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Victoria, Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island vacations
Victoria, Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island vacations

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Covered from head to toe in emerald rainforest, Vancouver Island lies just off Canada’s west coast. Far from the cityscape of Vancouver, just over the water, the island has retained a landscape wild enough to sustain black bears, an endemic subspecies of gray wolf, and bald eagles. Our Canada specialists will use their first-hand experience to help you plan where to go on your trip to Vancouver Island. You could take a Zodiac from Tofino in search of foraging bears, explore First Nations culture in northern Vancouver Island, or hike through old-growth forest trickling with waterfalls along the island’s mountainous spine.

Pod of orca, Vancouver Island, CanadaWhale watching trips give you an opportunity to see pods of orcas, which are permanent residents off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia’s capital. During the summer, you can also spot migratory humpback and Pacific gray whales in Clayoquot Sound, where you might be joined by dolphins, sea lions and otters. In the north, Campbell River is one of the best places for salmon fishing, while Port Hardy is a gateway to remote bear lodges.

 

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Audley Travel specialist Piper

Start planning your tailor-made trip to Vancouver Island by contacting one of our Canada specialists

Places to visit in Vancouver Island

Featuring heavily on our experiences of visiting Vancouver Island, these selected places are destinations that also prove consistently popular with our travelers. Our specialists can help you choose how to include them in your wider trip, based on your preferences.

Suggested itineraries featuring Vancouver Island

Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Vancouver Island, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. Treat them as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.

Map of Vancouver Island

Places & hotels on the map

    Places in and around Vancouver Island

    Photos of Vancouver Island

    Black bear, Tofino
    Black bear, Tofino
    Local resident in Victoria
    Local resident in Victoria
    Black bear family, Tofino
    Black bear family, Tofino
    Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Tofino, British Columbia
    Tofino, British Columbia
    Breaching humpback, Victoria, British Columbia
    Breaching humpback, Victoria, British Columbia
    Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island
    Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island
    Parliament Buildings in Victoria, British Columbia
    Parliament Buildings in Victoria, British Columbia

    Our expert guides to exploring Vancouver Island

    Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting Vancouver Island, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate Vancouver Island at its best.

    • Top 13 things to do on Vancouver Island
      Pod of orca, Vancouver Island, Canada

      Top 13 things to do on Vancouver Island

      Top 13 things to do on Vancouver Island

      Waking to the whistle-like howls of a coastal wolf. Hiking through moss-draped rainforests in search of bears. Kayaking by fluking whales in pin-drop quiet inlets. Specialist Lucy shares her top experiences on Vancouver Island.

      21 min read

      Read this guide
    • In the path of the grizzly: bear watching in Canada
      Grizzly bear, British Columbia

      In the path of the grizzly: bear watching in Canada

      In the path of the grizzly: bear watching in Canada

      Canada is well-known for its wildlife, but the stars of the show are arguably its resident bears. These often solitary creatures can be difficult to find, but our Canada specialists can recommend intimate bear-watching experiences that allow you to see them in their natural habitat.

      11 min read

      Read this guide
    • Honeymoons in Canada
      Lake Louise, Alberta

      Honeymoons in Canada

      Honeymoons in Canada

      Country specialist, Caroline, picks some of her top places to stay and things to do on honeymoon in Canada. Her highlights include where to spot Canada’s wildlife, taking a food tour in Vancouver, finding seclusion in the Rockies and staying on an authentic ranch.

      11 min read

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    • Self-driving in western Canada
      Icefields Parkway near Jasper

      Self-driving in western Canada

      Self-driving in western Canada

      Canada specialists Kerry and Annie share their tried-and-tested self-drive routes in western Canada. You might want to follow a lesser-known loop through the Canadian Rockies, detouring to the Okanagan wine region. Or, take in British Columbia’s coastline and Vancouver Island.

      9 min read

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    • British Columbia travel guide: a pathway to nature
      Helmcken Falls, Wells Gray Provincial Park

      British Columbia travel guide: a pathway to nature

      British Columbia travel guide: a pathway to nature

      Bear watching, waterfall chasing, and cities surrounded by water and mountains… in British Columbia, you can effortlessly reconnect with nature. Canada specialist Joe shares his highlights of the province, from embracing outdoor adventure to exploring First Nations culture.

      8 min read

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    Accommodation choices for Vancouver Island

    We've selected a range of accommodation options for when you visit Vancouver Island. Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. Our specialists always aim to suggest properties that match your preferences.