Active West Coast Canada Discovery

What's Included

• Accommodation
  Participation camping (7 nts).

• Meals
  7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

• Welcome Moment

  Your Welcome Moment includes meeting your CEO and group.

• Ferry Ride

  Ferry ride from Vancouver to Sooke is included.

• Hiking in East Sooke Provincial Park

  An afternoon of hiking in East Sooke Provincial Park is included.

• Juan de Fuca Trail Trek

  A trek along a portion of the Juan de Fuca trail is included.

• Canoe or Kayak Rental

  Canoe or kayak rental on Cowichan Lake is included.

• Ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay

  Ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay is included.

• Hike up The Stawamus Chief Trail

  A hike up The Stawamus Chief trail is included.

• Visit to Garibaldi Provincial Park

  A visit to Garibaldi Provincial Park and a hike to the Elfin Lakes is included.

• Whistler Gondola Ride

  A ride up the Whistler Gondola to hike the High Note trail is included.

• Transportation

  All transportation between destinations is included.

What's Not Included

• Tipping and Gratuities

  Tipping and gratuities are not included.

• International Travel

  International travel is not included.

Accommodation

Experience participation camping for 7 nights in clean local campgrounds, with all necessary equipment provided except for your sleeping bag and pillow. Enjoy the comfort of dome tents and camp mattresses, with access to showers and sanitary facilities at each site.

Transport

Private vehicle, ferry, and hiking.

Meals Included

7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Group Size

Max 11.

Solo Travellers

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price. ...more ...less

Meals

All included meals will be prepared from goods bought en route from supermarkets, local shops and markets. Breakfasts will generally consist of breads and cereals, if time allows a warm breakfast may be prepared. Many lunches will be provided en-route and will be light meals such as sandwiches and/or salads. All evening meals will be freshly-prepared hot meals, and will consist of a variety of continental and local dishes. ...more ...less

Mode of Transport

Travel in comfort with a private vehicle, ferry rides, and hiking as your main modes of transportation, ensuring a seamless journey through the stunning landscapes of Canada's West Coast.

Minimum Age

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

Important Notes

1. HIKES AND WALKS

All walks and hikes proposed by our CEO will be a moderate level. You may choose to participate or not, but exploring our national parks on foot is part of our way of travelling. It’s a healthy way to discover Canada's beauty and landscape.



2. COMBO TRIP

Please note that some trips could be a combination of multiple G Adventure tours. You should expect some group members to join or leave the tour between tour segments.

book the right trip, we recommend that travellers under legal drinking age take this into consideration when booking a tour that visits several big cities.





3. An essential part of your trip is participation - from putting up your tent (while camping) or packing it away in the morning, to helping with meal preparation and cleaning up - it is all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your CEO will do all the meal planning, but we do ask the clients to help with the preparation and washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun! All camping equipment (with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow) is supplied. We supply dome tents and assembly/disassembly takes only 5 minutes. All tents have built-in insect nets. Comfortable, self-inflating mattresses are also provided, which are approximately 4cm thick.



4. Proper sleeping bags are necessary for this tour. Please ensure that your sleeping bag is rated to (-17°C for spring and fall trips and 0°C for trips June - Sept). Prices range from $60-$150USD. 





5. Please note that the legal drinking age in the United States is 21. Many bars and clubs will ask for ID at the door, therefore listening to live music in certain bars or spending a night out in Las Vegas is not possible when you are under the legal age, even if you don't plan on consuming alcohol. Drinking laws are strictly enforced and our CEOs are unable to help those under age obtain alcohol of any kind.



While this should not stop those under legal drinking age from booking a tour, it is important to note that if a traveller is under-age there are certain optional nighttime activities that they may not legally be able to participate in. When trying to book the right trip, we recommend that travellers under legal drinking age take this into consideration when booking a tour that visits several big cities. ...more ...less

Group Leader

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders, otherwise known as a Chief Experience Officer (CEO). The CEO will be the group manager, leader and driver - this person is experienced in the routes travelled and will organize and lead the meal preparations and has experience in cooking a variety of local and international dishes for large groups.



As the group coordinator and manager, the aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. They will also offer suggestions for things to do and to see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends.



We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting - we think it's the best of both worlds. ...more ...less

About Accommodation

Participation camping in clean local campgrounds.



All camping equipment (with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow) is supplied, including comfortable camp mattresses. We supply dome tents that take only 5 minutes to assemble/disassemble. They are good quality, durable, industry-standard, oversized 2-person tents, each with 2 separate and convenient zip-up doors, so that each person has his/her own entrance.



We use 2 types of campgrounds in Canada:



1.) Private campgrounds: These are privately run sites, usually with all services such as fire pits, picnic tables, drinking water, toilets & shower buildings. Some have small outdoor swimming pools and laundry facilities. These campgrounds are typically located near national park entrances or towns.



2.) Public campgrounds: These are park-run sites, usually with basic facilities such as fire pits, picnic tables, and drinking water.



3.) All campgrounds provide showers and sanitary facilities within the campground. Please note that the shower facilities at the Sooke River Campround are coin-operated hot showers ($1.00 / 5min) with keypad entrance.



4.) Charging stations may or may not be available at every campground. Most provide them, but your CEO can alert you when there will be a time between charging access points. ...more ...less

What to Take

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible.



For days in the outdoors, we recommend the use of lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics made of wool or synthetic fibers. Cotton is not recommended for days spent hiking as it does not allow for heat or moisture to enter or escape, and it will not dry easily once wet.



We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. Heavy luggage is not recommended for the health of the CEO, who will take a lead in loading the storage trailer. Due to space in the trailer, we will not be able to accommodate more than one piece of main luggage per person. A good size day-pack (20-35L) is also essential to carry your personal gear for the day, as access to luggage between destinations will be limited. This daypack will be used to carry your personal gear for the day, your lunch and a water bottle.



It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings, as well as a light jacket. A set of smart casual clothes is also advisable.



NOTE: Mountains in the Canadian Rockies can have unpredictable weather with snow and heavy rain even in Summer time. Spring time could be snowy (until end of June) and fall season could start as soon as mid-August. Make sure you have equipment and clothing for all conditions! ...more ...less

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip. ...more ...less