Inside Passage Wilderness Circle Tour

Experience all of B.C.’s wonders -- its unspoiled wilderness, wildlife, history and culture -- as you travel from Vancouver by road and water on a great adventure circle that includes Vancouver Island and the famed Inside Passage cruise to Prince Rupert.

8 nights

+ taxes & fees,
includes ferry & hotel

Price per person based on double occupancy & availability.
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The Best of Northwest BC

The vastness of British Columbia’s awe-inspiring geography, untamed wilderness and rich native culture unfolds on this epic circle tour through the northwestern reaches of the province. Your journey includes the northern reaches of Vancouver Island, a cruise through the much celebrated Inside Passage with an exploration of the remote mountain towns that dot the Skeena and Bulkley river systems and the expansive high plains of the Cariboo region. Each day of the tour will bring new wonders and exciting things to see and do.

Watch as civilization slowly diminishes as you travel up Vancouver Island, through beachside resort towns like Parksville and Qualicum Beach,  towards Campbell River, often called the “Salmon Fishing Capital of B.C.” Watch for deer, elk and bear along the way. Delving deeper into the great northern forests takes you to remote Port Hardy for your Inside Passage cruise aboard the new Northern Expedition ferry. True wilderness awaits.

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 Straight 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 lumber, pulp and paper industries.
This pristine area offers rich wildlife viewing including deer, elk, bear, orca whales and bald eagles. Along with remote communities like Sayward, Telegraph Cove and Port McNeill.
Your final destination for the day will be the fishing community of Port Hardy.

Day 3: Inside Passage Cruise to Prince Rupert
Enjoy the early morning sailing aboard the brand new BC Ferry “The Northern Expedition.” This beautiful vessel will be your floating home for the rest of the day as you cruise northward past the rugged Queen Charlotte Islands and through the world famous Inside Passage. This is the same route that the cruise ships take on their way to Alaska. Enjoy all the amenities of this ship, and relax as it winds its way through some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in the world. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the shoreline, Killer Whales and porpoises in the channel, and great bald eagles circling overhead. And watch for remote First Nations villages that are tucked into several of the bays along the route. Your spectacular day will come to a close when you dock in Prince Rupert.

Day 4: Prince Rupert - Whales, Grizzlies and Nature
Prince Rupert is a nature lover’s paradise. Located only 40 miles southeast of the Alaska Panhandle, the city is blessed with an abundance of surrounding wilderness that is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Travel to the famed Khutzeymateen, “Valley of the Grizzly,” and view the resident grizzly and black bear populations in their natural environment, or depending on the season, take a whale watching cruise and view Orca whales, humpback whales, porpoises and seals.

Day 5: Prince Rupert to Smithers
Following the banks of the mighty Skeena River on your journey east along Highway 16 where you’ll get the chance to see the last remaining structures of the great fish canneries that used to cover the shores. Your drive will take you north through Terrace and the First Nations communities of Kitwanga and Hazelton. Turning south into the Babine Range of mountains, your route follows the mighty Bulkley River to Smithers, your destination for the night. Enjoy this community and its majestic surroundings including the spectacular Hudson Bay Mountains and Glacier.

Day 6 – Smithers to Prince George
The spectacular Hudson Bay Mountains soon give way to the central plains of the Cariboo region as you make your way through the lumber and agricultural community of Vanderhoof. As the afternoon draws to a close, the city of Prince George will welcome you. This is the largest city in northern B.C.
Enjoy the friendly hospitality, visit the local casino and enjoy some hearty northern B.C. cuisine.

Day 7: Prince George to Williams Lake
From Prince George, you’ll head south, driving beside the mighty Fraser River, on highway 420. Williams Lake is located in a sheltered valley in Central B.C.
Allow yourself the chance to explore this city's rural charm, characteristic of its ranching culture and gold rush history.

Day 8: Williams Lake to Whistler Resort
Your circle tour through British Columbia continues as you drive south along the Sea to Sky Highway and through the rolling hills of the Cariboo region. Numerous lumber and ranching communities mark the way.  As you pass through 100 Mile House you will feel the cowboy culture and history of the Gold Rush. The spectacular Duffy Lake Road will take you past scenic Pavillon and Lillooet Lakes, and your journey will end at the enchanting village of Whistler.

Day 9: Whistler to Vancouver
Enjoy the morning in the beauty of the spectacular, all-season resort. You might want to play nine holes of golf, go for a hike, take a morning trail ride or explore the shops. In the afternoon, you’ll journey the Sea to Sky Highway offering stunning scenery of mountain scapes and the rippling waters of Howe Sound to Vancouver and the end of your tour.