The mountains and coastal waters of British Columbia offer exceptional wildlife viewing and unparalleled scenery. Combining car rental with ferry connections and rail journeys enables you to explore this wonderful wilderness at your own pace.
Here’s how to see the ‘best of BC’…
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Begin your explorations in the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. Chinatown and Granville Island are easily explored on foot as well as Stanley Park with its ancient cedars and totem poles. There are also the beaches of English Bay and Kitsilano, Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Canyon to explore.
Vancouver Island beckons next and the garden city of Victoria at its southern end with its lovely colonial architecture provides a civilised base for making your first whale-watching forays.
The waters around Victoria are home to pods of orca, or killer whales, as well as grey whales, minke, porpoises and grey seals. Take a small ocean cruiser accompanied by marine biologist guides to see these creatures at close quarters.
Heading north, the town of Tofino lies on Vancouver Island’s west coast, situated between the Pacific Ocean and dense emerald rainforests inland. Around 20,000 grey whales migrate northwards here each March to May. Bears forage along the shoreline while eagles patrol overhead.
The far north of Vancouver Island is rugged terrain beloved by wildlife enthusiasts. Campbell River is renowned for its salmon fishing and nearby Cortes Island offers some of Canada’s finest kayaking opportunities. Telegraph Cove is the starting point for whale watching trips in the Johnstone Strait where porpoises, dolphins and sealions can also be seen.
Leaving Vancouver Island, take the 15-hour ‘Inside Passage’ ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, passing through snow-capped mountains and spectacular fjords with orca, seals and bald eagles able to be spotted enroute.
Prince Rupert is beautifully situated on the northern Pacific coast and lies within easy reach of the Queen Charlotte Islands . The area has over 10,000 years of First Nations heritage which is well-expressed in the Museum of Northern British Columbia. Close by, the Khutzeymateen Provincial Park is host to a large population of grizzly bears.
A two-day rail journey aboard the ‘Skeena Train’ takes you through some of BC’s most stunning scenery to Jasper in the Rocky Mountains.
Conclude your travels in Calgary or by taking the two-day ‘Rocky Mountaineer’ rail journey from Jasper to Vancouver.
We can arrange fully tailored itineraries and also offer small group tours to Western Canada, so get in touch if you wish to plan a visit.
The best time to go is between May and September. Some of the smaller locations get booked up well in advance so early reservations are strongly recommended.