Visit Vancouver Island

Famous for its whale watching at Tofino and provincial parks offering a selection of wildlife, a Vancouver Island holiday will provide hiking trips, kayaking and historical highlights.

Whale watching

Tofino is a hotspot for whale watching enthusiasts. The main attraction is the migration of gray whales passing Long Beach just five kilometres from the shore. Humpback whales can also be seen, while further north killer whales can be seen from Telegraph Cove or Discovery Passage.

The Great Outdoors

The abundance of wilderness on Vancouver Island is yours to explore. Three sections of the Pacific Rim National Park - Long Beach, The Broken Group Islands archipelago and the West Coast Trail - offer a choice of hikes. Further inland the mountainous wilderness of Strathcona Principle Park is to be taken on by more experienced hikers. Travel to Clayoquot Sound, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, to continue your adventure with a selection of rare rainforests.

History and Culture

With Victoria being the capital of British Columbia, it is no surprise that it offers a collection of museums and gardens. A stroll along the Inner Harbour is well worth a visit for the architecture, especially The Parliament Buildings and The Fairmont Express Hotel. Explore the history of the First Nations' villages in the Royal British Columbia Museum.

You can also indulge in the hot water rockpools at Hot Springs Cove. Taste the local food in Campbell River and combine architecture with shopping in Victoria's Bastion Square.

Grizzlies, Orcas & Black Bears of Vancouver Island

10-day tailor-made self-drive from £3,455 pp incl. flights

Leave the urbane charms of Vancouver behind to take in the unique wildlife, coastlines and forests of Vancouver Island with ultra-scenic drives, expert-led excursions and stays in remote lodges.

Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Canadian Rockies & Rainforests self-drive

15-day tailor-made self-drive from £3,265 pp incl. flights

Take to the open road on this tailor-made fly-drive as you link the cities of Vancouver and Calgary via stops in Vancouver Island, Whistler and the Banff and Jasper national parks.

Canada's Pacific Coast self-drive

14-day tailor-made self-drive from £3,380 pp incl. flights

This tailor-made fly-drive pairs Vancouver and Victoria's city highlights with the natural wonders and wildlife of Whistler, the Sunshine Coast and Pacific Rim National Park.

Spirit Bear Lodge, British Columbia, Canada

Bear Watching at Spirit Bear Lodge

8-day tailor-made Journey from £5,650 pp incl. flights

This extraordinary adventure focuses on the Great Bear Rainforest, one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in the world. Comprising forested mountains the rainforest is home to the spirit bear, or kermode, a rare white-coated cousin of the black bear.

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Top places to stay in Vancouver Island

Sonora Resort

Traditional lodge

Discover the breathtaking wilderness landscapes of British Columbia at Sonora Resort, located on a beautiful archipelago on Canada's Pacific coast.

The Wickaninnish

Contemporary lodge

The Wickaninnish Inn or ‘The Wick’ as it is known locally, is a superb resort in the Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Nimmo Bay Resort

Small & intimate lodge

Accessed by float plane or helicopter from either Port Hardy or Port McNeill - towns located an hour's flight from Vancouver at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, Nimmo Bay is as remote as it is beautiful.

The Fairmont Empress

Historic hotel

The Fairmont Empress stands guard over the Inner Harbour and is regarded as one of Victoria’s most iconic hotels.

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Where to go in Vancouver Island

Clayoquot Sound

Venture through the rare rainforests in Clayoquot Sound, named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. To complete your Clayoquot Sound travel itinerary explore the inlets for stunning costal views, wilderness trails as well as black bear watching from April to October.

Ucluelet

Ucluelet is part of the Pacific Rim National Park south of Tofino. Long Beach draws both surfers and hikers thanks to its waves and nature trails. It also has viewing points, such as The Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre, to spot some of the 25,000 gray whales migrating five kilometres from shore.

Tofino

Tofino is a fishing village famous for whale watching. Located in the centre of Clayoquot Sound, Tofino travel takes advantage of cruise and kayaking options as vantage points for the 25,000 migrating gray whales. You only need to travel five kilometres from the shore to view their migration from M…

Campbell River

Campbell River travel is all about wildlife, such as whales, bears, eagles, ravens and seals. Catch a glimpse of these species at Discovery Passage en route to the Discovery Islands archipelago.

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Vancouver Island articles

British Columbia: take a drive on the wild side

Wexas Canada specialist Patrick Griffin heads off the beaten road in western Canada, giving her expert insight into the region's spectacular driving routes.

Castle Mountain views from Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer - North America's Greatest Rail Journey

Wexas rail specialist Alison Nicolle reports back from the Rocky Mountaineer’s signature journey – a weeklong itinerary that winds up through the Rockies to link Vancouver and Calgary.