West Coast Explorer
SUGGESTED LENGTH:
9 DAYS
$7,924 (APPROX $5,796 USD)
PER PERSON
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PLAN YOUR TRIP
This trip is a self-driving adventure that combines two nights each in Whistler, Vancouver and Victoria with three nights in Tofino. In each location, you’ll stay in exquisite hotels, and enjoy enough downtime to hit the spa or simply enjoy your surroundings. Guided tours in Victoria and Vancouver ensure you make the most of each city, while in Whistler and Tofino, you’ll discover wildlife on whale watching and bear viewing excursions, and explore pristine wilderness on Zodiac tours and guided hikes. Optional activities include river rafting, golfing, heli-hiking, fishing, ziplining, and sightseeing by floatplane or helicopter.
*Please note the price listed is an estimate, based on availability of room types and all service providers.
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The Route
The Entrée Difference
WHAT SETS US APART
Our Attention to Detail: You don’t have to think of anything, we’ve got it covered.
Our In Depth-Knowledge: Working with us means having the top insider knowledge of Canada and Alaska at your disposal.
Our Responsive Nature: We ensure 24/7 support is given to you while traveling, and if necessary, back-up plans are executed seamlessly.
Our Custom Approach: Your trip is tailored just for you, by our expert travel planners.
The Itinerary
1-2 | WHISTLER, BC
Upon your arrival at Vancouver International Airport, you’ll pick up your full-sized rental car and enjoy a scenic two-hour drive to Whistler, along the Sea to Sky highway. Explore the pedestrian-only village, lined with boutiques and countless restaurant options (we’re happy to make recommendations or reservations for you). Accommodations are at the Fairmont Château Whistler in a Deluxe Slopeside Room.
On your second day you’ll take the Peak 2 Peak gondola which travels between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Enjoy unobstructed views of mountain peaks, alpine meadows,
and Whistler Village below. At the peak, enjoy alpine hiking and spectacular dining from your choice of five different restaurants. In the afternoon, venture deep into old-growth forests on a guided bear-watching tour. Accommodations are at the Fairmont Château Whistler in a Deluxe Slopeside Room.
3-5 | TOFINO, BC
Today you will drive and ferry approximately seven and a half hours from Whistler to Tofino, located on Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast. If there’s time before dinner, start exploring the Pacific Rim National Park. Hike along surf-swept beaches, centuries-old rainforest, or the new Wild Pacific Trail. Accommodations are at Wickaninnish Inn in a 2nd Floor Deluxe Room.
On the fourth day of your journey you’ll set out on a full-day zodiac excursion in and around the Clayoquot Sound. A designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this temperate rain forest is home to a number of land and marine mammals, including but not limited to: wolves, black bears, cougars, gray whales, orcas, porpoises, seals, otters, bald eagles, and Roosevelt elk. Stop at a sea cave, a seabird-nesting island, and enjoy a dip at Hot Springs Cove, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Accommodations are at Wickaninnish Inn in a 2nd Floor Deluxe Room.
Your fifth day is yours to enjoy at leisure in Tofino. Options are plentiful, and there’s something for everyone. Explore the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Rim on a guided interpretive hike, or strap on a wetsuit and brave the frigid temperatures with Surf Sisters for a surfing lesson. With waves breaking year-round, this region has become Canada’s undisputed surf capital! Accommodations are at Wickaninnish Inn in a 2nd Floor Deluxe Room.
6-7 | VICTORIA, BC
Drive approximately four and a half hours from Tofino to Victoria today, along the scenic Pacific Rim Highway. Once you’ve arrived in Victoria, start exploring one of the oldest cities in Canada’s Pacific Northwest. Admire the hand-carved totem poles in Beacon Hill Park, or stroll the inner harbour listening to street performers. Accommodations are at the Fairmont Empress in a Deluxe Harbourside Room.
On the seventh day of your trip you’ll hop in an open-air zodiac and explore the nearby Juan de Fuca strait, in search of marine life. The Juan de Fuca Strait is home to three killer whale pods, and sightings are all but guaranteed. You may also spot humpback or gray whales, sea otters, or porpoises. The ride itself is exciting and sometimes quite adventurous—be prepared to get a little wet! In the afternoon, continue to explore historic Victoria. Visit nearby Chinatown and its narrow Fan Tan Alley, and don’t miss Market Square and the boutiques of trendy lower Johnson Street.
8-10 | VANCOUVER, BC
Today you’ll drive and ferry from Victoria to Vancouver, taking approximately four hours. From your hotel downtown, explore the luxury boutiques of Alberni Street or head to nearby Granville Island for a true market experience, with plenty of craft and food stalls to choose from. Accommodations are at the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver in a Deluxe Room
On your ninth day, enjoy a private cultural tour of Vancouver and examine the diversity that has shaped the city and its residents. Explore the Vancouver, from the bustling business district to the laid-back warehouse conversions of Yaletown. Experience sensory overload in fragrant Chinatown, where brightly colored spices mark the entrances of herbal pharmacies. Visit one thousand acre Stanley Park, and then head to the North Shore for a coastal rainforest walk and gourmet picnic lunch. Accommodations are at the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver in a Deluxe Room.
Schedule depending on your tenth and final day, you may want to revisit a favorite destination from yesterday’s tour today prior to leaving the city centre. Today you will drive out of downtown to the Vancouver International Airport and drop off your rental car in advance of your flight. Safe travels!
