Whales & Bears of British Columbia
Whales & Bears of British Columbia
Whales & Bears of British Columbia
10 Days Starting and ending in Vancouver
Visiting: Vancouver, Nanaimo, Cathedral Grove, Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Tofino Botanical Gardens, Campbell River, Orford River Spawning Channel, Quadra Island, Victoria
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WFZ
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
5 - 12
Physical rating:
Leisurely
Age range:
16 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$7050 (USD)Tour Overview
'Beautiful British Columbia' proclaim the number plates, and for once without hyperbole. Sensational wildlife regularly presents itself amidst a backdrop of rugged scenery. Whale and bear watching are the big draw picture cards but other players like seals, elk and beaver ensure a truly authentic British Columbian wildlife encounter.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Vancouver.
Location: Vancouver
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Those on the group flight will be met at the airport and transferred to our
hotel in Vancouver. Those on Land Only arrangements should make their own way
to the start hotel this afternoon/evening. There will be an opportunity to
meet your guide and fellow travellers this evening.
Day 2 : Discover Vancouver; Ferry To Vancouver Island.
Location: Vancouver, Nanaimo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Vancouver is often hailed as Canada's most beautiful city. This cosmopolitan
and diverse metropolis is in stark contrast to the rest of British Columbia,
but always proves to be a highlight. We have an orientation tour this morning
with time to take in the sights of Gastown and Granville Island, from which
they are some great viewpoints overlooking the city. In the afternoon
transfer to the port to board a ferry to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, a one
and a half hour journey across the Strait of Georgia. We spend some time
visiting this gateway city before settling into our hotel for the night.
Day 3 : Visit Cathedral Grove To See Douglas Fir Trees.
Location: Cathedral Grove, Tofino
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina (or similar)
After breakfast we begin our drive to Ucluelet or Tofino, our location for
the next three nights. On the way we will make a stop for a walk at
Cathedral Grove Provincial Park to see the last remains of the temperate
rainforest that covered the island more than a thousand years ago. This is
one of the most accessible areas of giant Douglas-fir trees in the province
and there are many trails enabling us to meander through Douglas-fir, Western
Hemlock, Grand fir and Western Red Cedar trees. Today's total journey time
is around 3.5 hours.
Day 4 : Pacific Rim N.P.; Boat Excursion To Observe Grey And Humpback Whales.
Location: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Pacific Rim National Park is nestled between the mountains of the Vancouver
Island Range and the Pacific coastline. We walk inside the park this morning
in order to admire the rich natural heritage of the west coast of Canada.
With almost 10 miles of sand and a huge collection of driftwood, the next
stop from the rugged beaches is Japan! We usually take one of the trails to
the beach and visit during low tide to explore some of the intertidal pools
and rocky islands.
In the afternoon we board Zodiacs with a naturalist guide who will lead a 2.5
- 3 hour whale observation excursion (depending on the low-tide schedule,
this activity may take place earlier in the day). Our goal is to see Humpback
and Grey whales, but it is also common to come across Orcas, seals and sea
lions amongst the rocky headlands. Today's driving time should not exceed two
hours.
Day 5 : Visit Tofino Botanical Gardens; Boat Excursion To Observe Black Bears.
Location: Tofino Botanical Gardens
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Painter’s Lodge (or similar)
Obtain a greater understanding of the rainforest environment this morning at
the Tofino Botanical Gardens. There is a lovely birdwatching area where
woodpeckers, songbirds and hummingbirds can be found and Bald eagles are
sometimes seen circling overhead in search of prey on the neighbouring Tofino
Mudflats.
Late this afternoon we board Zodiacs for a 2.5 hour expedition to observe
Black bear and Bald eagle (depending on the low-tide schedule, this activity
may take place earlier in the day). In the wilderness of Clayoquot Sound,
Black bears can be found searching for crabs and clams on the rocky beaches.
We'll travel the fjord inlet by Zodiac, looking in sheltered bays and
stopping to see any Black bears that we find from the comfort of our Zodiac.
Day 6 : To Campbell River; Visit Elk Falls.
Location: Campbell River
Accommodation: Painters Lodge (or similar)
Accommodation Name: Painter’s Lodge (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Depart Ucluelet and drive for four hours to Campbell River on the North Shore
of Vancouver Island. Campbell River is known as the 'Salmon Capital of the
World' for its hugely impressive salmon runs where five species of Pacific
salmon can be found in the river. It has been designated as a Heritage River
for its importance in British Columbia - following the fish are bears, seals,
kingfishers and eagles. This afternoon we take a short walk in Elk Falls
Provincial Park with its thundering, impressive waterfalls.
Day 7 : Boat Excursion To Orford River To Observe Grizzly Bears.
Location: Orford River Spawning Channel
Accommodation: Lodge, Painters Lodge (or similar)
Accommodation Name: Painter’s Lodge (or similar)
Board a covered boat for a full day excursion to the Orford River area (on
the mainland of British Columbia) to observe Grizzly bears in their natural
habitat. Conservative estimates suggest there are 10,000 Grizzly (Brown)
bears living in British Columbia, with 92% of the original habitat of
Grizzlies still occupied. The abundance of spawning salmon in the Orford
River at this time of year brings Grizzlies down to feast. A two-hour journey
by boat with a spectacular backdrop of mountainous scenery brings us to the
mouth of the Orford River. From here we take a short bus journey inland,
where there are five viewing platforms from which to spot the bears. We visit
one or sometimes two of these platforms, from where we hope to observe the
bears catching and feeding on salmon, sometimes with cubs in tow. On the boat
journey to and from the Orford River we may also see Black bears, Orcas,
Humpback and Grey whales, dolphins, porpoise and Sea lions.
Day 8 : Quadra Island For Hiking Or Optional Sea Kayaking.
Location: Quadra Island
Accommodation: Painters Lodge (or similar)
Accommodation Name: Huntingdon Manor (or similar)
Board a ferry for a 10-minute journey across the Discovery Passage to Quadra
Island where we spend the day exploring the islands trails and beaches by
foot. There is also an optional excursion from Quadra Island to try sea
kayaking. This three-hour excursion is accompanied by kayak and marine life
observation guides and is suitable for beginners. There is never a dull
moment paddling by kayak around Quadra Island - we could see soaring eagles,
Oyster catchers, herons, cormorants, gulls and if we are lucky, we may come
across seals, Sea lions, dolphins and porpoise! In addition there will be
lots of inter-tidal life including starfish, sea urchins, jellyfish and
crabs. The mountain views offer a stunning backdrop to this excursion.
Day 9 : Transfer To Victoria; Ferry To Vancouver.
Location: Victoria, Vancouver
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Listel Hotel (or similar)*
We drive for around four hours to Victoria, making stops along the way to
enjoy the scenery of Vancouver Island for the last time. This afternoon we
board a ferry across the Strait of Georgia, admiring the small islands and
breath-taking panorama of the city of Vancouver as it comes into view. In the
late afternoon there will be some free time to explore Vancouver at your own
pace, visiting Stanley Park or China Town.
What's Included
* All accommodation
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
What's Not Included
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All meals
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Visas or vaccinations
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Travel insurance
Accommodation
Accommodation on this trip has been selected for its excellent location and warm, Canadian hospitality. Below are the properties we usually use on this itinerary.
Vancouver (one night): The Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown offers an excellent central location to visit Vancouver's key sites. There's also a heated indoor swimming pool and a fitness centre.
Ucluelet (three nights): Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina is an historic four-star property on the waterfront in the small town of Ucluelet on Vancouver Island's west coast. All rooms have private balconies and complimentary wifi.
Campbell River (three nights): Close to the Elk Falls Suspension Bridge, Painter’s Lodge is a completely non-smoking hotel, where we stay in garden-view rooms overlooking the grounds.
Victoria (one night): Huntingdon Manor Hotel, located in Victoria's scenic Inner Harbour, has a history dating back to 1890 and is built in the style of an English country manor house.
Food
No meals are included on this trip. The leader may suggest organising a kitty
at the start of the trip to cover picnic lunches. If everyone is in
agreement, a set amount will be collected (in the region of CAD40 - 50) and
the leader will coordinate and top up the purchase of supplies for lunch.
This enables lunch to be taken in some wonderful beauty spots, making the
most of Canada's great outdoors!
For breakfast and dinner, the leader will recommend various options in
convenient locations, usually booking restaurants and eating with the group.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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What is the maximum group size?
12
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
The Government of Canada has an entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), for some international travellers flying into Canada.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Minimum 16 years old people can go on this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Dates & Availability
Friday - Sunday
Aug 23, 2024 - Sep 01, 2024Tuesday - Thursday
Sep 03, 2024 - Sep 12, 2024Saturday - Monday
Sep 14, 2024 - Sep 23, 2024Wednesday - Friday
Sep 25, 2024 - Oct 04, 2024Friday - Sunday
Aug 22, 2025 - Aug 31, 2025Monday - Wednesday
Sep 01, 2025 - Sep 10, 2025Thursday - Saturday
Sep 11, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 30, 2025Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.