Visit Vancouver and Bora Bora: city & beach trip

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Vancouver
• 2 nights Whistler
• 2 nights Tofino
• 2 nights Victoria
• 1 night Vancouver
• 1 night Tahiti
• 3 nights Bora Bora
• 3 nights Taha’a

Day 1: UK to Vancouver

Depart the UK from your chosen airport. On arrival in Vancouver, you’ll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in the city. Check-in for three nights before heading out for a wander along the waterfront, the perfect welcome to Vancouver.         

Included: International flight, transfers, 3* hotel   

Days 2 – 3: Vancouver

Vancouver is a fresh, outdoorsy city. No matter the weather, you’ll want to get outside and explore. Start in Gastown, where you can roam the historic streets and pop into the tiny art galleries and boutique shops. Afterward, move on to Chinatown where you can dig into a delicious dim sum lunch. Next, head to Stanley Park for the afternoon. The best way to get around is cycling, so why not rent a bike head to see the colourful totem poles at Brockton Point or English Bay Beach to relax in the sun?

On your second day, we’ve included a seaplane flight over the city. This will give you an awesome view of the north shore, Grouse Mountain and the whole city centre. On a clear day, you’ll even get great views of the Olympic Mountains over the border in Washington State.

If you’re interested in the history of this region, there are plenty of museums to enjoy, and the Museum of Anthropology is especially good for First Nations artefacts. If you love food, head down to Granville Island Public Market, where you can browse the stalls, picking up all sorts of goodies, from local BC cherries to freshly-baked pastries. Getting out of the city here is also easy, so if you get time, try to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge which hangs precariously over the river in the North Shore.

If you want to extend your time in Canada, there is so much to see. Head into the Rockies, admiring the snow-capped peaks and bright blues lakes around Jasper and Banff. Alternatively, you could take the ferry to Vancouver Island, looking for bears along the shores of Tofino and orcas in the waters around Victoria. Just as your consultant, and we can easily extend your trip!

Included: Seaplane flight, 3* hotel          

Day 4: Drive to Whistler

Today you will pick up your car hire and depart Vancouver along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway, heading to Whistler, the full journey should take around 3 hours not including your camera stops of course! Highlights along the way include a stop at Shannon Falls, a cascading waterfall, and also Stawamus Chief Rock where climbers from all over the world migrate to climb the granite cliffs.

Once you arrive in Whistler, you will check into your hotel for your two nights stay. 

Included: Car hire, 3* hotel  

Day 5: Whistler

Whistler is an alpine resort nestled between the world-renowned Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Whilst you’re here you can enjoy an extensive range of summer activities, from golf, to water activities, to hiking, to mountain-top dining.

We recommend taking the Whistler Gondola which connects rises to over 2,100 metres via Whistler’s premier open chairlift. At the top of the Peak Chair, you’ll be greeted by an unbelievable view of glaciers, extinct volcanoes and snow-capped peaks.

Included: Car hire, Peak to Peak Gondola Whistler, 3* hotel  

Day 6: Drive to Tofino

Today you will travel back down the Sea to Sky Highway to Horseshoe Bay, where you’ll get to sail to Vancouver Island. Once you have reached Vancouver Island, you’ll head west to Tofino, taking a scenic route across the Island.

En-route, make a stop at Cathedral Grove where you can visit the 800 year old Douglas Firs and Cedars, and also Sproat Lake, where you can see the world’s two largest water-bombers, used to put out forest fires.

The final stretch to Tofino takes you through Sutton Pass and the Sawtooth Range of the Cascade Mountains. After this long but interesting journey, you will check into your hotel in Tofino for a 2 night stay.

Included: Car hire, ferry tickets, 3* hotel  

Day 7: Tofino

The first part of your day is free for you to explore – perhaps you could walk along the famed Long Beach, with its miles of pristine beach and pounding surf, or discover the rain forests on one of the many well maintained trails in the area.

Mid-afternoon it’s time to embark on your 3 hour whale watching cruise through Clayoquot Sound, revealing sensational scenery, and wildlife such as grey whales, sea lions, porpoises and killer whales. The area is also renowned for its variety of birds including tufted puffins and bald eagles.

Included: Car hire, whale watching tour, 3* hotel  

Day 8: Drive to Victoria

Travel to the East Coast of Vancouver Island today approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes drive, to Victoria. A great stop on the way is the artist community of Chemainus where you can see the giant murals on the exterior walls around the town.

Quw’utsun’ Heritage Village is another interesting place to stop, and will provide you with an insight into the lives of the people of the northwest coast (seasonal opening hours, so please enquire).

Included: Car hire, 3* hotel  

Day 9: Victoria

Enjoy a day wandering around Victoria, taking in its turn-of-the-century architecture and British traditions (High tea is a Victoria tradition!). Shops and cafes are in abundance, so explore to your heart’s content.

We really love Butchart Gardens and its 50 acres of floral displays and beautiful colours – it is well worth a visit and a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Included: Car hire, Butchart Gardens admission, 3* hotel  

Day 10: Drive to Vancouver

It is now time to leave Vancouver Island and travel back to Vancouver, via the ferry from Swartz Bay. This ferry journey provides wonderful views of the Gulf Islands as you cross the Strait of Georgia to Tsawwassen, where you will continue on to Vancouver, where you will drop off your hire car. Spend one final night in the city.

Included: Car hire, ferry tickets, 3* hotel  

Day 11: Fly to Tahiti

This morning you’ll drive back to the airport in time for your flight to Tahiti. On arrival into Papeete, on Tahiti, you’ll be greeted with a traditional welcome ‘lei’ (flower garland) and taken by shared transfer to your hotel where you will check in for a one-night stay. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Included: Transfers, international flights, 4* hotel          

Day 12 - 14: Taha’a

This morning, you’ll be collected and taken back to the airport to connect with your domestic flight to Taha’a, just a short hop away.

You now have 3 nights in an overwater bungalow on beautiful Taha’a, an island that's recognisable by the pleasant aroma of vanilla and its flower-like shape. Here you can experience a glimpse into traditional Tahitian life; tranquil and relaxed, with sandy beaches surrounding the tiny motu and local farmers growing watermelon, vanilla and copra.

Included: Breakfast, internal flights, transfers, Le Taha’a Resort & Spa 

Day 15 - 17: Bora Bora

After your comfortable stay on Taha’a, it’s time for a bit more luxury as you make your way over to Bora Bora. Your domestic flight is included, and on arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel to check in for a 3-night stay in a Bora Bora overwater bungalow.

Arguably the most famous of all the French Polynesian islands, Bora Bora is renowned for being a honeymooner’s paradise, and it’s not hard to see why - its vibrant turquoise lagoon, white sands and stunning views of Mount Otemanu are genuinely captivating.

Included: Breakfast, internal flights, transfers, Le Meridien Bora Bora 

Day 18: Depart Bora Bora  

You will be collected at any time today and taken by shared transfer to the airport to connect with your domestic flight back to Tahiti and your flight back home.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, internal flights, international flights        

Day 19: Arrive UK