A Couple's Summer Holiday in British Columbia: Vancouver & the Islands

Close to your hotel, the Hotel Vancouver is built in chateau-esque style. At its foot rises the enormous Anglican Christ Church Cathedral in a neo-gothic style. The library is more contemporary (Moshe Safdie, 1995). It's a few blocks west of Gastown, where the sawmill that gave rise to the town was located. The old, renovated warehouse district along the harbour is a must-see. To the northwest lies Stanley Park's 1,000 acres of cedar and fir trees. The people of Vancouver have an exceptional natural refuge here. To the south, Granville Island. The ex-industrial island has recently developed into a pleasant neighbourhood. Come here from downtown by water taxi to take a walk, do some shopping, see a show or an art exhibition and, above all, fill your tote bag with food and handicrafts at the Public Market. People come to live an urban life in a place with a village feel.
Already included in the itinerary - Vancouver with a private guide. An opportunity to soak up the scenery and discover the various neighbourhoods and Stanley Park, as well as a walk on the Capilano Suspension Bridge 230ft above the river, and the entrance to Grouse Mountain, north of the city, where you can enjoy the panoramic view of Vancouver and its surroundings. Tickets to the British Columbia Museum of Anthropology are also included. This museum is home to a number of artefacts from Aboriginal civilisations in Canada and the United States, including impressive totem poles. The museum's building is a jewel of modern architecture, built by Arthur Erickson.

Pick up the rental car and take the ferry to Vancouver Island to reach Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Two-night stay on the waterfront of Oak Bay in a beautiful English manor-like hotel with a classic and refined atmosphere. The rooms are very comfortable, with a fireplace and small kitchen, in a contemporary style decorated with retro English furniture. The swimming pools and spa offer great relaxation options.

There was a time when savvy gold seekers began their explorations in British Columbia by staying here on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The humid and mild climate favours lush vegetation, most obviously the large conifers prized by totem sculptors. Victoria the Victorian city is best explored during a stroll around the harbour, in the alleyways of the Museum of Civilisation, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria or the Royal British Columbia Museum, for a tea tasting at the Fairmont Empress, or at night when Parliament is lit up. Beacon Hill Park and the Butchart Gardens are reminiscent of English gardens.
On the itinerary - A zodiac boat outing to observe killer whales and whales. In the background, the landscapes of the Strait of Georgia and, in the foreground, an encounter with marine animals... The opportunity is well suited for an informal course on the Pacific West Coast's most diverse wildlife with a biologist and naturalist guide.
Optional - Fly over Victoria in a seaplane - admission tickets to the Royal British Columbia Museum, which houses around 65,000 objects and specimens of natural sciences.

Road to Port Alberni then Tofino, through spectacular scenery. After the Mackenzie Mountains, you reach the Pacific Rim National Park, with its huge centuries-old forests and wild beaches that are popular with surfers. Continue to Ucluelet, a charming fishing port and a favourite spot for whale, killer whale and bear watching. Less famous than its neighbour Tofino, Ucluelet is also less crowded during the tourist season. Two-night stay in a hotel perched on a rocky headland of the famous Wild Pacific Trail, a hiking trail along the island's turbulent coast. The contemporary architecture of the buildings is bold and perfectly integrated with the natural setting. Everywhere there is rock, water, glass, steel, wood and natural light; and the interiors are expertly planned, sometimes spacious and sometimes more intimate. The rooms impress with their bright lines and huge, floor-to-ceiling bay windows which face the ocean or rainforest.

On the itinerary - A zodiac boat cruise to observe black bears from the sea as they descend to feed on crabs and molluscs. You'll also see a wealth of sea birds, and perhaps the occasional bald eagle or sea lion.
Must-see - To appreciate Ucluelet's remarkable natural environment, take the five-mile Wild Pacific Trail, which offers panoramic views of the rugged coastline.

Drive to the east coast of Vancouver Island, along the south shore of Lake Kennedy, then through the lush landscapes of the peninsula to Sproat Lake, then Port Alberni and, finally, the Salish Sea coastline where Parksville nestles. Its beach, Rathtrevor Beach, is a natural treasure which is filled with families and sandcastles in the summer - a festival dedicated to sandcastle building takes place in August. Stay overnight in a rustic but cosy hotel on the edge of the woods facing the Salish Sea. We particularly love its spa, its thermal pool in a cave and its well-renowned restaurant.

Head north along Vancouver Island's east coast to Comox, then take the ferry to Powell River and between Saltery Bay and Earls Cove to arrive in Egmont within a few minutes. This tiny town of a few houses borders the waters of Sechelt Inlet and is surrounded by the forest north of the Sechelt Peninsula on the Sunshine Coast. Stay for two nights in a secluded wooden cliffside lodge. The magnificent natural setting offers islands covered with thorny bushes, bays, coves and inlets which are home to abundant marine life. These landscapes, which are shielded by the mountains, benefit from a micro climate sheltered from wind and waves, ideal for kayaking or zodiac boat trips and walking or biking.

Included in the itinerary - A kayak trip with a private guide to observe the seals who have taken up residence in Sechelt Fjord. After whales and bears, this outing complements the beautiful view of Vancouver Island's diverse ecosystems, making Vancouver Island one of the best wildlife viewing areas in British Columbia.
Don't miss - The Princess Louisa Marine Provincial Park trails - a scuba dive to discover the wreckage of HMCS Chaudiere or to find the giant Pacific octopi that inhabit the area.
Optional - A zodiac boat incursion into Princess Louisa Inlet.

Return to Vancouver by car and ferry, where you'll find your hotel in the city centre. Return the rental car, and final night in Vancouver.