Canadian Pacific Coast Self Drive Discovery

Welcome to Vancouver! Upon arrival at the Vancouver International Airport, you will pick up your rental vehicle and drive approximately 30-minutes into downtown Vancouver.

Simply a city like no other, Vancouver effortlessly combines the excitement and energy of a modern city with the invigorating appeal of the great outdoors. No day in this city is typical: start with a waterfront breakfast at Granville Island Public Market and end with a sunset cocktail on a mountain-top patio. In between, paddle out on a kayaking adventure, and shop a neighborhood or two. It’s truly a “city of nature,” with stunning views of temperate rainforest and majestic peaks reflected on glass skyscrapers; sparkling with sophistication and energy, yet relaxed and laidback. In Vancouver, you won’t have to choose between the city and nature. Some highlights include the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Bloedel Conservatory, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Flyover Canada, Grouse Mountain, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, the Muesum of Anthropology, the Museum of Vancouver, Stanley Park, the UBC Botanical Garden, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Vancouver Aquarium, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the Vancouver Lookout, Van Dususen Botanical Garden, or enjoy a Vancouver Harbour cruise.

Today you will drive approximately 3-hours, 15-minutes including a 1-hour, 35-minute ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria. En route, you will cruise through the Southern Gulf Islands passing the islands of Galiano Island, Mayne Island, Prevost Island, North Pender Island, Salt Spring Island, Portland Island, and Piers Island.

Victoria is poised at the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island and is surrounded by water. Downtown restaurants and shops pour into the Inner Harbour, which is a hive of activity. Dockside markets and pop-up concerts are flanked by the iconic Parliament Buildings and The Fairmont Empress. You could easily spend hours here, but for those who enjoy the water, this is just the start. Aquatic adventures stretch in every direction: white-sand beaches, breaching whales, and teeming tidepools are all within easy reach. Highlights not to be missed include the British Columbia Legislature, Butchart Gardens, Craigdarroch Castle, Royal BC Museum, Tea at the Empress, whale watching, or enjoying beer, cider, spirits, or wine tasting.

Today you will drive approximately 4-hours, 30-minutes from Victoria to Tofino. En-route stops may include Duncan which features heritage buildings and a collection of totem poles, Chemainus, renowned for its outdoor Mural Project and artists' galleries, Rathtrevor Beack in Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Coombs old country market with goats living on the roof, Cathedral Grove in MacMillian Provincial Park, McLean Mill National Historic Site in Port Alberni, and Pacific Rim National Park which extends 65 miles along the coast and is comprised of three distinct sections: the Long Beach Unit, the Broken Islands Group, and the West Coast Trail.

Tofino, a small laid-back end-of-the-road town with hippie flavor and only 2500 inhabitants is bordered by the raging Pacific Ocean on one side and by rugged untouched wilderness on the other. Tofino features a burgeoning farm-to-table movement and is also known as the "Surf Capital of Canada." Its population swells tenfold in the summer when visitors flock to the area to check-out or partake in bear viewing, beer tasting at the Tofino Brewing Company, cruises through Clayoquot Sound, First Nations Art at Roy Henry Vickers Gallery, fishing, Hot Springs Cove, a visit to Meares Island, sea kayaking, surfing, the Tofino Botanical Garden, and whale watching.

Today you will drive approximately 6-hours, 30-minutes including a 1-hour, 35-minute ferry ride from Tofino to Whistler. En-route stops may include Horseshoe Bay's quaint waterfront lined with countless cafes, restaurants, and boutiques, the Britannia Mine Museum in Britannia Beach, one of the world's largest copper mines and home to Mill 3, a National Historic Site, Shannon Falls, one of Canada's most spectacular falls at 594 feet high, the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, that whisks you up to 2904 feet above sea level, and features a suspension bridge and Via Ferrata, or Squamish that is known for the Stawamus Chief, a 2286-foot-high mountain that also features one of the largest granite monoliths in the world.

Whistler is a compact, chalet-style pedestrian village at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. From the unmatched alpine terrain with adventure abound to the endless options of the village, it's a diverse offering of rugged West Coast beauty and an unrivaled selection of refined experiences that make every day unique. Whistler is a permanent fixture on bucket lists around the world with amenities for discerning travellers. A highlight not to be missed is the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola which travels 1430-feet above the valley floor.