Day 1
Fly to Victoria BC
Fly to Victoria on Vancouver Island, the capital of British Columbia and check in to your hotel for two nights. You could start this itinerary in Vancouver if you would like time in this great city, and then take a ferry ride over to Vancouver Island. Just let us know and we can extend this itinerary.
Overnight: Coast Victoria Hotel or similar
Day 2
Victoria
Explore coastal city of Victoria, and we recommend a stroll along the harbour footpath that will take you all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf. Here you will find a bright array of food kiosks and quirky shops – a lovely place for an al fresco lunch. You could take a whale-watching trip by catarmaran to spot not only the beautiful whales, but also myriad sealife and birdlife.
Overnight: Coast Victoria Hotel or similar
Days 3 & 4
Victoria – Sooke (25 miles)
It’s just a short drive along the coast to Sooke where you will be staying for a couple of nights. Here you will find gorgeous parks, with marked hiking trails to help you enjoy the best of the scenery. You’ll find sandy shores backed by dark green forests, beaches strewn with driftwood and handy picnic areas with good facilities. French Beach Provincial Park is a particular favourite and the Sooke Potholes are also worth a visit – if you don’t mind cold water, then this is a great place for a swim!
Overnight: Prestige Oceanfront Resort or similar
Day 5
Sooke – Parksville (97 miles)
Today drive up the south eastern coast of Vancouver Island to the coastal town of Parksville. Before arriving at Parksville, you could take a detour the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre where you see rescued birds and animals as they recuperate. Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is on the outskirts of the town and offers huge stretches of sandy beach at low tide, great for a stroll and spotting sea creatures in the tidal pools. Englishman River Falls is also just outside the town, and you can take the short walk to a couple of lovely waterfalls and natural swimming pools.
Overnight: The Beach Club Resort or similar
Days 6, 7, 8
Parksville – Tofino (107 miles)
Traverse across Vancouver Island to the surf capital of Canada – Tofino. It will be a scenic drive to your destination today, with the route pass through several Provincial Parks, skirting various lakes and with the final stretch running through the Pacific Rim National Park. You’ll be staying two nights in this fun seaside town, so you have plenty of time to explore the fantastic beaches where you can swim (if you can brave the cold water), stroll and watch the surfers. We would also recommend a bear watching excursion from Tofino, by boat to visit the black bears feeding grounds along the coastline. You could also take a kayaking excursion through the sparkling waters of Clayoquot Sound, with a chance to see other wildlife including eagles, seals, porpoise and river otters.
Overnight: Cox Bay Beach Resort or similar
Day 9
Tofino – Campbell River (168 miles)
Today you’ll be crossing the island back to the east coast and then heading north to Campbell River, located on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage.
Overnight: Coast Discovery Inn or similar
Days 10 & 11
Campbell River – Telegraph Cove (125 miles)
Head further north to Telegraph Cove where we recommend a watching trip as this area has one of the biggest concentrations of Orca’s in the world. The best viewing is mid July to the end of September, and you’ll also have the opportunity to see minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, sealions and seals. Choose whether you would enjoy the whale-watching from a Zodiac, a zippy inflatable boat which allows you to get much closer to the action, or would prefer the comfort of a larger covered boat.
Overnight: Telegraph Cove Resort or similar
Day 12
Telegraph Cove – Nanaimo (221 miles)
After days of wildlife viewing, today is a quieter day as you drive back south down the island to Nanaimo. This is Vancouver Islands second biggest city, and has beautiful mountain views and a bustling harbour. The city offers wonderful seafood restaurants, and you can enjoy a lovely walk along the harbour front walkway, where you’ll also be able to shop for souvenirs.
Overnight: Best Western Dorchester Hotel or similar
Day 13
Nanaimo - Victoria (221 miles)
Time now to head back to Victoria and drop off your hire car. We’ve included another night in this lovely city, to give you chance to enjoy some of the great restaurants, visit the Royal BC Museum, stroll through Beacon Hill Park or visit the beautiful Butchart Gardens. But you could head over the water to Vancouver for a few days in this fun city and then fly home from there.
Overnight: Coast Victoria Hotel or similar
Day 14
It's time to fly home
