Vancouver Island Complete Loop

Highlights

• Butchart Gardens, one of the most celebrated display gardens in the world
• Cowichan Valley wine country, Vancouver Island's own answer to the Okanagan
• The old-growth rainforest and Pacific beaches of Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park
• A quiet finish on Salt Spring Island, the largest of the Southern Gulf Islands

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Vancouver

Arrive into Vancouver, framed by the Coast Mountains and the Pacific. Spend the evening at your own pace — Stanley Park's seawall is an easy, scenic stroll a short walk from downtown, and a good way to settle in before the ferry crossing to Vancouver Island in the morning.

No meals included

Vancouver, BC

Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

Butchart Gardens, BC

Day 2

Vancouver → Victoria

Cross the Strait of Georgia by BC Ferries to Vancouver Island, arriving in Victoria, British Columbia's capital and one of Canada's most walkable small cities. Spend the afternoon at Butchart Gardens, a former limestone quarry turned into one of the most celebrated display gardens in the world, before an evening stroll around Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Breakfast included

Butchart Gardens, BC

Victoria Inner Harbour, BC

Cowichan Valley (Duncan), BC

Day 3

Victoria → Cowichan Valley → Nanaimo

Head north into the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island's own wine country, warmed by one of Canada's mildest microclimates. Stop for a winery visit around Duncan, then continue on to Nanaimo, the island's second-largest city, for the night.

Breakfast included

Cowichan Valley (Duncan), BC

Nanaimo, BC

Pacific Rim National Park, BC

Day 4

Nanaimo → Tofino / Pacific Rim National Park

Cross the island's mountainous spine on Highway 4 to reach the wild Pacific coast at Tofino, a former fishing village now known for its surf beaches and old-growth rainforest. Walk the boardwalks of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve through hundred-year-old cedar and hemlock, and take in a coastline unlike anywhere else on the trip so far.

Breakfast included

Pacific Rim National Park, BC

Tofino, BC

Salt Spring Island, BC

Day 5

Tofino → Salt Spring Island

Travel back across the island, then take a ferry into the Southern Gulf Islands to Salt Spring Island, the largest and best known of the group. Spend the afternoon browsing its Saturday market stalls and artisan studios, a laid-back contrast to Tofino's rugged coastline the day before.

Breakfast included

Salt Spring Island, BC

Tofino, BC

Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Day 6

Salt Spring Island → Vancouver departure

Take the morning ferry back to Vancouver, with time before your flight to browse the stalls and waterfront shops of Granville Island. A relaxed final stop to close out a full loop of Vancouver Island, from formal gardens to wild Pacific beaches.

Breakfast included

Vancouver, BC

Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

Route & Distances

1. Vancouver→Victoria≈ 100 kmBC Ferries crossing, ~1.5 hr
2. Victoria→Cowichan Valley (Duncan)≈ 60 km
3. Cowichan Valley (Duncan)→Nanaimo≈ 55 km
4. Nanaimo→Tofino≈ 205 km
5. Tofino→Salt Spring Island≈ 230 kmvia Nanaimo, includes ferry crossing
6. Salt Spring Island→Vancouver≈ 100 kmBC Ferries crossing

Distances are approximate driving distances, for reference only — actual route and mileage on the day may vary.

Check Availability

What's Included

Meeting & Transfer Info

Flying in to join us in Vancouver? Please share your flight details at least 5 days before departure so we can confirm your pickup time. If you're arriving the same day the tour starts, let us know your arrival time as early as possible.

Cancellation Policy

Good to Know

• Valid government-issued photo ID is required for every traveler on all departures.
• Pickup and drop-off times are approximate and may shift by 15–30 minutes depending on traffic and road conditions.
• Itinerary order and stops may change due to weather, road closures, or park conditions — safety comes first.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended; stops involve short, easy walks rather than technical hiking.
• Let us know about mobility needs, dietary restrictions, or large group sizes at the time of booking so we can plan accordingly.
• Multi-day tours are priced based on double-occupancy hotel rooms; single-traveler and triple-occupancy rates are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

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