Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Seattle - Kalaloch - Ucluelet - Vancouver - Friday Harbor
100% customisable for you
Your 16-day road trip begins with a ten-hour flight to Washington State’s largest city: Seattle. After landing, you’ll be privately transferred to an elegant hotel in the city centre for the next two nights. Thanks to the time difference, there’s plenty of time left today to relax and get to know your surroundings. Enjoy a drink at the hotel bar before dinner, or head straight out into the city to begin exploring.
Today, begin your exploration of the ‘Emerald City’ with a visit to the Museum of Pop Culture, also known as ‘MoPOP’. Discover 80,000 objects and installations that showcase the past and present of pop culture, from film to music and fiction.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy. We recommend visiting the iconic Seattle Aquarium, climbing to the top of the futuristic Space Needle and strolling past the 19th-century Romanesque Revival buildings in the Pioneer Square District. Feeling peckish? Head to Pike Place Market, one of the oldest public markets in the country, for a tasty bite to eat.
Perhaps you’d rather experience a laid-back side to the city at Alki Beach, a two-and-a-half-mile stretch of sand enjoying views of the city skyline. End a day of exploring in Fremont, a neighbourhood packed with independent shops, bars and street art. Grab dinner at a trendy local eatery before enjoying a tipple at the area’s breweries.
This morning, pick up your rental car and drive to Kalaloch on the Pacific Coast, which takes about four and a half hours. Your accommodation for the next two nights is a rustic cabin nestled in Olympic National Park. With such beautiful scenery right outside your door, it’s easy to forget that there’s no Wi-Fi or Netflix here – ditch the devices and reconnect with Mother Nature (you’ll thank us later).
The small town of Kalaloch is a great base for exploring the wild beaches and coves of the Olympic Peninsula. At low tide, you can see the fascinating creatures that live in the natural pools. Head to the wild, beautiful sands of Ruby Beach and Beach 4 to spot giant green anemones and purple sea stars.
Around a 45-minute drive from Kalaloch is the unmissable Hoh Rain Forest, one of the best examples of a temperate rainforest in the USA. All winter, the forest’s conifers, ferns, mosses and deciduous trees are watered by rainfall, creating an enchanting, green home for Roosevelt elk, marmots and fallow deer. To best explore the depths of the rainforest, take your pick from two relatively easy trails (we can help you decide).
Today, you’ll drive to Port Angeles on the other side of the Olympic Peninsula. Along the way, take a short detour to the coastal village of La Push on the Quileute Indian Reservation. La Push is surrounded by wild beaches like Rialto Beach, First Beach and Second Beach, where the sea has carved shapes into the rock and storms have left impressive tree trunks stranded on the sand.
In Port Angeles, you’ll stay in a historic lodge overlooking Lake Crescent. From your cabin, enjoy enchanting lake views and take the rest of today to switch off in the peaceful surroundings.
It’s time to say goodbye to the States and hello to their friendly northern neighbour, Canada. Make the short drive to the Port Angeles ferry terminal and board the one-and-a-half-hour ferry to Victoria, British Columbia. You’ll spend the night in James Bay, the city’s oldest residential neighbourhood.
Spend the rest of today discovering this historic city. Whether you stroll around Market Square, visit the Royal British Columbia Museum or visit the oldest Chinatown in Canada, there’s plenty to do here. Feeling homesick? Grab some fish and chips at the port, or enjoy afternoon tea at a traditional tea house. The beautiful Butchart Gardens are also worth visiting, as are the impressive Parliament Buildings.
The next stop on your North Pacific road trip is Ucluelet, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, around a six-hour drive away. Here, you’ll stay for three nights in a waterside wooden cabin on the outskirts of the village. Expect balconies, bay views and the unspoiled landscapes of Vancouver Island and Ucluelet Bay all around.
Located on a small peninsula, Ucluelet is a coastal town made for outdoor activities. Soak in the beauty of this incredible place along the Wild Pacific Trail, on the path connecting Brown's Beach to Artist's Loop, which leads you along cliffs to watch seals and sea lions playing offshore. If you’re chasing sunsets, then Lighthouse Loop is just the ticket.
Wildlife enthusiasts are in for a treat this afternoon, as you’ll be spotting the region’s black bears on the shores of Clayoquot Sound on a zodiac boat safari. At low tide, sail along the shore to get up close to these majestic creatures, as well as sea lions, bald eagles and herons. Eager for more adventure? We can arrange a day of hiking with a private guide through the rainforest and along majestic cliffs on the Pacific Rim Trail.
Wave goodbye to the wild (for now) and drive for about two and a half hours to reach the port of Nanaimo. From here, the ferry to Horseshoe Bay on the other side of the Strait of Georgia takes an hour and 40 minutes. Today’s final destination is Downtown Vancouver, where you’ll spend two nights. After experiencing the wonders of Ucluelet, enjoy the comfort of your accommodation as you relax in the hot tub, sweat it out in the sauna or settle down with a nightcap to the sounds of live jazz.
Vancouver has everything you could want from a major city: culture, history and a contemporary feel. Oh, and it’s also surrounded by beautiful nature (bonus points). Today, we’ll equip you with bikes and a map of the city’s cycle paths, so you can discover Vancouver’s fascinating architecture at your own pace. As you ride, don’t miss the imposing 1930s Fairmont Hotel, the rehabilitated warehouses of Yaletown, the stalls at Granville Island Market and the Neo-Gothic Christ Church Cathedral.
After taking in Vancouver’s manmade masterpieces, you might be ready to see a different side of the city. We recommend visiting Stanley Park: 988 acres of nature, a stone’s throw away from urban life. Winding through picturesque gardens and woodland, you’ll find miles of marked trails to hike, cycle and jog along. Its Seawall is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path, which allows you to explore the park without taking your eyes off the water.
You’re heading back Stateside today, driving to the penultimate stop on your road trip, Friday Harbor. It’s around a two-hour drive to Anacortes, where you’ll board the one-and-a-half-hour ferry to San Juan Island. Your home for the next two nights is located in a charming spot overlooking the harbour.
Friday Harbor is a lively town and the main hub of the San Juan Islands archipelago, ideal for soaking up the sublime natural setting, absorbing the peaceful atmosphere and enjoying the quaint farmers market every Saturday.
The main attraction, however, is the resident orca population – this archipelago is one of the best places in the world to see them in their natural habitat. We’ll arrange an orca watching cruise in the waters surrounding San Juan Island, where locals regularly spot families of orcas. On the boat trip, you’ll learn all about these fascinating animals and how you can help the species' survival. With a little luck, you'll also come across seals, sea lions and porpoises.
Today, take the ferry back to the port of Anacortes and head south towards Seattle. It’s the final night of your North Pacific road trip, so make the most of this incredible city while you can. Revisit your favourite spots (we’re looking at you, Pike Place Market), or discover whatever you missed out on seeing at the start of your trip. For dinner recommendations, check out our Dossier for our favourite eateries in the city to end your holiday on a high.
Sadly, it’s time to wave goodbye to North America and begin your journey home. Pick up any final souvenirs and take one last stroll around the city before heading to the airport to return your hire car. Relax in the lounge until it’s time to board your ten-hour overnight flight back to the UK. Touching down the next morning, you’ll be full of wonderful tales from your adventures to tell your friends and family.
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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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
