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Map of Vancouver Island Winter Adventure including Canada

Ferry to a natural, snow-capped wonder in far western Canada

There’s no surprise how revered the shores of Vancouver Island have become, with its quaint towns, appealing active attractions and a whole variety of natural diversity. And in winter, it’s no different. Spend five days seeing the best of Vancouver Island’s east coast, ferrying to vivacious Victoria and exploring the harbourside hotspots of Comox and Nanaimo. Plus, to top it off, embark on a morning snowshoeing up the peaks of Mt Washington, admiring the mountain in all its wintery glory. With the right balance of active inclusions and free time to pick what’s next, this short and sweet island adventure is yours to craft the way you want and experience at a pace that suits you. The hardest part is choosing your activities, so luckily you’ll have a local leader to guide the way.

Start
Vancouver, Canada
Finish
Vancouver, Canada
Destination
Canada
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
SEKV
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 4, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Get active out of Comox with an included snowshoeing adventure around the slopes of the mighty Mt Washington. Your personal guide will keep you safe and show you the best vantage points on the mountain.

  • Get acquainted with the streets of charming Victoria on a leader-led orientation walk, then try your hand spotting the residents of the sea with some sunset whale watching.

  • With plenty of free time scheduled in Comox and Nanaimo, you have the power to choose your next activity. Kayaking adventures, hikes along rapids, brewery or distillery visits? It’s totally up to you.

  • Before you wrap up, take a walk with your leader and fellow travellers around the beautiful natural haven of Stanley Park, located right near the centre of Vancouver’s CBD.

  • Part of the stresses of a holiday comes with booking all your transfers. Luckily for you, the ferry and private vehicle transport has been arranged, so you can just sit back and soak in the views.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding domestic travel prior to booking this trip.

  • Just as a heads up before you book: this trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

  • The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so bring your warm clothes.

  • As this trip spends very little time in Vancouver, we recommend you spend a few extra days before or after your trip if you want to experience all the city has to offer.

SEKV - Victoria BC - Views of Comox Valley
SEKV - Victoria - Wild Killer Whale Watching
SEKV - Victoria BC - Aerial View of Mt Washington
SEKV - Nymph Falls NP - Puntledge River

Itinerary
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Welcome to Canada! You’ll be meeting your group leader and travel crew nice and early at Granville Square (located right by Waterfront Station) Vancouver 8:30 am, so don’t be late. Here, take part in an all-important welcome meeting to brief you on what’s to come. Afterwards, transfer by private vehicle away from Vancouver to catch the 10 am ferry from Tssawwassen Terminal to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island (approximately 1.5 hours). On arrival, take the short drive to Victoria, grab yourself some lunch, then embark on a leader-led orientation walk around the city to get a feel of the place. You’ve got a fair chunk of the afternoon to explore at leisure, then later in the day, meet up with your travel group for a spot of sunset whale watching. Today is all about introductions, so you might want to head out for dinner together, if that takes your fancy. Be sure to ask your leader for their recommendations.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Victoria - Sunset Whale Watching Excursion
  • Victoria - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important you meet your group leader and fellow travellers this morning at the departure point – read the ‘Joining Point Instructions’ on your Essential Trip Information for further details. As it is an early start this morning, consider spending an extra night in Vancouver before your tour begins. We’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

After an included breakfast, take it easy in the morning before getting on the road around 10 am. The group will make its way to the Heritage Acres – a historical society with 29 acres and over 30,000 artefacts to explore in indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Depending on the time of the year, you might even try out their miniature railway! Continue driving up the north for around 3 hours until you hit Comox – a small town lying on the Georgia Strait. Depending on how many kilometres you cover, there will either be a stop for lunch on the way, or on arrival. This afternoon, your leader will show you the ropes in Comox and neighbouring Courtenay, plus give you some tips on how you might like to spend your free evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Victoria - Heritage Acres Museum (entrance)
  • Comox - Leader-led city tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Enjoy some breakfast, then head off to the mighty Mt Washington. This picture-perfect example of North America’s snow-capped mountains is a popular ski resort on the island. Today, you’ll head off on a 2-hour snowshoeing adventure, discovering the best of the mountain and taking some epic panoramic shots along the way. Fingers crossed for a bluebird day! Afterwards, join your leader at a local café for an included lunch before heading back to your hotel in Comox. With a free afternoon and evening, you might like to simply sit back and relax at your accommodation, or instead explore the area. There’s the chance to head out of town and book in on a Nymph Falls Nature Park tour, if you wish. Appreciate the diversity of forestry around, and admire the spectacular rapids that fall over a series of ledges along the Puntledge River. Otherwise, you could check out Goose Spit Park on your own, then head across to Fishermans Wharf Boardwalk for a night at one of bars, restaurants or breweries nearby.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mount Washington - Leader-led snowshoeing
Optional Activities
  • Courtenay - Wayward Distillery - Free
  • Comox - Nymph Falls Nature Park - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

This morning is as clear as the brisk Vancouver Island air – you’re welcome to continue exploring by yourself or with a couple of your newfound travel pals. After lunch, head south in a private vehicle to Nanaimo – a port city on Vancouver Island’s east coast (approximately 1.5 hours). With a free afternoon to discover the abundance of things on offer here, it’s best you choose your own adventure. How about a coastal walk to Neck Point Park? Or else, head to the Nanaimo Museum to learn more about First Nations history and significance in this region. If you’re feeling more active, embark on an optional cave tour or kayaking experience – speak to your leader about the ins and outs of the tours, plus how to book. Tonight, consider getting together as a group and raising a toast to your time on Vancouver Island – it’s definitely cause for celebration.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Nanaimo - Museum (entrance fee) - CAD2
  • Nanaimo - Kayaking - CAD85
  • Nanaimo - Horne Lake Caves Tour (entrance fee & guide) - CAD79
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning, jump on a ferry in Nanaimo bound for Horseshoe Bay near Vancouver (approximately 1.5 hours). Before heading back into the city, you’ll have time to buy your own lunch and visit Stanley Park with your leader. This wooded natural area sits out in the bay right near Vancouver’s CBD and provides an ideal place to stretch your legs and discover one of this city’s natural attractions. With a couple of hours spent here, you might have time to walk past all the hotspots, like the Totem Poles and Vancouver Seawall. Continue your return journey, arriving by approximately 4 pm. On arrival, you are free to continue your own Canadian adventure, or begin your journey home.
Included Activities
  • Vancouver - Leader-led Stanley Park Walking Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
With little time spent in Vancouver, we highly recommend spending an extra day or two before or after the trip to get a real feel of this west coast hub. If so, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

4 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Transport

Private vehicle, Ferry

Accommodation

Hotel (4 nights)

Included activities

  • Victoria - Sunset Whale Watching Excursion
  • Victoria - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Victoria - Heritage Acres Museum (entrance)
  • Comox - Leader-led city tour
  • Mount Washington - Leader-led snowshoeing
  • Vancouver - Leader-led Stanley Park Walking Tour

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Vancouver Island Winter Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 8:30 am on Day 1. Please make your own way to the Joining Point listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
2. There is no accommodation included in Vancouver on this trip. If you wish to spend more time in Vancouver, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). Speak to an Intrepid booking agent for more information.
3. On the final day, this trip finishes at approximately 4 pm on arrival in Vancouver. You will be dropped at the same location as the joining point. If departing this day, please do not book any flights before 7 pm.
4. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
5. Please note these trips require a minimum of 4 travellers to depart.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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