Best of British Columbia Road Trip

Travel into the wild

Take an incredible, self-guided loop of beautiful British Columbia

This road trip has everything from city bustle to serene tranquillity. One day, you’re cycling the seawall in Vancouver, and then you’re hiking in Whistler. Then you’re bear spotting in the wilderness. Then you’re fishing on the Campbell River. Then you’re surfing in Tofino. Then you’re having tea in a posh hotel in Victoria. It’s a trip that ticks off some of the unmissable highlights of BC – and you’ll want to come back for more.

Duration 13 nights

Visiting Vancouver, Whistler, Egmont, Campbell River, Tofino & Ucluelet, Victoria

Adventurers who love the outdoors

Recommended itinerary

Vancouver

A cultural treasure trove

This cosmopolitan city on the water is known for its enviable lifestyle and a solid reputation for delicious food and its blossoming arts, theatre, and music scenes. The rosy-cheeked locals (fresh from escapades on the surrounding mountains and sea) speak highly of their beautiful city.

Stanley Park

What to do in Vancouver

Explore the city and beyond

Don’t leave Vancouver until you explore Granville Island, a creative hub of Vancouver and home to a beloved market. Take a floatplane flight to Vancouver Island or appreciate Vancouver’s coastal rainforest as you tiptoe across the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Allow three days to explore the city or more if you also plan to visit Vancouver Island.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Where to stay in Vancouver

Fancy or frills-free?

As you’d expect from a city the size of Vancouver, there are plenty of places to stay. From the upmarket Rosewood Hotel Georgia and the Wedgewood Hotel to the DOUGLAS in the city’s newest district and architecturally iconic Pan Pacific Vancouver, there’s a hotel for every taste and budget.

Whistler

An outdoor playground

The name and reputation of this renowned mountain resort are whispered in hallowed tones far beyond ski circles. It’s dominated by two looming mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb, linked by the Peak 2 Peak Gondola that whooshes visitors along an impossibly high wire. Pretty Whistler Village has all the feel of an alpine village, with gabled rooftops, plazas, and block-paved streets.

What to do in Whistler

How you’ll spend your days

If you think Whistler is just about skiing, think again. Come summer, as many mountain bikers hit the slopes as skiers in winter. And even if you’re not quite as actively inclined, there are leisurely gondola rides, gentle ice skating, and easy hikes to enjoy. For proper R&R, luxury spas standby to ease away any lingering stresses with pampering treatments.

Golf course

Where to stay in Whistler

The hotels to know about

Check into one of the most famous hotels in the area – the gorgeous Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Or maybe you’ll prefer the down-to-earth accommodation of Summit Lodge or Crystal Lodge?

Egmont

The Sunshine Coast

A four-hour drive and a ferry crossing bring you to one of British Columbia's most accessible wilderness areas, Egmont. This is your gateway to spectacular fjords, inlets, hiking, and wildlife.

What to do in Egmont

Go big on adventure

Days are spent whizzing around the water on a zodiac or negotiating fast-flowing saltwater rapids. There are opportunities to kayak, hike, bike, or take a scenic floatplane tour to admire the scenery from above.

Where to stay in Egmont

Relax in a cabin

The West Coast Wilderness Lodge cabins blend beautifully into their forested surroundings on British Columbia’s glorious Sunshine Coast. Some have sensational ocean views from a private deck, and while the rooms can’t be described as luxurious, there’s a charm and comfort to them that’s befitting of the location.

Campbell River

Cross to Vancouver Island

Drive to Powell River, where you’ll board a ferry to Vancouver Island. In the North Central region, Campbell River has been dubbed Outdoors HQ. It’s a moniker that does it justice – there’s all manner of fresh air escapades here. But perhaps the one that brings it most acclaim is sports fishing. After all, all five species of Pacific salmon are found in the fast-flowing waters here.

What to do in Campbell River

Get outdoors

This may be the world's salmon fishing capital, but if you’re not an angler, there’s still plenty to do. Explore the nearby Strathcona Provincial Park, which features hiking trails through old-growth forests and mountain ranges. Look out for kayaking and paddleboarding, and look up to spot eagles circling.

Where to stay in Campbell River

Riverside lodges

Choose waterside accommodation that feels properly away from it all. It’s the scenery that makes a stay extra special in these parts – choosing a room with a view is unlikely to be a decision that’s regretted.

Tofino & Ucluelet

The wild west coast

With the rainforest on one side and the Pacific on the other, these two towns share a similar stretch of rugged coastline on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

What to do in Tofino & Ucluelet

Get adventurous

Numerous spectacular and often deserted wild beaches dot the coastline around Tofino and Ucluelet. Take a drive and hop from one to another, or head out searching for the whales and bears found in these parts.

Where to stay in Tofino & Ucluelet

Rainforest resorts

The accommodations in these parts share a few things in common – a love of the outdoors, a relaxed approach, and local food, for starters. Whether you choose the surf-chic surroundings of Pacific Sands Resort or the Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, you can expect a warm welcome and friendly company.

Victoria

An idyllic little city

A four-and-a-half-hour drive brings you to Victoria at the southern point of Vancouver Island. Brits will feel a sense of familiarity here. Fish and chips are a menu staple, afternoon tea is touted as a necessity, and pubs and double-decker buses complete a London-inspired picture. But you don’t have to scratch hard to reveal an altogether more nuanced city beneath the surface of old British colonialism.

What to do in Victoria

City and coast

Head out on a wildlife cruise searching for whales or explore the Butchart Garden – a designated National Historic Site of Canada. Grab a bike (or at least a comfy pair of shoes) and follow the Songhees Walkway, admiring the views.

Government buildings, Victoria

Where to stay in Victoria

Choose a stylish stay

Decide between the opulent Fairmont Empress and the Magnolia Hotel & Spa, or perhaps you’ll prefer the Inn at Laurel Point, perched on its own six-acre peninsula, or the waterfront beauty of Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.

Inn at Laurel Point

Add a cruise

Set sail after your Canadian adventure

The majority of Alaska cruises set off from Vancouver so this itinerary can easily be added to a voyage northward. We work with a selection of handpicked cruise lines that operate round-trip and one-way trips along the majestic coastlines of British Columbia and the USA’s ‘last frontier’, including Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line. For more information, contact one of our Personal Travel Experts.

Hubbard Glacier

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