Itinerary
- Day 1
Vancouver
You'll arrive in Vancouver and pick up your rental car to drive to your hotel. If you're interested, there's an optional short boat tour on False Creek where you can see the Vancouver skyline from the water. It's a nice way to get oriented if you have the time and energy after traveling.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Short boat tour on False Creek with views of Vancouver skyline
Landmarks False Creek Vancouver Skyline 
- Day 2
Vancouver
Start your Vancouver day in Stanley Park, where you'll walk among ancient cedar trees and take in ocean views from the seawall. From there, head to Granville Island Public Market to browse local food and craft vendors, then grab lunch from one of the many options. If you want to add more activities, the Vancouver Aquarium is right in the park, or you could take a gondola up Grouse Mountain for city views across the water. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is another option for something a bit different, or splash out on a scenic 30-minute seaplane flight that circles over the city and surrounding mountains and water.
Optional Activities
- Vancouver Aquarium visit
- Grouse Mountain trip with views over Vancouver and bay
- Capilano Suspension Bridge and treetop walk
- Bird of prey center visit
- 30-minute seaplane sightseeing flight over Vancouver, fjords, Coast Mountains, and Stanley Park
Landmarks Stanley Park Vancouver Aquarium Granville Island Public Market Grouse Mountain Capilano Suspension Bridge 
- Day 3
Vancouver to Whistler
Drive north on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, watching the Lions Bay fjords and Coast Mountains rise up around you as you head toward Whistler. You'll cover about 125 km total. If you stop in Squamish along the way, the Sea-to-Sky gondola takes you up for suspension bridge crossings and some family-friendly hiking trails if you want to stretch your legs. Continue through Garibaldi Provincial Park, and you'll eventually pull into Whistler, which hosted the alpine events during the 2010 Olympics. The drive gives you plenty of time to see different landscapes shift as you go north.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Sea-to-Sky gondola ride to summit in Squamish
- Suspension bridge walk at gondola summit
- Hiking trails at Sea-to-Sky gondola summit
Landmarks Sea-to-Sky Highway Lions Bay Coast Mountains Squamish Garibaldi Provincial Park Whistler 
- Day 4
Whistler
This is a full day to explore Whistler's outdoor options. You can choose from hiking, mountain biking, climbing, ziplining, or rafting depending on what appeals to you. The Peak2Peak gondola ride gives you great views from high up, or if you prefer something quieter, there are walks around the mountain lakes and through the village area.
Optional Activities
- Hiking
- Mountain bike tours
- Climbing
- Ziplining
- Rafting
- Peak2Peak gondola ride
- Leisurely walks around mountain lakes
- Stroll through pedestrian zone
Landmarks Peak2Peak Gondola Whistler Mountain - Day 5
Whistler
Another day in Whistler's mountains where black bears live in the area, so bear watching is possible if that interests you. For a more laid-back day, you can book a canoe or kayak tour on Alta Creek, which locals call the 'River of Golden Dreams' and works well for families, especially on warm summer days.
Optional Activities
- Bear watching
- Canoe tours on Alta Creek (River of Golden Dreams)
- Kayak tours on Alta Creek (River of Golden Dreams)
Landmarks Alta Creek (River of Golden Dreams) - Day 6
Whistler to Parksville
Leave Whistler and drive back toward the coast on the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway, then head to Horseshoe Bay where you'll board a ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The crossing takes about 1.5 hours, and you'll likely spot whales, seals, or seabirds moving around in the water if you stay on deck. After you land in Nanaimo, it's a short drive to Parksville. The whole journey from Whistler to Parksville is roughly 145 km plus the ferry time, so plan for a full travel day.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Horseshoe Bay Strait of Georgia Nanaimo Parksville 
- Day 7
Parksville
The Parksville area has sandy beaches and hiking trails surrounded by mountains. You'll choose what fits your mood: fishing, a bike tour, or kayaking. The Horn Lake limestone caves are worth checking out, and if you want to drive a bit further, Qualicum Beach nearby has a good arts and crafts scene.
Optional Activities
- Hiking through mountain valleys
- Fishing
- Bike tour
- Kayak trip
- Visit to Horn Lake limestone caves
- Trip to Qualicum Beach for arts and crafts
Landmarks Parksville Beach Horn Lake Limestone Caves Qualicum Beach - Day 8
Parksville to Pacific Rim
You'll head out early for a day trip to Pacific Rim National Park, which is about 140 km north near Ucluelet. Start before dawn to get the most out of it. Either hike the Rainforest Trail or take a casual walk along Long Beach. After that, swing through Tofino to watch surfers and check out the town's food and art spots.
Optional Activities
- Rainforest Trail hike
- Leisurely hike along Long Beach
- Watch surfers in Tofino
- Explore Tofino's food and art scene
Landmarks Pacific Rim National Park Rainforest Trail Long Beach Tofino 
- Day 9
Parksville to Victoria
The drive south to Victoria follows the coast for around 150 km. On the way, stop in Duncan where there are 39 totem poles and local history to learn about. Once you reach Victoria, spend time by the harbor watching seaplanes come and go, which is something you won't see everywhere.
Optional Activities
- Discover 39 totem poles in Duncan
- Learn about totem pole history
- Stroll along Victoria harbor
- Watch seaplanes in harbor
Landmarks Duncan Totem Poles Victoria Harbor 
- Day 10
Victoria
Walk around Victoria on foot and check out the boutique shops scattered through the downtown area. Stop by the Parliament Building to learn about British Columbia's history, then pop into the Royal BC Museum where interactive exhibits show off the region's nature and culture. Many people do bicycle tours from here if you want to cover more ground and see the surrounding neighborhoods. About 30 minutes from Victoria, the Malahat SkyWalk has a spiral observation tower that gives you views out over Saanich Inlet, Mount Baker, and the surrounding islands. If whales are on your mind, whale watching tours leave from Victoria Harbor regularly.
Optional Activities
- Parliament Building visit
- Royal BC Museum visit with interactive exhibitions
- Bicycle tours of Victoria area
- Whale watching tour from Victoria Harbor (usually includes seals and sea eagles viewing)
- Malahat SkyWalk visit with 600-metre treetop path and spiral observation tower
- Spiral slide descent at Malahat SkyWalk
Landmarks Parliament Building Royal BC Museum Victoria Harbor Malahat SkyWalk Saanich Inlet Mount Baker - Day 11
Victoria to Mainland
You'll head back to the mainland from Vancouver Island by returning your rental car and taking the ferry from Swartz Bay. The route goes through the San Juan Islands archipelago and arrives at Tsawwassen. The tour ends once you're back on the mainland side.
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing through San Juan Islands archipelago
Landmarks Swartz Bay San Juan Islands Tsawwassen
