This is the perfect trip for nature lovers wanting to get off the beaten path. As we wind our way to Vancouver Island’s west and east coasts, our small group tour explores old-growth forests where the trees form a cool canopy over walking trails. We saunter along on sparkling, wave-swept beaches and stay in small-scale accommodation. Our final destination is Port Hardy, at the top of Vancouver Island and the gateway to our Haida Gwaii trip (Leg 4).
Tour Summary
Nestled along Canada’s west coast, Vancouver Island is a paradise of tranquil islands, pristine coastlines, and emerald forests. Here, the ever-present Pacific Ocean shapes the scenery, softens the climate and supports a thriving marine and land mammal population. We immerse ourselves in this west coast environment: weaving along secondary roads, visiting villages, parks, and three Gulf islands, our small group of six avoids the crowds while travelling through vast stretches of Island wilderness. Four days in duration, this fully guided trip ultimately travels the 460 kilometer length of Vancouver Island to Port Hardy – an unusual trip that will be sure to delight.
- Duration
- 4 days, 3 nights
- Departs
-
Victoria, BC
- Arrives
-
Port Hardy, BC
- Activity Level
- Easy
- Max Group Size
- Maximum: 6. Minimum to confirm: 4
- Accommodation
- The properties we stay at include inns and lodges At a minimum guests will have one queen bed and a private bathroom. Our properties all underscore our philosophy to utilize small-scale accommodation that offer character and cleanliness, pursue sound environmental practices and support other local operators.
- Transport
- Air conditioned 15 passenger or SUV.
- Meals
- 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch and three dinners.
- Activity Notes
- The hike to Avatar Grove can be tricky when wet and takes about an hour, including viewing time, to walk 2.5 kilometers with a 50 meter elevation gain.
Please note that all July and August departure dates correspond to later departure dates for the Haida Gwaii trips.
Included
- Fully escorted with one driver/guide
- 4 nights’ accommodation
- 15 passenger van / SUV with air conditioning
- 4 breakfasts, one lunch and three dinners
- Escorted walks and hikes
- All entrance fees to provincial, national parks and protected areas
- Entrance fee to U'mista Cultural Centre
Not Included
- Meals where not indicated
- Airfare from Port Hardy to Vancouver
- Optional activities
- Travel, cancellation and baggage insurance
- Driver/guide gratuities
- Porterage
- 5% GST
Vancouver Island Mini-Safari: Leg 3 Itinerary
Day 1. Victoria, BC
Check in to your hotel – check in time is 4:00 pm. Have dinner and a refreshment at the in-house pub or take a five-minute stroll to the nearby shopping mall, the largest in Victoria. And, please ask us about trips on this day to Butchart Gardens, whale watching, Craigdarroch Castle and more.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2. Cowichan Valley, BC
We pick you up at your hotel at 8:00 am and head to Sooke to connect with the 200 kilometer Pacific Marine Circle Route. Passing through this rural community, we leave reliable cell service behind as we follow the West Coast Road to begin our four-hour journey. We pass through once thriving Jordan River, now a largely abandoned ghost town frequented by surfers looking for that ten-foot wave. From Jordan River, the road rises and we begin our climb into striking scenery: mossy rainforests, cliff-top vistas and pounding surf. It’s hard to say whether it’s more glorious under blue skies, in fog, or after a rain.
Approaching Port Renfrew is like stepping back in time. There is relatively no tourism infrastructure here, no fancy resorts or chain hotels, coffee or surf shops. In fact, there is no structure to the town itself, just a series of businesses mixed with residences along the road. We stop at one of several local eateries where the dishes feature fresh, west coast cuisine.
Keeping an eye on tide conditions, we take a short hike to explore Botanical Beach Provincial Park. It’s best to explore this ecologically diverse area at low tide to see tidal-pool aquariums that trap all kinds of marine life such as urchins, starfish and crabs. Breathe in the sea and forest aromas on this isolated west coast beach and feel time stand still.
Heading inland, we divert to Avatar Grove. Declared a protected area in 2012, this grove is home to some of the most ancient trees on Vancouver Island, the centrepiece of which is Canada’s Gnarliest Tree. Hiking to the grove along a boardwalk, we have to navigate around a few roots and mind our footing when it’s wet. But once you arrive and shift your eyes skyward, the view is overwhelming.
The last 65 kilometres to Cowichan Lake was once a logging road and has been paved in the last ten years. Keep your camera close at hand as there are wolves, cougars and black bears in the area. We pass by Fairy Lake, home to the internet sensation bansai tree.
Instead of turning south back to Victoria (which would complete the Pacific Marine Circle Route) we head past Cowichan Lake and into the Cowichan Valley, known as “The Warm Land”.
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Day 3. Gulf Islands: Hornby Island, BC
Sit back and be prepared for a little island-hopping today! Connecting for the first time with the Highway 19 (and cell service), the main Highway up Island, we head to the east coast of Vancouver Island to Buckley Bay for the ten-minute ferry ride to Denman Island, one of the southern Gulf Islands. On Denman, we take time to stop for lunch and peruse the speciality food and craft shops on our way to the far end of the island. From here, we take another ten-minute ferry to Hornby Island, our second southern Gulf Island.
In the afternoon, we fill our water bottles and head for Helliwell Provincial Park, one of our guests’ favourite places to visit. Here, one can meander through old growth forests and observe spectacular views of marine life, the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains from any point along the bluffs. The well-developed trail system accommodates walkers and hikers. We often see deer, eagles and sea lions, and a variety of sea life in tidal pools (but no bears – remember we’re on an island!).
After the walk, some may choose to retire to enjoy our bed and breakfast. Others can look forward to a late afternoon visit to the Cabrea State Winery, the Cardboard Bakery or the Ringside Market.
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Day 4. Port Hardy, BC via Alert Bay, a Northern Gulf Island
Back on Vancouver Island, we take the Old Island Highway. Mainly used by locals, this road passes through a half dozen villages before we reach Campbell River. Of the 775,000 thousand people that live on Vancouver Island, 5,000 live north of Campbell River.
Turning onto Highway 19, we continue our north-west journey to Sayward, known as “The Gateway to Northern Vancouver Island”. Here, we stop to refill our coffee cups before embarking on the 1.5 hour drive to Port Hardy. For the first hour we weave through the largely unpopulated Nimpkish Valley. Flanked by steep, snow capped mountains, waterfalls cascade to the highway and others can be seen in the distance. Rosevelt Elk, blacktail deer and bear are common sightings.
At Port McNeil, we head to the harbour to catch a 35 minute ferry to Cormorant Island and the Village of Alert Bay. We take lunch at Alert Bay Lodge, a former church overlooking Johnstone Strait. After lunch, our tour of the island will include stops at the Chief’s Burial Grounds, the ‘Namgis Big House, and the world’s tallest totem pole. We’ll stretch our legs at the Ecological Park before winding up our visit at the U’mista Culture Centre.
One of the longest-operating Indigenous facilities in BC, the U’mista Cultural Centre houses potlatch artifacts and masks seized by the government after a period of cultural repression. The long struggle by Indigenous people to have these artifacts repatriated (U’mista means “the return of something important”) is a historical and cultural achievement. A gallery displays regalia where one can touch carvings, button blankets and cedar hats.
We arrive in Port Hardy in the early evening. From Port Hardy, guests can choose to hire a coach to Victoria or Vancouver, fly to Vancouver, or take BC Ferries’ Inside Passage to Prince Rupert. Those going to Prince Rupert can connect with VIA Rail to see BC’s interior or join us on our Haida Gwaii tour.
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
