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Hiking and Kayaking in Vancouver Island Tour

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Kayak and hike on Vancouver Island, and uncover rich history and wildlife

Overview

Kayak and Hike on Vancouver Island and discover the wild fauna and flora of coastal British Columbia!

Highlights

  • Juan de Fuca Marine Trail
  • Pacific Rim National Park
  • Strathcona Park
  • Cathedral Grove
  • Clayoquot Sound
  • Vargas Island
  • Port Alberni
  • Botanical Beach

Our Vancouver Island tour offers seven days packed with kayaking and hiking in British Columbia. We’ll explore old-growth rainforests, historical ruins, and the region’s oldest park, Strathcona Provincial Park. You’ll trek across rocky beaches, including the stunning Botanical Beach, renowned for its colorful marine wildlife and tide pools. Follow the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail to spot marine animals like Killer Whales whales and sea lions.

This unforgettable multi-day tour is an ideal introduction to the history and wildlife of this famous island off the West Coast. Explore the rich natural landmarks and history of Vancouver Island, with a dash of hiking and kayaking in Canada in the mix!

Departure point: Select between Vancouver or Victoria, in British Columbia.

  • Personal Experience
  • Trusted Tour Operator
  • Small group
  • Expert guides
Availability June - August
Duration 7 days
Departs From Vancouver / Victoria
Difficulty Easy / Moderate Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Group maximum 12
Minimum age 12
Meet on Location Yes
Pick Up No

From

1 323
Per
Adult
  • Best Price Guarantee
  • International number: +1 778 348 1676

Availability (2024): June - August
Price: $1825 CAD per person
Based on double occupancy.
Single tent is $210 CAD.

  • June 2-8
  • June 28-July 4
  • Aug 12-18
  • Aug 25-31

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What's Included

Included

  • Ferry passages
  • Spacious tents (2 ppl per tent)
  • Camping and cooking gear and a hard-foam mattress
  • Admission to the National Parks and camping fees
  • Optional bilingual guide (English, German, French)
  • Service of a guide for all of the hikes
  • Guided 2 day kayaking tour
  • All taxes

What to bring

  • Sleeping bag
  • Appropriate clothing

Not Included

  • Meals while camping. A cash food kitty will be collected from each participant at the beginning of the tour. The group decides the meal plan. The guide of course has suggestions and recipes and will gladly look after the grocery shopping. The guides are perfectly able to do the kitchen chores alone, but will certainly accept your help. You need about $20 per day for the three camping meals. Dietary requests such as vegan and gluten free are available.
  • Hotel in Vancouver before and after the tour
  • Sleeping bag/pad
  • Day pack
  • Gratuities

Contact us for more Information about this tour

INTERNATIONAL NUMBER: +1 778 348 1676

You can also send an email to info@adventures.com, or use the contact form here below.

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Itinerary

Find out more details about the tour and its highlights

Information

Group Hiking in Pacific West Coast in Vancouver Island

The tour combines the finest hiking trails in Vancouver Island and a full day of fantastic kayaking. It’s perfect for adventurers who want to get out on the trail (and the water!) and take in Canada’s Pacific coastline and diverse wildlife.

Explore Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, and the charming villages of Ucluelet and Tofino. Our expert guides can’t wait to introduce you to the unparalleled Vancouver Island share fascinating legends and anecdotes.

During our day hikes, we’ll visit Pacific Rim National Park, Strathcona Park, Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, and Cathedral Grove. We’ll walk alongside some of the nicest beaches in the country that are home to a wide variety of colorful marine animals. Get ready to spot stunning wildlife, including bears, whales and much, much more!

We’ll spend a week exploring the island both on foot and in kayaks. This tour is suitable for beginning hikers and novice paddlers.

tree near a lake on a sunny day

You’ll meet your guides in the morning either at the hotel near Vancouver Airport or in Victoria. If you join us in Vancouver, a minibus will take you to the ferry terminal crossing the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island.

Our first stop will be the picturesque Inner Harbour in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, with its distinct Old World ambiance. As one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest, Victoria still maintains a number of historic, fin de siècle buildings. Dubbed "The Garden City," Victoria is known for its blooming gardens of crocuses, rhododendrons, daffodils, cherries and plums.

In the afternoon, we head to the lovely town of Sooke, to hike its beaches. We camp for the night in a campsite just outside of town.

Group of People Resting by the Seashore in Vancouver Island

We’ll spend the day exploring the Sooke River and the incredible pools and caves of the famous Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. The park features unique ancient rock formations and deep forests that can be explored walking along the river banks on many hiking trails. Feel free to jump into the river to test the waters it’s great for swimming!

We hike up to two remote mountain lakes to check out the panorama in the crisp, alpine air. Prepare for three hours of hiking in a gorgeous Canadian setting. We’ll hike around 8 mi (13 km), mostly uphill – so bring your good hiking boots!

aerial view of a beach in canada in summer

Our third day kicks off with a stop at Botanical Beach, one of the highlights of Vancouver Island’s West Coast. During low tide, walk along the beach on the flat sandstone and granite outcrops, on the lookout for tidepools and colorful marine animals. From starfish to blue mussel shells, white gooseneck barnacles, and sea cucumbers, a whole spectrum of vibrant creatures live on this beach.

Our campsite is located near a stunning old-growth forest of Douglas fir near the town of Parksville. You’ll be able to enjoy a well-deserved hot shower once we arrive. The area is protected and our friendly guides will ensure that we leave it exactly how we found it.

Forest Landscape of Vancouver Island

Today, we’ll visit Strathcona Provincial Park, the oldest provincial park in British Columbia. The site offers many trails for hikers and mountain biking enthusiasts. It’s the largest provincial park in the island and it contains the highest peaks of the  Vancouver Island Ranges. Together with lakes, large waterfalls, and green forests, the park awards hikers with some exceptional views.

Our guides will lead us to a small, hilly plateau known as the Forbidden Plateau. The gently sloping terrain is broken by low rugged hills and pitted with charming lakes. We’ll take a  9-mi (15-km) circular trail that will take us to a hilltop, where we can revel in a stunning 360-degree view of the park.

Woman Kayaking at Night in Vancouver Island

We interrupt our hiking adventure with a day of kayaking! From Tofino, we’ll paddle to the shores of Meares Island. We’ll continue across an inlet and finally reach Vargas Island, where we’ll settle in for the night on a wild beach.

You don’t have to be an experienced paddler to take on this day trip, as no previous kayaking experience is required. But if you prefer, the zodiac boat that delivers our equipment and camping gear can transport you to the island.

tofino beach aerial view in british columbia

Today, we take a different route back to Tofino and paddle past Stubbs Island. In the afternoon, we’ll hike inside Pacific Rim National Park, along the boardwalks amid ferns, lichens, mosses, and ancient trees.

Afterward, choose between a bear-watching tour, a surfing lesson, and a diving crash course. An optional whale watching tour also runs from Tofino, a region known for its various whale species. You may spot gigantic humpback whales, who can reach up to the size of a school bus! Grey whales reside in the area during the summer months, and you may also catch a glimpse of so-called killer whales, also known as orcas.

People Standing by Huge Tree in Vancouver Island

We’ll travel back to Vancouver today. On our way, we’ll pass Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park, famed for its ancient cedar and douglas fir trees. Get ready for impressive giants, with trunks reaching up to 30 ft (9 m) in circumference! These lush, majestic trees are also ancient, around 800 years old. Our hike will take us along rainforest wilderness trails that will make us feel like we’re in a real jungle!

We’ll drive through Victoria and arrive at the Vancouver airport in the late afternoon.

Pickup information

  • The meeting point is either in Vancouver, at a hotel near the airport, or in downtown Victoria. We’ll arrange this with your guide closer to the date.

Practical information

  • We can arrange a stay at a hotel in Vancouver for you before the tour starts.

Please note

  • A single tent is $195 CAD extra.
  • Bilingual guides available (English and German or French).

Payment Details

Deposit and Taxes

  • Taxes included
  • No deposit is required to hold your reservation
  • Balance of payment is due 30 days before trip commencement

CANCELLATION POLICY & DETAILS

In case of cancellation of the travel agreement, we are entitled to a cancellation fee. The cancellation should be in writing and forwarded to us. From the date of receipt the cancellation fee is calculated as follows:

  • 31 or more days before the start of the tour: full refund less credit card fees
  • 21st -30th day before the start of tour: full refund less 20%
  • 14th -20th day before the start of tour: full refund less 40%
  • 8th -13th day before the start of tour: full refund less 60%
  • 1st -7th day before the start of the tour: no refund unless you find a replacement.