Small Groups Pacific Coast & Inside Passage

	West Coast Experience
16 day fully guided small group tour (max 10 guests) or self drive Vancouver-Vancouver, dates 2007 upon request

Day 1: Flight to Vancouver where your guide will pick you up at the airport. Welcome drink downtown Vancouver.

Day 2 : City Tour of Vancouver : Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park. Explore beautiful Stanley Park by bike or roller blades (included). In the afternoon, we will travel by ferry boat through a maze of smaller islands to Vancouver Island and Victoria, capital city of British Columbia. Two overnights in downtown, close to the inner harbour. Especially on weekends, a big variety of street performers entertain visitors from around the globe.

Day 3 : Tour of this very “British” city and its surroundings. Possibility to visit the world famous Butchard Gardens. Free afternoon to explore this charming city on foot.

Day 4 : From Victoria we travel to Chemainus where colourful murals depict the history of the valley. From here we drive to the West Coast of Vancouver Island and the small town of Tofino. On the way we stop and visit Cathedral Grove Park with it’s ancient and giant trees. Two nights in Tofino.

Day 5 : Sea kayak excursion (included). Hike along Pacific Rim National Park’s endless “Long Beach” and wander through the rainforest of the wild West Coast.

Day 6 : Back to the east coast of Vancouver Island. Overnight in Campbell River, “Salmon Capital of the World”.

Day 7 : We continue towards the north end of the Island, to Telegraph Cove, a hamlet built on stilts and where we board a vessel for a whale watching trip (included). Overnight in Port Hardy.

Day 8 : All day ferry boat cruise through the fantastic Discovery Coast Passage. Along quiet fjords, dense rainforest and snow covered peaks we travel towards Bella Coola, a small native settlement in the Bella Coola valley. With a bit of luck we may be able to see a variety of whales and dolphins. Overnight in the Bella Coola valley.

9. Tag : An impressive route awaits us over the Freedom Highway over Heckman Pass towards Anahim Lake where we spend two nights in cozy log cabins on the lake shore.

10. Tag : Many possibilities for today. Try one of the canoes on your door step, go for a hike or treat yourself to a fantastic and unforgettable flight by float plane towards snow-covered peaks and glaciers and the amazing and colourful rainbow mountains of the coastal range.

11. Tag : Today, we traverse the beautiful Chilcotin Plateau, travel through many small native settlements before arriving at the incredible Farwell Canyon, cut by the Chilco River. Perhaps we are lucky and are able to see some of the local bighorn sheep. We continue to a secluded and beautifully located lodge, where we will spend the next three nights. Breakfast buffet and 3-course evening meals included.

12.&13. Tag : Enjoy a few relaxing days at this very special lodge. On our program we have a horseback trip (included), hiking, canoeing, mountain biking. And try your luck fishing, go swimming or just simply lay back, relax and enjoy.

14. Tag : Through the “Wild West”, the Cariboo Country with it’s huge cattle ranches, countless lakes and it’s old building and road houses, leftovers from the great Cariboo Gold Rush, we drive to the historic Hat Creek Ranch. Guided Tour of the Ranch (included). Through deep canyons, we drive along the gold rush trail and the Fraser Canyon into the desert like area of Lillooet on the shores of the big Fraser River. We continue along Duffy lake through the Coast Mountains and to the famous winter and summer resort town of Whistler, where the 2010 winter Olympics will take place. Overnight.

15. Tag : Along the Sea-to- Sky Highway we drive towards Vancouver. On the way, we stop at beautiful Shannon Falls. Possibility to take the cable car to the top of Grouse Mountain from where you can enjoy a fantastic view of Vancouver and the surrounding area. Or visit the 170m long Capilano Suspension Bridge. Overnight in downtown Vancouver.

16. Tag : Last minute shopping and visit Granville Island and its fascinating market. Departure or individual extensions of your stay in Canada.
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Included :
- 15 night in hotels, lodges, log cabins
- English speaking Guide and all travels and excursions
- as described in the program
- 4x dinner, 4x breakfast
- bike rental Stanley Park
- Ferry trip Victoria-Vancouver
- sea kayaking trip
- whale watching excursion
- ferry trip Discovery Coast Passage Port Hardy-Bella Coola
- horseback trip
- canoeing, mountain biking at lodge in the Cariboo Country
- Hat Creek Ranch visit


not included :
travel to/from Vancouver, meals and drinks, tips, optional activities such a sightseeing flights, etc.The above tour can be conducted in the opposite direction.

We reserve the right to change parts of the tour description if necessary due to circumstances that are beyond the control of A-ZitaTours. All changes will be replaced by same or better options.