Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Canada – Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Madeira Park – Parksville – Ucluelet – Victoria
100% customisable for you
Your family adventure through British Columbia starts today. Pack up and head to the airport, ready to catch your direct flight to Vancouver this afternoon. The flight from the UK takes just under ten hours, so make sure to have a good book to hand and plenty of films downloaded to keep the children entertained.
Thanks to the time difference, you’ll land later the same day, and once you’ve whizzed through customs and collected your bags, you’ll be met by a private driver and transferred to your hotel. Check in to your hotel in downtown Vancouver, which will be your base for the next two nights.
If you aren’t too tired from your flight, head out to grab a drink at one of the city’s craft beer breweries (soft options are available for the children, don’t worry), where you can often find live music – just how the locals do it. The city is famous for its fresh seafood, too, if you’re feeling peckish.
Beat the jet lag this morning by heading out to explore Vancouver by bike. Armed with bikes and a map, you can explore at your own pace and stop where and when you like.
Along the way, check out some of Vancouver’s must-see sights. Drop by the imposing Fairmont Hotel, famous for its Chateau style, like something straight out of a 1930s film; then there’s the beautifully renovated warehouses of Yaletown and the classicism of the neo-Gothic Christ Church Cathedral. Don't forget to head over to Granville Island Market, a trendy and artsy neighbourhood known for its market stalls overflowing with regional cheeses, seafood, wines, meat, bread, pastries and other treats. And if you're not in the mood for a picnic-style lunch, you can pop into one of the restaurants nearby (check out our destination Dossier for our top picks).
Another must-see while you’re in Vancouver is Stanley Park – nearly 1,000 acres of unspoilt nature, lying between the city and the bay, stretching from the West End neighbourhood in the south to Lions Gate Bridge in the north, which connects it to the North Shore. The rose garden is a particular highlight of the park, as is The Seawall, a spectacular coastal boardwalk that lets you walk around the park with uninterrupted views of the water the whole way around. There are plenty of other hiking trails that stretch for miles throughout the park, welcoming walkers, joggers and cyclists who come to enjoy the surroundings. End up at Brockton Point, in the park's northeastern tip, where you can check out the totem poles that showcase the First Nations cultures of British Columbia.
Then head over the bridge to the North Shore and onwards to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is 137 metres long and perched 70 metres above the river – the crossing is certainly not for the faint-hearted! From there, explore the treetop walkways of the Cliffwalk, an impressive walkway built into the cliff face. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, head a little further north to Grouse Mountain, which you can either climb on foot, via the Grouse Grind Trail, or by gondola (perhaps more suited to little legs…).
If you have one stop left in you, drop by Deep Cove, a charming village nestled between the sea and the mountains.
Suitably exhausted after a busy day of exploring, head back to your hotel for some downtime before dinner and an early night.
It’s time to wave goodbye to Vancouver and start your road trip today. Pick up your hire car, then catch a short ferry between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale, before driving to Madeira Park. The entire journey should take around two and a half hours.
Check in for two nights at a peaceful haven nestled between the forest and the charming Pender Harbour. If you arrive in time for lunch, why not head to Baker Beach Park for a picnic? You can rent kayaks at Pender Harbour, too, if you feel like getting out on the water after your journey.
Spend the rest of the day enjoying the activities on offer at the hotel and in the surrounding area, whether that’s a walk in the fresh air or a yoga class, before another delicious supper as a family.
Welcome to the Sunshine Coast! This beautiful coastal strip includes deserted beaches, cool waters and lush forests. Nestled on the shore, surrounded by blue, Madeira Park is a small urban enclave ideally positioned for exploring the surrounding nature parks, and you have the whole day to do just that.
Head to the Thormanby Islands and spend a few hours alternating between the sandy shores and the waters of marine park; at low tide, walk from one piece of land to another, peering into the newly formed natural pools along the way; seek out the impressive Skookumchuck Narrows rapids through the forest; explore Smugglers Cove Provincial Park, venturing as far as the cove that gave it its name.
If you fancy some extra adventure, we can also arrange for you to go kayaking in the Sechelt Strait today.
Today it’s time for the next stop on your island-hopping adventure: Parksville, on Vancouver Island. The journey involves not one but two ferries, with the last one landing in Comox, where you can drive just under an hour down the coast of the Strait of Georgia to your next hotel. The total journey time for today is around four hours and fifteen minutes, depending on ferry departure times.
Once in Parksville, settle into your accommodation – where you’ll be staying for the next two nights – and then dive straight into exploring the local area: there are more beaches, parks and – of course – breweries to visit.
Today, you have the whole day to explore the stunning Rathrevor Beach Provincial Park at your own pace. The beach is named after William Rath, an Irishman who settled here with his family during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 19th century. Located around two-and-a-half miles from Parksville, the stretch of sand and its surroundings were designated a provincial park in 1967. This side of Vancouver Island, facing the mainland, is well sheltered. so in the summer, locals come here to swim with their families and at low tide, the area transforms into an endless playground. It’s a great place to get some fresh air and take some beautiful photos, so pack a picnic and make a day of it in BC’s stunning nature.
Cross Vancouver Island from east to west today on a three-hour drive, ending up in the laid-back fishing village of Ucluelet.
Once you’ve arrived and settled into your hotel for the next three nights, take a moment to soak up the peaceful atmosphere. It might be a small village, but there’s plenty to see and do, from the lighthouse to the aquarium and – of course – more nature trails.
This evening, settle in by the waterfront, keeping an eye out for sea otters and sea lions passing by.
Nestled on a small peninsula on the south coast of Vancouver Island, the charming town of Ucluelet is ripe for exploring. Here, adventure and the great outdoors reign supreme: nature walks and watersports are king, as are the marine and land animals that inhabit the coastline, and there is no shortage of viewpoints to take in the vistas, so have cameras at the ready...
Today, you’ll board a boat safari to observe a Canadian icon – the black bear. These bears descend from the mountains to feed on the lush shores of Clayoquot Sound. You’ll head out around low tide, so you can sail along the shore and get as close as possible. Along the way, it's not uncommon to encounter other friendly residents of the region, such as sea lions, bald eagles and herons, among others. Any budding Attenborough’s will be in their element.
Later, head back to the hotel to recount stories of the species you spotted and see who managed to capture the best photos…
This region’s natural beauty doesn’t get much better than on the Wild Pacific Trail. This legendary trail splits into different routes of varying lengths and difficulty, and today you can tackle whichever you fancy (we can advise on which is best suited to your family’s littlest legs).
The Lighthouse Loop is around a mile-and-a-half long and offers the chance to watch the sun set over the Pacific at the end of the day, while the trail connecting Brown's Beach to Artist's Loop is around two miles long and winds along the cliffside, where the waves crash against the shore right beneath your feet. Nearby, the Sea Lions Pool, an ideal vantage point for watching seals surfing the waves, is also a must-see.
If you’re keen to see even more of this picturesque peninsula, we can arrange a kayaking excursion in Ucluelet Bay this afternoon.
It’s time to head to Victoria today, a four-hour drive along the southwest coast. Upon arrival in British Columbia's capital city, settle in for two nights in the residential James Bay neighbourhood, just minutes from Downtown.
There was a time when astute gold prospectors would begin their explorations in British Columbia with a stay here, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The mild, humid climate fosters lush vegetation, symbolised by the tall conifers prized by totem pole carvers.
As a nod to the region’s history, enjoy afternoon tea or fish and chips this afternoon, which were brought here from Britain by nostalgic settlers.
The best way to experience Victoria is on a leisurely stroll around the city, which is exactly what’s on the agenda for today. It’s a haven for lovers of art and architecture, and you’ll find beautiful examples of Victorian architecture over on Government and Johnson Streets. In the heart of the Inner Harbour, the neo-Gothic architecture of the Parliament Building is truly striking – at nightfall, the illuminated building is reflected in the harbour waters.
Wander to the nearby Fairmont Empress, an imposing and legendary hotel built in 1908 for the Canadian Pacific Railway – the perfect place for a proper afternoon tea. Head down towards the James Bay district, where art lovers will appreciate a visit to the home of Emily Carr, the renowned painter. Take advantage of the nearby Beacon Hill Park to admire the excellence of English garden design before making your way back up to the Royal BC Museum.
Not far from there, Thunderbird Park is also worth a visit: it's filled with totem poles from the Gitxsan, Haida and Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations. If you'd like to learn more about them, we recommend the Mark Loria Gallery and the Leaf Modern Gallery. The Royal British Columbia Museum displays no fewer than 65,000 objects and specimens of natural history, so any budding historians will be in their element. Finally, if you still have some energy left, don't miss the city’s Chinatown – the second oldest in North America, after San Francisco’s.
Later today, take to the water on a whale-watching cruise off Vancouver Island. Accompanied by a biologist and naturalist guide, you'll set sail between Alaska and the Sea of Cortez in search of these enormous marine mammals. Along the way, you may well encounter seals, otters, sea turtles and birds, so keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready.
It’s time to head back to Vancouver today. The journey will take around three hours, including a ferry across the Strait of Georgia – a great opportunity to soak in the panoramic views.
You’ll s pend the final evening of your trip in Steveston, a former fishing village founded in 1880 by William Herbert Steves, just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Here, you can admire the activity of fishing boats in the harbour, enjoy a meal on the terrace overlooking the marina, or visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, a former fish cannery that was a crucial industry in the region at the end of the 19th century.
Your Canadian journey sadly comes to an end today. Head to the airport to return your rental car and catch your international flight home. Your overnight flight takes around ten hours and touches down in the UK the next day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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