The British Columbia Effect: Connect with this incredible part of Canada
Immerse yourself in British Columbia to get under the skin of its culture, nature and people
We want more from our travels these days. Our complex, increasingly technological world triggers a primal urge to get ‘back’ to nature, soothe body and soul and plug into our planet. Beyond-the-bucket-list, life affirming experiences are what we crave. British Columbia is a great destination to do it. It’s a biodiversity hotspot. A place where ocean meets rainforest. Where glacial rivers and lakes surround dizzyingly high mountains. Where Indigenous guides can show you petroglyphs carved by their ancestors. Dip into this magical world for a while… Feel the British Columbia Effect.
Breathe in the rainforest
Pacific Rim National Park
It’s the stuff of fairy tales – a truly elemental place, with wild beaches lapped by the Pacific Ocean and fringed by misty, mossy, rainforest. Stroll along peaceful shores, pausing to feel the sand sift between your toes. Head out on the forest trails, watching the dappled sunlight filter through the trees and breathing in the earthy, lush scent.
The nearby town of Tofino is the perfect place to refuel and further relax after a day in nature. Sip craft beers in brew pubs alongside locals and tuck into a plate of seafood while looking over the water it came from.
Great Bear Rainforest
Visit a land of coastal wolves, grizzly and even rare cream coloured spirit (or Kermode) bears. It forms part of the largest coastal temperate rainforest on the planet – roughly the size of Ireland. And if you think that’s impressive, consider the fact that British Columbia is home to 25% of the world’s temperate rainforest. Logging has now been banned in much of the Great Bear Rainforest, allowing species to flourish, undisturbed by human activity. Visitors can be accompanied by local indigenous guides – it has been a place of great cultural significance to them for millenia. Hear about their history, whilst following rivers and fjords to see grizzly bears catching and feeding on spawning salmon and to spot humpback whales off the coast.
Whistler
Whistler is more than majestic mountains. See and feel the surrounding rainforest on a guided eco walk into the Cheakamus River Valley, where everything is draped in moss and lichen. The walk finishes at the astonishingly turquoise Cheakamus Lake, fed by glacial waters, a peaceful spot to simply stand and take in the sounds and sights of nature.
Once you’ve seen the rainforest from below, try it from above. A Tree Trek Canopy Walk gives a bird’s eye view from suspension bridges and observation platforms, and guides will teach you about what lives and grows here, including its endangered old-growth trees which help guard against climate change. For a thrilling experience, take a zipline tour to feel the wind in your hair and admire the tops of the trees, spread out like a thick, green carpet below you.
The Ancient Forest
The Ancient Forest - or Chun T’Oh Whudujut Provincial Park - is a mystical and otherworldly place. It is the only inland temperate rainforest in the entire world, and is British Columbia’s newest provincial park, established in 2016. Gaze up at giant western red cedar trees that have stood here for some 2,000 years, placing a hand on the thick trunks, some of which are five metres in diameter. Soak up more of the magical forest by travelling the boardwalks which protect the forest floor and delicate root systems.
The Ancient Forest is a great success story, managed via a partnership between local governments, a hiking society and the indigenous Lheidli T’enneh people. Even just a short time spent immersed in this wilderness will make you realise why it is so special to so many people, and why they have gone to such great lengths to protect it.
Get up in the mountains
Whistler Blackcomb
There’s nothing quite like the majesty of the mountains, and standing at the top of Blackcomb Mountain, staring out at a panorama of the surrounding snowy peaks glistening under the sun, their slopes blanketed by green forest, is a freeing feeling. Hop easily between Whistler and Blackcomb on the Peak-to-Peak Gondola to explore the bounty of nature here. Hike, bike, or horseride forested trails. Head out on the water in a kayak before stretching out on a lakeside beach. And melt into a sky-high hot tub to unwind under a clear blue sky, while looking out at the undulating skyline.
Wells Gray Provincial Park
This vast inland park, deep in the Cariboo Mountains is easily accessible but slightly off the tourism radar, making it perfect for those wanting to escape the crowds and relax to the pace of nature. Spend your days surrounded by wildlife, waterfalls and wildflowers. Stay quiet as you explore on foot, canoe or horseback to spot deer and moose. If you're lucky, you may even experience the spine-tingling moment of locking eyes with a black bear or a wolf, something you're bound to remember for the rest of your life.
You’re never far from water – from tinkling streams to glacier-fed lakes and over 40 impressive waterfalls. Helmcken is the grandfather of them all and Canada’s fourth highest, with a dramatic 140 metre single plunge of water from a forested cliff into a deep circular canyon below. Wells Gray Provincial Park was initially created to protect this wonderful natural attraction. From June onwards, the scent of the trees mingles with that of the wildflowers blanketing the meadows, especially around Trophy Mountain.
Kootenay National Park
Some of Canada’s most awe-inspiring mountain ranges are found here, including parts of the mighty Rockies. Kootenay National Park boasts snow dusted peaks, glistening glaciers and hot natural mineral springs – the perfect way to ease tired muscles after a day of exploring. Canoeing or white-water rafting on the glassy waters of the Kootenay River is exhilarating. As is walking, with animal sightings aplenty, including deer, moose and elk. Stroll to The Paint Pots, a collection of small natural mineral pools, their water and surrounding soil stained orange and ochre by the high iron content and contrasting pleasingly with the surrounding green countryside.
Glacier National park
Glacier National Park may be named after its icy monuments, but there is much more here than snow and ice. With temperate rainforests and one of Canada’s largest cave systems, the landscapes are as diverse as the travel experiences found within them. Spot wildlife such as black and grizzly bears, timber wolves, cougar and caribou. Scale jagged mountain peaks to gaze down at glaciers, their surfaces reflecting the sun like giant mirrors. Explore deep valleys filled with ancient forests, breathing in the smell of pine. Listen to the rush of glacier-fed rivers and spend your nights sitting next to a camp fire, keeping your eyes to the sky as it fills with infinite stars.
Make a splash on the ocean
Victoria
British Columbia’s harbour-side capital is known for its traditional colonial architecture, manicured gardens, horse-drawn carriages and afternoon tea. These days there’s plenty new there too, with exciting boutiques, restaurants and bars springing up in old warehouses. Victoria makes a great base for heading out on whale watching adventures.
The surrounding waters are home to resident pods of orcas (killer whales). Boats are not allowed to approach these magnificent creatures, but rather wait for the whales to come to you – and they often come so heart-stoppingly close that you will feel the splash from their tails. Regular spottings also include porpoises, humpback and minke whales, harbour seals and a huge variety of birds. The views from the boats back over Victoria and the surrounding scenery are pretty special, too.
Clayoquot Sound
This body of water and the islands within it off the west coast of Vancouver Island support a fragile environment of rainforest, wildflower filled valleys, pristine mountain lakes and rivers. Head into the Sound by boat for a gentle putter around them. You’ll often see black bears foraging for crabs and other seafood on the beaches. Stop off to stretch your legs on wonderful walking trails. Flores Island’s Ahousaht Wild Side Heritage Trail winds through the Sitka spruce rainforest, and includes plenty of beaches worth stopping for. Or head further out into the Pacific for some whale watching. Clayoquot Sound only became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the year 2000, many years after protests from the Nuu-cha-nulth First Nations people, who recognised the area wasn’t getting the protection it needed.
Campbell River
Yes, there is a river – and a very fine one it is too – but this is also a small and lively town on Vancouver Island’s east coast. It acts as a gateway to all manner of wild and watery delights. Campbell River is nicknamed the salmon capital of the world…Watch grizzly bears fighting over the best of them at Bute Inlet or fish for your own. Take boat trips to see sea lion colonies, white-sided dolphins, whales and eagles along the Discovery Passage or hop onto the ferry to Quadra Island with its friendly creative community. No less than five provincial parks are close to Campbell River. For walks where you can feel the spray of waterfalls on your face, Strathcona and Elk Falls are your best bet.
Haida Gwaii
This remote archipelago of 138 islands (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) are scattered more than 37 km off the westernmost edge of Canada. The islands are jam-packed with archeological sites, remnants of the ancient Haida people, whose descendants still live on the islands today. Hear about them with some of the local craftsmen, learn to paddle a traditional Haida canoe and visit archaeological sites by seaplane. There’s everything from 11,000 year old stone tools to centuries old totem poles. The remoteness of Haida Gwaii and its protected status have allowed nature and wildlife to flourish – the islands are sometimes referred to as The Canadian Galapagos. This is also the only place in British Columbia that managed to avoid the last ice age, so the flora and fauna are quite different to the mainland, including the world’s largest subspecies of black bear.
Make it happen with Audley
About the experts
Audley’s Canada specialists have all travelled extensively across the country. They return each year to learn more and find new and different ways for you to experience what Canada has to offer. That means you can trust Audley to arrange an immersive and off-the-beaten-path itinerary in British Columbia to help you get at the authentic soul of the place and experience the British Columbia effect. Audley also works with the best local guides and can recommend interesting hotels and lodges to enhance your visit to British Columbia.
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