11 Days - from $1890

Whale watching and kayaking off Vancouver Island. Glaciers, eagles and bears in the Coastal Mountains. Camping near the beach on Vancouver Island. The exciting modern cities of Seattle and Vancouver.

Western Canada contains some of the most striking scenery and abundant wildlife in North America. On this diverse trip we spend time both high in the mountains and down at the sea, experiencing all the best that this region has to offer. Glistening glaciers, alpine meadows, lakes and forests adorn the Coastal Mountains, whilst black bears and bald eagles frequent the slopes. The Vancouver Island region is a marine life paradise amongst tranquil islands, pristine beaches and ancient rainforest. The highlight, however, is likely to be whale watching, as sightings are virtually guaranteed, and orcas, grey whales and humpbacks may be seen.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Start Seattle. Overnight in hotel. 2-3 Sea kayaking Today we take to sea kayaks, much the best way to explore the coastline of the islands. This is also an excellent opportunity to see the marine and bird life that lives in and around these waters. If we're lucky, we may even see the killer whales that the island is named after. 4 Victoria In the afternoon, we take the ferry on to Victoria, Vancouver Island's main town and the capital of British Colombia, and will pass through customs en-route. It's a remarkable mix of English Edwardian, First Nations and even some Chinese building styles and was home to the first Chinatown in Canada. We visit the respected Provincial Museum and learn about the First Nations and how they lived, as well as the fascinating natural history of the region - a great insight to the flora and fauna we'll see whilst on the island. 5-6 Tofino This small village on the west coast of Vancouver Island is a nature lovers paradise. Surrounded by ancient temperate rainforest, beautiful sandy beached and seas with abundant marine life, it is the perfect base for two nights of camping. Salmon spawn in the rivers of this region and we'll have a fresh salmon BBQ on the beach. We'll head up the coast by boat watching for the many bears and whales that call the Clayoquot Sound their home and take a gentle walk amongst the giant trees of the Pacific Rim National Park. 7 Whistler A long but beautiful journey to Whistler today. We drive across the mountainous centre of Vancouver Island to the port of Nanaimo on the east coast. We board a public ferry that will take us across the Georgia Straight back to the mainland to the north of Vancouver. The very impressive coastal mountain range rises straight from the sea and we drive along side a fiord to the fashionable resort of Whistler. 8 Whistler A day spent in the spectacular mountain scenery surrounding the village. We take an easy hike amongst the mountains to a waterfall. The afternoon is free for optional activities and there are plenty of these available! Mountain biking, zip-line tours or even relaxing in the spa are all at hand. 9 Vancouver Today we leave the mountains, heading south to Canada's most beautiful city. We'll have a city tour so we can quickly get our bearings around the parks and skyscrapers in the centre. Exploring this cosmopolitan and diverse metropolis will be a stark contrast to the nature we've become accustomed to, but it's always a highlight. 10 Seattle We cross the border back into the US, and drive down to Seattle, nicknamed the "Emerald City" due to the lush evergreen trees that surround it. We take a tour to Pike's Market, a busy district centered around the world famous fish market. There are a multitude of other interesting independent boutique style shopping outlets, flowers, produce, local brewpubs, coffee houses, ice cream stands, antique dealers, comic book sellers and small family-run restaurants. Finally, you could choose to head up the towering Space Needle (built to "anchor" the 1964 World's Fair) to the observation deck. 11 The tour ends in Seattle.

Mode of travel: Flights via Minneapolis with Northwest Airlines. Transport minibus and boat.
Group size: Min. 8, max. 13 plus leader/driver.
Accommodation: 2 nights hotels, 8 night camping.
Food: All meals included whilst camping, room only in Seattle.
Optional Single Supplement: from $200.00
Trip Reference: FNV
Reverse Itinerary: trips that run in reverse are specified with an "R" in the dates and prices table below.