Vancouver Island Self-drive

Day 1. Depart London

Depart London for Victoria on Vancouver Island, flying via Vancouver. On arrival, collect your hire car and drive to the Victoria Regent Hotel for a 1-night stay. The Victoria Regent Hotel is an exclusive downtown waterfront property offering luxury condominium-styled penthouses and suites overlooking Victoria's picturesque inner harbour.

Days 2 to 4.Tofino [B]

Make your way across the island to Tofino (approximately 315 kilometres) where you spend three nights at Wickaninnish Inn. Enjoy a morning boat trip to see foraging Black Bears and a whale-watching trip to see Grey Whales.

Days 5 to 7. Port McNeil & Telegraph Cove [B]

Drive through huge stands of Douglas Firs in Macmillan Provincial Park and along the coast road to Port McNeil for a 3-night stay at Water's Edge Guesthouse. (Approximately 490 kilometres.) The nearby Telegraph Cove is famous for its healthy population of Orca (Killer) Whales and you spend two full mornings whalewatching in the Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits where these most awesome creatures congregate in the summer months. Whale watching at Telegraph Cove begins in mid June.

Days 8 to 11. Knight Inlet Lodge [B (Days 8, 10 & 11 only), L & D (Days 9 to 11 only)]

Continue to Campbell River (approximately 198 kilometres) where you spend the night at Bachmair Lodge before transferring by floatplane to Knight Inlet Lodge, where you stay for three nights.

In the wild and pristine region of Western Canada's Pacific north-west, a select few travellers are afforded the incomparable thrill of close encounters with some of North America's most impressive creatures - massive Brown (Grizzly) Bears, soaring Bald Eagles and large pods of Orca Whales. Our wilderness break visits this untouched area 70 kilometres north of Campbell River for a wildlife and photography adventure few can rival. Your trip begins with a 30-minute floatplane flight over the Johnstone Strait to Glendale Cove where Knight Inlet Lodge is situated.

The activities at Knight Inlet vary from season to season and even from week to week, depending upon animal migrations. From early May until the end of June the grizzlies are in the estuary very close to the lodge, feeding on the sedges and succulents that abound. At this time young bear cubs and new life explode in the bay and all wildlife-viewing is enjoyed from the water. The bears are frequent travellers along the shores in this season and it is not uncommon to see twelve to fifteen different bears in a day, while in Johnstone Strait seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins and the occasional Minke Whale may be seen.

Days 12 to 14. Homeward [B (Days 12 & 13 only)]

Return to Victoria by floatplane and the Victoria Regent for your last night (approximately 266 kilometres), before dropping off your hire car and flying home the next day. You arrive home on Day 14.