Coastal Circle Tour

This circle tour meanders through the scenic Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island's cozy seaside villages, beaches, and marinas. Any time of year, this journey offers an ever-changing landscape and an endless number of adventures en-route.

5 nights

+ taxes & fees,
includes ferry & hotel

Price per person based on double occupancy & availability.
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Our “Greatest Hits” Getaway – from the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver Island

See some of the best sights and scenery that Coastal BC has to offer, from the Sunshine Coast’s seaside villages to Vancouver Island’s sandy beaches, on this easy-to- navigate circle tour. Let BC Ferries give you B.C.’s vast territory. In less than a week, you’ll gather a lifetime of amazing memories.

A stunning 40-minute BC Ferries trip from Horseshoe Bay gets you to the Sunshine Coast. The densely forested Coast Mountains will be your companion to the west, as coastal Highway 101 guides you along the waters of the Georgia Strait to the east. This leg of the journey includes overnight stops at Pender Harbour, where you’ll enjoy two nights of harbourside luxury at the Painted Boat Resort, and Powell River, where the well-appointed Historic Lund Hotel will be your host. You’ll also have plenty of time for stops at Sechelt, Gibsons and the many natural wonders, like the boiling, bubbling rapids of Skookumchuck Narrows, along the way.

Over on Vancouver Island, the old Island Highway, which stretches from Courtenay to Parksville, links the many must-see destinations on this leg of the excursion. You’ll overnight at the Beach Club Resort’s deluxe waterfront accommodations in Parksville, where you’ll find prime stretches of sandy beach right outside its doors. But there’s much more to experience beyond the amazing beaches. Pick up fresh oysters in Fanny Bay, stroll through Qualicum Beach’s lovely flower box-lined streets or delve into nearby Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park. There’s no shortage of amazing things to see and do on this “best of” Coastal BC getaway.

Tour Details:

Day 1: Vancouver to Pender Harbour
Board a BC Ferry in Horseshoe Bay, west of downtown Vancouver, for a 40-minute cruise through spectacular marine and mountain scenery, to Langdale and the Sunshine Coast. On arrival in Langdale, stop in the nearby village of Gibsons to browse the shops and galleries. Head north, past stunning ocean vistas and through lush forests to Sechelt, the cultural centre of the Sunshine Coast. Learn about the Sechelt Nation at the House of Hewhiwus, and enjoy the local attractions and activities before continuing on to Pender Harbour located at the northern end of the Sechelt Peninsula. Nestled among five acres of Douglas fir, red cedar and arbutus trees, the Painted Boat Resort has a distinctly West Coast look and feel, and its protected, deep-water marina offers a beautiful place to get out on the water.
 
Day 2: Second night in Pender Harbour

Day 3: Pender Harbour to Powell River
Today, you’ll venture north on Highway 101 through picturesque resort communities, past glittering lakes and stands of ancient cedar. At Egmont, you can hike the flat, 4km forest trail to Skookumchuck Narrows’ boiling and bubbling rapids. At Earls Cove, just outside of Egmont, board a BC Ferry for a 50-minute crossing to Saltery Bay and the Upper Sunshine Coast. Continue on to Powell River, which showcases an abundance of provincial and regional parks and a haven of outdoor pursuits and stunning scenery.
 
Day 4: Powell River to Parksville
Take the morning to explore Powell River’s artesian shops for carvings, pottery, jewellery and weaving before heading to Westview to catch an 80-minute BC Ferry sailing bound for Courtenay/Comox on Vancouver Island. Once on the island, continue your journey south to Qualicum Beach where flower baskets line the streets, and at low tide the broad, sandy waterfront is a beachcomber’s dream. Some additional highlights in the region include Horne Lake Caves, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, The World Parrot Refuge and Milner Gardens. After your visit, carry on to the community of Parksville and your waterfront accommodations.
 
Day 5: Second night in Parksville

Day 6: Parksville to Vancouver via Nanaimo
Enjoy a morning in Parkville before continuing on to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island’s second largest city known as the Harbour City. Board a BC Ferry sailing from Departure Bay terminal for a 1 hour 40-minute cruise destined for Horseshoe Bay, where your Coastal Circle journey comes to an end.