Vancouver Island Camping, Hiking and Kayak Tour
Guided camping and hiking tour on Vancouver Island, Canada, with moderate day hikes, an overnight kayak trip to another island with primitive camping on the beach, hiking near the glaciers of the Forbidden Plateau in Strathcona Park - an outdoor vacation of contrasts with beaches and mountains.
Tour V7
Beaches and Glaciers - hiking & camping tour with overnight kayak trip, 7 days
Vancouver Island, off Canada's western coast, offers incredible choices of day hikes and adventures. Among the rewards awaiting hikers, are ancient rain forests, wildflower meadows, blue alpine lakes, glaciers & cascading waterfalls. During this guided hiking tour the trails range from easy walks on the beach to demanding full-day alpine treks. Another highlight is a kayak trip to Vargas Island with a night of wilderness camping on the beach. You have the benefit of hiking with an expert who knows the terrain in all kinds of weather & trail conditions and has information on the local history, flora and fauna. Camping under giant cedars, the sound of the waves, a crackling camp fire - Life is good.
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What's Included: Ferries as mentioned, spacious tents (2 pers./ tent), welcome gift, cooking- and eating utensils, camping gear (except sleeping bag and self-inflating mattress), hard-foam mattress, overnight trip with ocean kayaks and local guide, camping and parks fees, services of a Timberwolf Tours guide, who accompanies the group on all hikes.Not included: Personal equipment, meals (calculate $100.00 for the food kitty), light day pack, sleeping bag and Thermarest mattress.Extras: hotel near the Vancouver airport about $250.00/night2-3 hours whale watching tour about: $150.00 2-3 hours bear watching tour about: $150.00 Demands: Adventure vacation with camping, moderate hikes and walks with light day pack, one night primitive camping with no facilities. Photo Gallery |
Schedule 2023:
Meeting time: 8:00 am in our Vancouver airport hotel. |
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Tour Details
Day 1: Sooke, British Columbia, first easy hikeThis morning you meet your Timberwolf Tours guide at a hotel near the Vancouver airport. You board the mini bus for the drive to the ferry terminal and the 90 minute crossing to Vancouver Island. In Victoria a stroll by the lively and picturesque Inner Harbour. Now it is off to your first campground (showers), next to a river under giant trees. Here you have a choice of easy to demanding hikes, or picknicks by the beach. Suggested for the first outing is a short drive to a small preserve. For thousands of years the crashing waters of the Sooke River have carved deep pools and caves out of the rock. Nothing, not even the river runs anything close to straight. So many amazing vantage points and so many unbelievable swimming spots. Here is also the trailhead for a somewhat demanding hike (13 km with 420 m gain, 8 mi, 1378 ft) to two remote mountain lakes. Hiking time up to 4 hours.
Day 2: Sooke, day hike by the beach
The attraction of another park in the area is the variety of trails and loops through forests and along coast lines. For example, on today's 12 km hike you walk high above the weather blasted rocky cliffs, small bays and deep fjords and every few minutes another startlingly desolate ocean vantage point with views of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Peninsula. You have good chances to see whales. Sea lions and eagles. Then the hiking trail winds up into the forested hills and back to the starting point. Dinner by the campfire and hopefully another spectacular sunset. Hiking time 3 – 4 hours.
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Day 3: Parksville, camping under ancient trees
A stop and descend to Botanical Beach, the most unique and richest tidal area for plant and animal life along British Columbia’s west coast. The shore is guarded by fantastic geological formations of shale and quartz. Lunch break during the drive to the eastern side of Vancouver Island is by a beautiful lake. The campground (showers) features majestic old growth forest of Douglas firs and a wide sandy beach near the city of Parksville. Hiking time 2 to 4 hours.
Day 4: Parksville, hiking in Strathcona Park
Some of the best wilderness hiking on Vancouver Island is among the glaciated peaks of the Central Island. Strathcona Park was created in 1911 for those who seek adventure in remote alpine surroundings. You can reach the “Forbidden Plateau” via several routes. A 15 km (9.3 mi) loop trail near Mt. Washington starts already at the 1100 m (3665 ft) level and offers panoramic views over southern British Columbia. Hiking time 5 hours.
Day 5: Tofino, kayak trip to Vargas IslandFor your next adventure, the kayak trip, you explore the quiet inlet waters and ancient coastal rain forest of Clayoquot Sound in 2-person ocean kayaks. No previous kayaking experience is necessary. Route planning is chosen with both the novice and advanced paddlers in mind and with 1 kayak guide for every 6 participants. Starting in Tofino early afternoon you make your way to the shores of Meares Island for a break to go on a short hike under the giant cedars while the guide introduces you to the natural and cultural history of the island. Then you paddle across an inlet and past a Native village and by late afternoon arrive at your overnight camp on Vargas Island. A zodiac delivers your equipment and camping gear and takes the kayak guide back to Tofino. Your tour guide stays with your group to set up the overnight camp on one of the beautiful wild beaches. (Instead of paddling you can take the zodiac to get to the island).
Day 6: Ucluelet, walking in Pacific Rim Park
The guide for the kayak trip returns this morning to paddle with you a different route past Stubbs Island back to Tofino. Planned for the afternoon is a side trip to Pacific Rim National Park where you hike mysterious trails with boardwalks and stairs in a fairy tale forest of ferns, lichens, mosses and thousand year old trees. There is more: boutiques and small stores in the charming villages of Ucluelet and Tofino offer crafts and souvenirs made by local artists. You also can join optional whale and bear watching excursions and even surfing lessons. Campground in Ucluelet (showers).
Hiking time 1.5 to 4 hours.
Day 7: ferry to Vancouver
On the return trip you pass through Cathedral Grove with some over 800 year old cedars and Douglas fir trees, one of them is 9 meters (29.5') in diameter. You walk on a network of short rainforest wilderness trails which weave among moss and fern blanketed fallen trees. Now the ferry back to the mainland and arrival at the Vancouver airport hotel late afternoon.
Building Blocks
Tour P7 The Best of Banff and Jasper, the 7-day camping trip in the Rockies fits with the dates of this Vancouver Island Tour.After this Vancouver Island trip you stay one night in a hotel in Vancouver. Next day you fly with Air Canada or WestJet to Calgary and stay one night in our hotel near the Calgary Airport. Here you meet your guide and your new group next morning for the Rockies tour.
We gladly arrange reasonable hotel accommodation and stress free transfers between the programs.