Vancouver Island & the Grizzlies Fly Drive

Day 1 - Fly UK to Vancouver

On arrival at Vancouver Airport, transfer to your chosen downtown hotel.

Day 2 - Explore Vancouver

Day at leisure to explore the delights of Vancouver at your leisure with the help of the Vancouver Hop on Hop off Sightseeing pass.

Your Hop-On-Hop-Off ticket gives you access to all Hop-On, Hop-Off buses in the city for 48 Hours!

This flexible city tour offers up the highlights of downtown Vancouver including major attractions and scenic points of interest. Choose to Hop Off at any of the 29 stops and Hop-On again to continue the tour. Take an up close and personal look at Vancouver’s urban oasis, Stanley Park, have lunch at Granville Island (not included), visit the historical Gastown or the trendy Yaletown, and don’t forget Robson Street to do a little shopping! Highlights of the route include English Bay, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Yaletown, Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street, and the Entertainment District.

Day 3 - Vancouver to Victoria

This morning pick up your hire car and head for Tsawwassen Ferry terminal for a 90 min ferry ride (ferry toll included). On-board BC Ferries enjoy the scenery of the Gulf Islands as you cross the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island.  Stay 2 nights at a centrally located Victoria hotel.

Day 4 - Explore Victoria

Today is free to explore Victoria, with its turn-of-the-century architecture, British traditions such as high tea, and shops full of woollens and china. We have included a whale watching experience. British Columbia is known to have some of the best scenery in the world, not to mention the incredible sunsets. Take advantage of a unique whale watching experience & the wonderful evening light. Take advantage of the opportunity to view killer whales and humpback whales in the wild as well as an assortment of seabirds and other species of marine wildlife from downtown Victoria.

Day 5 - Victoria to Tofino (313 km/195mi)

Travel to the rugged West Coast of Vancouver Island and head to Pacific Rim National Park. En-route stops should be made at Duncan the ‘City of Totems’, where you may visit the Quw’utsun’ Heritage Village, which will provide you with an insight into the lives of the  northwest  coast people (admission not included). Make a stop in the artist community of Chemainus, where you can admire the giant murals which adorn the exterior walls throughout the town. Drive through majestic Sutton Pass and the Sawtooth Range of the Cascade Mountains to arrive in Tofino around mid-afternoon.

Day 6 - Explore Pacific Rim National Park

Use your day to explore the spectacular Pacific Rim National Park....walk through the rainforest, hike the trails, one of the most popular hikes is the Rainforest Trail. Mid-afternoon you may opt to enjoy a 3-hour whale watch cruise (not included) through the Clayoquot Sound, revealing sensational scenery and wildlife such as Gray Whales, Sea Lions, Porpoises and Orcas. The area is also known for its variety of birds, including tufted puffins and resident bald eagles. Tofino is famous for it's beaches - no less than 6! Make sure to catch one of the stunning sunsets from one of the beaches - Tonquin is one of our favourites for the sunset..

Day 7 - Tofino to Parksville (175 km/109 mi)

Spend the morning in the Pacific Rim National Park before travelling east on Vancouver Island to the relaxing beachfront location of Parksville where you will overnight. 

Day 8 - Parksville to Vancouver

Traverse to Departure Bay ferry terminal for your 1hr 45minute sailing to Horseshoe Bay before continuing a short drive to Vancouver and drop off your hire car downtown.

Day 9 - Vancouver to Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Depart for your morning flight from Vancouver South Terminal Airport to Powell River (taxi transfer included). Upon arrival, shuttle transfer to The Lund Resort, where you will be greeted by Klahoose Resort staff. Head to the docks just outside the resort, where you will take a water taxi transfer to Klahoose Wilderness Resort. Enjoy the scenery as you will be travelling through beautiful Desolation Sound Provincial Marine Park and Homfray Channel.

Arriving at the resort mid afternoon, get settled into your room, where your luggage will be waiting. Enjoy free time to explore the resort before ending the evening with a delicious dinner, paired with glass of wine or beer.

Day 10 - Guided Adventure

Start today with a hearty breakfast before heading out on your guided adventure. Guided adventures usually last 5-6 hours. Grizzly Bear viewing season is August to mid October, where guests will get the opportunity to go up Toba Inlet and view bears from the boats and viewing platforms. During the off season of bear viewing, guests will partake in a Klahoose Cultural Boat Tour, which includes a tour of the Desolation Sound and Homfray Channel. Keep your eyes peeled, as there is always an opportunity to see an abundant of wildlife such as whales, porpoises, harbour seals, and eagles. In the evening, dinner will be served, with time for you to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Day 11 - Day at leisure or Guided Adventure

Start your day with breakfast at the main lodge. Today will be a day at leisure to enjoy Klahoose Wilderness Resort. Feel free to take out the sea kayaks or stand up paddle boards to explore the surrounding area, or partake in a optional add-on tour - Helisightseeing, Heli-hiking, guided boat fishing, or additional boat tours (additional charge).

During the Grizzly Bear Viewing season (August-October), guests will have an additional guided bear viewing adventure today (5-6 hours). Return to the lodge in the afternoon to enjoy your final dinner. End your evening with a beverage by the fire pit, while mingling with other resort guests you may have met along this adventure.

Day 12 - Klahoose Wilderness to Whistler

Enjoy one final breakfast at the lodge, before heading to the dock early afternoon for your water taxi transfer back to Lund. Upon arrival in Lund, an airport shuttle will be waiting to take you back to Powell River Airport. From there, connect for your flight back to Vancouver! Coach transfer from Vancouver Airport to Whistler Gateway is included.

Day 13 - Explore Whistler

This charming alpine resort town is nestled between world-renowned Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Experience the beauty via the Peak 2 Peak Gondola as you soak in the unbelievable views of glaciers, extinct volcanoes and snow-capped peaks. There are many walking and hiking trials available on the mountains.

Day 14 - Whistler at leisure

Today is yours to spend at your leisure exploring Whistler and its lakes. Alternatively ask one of our Canada Experts for excursion recommendations - Zip Trek, helicopter tour over the mountains and glaciers, canoeing, paddle boarding, nature walks to name a few.

Day 15 - Fly Vancouver to UK

Enjoy your final morning in Whistler before you transfer to Vancouver airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.