Canada: Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands

6 days
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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Group Tour
What better way to experience Canada’s Vancouver Islands and Gulf Islands than by bike… with a little bit of kayaking thrown in too? Pedal alongside the Salish Sea, stopping to explore quaint seaside villages—perhaps spotting sea lions and seals basking on the beach. A local ferry takes you across Swartz Bay to your charming Pender Island resort—where you’ll ...
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Extreme
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Island hop along Canada’s west coast, admiring land and sea views by bicycle and ferry.
    • Go sea kayaking from Pender Island on an included excursion.
    • Cycle popular bike trails on Vancouver Island.
    • Visit Victoria’s spectacular Butchart Gardens

What's this trip about?

    What better way to experience Canada’s Vancouver Islands and Gulf Islands than by bike… with a little bit of kayaking thrown in too? Pedal alongside the Salish Sea, stopping to explore quaint seaside villages—perhaps spotting sea lions and seals basking on the beach. A local ferry takes you across Swartz Bay to your charming Pender Island resort—where you’ll find yourself relaxing on the waterfront, or perhaps indulging in your resort’s invigorating eucalyptus steam cave. Spin on gentle roads through old-growth forests—and join your local trip leaders on a guided sea kayaking adventure to discover the island’s rich marine life. At Oak Bay Beach, you’ll sample cider at a local cider mill, explore the colorful floral display at Victoria’s Butchart Gardens, and luxuriate in the mineral pools at your opulent seaside resort.

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range13 to 80 years
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityVictoria
End CityVictoria

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Cycling & Biking
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

Destinations

  • North America
  • Canada

Attractions

  • Vancouver
  • Victoria

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline
  • Culture
  • Cycling
  • Kayaking
  • Nature
  • Guided Group

Trip includes

    • Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
    • Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
    • Support Vehicle
    • Luggage Transportation
    • Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
    • Welcome Reception
    • Facilitated Cultural Experiences
    • Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure

Itinerary

Travel Map
DAY 1: Victoria/ VBT Bicycle Vacation begins / Victoria City Ride

Meet your VBT trip leaders and the rest of the group at the Hotel Grand Pacific and Spa in Victoria, B.C., at 1:30 p.m. Your trip leaders will be wearing VBT staff garments. Please buy lunch on your own before this meeting and come dressed for bicycling.

Today’...

DAY 2: Cycle along the North Saanich Peninsula / Ferry to Pender Island / Cycle to Hope Bay / Explore Brooks Point Regional Park

Start your morning with a group shuttle from Victoria to Sidney. From here, ride along the Salish Sea to the North Saanich Peninsula and its rural community. Pause at Moses Point where, at low tide, the rocky shores are a beachcomber’s delight. Tide pools reveal tiny ...

DAY 3: Cycle to Port Browning / Sea kayaking

After a leisurely breakfast at the resort, cycle to Port Browning through an old-growth forest. See why Pender Island is known as the “Hawaii of Canada” due to its sub-Mediterranean climate.

Embark on your sea kayaking adventure. Led by a skilled guide, you’ll ...

DAY 4: Ferry to Vancouver Island / Cycle to Oak Bay Beach

This morning, you’ll say goodbye to your hosts at Poets Cove Resort and board the ferry to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island, renowned for its blend of cosmopolitan cities and breathtaking wilderness, a mild climate, and long history. Disembark your ferry at the Swartz B...

DAY 5: Victoria / Butchart Gardens / Celebration dinner

After breakfast, cycle to the city of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, blending a First Nations heritage with influences of British colonialism. Continue riding around the harbor to Butchart Gardens, a magnificent oasis north of the city and your destination...

DAY 6: Travel to Victoria / VBT Bicycle Vacation ends

Your tour ends after breakfast.

Included Meals: Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,895
Price per day$649
Last Updated: 4/26/2024
Start Date
End Date
Shared Room
Single Supplement
Availability
02 Jun 2024
07 Jun 2024
$3,895
+$895
Available
09 Jun 2024
14 Jun 2024
$3,895
+$895
Available
16 Jun 2024
21 Jun 2024
$3,895
+$895
Available
23 Jun 2024
28 Jun 2024
$3,895
+$895
Available
14 Jul 2024
19 Jul 2024
$3,995
+$895
Available
21 Jul 2024
26 Jul 2024
$3,995
+$895
Available
11 Aug 2024
16 Aug 2024
$3,995
+$895
Available
18 Aug 2024
23 Aug 2024
$3,995
+$895
Available
01 Sep 2024
06 Sep 2024
$3,995
+$895
Available
08 Sep 2024
13 Sep 2024
$3,895
+$895
Available

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with VBT Bicycling Vacations.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

VBT Bicycling Vacations Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
Excellent
579
Great
42
Average
11
Disappointing
4
Terrible
3
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Other VBT Bicycling Vacations Reviews

G

Ginger

Nov 2023

Written on

The best vacation ever

This was the first organized tour my husband and I have ever joined, so we were not sure what to expect , but it turned out to be the best vacation we've ever had. T...

D

DonaandConnie

Nov 2023

Written on

Absolutely stunning scenery with relatively easy cycling.

This tour was one of our favorites. The tour leaders (Claudio and Tiziana) were great. The Dolomites and Italian Alps were breathtaking and the bike paths and towns ...

B

Barbnjim

Nov 2023

Written on

life at its fullest

Unlike tours where you gaze at world class natural and historic wonders in another culture, this tour put us in intimate touch with them through cycling, eating, dri...

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Tour Operator

VBT Bicycling Vacations

premier
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Since 1971, VBT has crafted immersive and authentic biking vacations for active travelers. When you travel with VBT, you’re not just another tourist—you’re a traveler. With us, you’ll experience your destination with the help of a local, bilingual trip leader with a passion for sharing their home with you. You’ll eat in local restaurants, stay in accommodations that have been family-owned for generations and cycle through vineyards, olive groves, and medieval villages. 


With VBT, you won’t just visit a place—you’ll immerse yourself in it. You might follow a centuries-old pasta recipe while taking a cooking class in Rome—or learn a folk dance in Croatia, followed by sharing a bottle of locally-produced Grk wine with your new friends. Exploring the world on two wheels lets you experience your surroundings on a deeper level.

 

VBT offers exceptional value without compromising on quality. Simply put, no other US-based active travel company offers an experience this rich for such a reasonable price. On our tours, you can see more sights, have more local experiences, and enjoy more delicious, authentic meals—all while staying in high-quality, boutique hotels and charming, family-run inns.

 

All you have to do is show up at the airport—we’ll handle the rest! From tour consultants who help you find the perfect vacation to expert local trip leaders who show you the best place for gelato, we take care of all the little details that make your trip memorable. We book your flights, arrange all your transportation and accommodations, and move your luggage between hotels. Our support vans are available to give you a lift up a hill or quickly fix a flat tire. VBT takes care of your travel details and creates unique itineraries so you can relax and enjoy your small-group vacation from start to finish.

 

Friendly camaraderie, cultural immersion, and casual comforts are the hallmarks of our vacations. Discover delightful people, beautiful hotels, foreign cultures, and fascinating lifestyles that will enrich your life and provide memories for years to come.

Why we love this operator
Their unique emphasis on immersive cultural experiences combined with active exploration with personalized cycling experiences.
What they’re known for
VBT Cycling are renowned for offering exceptional guided and self-guided bicycle tours worldwide.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,5 nights in boutique hotels
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

11 meals: 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Age Requirements
13 to 80 years
Additional Information

What to Expect This tour offers a combination of easy terrain and moderate hills on Pender Island and is ideal for beginners and experienced cyclists. Our VBT support vehicle is always available for those in need of assistance with hills.

Daily Mileage: 7 - 40 miles| Biking: 2 - 5 hours| Group Size: 20

Trip ID
vbt-vbt-CaVa

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