8 Nights From Vancouver to Vancouver

Vancouver: 1 night
Victoria: 2 nights
Tofino: 2 nights
Campbell River: 1 night
Knight Inlet: 1 night
Vancouver: 1 night

  • Orca whale jumping in Discovery Passage along Vancouver Coast
  • Bear in Vancouver Island
  • Fly & Drive

Whales, Bears & Vancouver Island

This Tour

Offering a mix of beautiful waterfront cities, remote wilderness and outstanding scenery this action-packed self-drive encompasses a real taste of Western Canada culture. From the bustling city of Vancouver, you will plunge right into a whale watching journey from Vancouver to Pacific Rim National Park. Then take to the skies aboard a floatplane where you will go inland in search of grizzly bears, eagles and foxes near Knight Inlet Lodge.

MEAL PLAN No meals included apart from breakfast, lunch and dinner at Knight Inlet Lodge.

ACCOMMODATION Is in three and a half star hotels but in remote areas such as National Parks or small towns, this standard may not exist and accommodation may be more simple and rustic. Hotels in Campbell River and Knight Inlet Lodge are more simple three star hotels. Hotels will be confirmed with final itineraries.

TOUR INCLUDES Prices include an Alamo rental car on a rental only basis including unlimited mileage and size depending on the number of people in your party. Please call for details of allocated cars and Alamo's rental packages. A comprehensive step-by-step fly-drive holiday guide with maps, driving instructions and sightseeing information is included in your Whales, Bears and Vancouver Island fly-drive. Ferry crossings on Day 2 from Tsawwassen (Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (Vancouver Island) and Day 8 from Nanaimo (Vancouver Island) to Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) are also included.

GRATUITIES Tipping is common practice in Canada. We recommend between 10-15% for waiting staff, barmen and guides and smaller amounts for doormen and porters.

Go to itinerary

Departure Dates

DAILY May15 to Oct10.

Your itinerary

DAY 1 Collect your Alamo rental car at Vancouver airport and drive to your chosen hotel for your overnight stay.

DAY 2 Drive to the ferry port and board your BC Ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island. Continue down the Saanich Peninsula to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. The following afternoon enjoy a whale-watching cruise, where you can see orca, mink, seals and whales. Back on dry land you will drive through the serene beauty of the Saanich Peninsula for a visit to Butchart Gardens, one of Victoria's finest attractions which is rated among the most beautiful gardens in the world. Once there, stroll through the colourful arrangements of the Sunken Garden, the Japanese and Italian Gardens, the English Rose Garden and the magnificent Ross fountain (approx. 46 miles).

DAY 4 Be sure to have your camera at the ready as your drive today leads you across Vancouver Island to the Pacific Coast winding through ancient rainforests and provincial parks, this is true wildlife territory! Your next two nights will be spent in Tofino. The following day take part in a thrilling whale-watching expedition. Your search for the Pacific grey whales, sea lions and puffins will hopefully be rewarded. The afternoon is at leisure to perhaps explore the rugged coastline along the network of hiking trails or to walk the shoreline of Long Beach in search of shells and driftwood (approx. 196 miles).

DAY 6 This morning, the winding road takes you back to the eastern coast of Vancouver Island with visits to Horne Lake Caves and Cathedral Grove. Arrive in the quaint town of Campbell River and visit Discovery Pier for a chance to see salmon, eagles or even whales. Overnight in Campbell River (approx. 169 miles).

DAY 7 Today's destination, Knight Inlet Lodge, is not accessible by road, so you'll fly by floatplane from Campbell River. A thrilling 30 minute flight brings you to the mouth of the Glendale River, where Knight Inlet floats on large cedar booms. Don't forget your cameras as a bear watching and a wildlife tour is included. Relish the lush West Coast rainforests and marvel at the abundance of wildlife.

DAY 8 This morning you will return by floatplane to Campbell River to pick up your rental car and then head back to Vancouver through breathtaking coastal scenery. Board the ferry back to the mainland and drive back to Vancouver for your last night (approx. 106 miles).

DAY 9 Time for more sightseeing and exploring in Vancouver. Stroll around the many shops in Robson Street, visit Gastown and its steaming streets or take in the magnificent views from the harbour front. Drive back to Vancouver airport to return your car.

TAILOR MADE Don’t forget you can tailor make your own fly-drive around Western Canada or combine your fly-drive with a stay in any of our city or beach hotels or extend your stay aboard an Alaska cruise.

Weather and climate

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Your surroundings

Destination introduction

Cruise out of Vancouver through the Strait of Georgia and spot the resident orcas travelling in a pod, one drifting aside and leaping from the water, flashing its black and white belly towards you.

Chug through the Canadian Rockies on an epic train journey, carve your way across deep powder drifts on a snowboard, and try white-water rafting in the Kananaskis River. In Banff National Park, soak in the Upper Hot Springs among snow-draped vistas or horseride along the Bow River and stop to soak up panoramic views of the valley

from Sulphur Mountain.

Glimpse wolves, moose and caribou in Jasper National Park and drive to the world-famous Columbia Icefields, a huge sweep of white feeding eight major glaciers. Visit Jasper in January for the annual snow festival, featuring a party and Chilli Cook-Off, or slide down mammoth hills on a toboggan and kayak across glistening Lake Louise.

Western Canada is a paradise for nature lovers. Let our Canada Personal Travel Experts tailor make your holiday today.