Vancouver Island Highlights
4 days/3 nights

Departs: Victoria, BC at 8:00 am.
Arrives: Victoria, BC by 5:00 pm (approximately)

This circle tour from Vancouver includes: the Butchart Gardens, a guided tour of Victoria (including a horse carriage ride), a train ride over the Malahat, the Quw'tsun Cultural Centre, the Pacific Northwest Raptor Centre, a winery tour and a visit to an ecological reserve. Towns visited include Victoria, Duncan, Chemainus and Nanaimo.

Day 1 Victoria, B.C.
The tour of the south-east coast of Vancouver Island begins with a 7:30 am pick-up in Vancouver. Guests are transferred to Tsawwassen ferry terminal for a 1.5 hour ferry crossing across the Straight of Georgia and through the southern Gulf Islands to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island.

From the ferry terminal we meander down the Saanich Peninsula to the world famous Butchart Gardens. A fifty-five acre estate, the Gardens offer exquisite floral displays, meandering trails, giant lawns, scenic viewpoints and themed gardens. Established in 1904, the gardens were designated as a Canadian Heritage site in 2004. We'll drop off those who wish to spend about three hours seeing the Gardens and continue into Victoria.

Arriving in Victoria, we take a short drive into the downtown core for a guided tour. After checking into our Bed and Breakfast, the rest of the afternoon is free to explore on our own. Optional activities include: whale watching, moped rentals and the BC Museum. Nearby walking opportunities include Thunderbird Park, Beacon Hill Park or strolling along the colourful Inner Harbour walkway while observing the buskers and musical performers. Later we return to Butchart Gardens to pick up those who chose to take this optional activity.

Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast
Meals: None

Day 2 Duncan, B.C.
After an early breakfast we escort you to the train station near the Inner Harbour. We then board the Malahat train at 8:00 am for a 90 minute ride to Duncan over one of the most scenic rail routes in Canada. Once in the town of Duncan, you will be met by your guide and tour the "City of Totems". Our visit to this small city is highlighted by a tour to the Quw'tsun Cultural Centre, where we will experience the sights and sounds of the traditional dance and food along the Cowichan River with First Nations people. Our lunch will feature a traditional BBQ Salmon lunch cooked on cedar stakes cooked over an open fire in traditional native style.

Following lunch we'll visit the Pacific Northwest Raptor Centre, where we get an up close and personal look at these magnificent birds of prey. Our walk through the natural grounds reveals owls, hawks, falcons and eagles in a variety of settings. After checking into our oceanside hotel, the rest of the afternoon is ours to explore the local Maritime Centre, visit the local shops or try our hand at kayaking the local waters.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 3 Nanaimo, B.C.
After breakfast we drive into the Cowichan Valley to visit a local vineyards and winery. Also known as the "Warmland" the Cowichan Valley is becoming well known for its award winning wineries. Our visit to the valley will be punctuated by the surrounding wilderness and big trees in the area.

Heading north, we take a less traveled, secondary road to Chemainus, the "Little Town that Did". Once a mining, fishing and forestry town, Chemainus soon felt the tides of change as these industries slowly dried up in the area. Through the determination of the local residents this small dying town boomed again with prosperity as local and international artists started to paint the history of the town in giant murals on the sides of buildings for all to see. Soon people were coming from all over the world to view this giant outdoor art gallery.

From Chemainus we head further north to the second largest city on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo and nearby Yellow Point. Here we'll enjoy two tours to some of the local curiosities that make Vancouver Island so unique. Our first stop is a tour of Wildwood, an important ecological reserve now under the protection of the Land Conservancy. Founded in 1938, Wildwood is the oldest ecoforest on the west coast of Canada. People come from all over the world to be inspired by the sustainable land use ethic that was so carefully practiced by its founder. After Wildwood we make our way to the home, garden and studio of two local artisans. Known for their "funky baroque" living outdoor garden art gallery we'll view the inspirational art of the west coast. Our day concludes upon checking into our Nanaimo Bed and Breakfast.

Accommodation: B & B
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 Return to Victoria, B.C.
This morning we strap on our walking shoes and do what the locals have been doing since 1930: hop on a ferry and take a short cruise to New Castle Island Marine Park. This park is one of the most intriguing parks in BC. From Nanaimo we'll take a 10-minute ride that drops us off on Newcastle Island, located just a few hundred meters offshore from Vancouver Island. From a distance we'll see an island shoreline dominated by steep sandstone cliffs and ledges, interspersed with sunny beaches. Up close, we'll discover rocky caves and caverns - a marked contrast to the interior of the island, which is studded with mature Douglas fir, Garry oak, arbutus and dogwood trees.

Visitors to Newcastle Island can choose from an extensive network of walking/hiking trails that lead to various historic points around the island. Indian middens offer mute evidence of at least two Salish First Nations villages, which were deserted before the discovery of coal in this area in 1849. Subsequent decades saw the island's fortunes rise and fall as it went through various incarnations while supporting a fish-salting operation, a sandstone quarry and a shipyard. Lunch is available at the newly restored Newcastle Island Pavilion as well as interpretive programs and a gift shop.

Completing our circle tour, we catch an early afternoon ferry from Nanaimo back to the city of Vancouver. Guests will be dropped off at their hotels in the downtown core of Vancouver.

Accommodation: On own
Meals: Breakfast

Included:
Services of a driver/leader and 15 passenger van
All accommodation as listed on the itinerary
All meals listed on the itinerary
All park and land use fees
Train trip from Victoria to Duncan
Entrance fees to Wildwood Forest, Quw'tsun Cultural Centre and the Raptor Centre winery tour
Return ferry fees from Vancouver to Vancouver Island

Not Included:
Optional activities, gratuities and GST

Activity Level:
Easy

Accommodation:
Two nights Bed and Breafast, one night hotel

Meals:
Three hot breakfasts and one lunch

Tour Dates:
This tour is available by charter for a minimum of four people. Our maximum capacity is 10 people.

Price:
$995 CDN for July and August departures; single supplement: $250 CDN
$875 CDN for May, June, September and October departures; single supplement: $175 CDN.