car.