Canadian Wildlife & Vancouver Island - Reverse

As you board the ferry to Vancouver Island and take in the amazing views across the Salish Sea, your Canadian adventure is under way! You'll arrive in Victoria, Vancouver Island's main city and the capital of British Columbia. It's a remarkable mix of English Edwardian, First Nations and Chinese architecture, and was home to the first Chinatown in Canada. Victoria is well-known for being the ultimate place to spot Orcas so we have included a zodiac tour to search for these magnificent mammals in their natural environment. In the late afternoon we'll also enjoy a brief tour of the city's highlights with free time for you to explore afterwards.

Accommodation: Victoria Strathconia (or similar) 

The west coast of Vancouver Island is well-known for its whale and bear sightings. This morning we undertake a boat trip for a unique chance to observe Black bears searching for crabs and clams on the rocky beaches near Tofino. Experienced on-board guides know the area in depth, and we may even be lucky enough to spot whales on this tour. The afternoon is free to enjoy another optional activity - try a zodiac whale watching boat trip, sea kayaking, or discover the many hiking trails in this area (see previous day for guideline prices)

Accommodation: Canadian Princess Resort (or similar) 

An absolute delight for wildlife lovers, the Inside Passage offers one of the most amazing ferry journeys in the whole of North America, with everything from frozen fjords to forest-covered hillsides flanking your route. The journey involves taking a 10-hour direct ferry and the scenery is simply spectacular: towering, forest-clad peaks surround the deep fjords and those with a keen eye can often spot Bald eagles and bears. The Inside Passage also supports one of the world's richest marine environments and it may be possible to see Grey whales, Orcas, Pacific White Sided and occasionally Humpback whales. The remoteness of the Inside Passage is its most stunning feature; this area is largely inaccessible by road and the tiny communities that spread along it rely on boats for transportation. 

Accommodation: Bella Coola Mountain Lodge (or similar)

Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is completely off the radar for most tour groups, despite being named as British Columbia's most beautiful park. It was named after the 15th Governor General of Canada, Baron Tweedsmuir, who travelled extensively throughout the area by float plane and horseback. The park has varied landscapes on offer, and you can expect to come face to face with rugged mountains, deep lush valleys and spectacular ocean fjords. A healthy population of Grizzly and Black bear exists throughout the park, as well as elk, deer, moose and coyote; it is possible to see any of these whilst visiting Tweedsmuir. Wildlife aside, the colours of the mountains combined with the flora and the wilderness feel will ensure that Tweedsmuir is a park that you'll remember. 

Our overnight location for the next two nights is close to the shores of Anahim Lake, a popular lake for fly fishing that supports an eclectic mix of wildlife. There's an optional canoeing excursion on the lake which we recommend followed with a relaxing evening unwinding by the fireplace! This area has very basic facilities but is extremely beautiful and off the tourist trail.

Please note: due to the remote nature of this property, some cabins will be more basic than others, often with shared bathroom facilities with a capacity of two to four people maximum. On rare occasions, you may have to use the bathrooms in the main lodge.

Optional Activities:

• Canoeing (Anahim Lake/Tweedsmuir) CAD$12 per hour

Accommodation: Eagle Nest Resort Cabins (or similar) - multi share

As the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson is a stunning sight. Pause to take in over 3,000m (10,000 ft.) of snow-capped loveliness. We have the option to hike at Kinney Lake, located in the Mount Robson Provincial Park. A visit to Miette Hot Springs is included, to relax your muscles at the end of the day. Our overnight location will be around forty minutes out of town, in Jasper National Park.

Accommodation: Pocahontas Cabins (or similar)

Brace yourself, as this morning we travel on one of the most famous and beautiful drives in the world, the Icefields Parkway. This spectacular road traverses the Rockies, running parallel to the Continental Divide. Mountain passes, glaciers and high peaks are some of the many scenic highlights and there are opportunities to see elk, caribou, bears, Bighorn Sheep and goats, which often graze on the vegetation found at the roadside. We stop at all of the 'must see' sights, including Bow Summit and Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. There is the option to enjoy a guided glacier walk along the way.

Optional activities:
• Guided glacier walk CA$100 (CA$60 for under 17s)

Accommodation: Brewster Mountain Lodge (or similar)

Today will be the end of your tour of the Canadian Rockies as you head to the city of Calgary, a cosmopolitan Alberta city with skyscrapers and a booming oil business industry. Calgary has historically been famous for its Wild West roots but in recent years it has become a dynamic and vibrant city. It’s oozing with the Western culture that earned it the nickname ‘Cowtown’, evident in the Calgary Stampede. If you'd like to extend your stay to take in the sights of Calgary after the tour ends, please make your accommodation reservation at the time of booking. For everyone else, it's time to say goodbye but rest assured you'll be leaving with plenty of wilderness memories, wildlife photographs and maybe even a few sticky maple syrup sweets for your journey home.

This tour ends at our gateway hotel in Calgary at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book your post-tour accommodation if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.