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Whale watching tours from Vancouver Island

Grab a life jacket, hang on tight and keep your eyes open! Whale watching on Vancouver Island has become an extremely popular attraction. The coastline around Vancouver Island is the scene of a large whale migration that moves through the Pacific Ocean. From March to October, the waters around Vancouver and Vancouver Island teem with various species of whales.

Nature

Powerful orcas

The cold waters around Vancouver Island are the preferred habitat of the mighty orca, also known as ‘killer whale’. It is not uncommon to spot up to 100 orcas at a time. The best time to spot orcas on the north side of Vancouver Island (at Johnstone Strait) is from July to mid-September. On the south side at Haro Strait, the most likely period is from early May to late September. In addition to killer whales, gray whales and humpback whales can also be spotted around the island. The gray whales pass the west coast of Vancouver Island (at Tofino) and are frequently spotted in April and May. The whales are on their way from Mexico to the Bering Sea and pause in the bays of Vancouver Island to rest and feed. Several dozen gray whales spend the summer around Vancouver Island. Although all whale species are impressive to observe, the humpback is the favourite of most people, and with good reason. Humpback whales are known for their acrobatics and their enchanting ‘songs’. Whale watchers can often hear these magical sounds. When the humpbacks are in a playful mood, they will shoot out of the water, half turn and land back on the surface with a huge splash, creating an enormous displacement of water. Each whale can weigh up to 45 tons, the equivalent of 500 people.

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Wellness

Ski holidays

Nature

Active & Outdoor

Arts & Culture

Wellness

Plants and flowers thrive in Vancouver’s mild climate. The city boasts numerous attractive parks but you will also find several specialty gardens that are perfect for a leisurely visit. There are numerous gardens to choose from and most are open year-round.

Wellness

Hot stone massages, panoramic saunas and soothing whirlpools: there’s nothing more relaxing than enjoying a day of wellness. Vancouver Island is the perfect wellness destination. Most of the spas here are located amidst the island’s overwhelmingly beautiful nature. How about soaking in a bubble bath in the middle of a rainforest? Or enjoying a sauna with ocean views? These are only a few of the possibilities.

Ski holidays

There are 3 mountains in the immediate vicinity of Vancouver that are popular with winter sports enthusiasts: Cypress Bowl, Mount Seymour and Grouse Mountain. The latter, only fifteen minutes by car from the city centre, is popularly called the ‘Peak of Vancouver’. A trip to Grouse Mountain guarantees a very special experience, namely skiing and snowboarding while enjoying views of the Vancouver skyline.

Nature

With its rugged coastlines, jagged mountains and moss-covered rainforests, Vancouver Island's natural environment is overwhelmingly beautiful. An unparalleled diversity of flora and fauna is found here in a relatively small area. There are no fewer than 18 nature parks to explore and bears, orcas and dolphins are a common sight.

Nature

Rugged mountaintops, flower-covered alpine meadows, an abundance of outdoor possibilities: Garibaldi Provincial Park is Vancouver’s backyard. The park is named after the 2,678-metre-high Mount Garibaldi. A tremendous variety of wildlife and vegetation make this park a favourite with city residents.

Ski holidays

The global trend of better and healthier food has also found its way to the Canadian après-ski scene. Those who don’t want to spend an entire week eating junk food can enjoy an abundance of healthy eating options in the ski resorts around Vancouver. Chefs prepare out-of-this-world dishes with local ingredients that are sure to make you lose all interest in fast food.

Wellness

Vancouver lies in one of the most fertile areas in North America, and one of the benefits has been the large number of farmers’ markets offering some fantastic fresh produce. There are good reasons why these markets are popular and visitors come here to browse for special produce such as rainbow beets and heirloom tomatoes. The quality is much higher than what you will find in the grocery store and you may sample many of the delicacies on offer.

Nature

The green heart of Vancouver is called Stanley Park. These 400 hectares of natural beauty is where the residents of Vancouver come to play and there definitely is plenty to do! The most popular attraction is the Seawall, a 22-kilometre-long wall along the water that almost completely circumnavigates Stanley Park.

Active & Outdoor

The Capilano Suspension Bridge sways 70 metres above the Capilano River. This 137-metre-long suspension bridge draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and is one of Vancouver’s most popular attractions. Due to its height, people with vertigo may want to skip the opportunity to walk over this narrow bridge.

Arts & Culture

Authentic Victorian buildings and old cobblestones: welcome to Gastown. History is interspersed with a hip mix of boutiques, trendy clubs and charming restaurants. This is one of the most popular and fashionable neighbourhoods of Vancouver.

Ski holidays

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games showed the world just how beautiful Whistler is in winter. The region is home to some fantastic ski areas and after the snow has melted it still has plenty to offer. Whistler is known as the mountain resort of North America. The excellent variety of shops and restaurants provide a welcome break from the many outdoor activities available in the surrounding mountains.