Vancouver Island Guided Tours & Packages
Our Vancouver Island tours have been close to our hearts for the entirety of Fresh Adventures. Here’s a fun fact… our Vancouver Island tours were designed while Fresh Adventures founder, Alex, was working in the wild inlets around Tofino for extended periods of time. The mystic beauty of the coast provided more than enough inspiration to dream up some truly remarkable West Coast experiences. The beauty of Vancouver Island is apparent the moment you arrive, and has a powerful presence every moment of your visit. The smell of the loamy soil baking in the sun; the soft, salty ocean air; the sound of the sea birds and mammals working in symphony to remind us that natural processes still reign supreme on the Island.
We offer a range of Vancouver Island tours, from camping tours to lodge based adventure yoga retreats in Tofino. With each experience we build, the elements of Vancouver Island are at the core of what we offer. Picture yourself camping beneath towering old growth trees, walking along endless sandy beaches, Pacific sunsets and getting up close and personal with the vibrant cycle of life, from whale watching to witnessing the Salmon jumping up waterfalls in the rivers.
We have been named the “Top Trekking and Hiking Company in Canada” in 2023 by The World Travel Awards, and our guided Vancouver Island tour packages are our pride and joy. Award winning guides, industry leading five star reviews, and a mission to help you discover lifechanging wilderness experiences are just some of the reasons we are excited to welcome you to our active tours on Vancouver Island.
Find Your Experience
Featured Vancouver Island Tours
Below are some of our top active trips on Vancouver Island that we think you might enjoy. These featured tours are our most recommended trips, offering the greatest range of experiences in Canada’s West Coast.
Secrets of Vancouver Island Guided Camping tour
Length: 7 Days
Location: Victoria, BC
Focus: Walking, Marine Excursions, Wildlife
Accommodation: Camping
Activity Level: Level 2- Moderate (2-4 Hours Active Daily )
Join our guided Vancouver Island camping tour to spend 7 days exploring the highlights of Tofino, as well as the “Lost Coast” section of coast and rainforest between Port Renfrew and Victoria. Visit old growth trees, beaches, sea caves, surf towns and more!
Tofino Surf & Cedars Yoga and Surf Retreat
Length: 5 Days
Location: Victoria, BC
Focus: Yoga, Surfing, Hiking
Accommodation: Hotels/ Lodges
Activity Level: Level 2- Moderate (2-4 Hours Daily Activities)
There are few better places to get back to your roots than an active wellness retreat on Vancouver Island. And Tofino is the ideal setting for some soul fueling activities like yoga, surfing, hiking and soaking in Canada’s most epic hot springs.
Featured Vancouver Island Articles And Guides
Vancouver Island Tour Packages- Traveler Information
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The best time to visit Vancouver Island is during the summer months, which range from May to the end of September.
During the summer months, you can depend on mostly dry weather, with sunny skies. Typical summer temperatures on Vancouver Island are around 25 degrees Celsius. Rain is fair rare in the summer months.
The peak season to travel to Vancouver Island is during the months of July and August, when the temperatures are warmest. This is also the busiest time on the island, as children are out of school and the peak travel season is in place.
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The must see places and travel destinations on Vancouver Island are the following:
Tofino and Ucluelet: These two surf towns on the central west coast of Vancouver Island dominate the tourism scene on the Island and are a summer adventure paradise. Come here to try surfing, hike, paddle and head out on wildlife excursions while you are on your Vancouver Island tours!
Victoria: Victoria is where our Vancouver Island tour packages depart from, and where the main ferries and airport on the island are located. Victoria is the capital city in BC and features a ton of excellent dining, seaside walks, lush forest trails and a vibrant downtown harbor.
Courtenay/ Comox: Courtenay and Comox are two sister cities just over two hours north of Victoria, at the beginning of the North Island. There is excellent mountain biking here, and paddling opportunities on Comox Lake. You can hike in Strathcona Park, and the town of Courtenay has a fair amount of decent places to eat and drink.
Campbell River: Just north of Courtenay and Comox lies Campbell River, which is the gateway to Strathcona Park. This is also the closest main access point for the Discovery Islands, like Quadra and Cortes Island, as well as Desolation Sound.
Coombs: Coombs is a roadside stop on the way to Tofino, which has an eclectic trading post, as well as a market featuring local art and souvenirs. This place is famous for having a few goats that live on the roof of the market.
Lake Cowichan: Lake Cowichan is another place that we pass through on our Vancouver Island tours as we head to the southwest coast of the island. A warm lake is excellent for swimming and the small town is a nice place to relax, or head for a local hike.
Sooke: Sooke is just to the west of Victoria and the last stop before heading up the remote southwest coast, where we spend a few nights camping on our tour packages on Vancouver Island. Some good restaurants, breweries and East Sooke Park make this a worthy destination to add to your Vancouver Island vacation!
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Vancouver Island is an excellent travel destination for solo travelers, especially if you know where to go and how to travel around solo.
You can join a guided tour of Vancouver Island to be part of a small group of other like minded travelers. There are many tours for solo travelers on Vancouver Island, ranging from wilderness paddling tours to tour packages that explore all the best places on Vancouver Island.
You can also take a bus to Tofino and stay in the hostel to meet other travelers, or rent a car and cruise around on your own!
There are many ways for solo travelers to enjoy Vancouver Island.
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Yes, you can drink the tap water on Vancouver Island, which is very clean and safe to drink.
In fact, some places on the Island, like Campbell River, are said to have some of the best drinking water in the world!
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No, you do not need any specific vaccinations to travel to Canada, or Vancouver Island. (As of the time this article was written).
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What to pack for your Vancouver Island tour package depends on the type of trip you have booked! Below are a few good ideas to bring:
Bathing suit and towel
Rain jacket
Camping equipment if you plan to camp
Sunscreen, hat and sun glasses
Hiking boots or shoes
A small day pack to carry items in on your adventures
Beach towel/ blanket
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Whether you need a VISA to travel to Canada for your Vancouver Island tour depends on where you are travelling from and what type of passport you hold.
You can reference the following page to determine if you need a VISA for your tour package on Vancouver Island:
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Yes, Vancouver Island is a very safe place to travel. People are friendly and helpful. Driving is safe and so is travelling by bus.
There are no poisonous animals to worry about.
The only hazards to keep in mind are bears/ cougars, and general wilderness hazards like slips and falls.
That being said, you should exercise a practical degree of caution like anywhere else in the world!
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There are a few amazing road trip routes on Vancouver Island:
Drive from Victoria to Tofino and back. This is a great route for seeing the massive old growth trees in Cathedral Grove, as well as visiting Tofino to try surfing, fishing or a wildlife tour.
Drive in a loop from Victoria to Lake Cowichan, Port Renfrew and Sooke. This is a 1-3 day scenic trip passing mammoth trees and secluded beaches of the west coast.
Drive from Victoria to Campbell River and beyond. There are many wineries along this route, as well as quaint seaside towns, like Parksville and Qualicum Beach along the way. You also pass through the antiquing capital of BC in Ladysmith!
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Yes, you can camp on Vancouver Island. Camping is possible in the provincial and national parks, as well as private campgrounds around Vancouver Island.
You should book your campsites well in advance in order to ensure there are sites available for you.
You can also join a camping tour on Vancouver Island, like the one we offer above!
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Vancouver Island is best known for its rugged shores, coastal rain forests and abundant wildlife.
The rocky shores of the west coast are well known for their dramatic beauty. The old growth forests feature massive trees and some great walking trails.
The island is home to a ton of wildlife, ranging from bears and cougars, to deer, elk and marine life, like whales, sea lions, seals and bald eagles!
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There are many types of Vancouver Island tour packages available here for visitors to the island. Below are just a few examples:
Guided camping tours for small groups
Guided sea kayak expeditions and camps
Guided hiking and walking tours
Wildlife cruises and safaris
Wellness retreats and packages
There are many types of tours and vacations available on Vancouver Island. The real question is what kind of tour is right for you!
Destinations On Our Vancouver Island Tour Packages
Below are some of the top West Coast travel destinations that we visit on our Vancouver Island tours. Each are special in their own way, from towering pockets of trees, to rushing rivers, to surf towns and National Parks filled with beaches and rain forest. No Vancouver Island vacation would be complete without a visit to Tofino to try surfing, or to Juan De Fuca Park to go hiking and discover remote beaches. Cathedral Grove is an essential stop on the way to Tofino, and Victoria is where it all begins, with dozens of historic streets lined with world class eateries, artists and shops.
All of our tour packages on Vancouver Island are active by design and move through the wild landscapes to offer you the chance to experience the core elements of the Island, from the flowing waters to the towering trees and the endless beaches and coast.
Pacific Rim National Park
The icon of wilderness destinations on Vancouver Island is Pacific Rim National Park. This is home to Barkley Sound and Clayoquot Sound, both riddled with islands and inlets to spend a lifetime exploring. Between the two lie Tofino and Ucluelet, Canada’s two most famous surf towns, which boast abundant beaches, rain forest trails, and a variety of activities.
Main Attractions: Beaches, Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds
Activities: Surfing, Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Wildlife Tours
Juan De Fuca Provincial Park
Juan De Fuca Provincial Park is like Pacific Rim’s little sister, but absolutely not one to be missed. Trees reaching for the sun, edible berries, hidden beaches, sea caves and mystical rain forest walks make Juan De Fuca a must-visit on your Vancouver Island holiday package. Check out Mystic Beach or Sombrio Beach for some famous but secret Vancouver Island attractions!
Main Attractions: Mystic & Sombrio Beaches, Botanical Beach
Activities: Hiking, Camping, Surfing
Cathedral Grove
While so much of the old growth forests on the West Coast have been logged and are endangered, Cathedral Grove offers the perfect place to lose yourself among the mammoth trees from centuries bygone. Stand below these giants and marvel at their size and splendour on your tour of Vancouver Island.
Main Attractions: Ancient Cedars and Douglas Fir Trees
Activities: Walking, Photography
East Sooke Park
East Sooke Park is an often overlooked travel stop on Vancouver Island that is an astoundingly beautiful place to explore. Numerous ocean coves, a sandy beach and several opportune wildlife spotting lookouts create a truly West Coast hiking experience. Make sure a day hike in East Sooke Park is part of your Vancouver Island hiking trip.
Main Activities: Hiking
Tofino & Ucluelet
Tofino has become the icon of travel destinations on Vancouver Island. Our Vancouver Island tours spend at least half their time in Tofino and for good reason. This is where you go to surf, see wildlife, and a variety of other experiences, like soaking in hot springs and cycling on flat, scenic coastal paths. Tofino is the base of our Yoga Retreat as well as our Vancouver Island guided camping tours.
Main Attractions: Beaches, Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds
Activities: Surfing, Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Wildlife Tours
Victoria
Victoria is the main access point for your Vancouver Island tour. This is where you can provision and begin your travel experience on the Island. Amazing eateries, a lively harbor and some great coastal hikes make Victoria an essential stop on your Vancouver Island holiday.
Main Attractions: Goldstream Park, Harbor, China Town
Activities: Hiking, Paddling, Wildlife Tours, Food
Check out our guide on the best things to do on Vancouver Island! This article has everything you need to plan your trip to the Island and find out all the best activities and things to do on Vancouver Island in the summer.