Discovery Coast Circle Tour

BC Ferries presents a voyage of discovery along the rugged coastline from Port Hardy to Bella Coola. At ports of call the Discovery Coast Passage offers stunning scenery, the freshest local food and friendly communities.

8 nights

+ taxes & fees,
includes ferry & hotel

Price per person based on double occupancy & availability.
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A Taste of Backcountry Wilderness on the Remote Central Coast

A wonder of natural beauty, British Columbia’s Central Coast was largely inaccessible to visitors by water until BC Ferries introduced the Discovery Coast Passage route from Port Hardy to Bella Coola in 1996. That spectacular cruise is now the centrepiece of this self-guided circle tour that lets you experience the splendour and majesty of both Northern Vancouver Island and the Central Coast via the southern portion of the Inside Passage. Your own sense of discovery will come to life as you visit iconic destinations along the way – Campbell River, Port Hardy, Bella Coola, Williams Lake – whose names evoke images of a distant frontier surrounded by well-preserved wilderness.

Far from the more densely populated south, the northern reaches of Vancouver Island mirror those across the Hecate Strait with its great forests, rivers and rugged communities. From the Departure Bay terminal in Nanaimo to the Discovery Coast Passage launching point in Port Hardy, you’ll be treated to colourful beachside communities, renowned salmon-fishing cities and remote coastal outposts. The seafood in the local restaurants doesn’t get any fresher, and the setting doesn’t get any more magnificent.

The Discovery Coast Passage cruise itself promises some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in the world. Watch for glimpses of orcas, dolphins and bald eagles as the Queen of Chilliwack navigates the rugged coastline between Port Hardy and Bella Coola. The photo opportunities are endless. Bella Coola is surrounded by a vast Coast Mountain wilderness where amazing backcountry experiences such as grizzly bear viewing or eco-rafting abound. Though Whistler’s luxurious embrace will be the final stop, the drive from Bella Coola, with an overnight in Williams Lake, provides dramatic sweeping vistas, as the Coast range gives way to the wide-open high plains of the Cariboo. This is the province at its purest and most spectacular.

Tour Details:

Day 1: Vancouver to Campbell River                                                                                                   
Depart on a BC Ferry from Horseshoe Bay on the mainland for a scenic, 90-minute cruise across the Strait of Georgia, to the shores of Vancouver Island and the city of Nanaimo. As you drive north on the coastal route, you’ll pass through the seaside, resort communities of Qualicum Beach and Parksville, and the historic Coombs Store, made famous by the goats that graze on the roof. Your afternoon drive will take you to Campbell River, where, after checking into your hotel, you can enjoy the docks, galleries and restaurants.

Day 2: Campbell River to Port Hardy
Northern Vancouver Island is famous for its forests. For over a century, the economy of this area has been driven by the lumber, pulp and paper industries. The pristine area offers rich wildlife viewing including deer, elk, bear, orca whales and bald eagles, as well as remote communities like Sayward, Telegraph Creek and Port McNeill. Your final destination for the day will be the fishing community of Port Hardy.

Day 3: Discovery Coast Passage to Bella Coola
Enjoy the early morning sailing of The Queen of Chilliwack as the ferry passes through some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in the world. Keep and eye out for wildlife along the shoreline, Orca whales and porpoises in the channel and bald eagles circling overhead. You’ll also see remote First Nations villages tucked into several of the bays along the route. Depending on the day of the week, you either will arrive late this evening in Bella Coola for your overnight stay or you may be treated to ports of call in Bella Bella, Shearwater and Oceanfalls and overnight onboard with an early morning arrival in Bella Coola.

Day 4: Bella Coola
The day in Bella Coola offers exciting outdoor adventures in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park at the eastern edge of the Bella Coola Valley. With 981,000 hectares (2.4 million acres) of wilderness, this is backcountry as good as it gets. The park encompasses gorgeous meadows, hidden lakes, fast-flowing rivers and high alpine regions with glaciated mountain ranges. Grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, caribou, wolves, moose and mule deer all inhabit this area.  

Day 5: Bella Coola Whales, Grizzlies and Nature
Bella Coola defines the Central Coast of British Columbia, located within the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism region of B.C. Nestled within the soaring Coast Mountains, this vibrant community represents the true pioneering spirit of West Coast living. The highlight for today will be a guided adventure into the wilderness to view some of the local wildlife. Watch grizzly bears while they feed and fish for salmon on the river’s edge, or snorkel with hundreds to thousands of wild migratory salmon, trout and resident fish in local pristine coastal waters.

Day 6: Bella Coola to Williams Lake            
Allow for five and a half hours of driving time for today’s amazing journey along Highway 20 to Williams Lake.

Day 7: Williams Lake to Whistler                                                                                                    
Enjoy dramatic sweeping vistas on the drive south from Williams Lake to the resort community of Whistler.

Day 8: Whistler     
Spend a day in Whistler enjoying exciting outdoor adventures, luxurious surroundings, and superb restaurants.

Day 9: Whistler to Vancouver
Drive from Whistler south to Vancouver, along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, where the Discovery Coast Passage Circle drive concludes.