Hiking and Kayaking in Vancouver Island Tour

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).