Whales & Bears of British Columbia

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.
*Accommodation: Moda Hotel/Executive Vintage Park Hotel (or similar)*

Day 2

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.

*Accommodation: Travelodge Nanaimo (or similar)
*

Day 3

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.

*Accommodation: Canadian Princess Resort / Tofino Motel Harbourview (or
similar)*

Day 4

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.

*Accommodation: Canadian Princess Resort / Tofino Motel Harbourview (or
similar)*

Day 5

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.

*Accommodation: Canadian Princess Resort / Tofino Motel Harbourview (or
similar)*

Day 6

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.

*Accommodation: Painters Lodge (or similar)
*

Day 7

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.

*Accommodation: Painters Lodge (or similar)
*

Day 8

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.

*Accommodation: Painters Lodge (or similar)*

Day 9

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.

*Accommodation: Moda Hotel/Executive Vintage Park Hotel/Sandman Hotel
Vancouver City Centre (or similar)*

Day 10

Those on the group flight will be transferred to the airport today. Those on
Land Only arrangements are free to leave at any time.
**

Day 11

Arrive London.
**