As a popular destination for campers from Nanaimo or Courtenay, Qualicum Bay Resort is one of the best places for nature admirers. Amuse your eye with the beautiful scenic view of this campground located on a beautiful beach. You are provided with almost every kind of camping and incredible landscape for those in the RV campground.
Being the busiest winter recreational destination in BC, Mount Washington provides you with incredible winter activities, including snowshoeing. While you are on the snow, enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the Strait of Georgia and the Sunshine Coast from Powell River to Sechelt. Moreover, several nearby resorts are ready to offer service to visitors annually.
Make your adventure worthwhile on Vancouver Island by visiting Tofino and not missing its whale-watching opportunities for the world. You may have the chance to gaze upon Orcas, the most widespread marine mammal on the earth. Clayoquot Sound, located near the Tofino, is a sandy shoreline with rich rainforest.
Every day in the round year, whenever you are on Vancouver Island and you crave surfing, Long beach welcomes you to its sandy realm. As one of the most popular recreational destinations on the island, Long Beach is one of the destinations for the hurricanes of the Caribbean, bringing some of the biggest and mightiest waves. This quality has made the beach a perfect place for surfers.
Adventure lovers who know nothing about diving but look forward to experience it may find the Octopus Point Diving site the best place to go. In these shallow waters, several marine life is observable, and the safety of your diving is guaranteed to a considerable measure.
Being a famous diving zone. Madrona Point provides divers from all skill levels with undeniable diving opportunities within a short distance from Nanaimo. It includes three walls: Small, Mid, and Maze walls, of which an amazing marine life is observable near the Small wall and deep-diving near the Maze wall.
Try to lead a life full of endless adventures, and to do so, you can consider Oak Leaf Diving as a means to that end. For those enthusiastic divers who want to explore a new and cozy location, the Oak Leaf Diving zone might be a suitable option to visit, with a magnificent environment and easy access.
Extraordinary opportunities to make your diving experience memorable in the heart of Greater Victoria, including high-ranked spots for diving. These spots provide you with inevitable diving opportunities which allow you to explore the alien underwater world of Victoria's waters saturated with magnificent creatures. Do not miss it for the world.
Nanaimo is saturated with diving zones, but to name a decent one, Dolphin Beach is a location that allows everyone to explore marine life and enjoy diving. Both armature and advanced divers can have the chance to dive in these waters along with a glorious environment enclosing the zone, which would fascinate your eyes.
Discover the hidden gem of Beaver Harbour, a kayaking paradise just east of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. With its calm waters, stunning islands, and rich history dating back to Fort Rupert’s founding in 1849, this destination offers an unforgettable paddling adventure. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned kayaker, Beaver Harbour’s scenic routes, wildlife encounters, and cultural stories await. Plan your trip with this ultimate guide to kayaking in Beaver Harbour, complete with routes, safety tips, and local insights.
Start your trip in downtown Victoria with a food tour, museum visit, park stroll, and a delightful Italian dinner—all perfect for things to do alone in Victoria.
What: A guided food tour visiting 6–7 eateries.
Cost: Approximately $50 CAD (estimated based on typical food tour prices).
Details: You can kick off your first day with this tour to sample local cuisine, learn about Victoria’s history, and gather tips for your trip. The focus is on small, hidden-gem shops rather than upscale restaurants.
Stops & Dining:
Onigiri Shop: You can enjoy a roasted garlic and sesame onigiri (~$5–10 CAD), a triangular rice ball wrapped in seaweed. You might even meet the shop’s pet Frenchie, Moochi, and find it becomes one of your favorites.
Uma: Savor a chicken tinga taco on a corn tortilla (~$5–10 CAD), made with stone-ground corn via nixtamalization. You’ll likely find it pretty good.
Dumpling Shop: End with pork belly dumplings with chili sauce (~$5–10 CAD) at a brewery. You might agree they’re the best dumplings you’ve ever had, with a soft interior and crispy exterior.
Other Stops: Visit 3–4 additional unnamed eateries where you can taste a variety of local foods.
Impressions: You’ll find it a lot of fun, appreciating the guide’s knowledge and the chance to discover unique spots.
Recommendation: Book this food tour early to shape your itinerary and meet fellow travelers—it’s perfect for solo adventurers.
What: Self-guided museum visit.
Cost: ~$30 CAD.
Details: You can explore exhibits like an abandoned town setup and the Grand Hotel display, enjoying the immersive experience even if you don’t read much history.
Impressions: You might find it turns out a lot better than you thought.
Recommendation: Definitely worth doing even if you’re not a big museum person. Exit through the Thunderbird totem pole area for a cool bonus sight.
What: Casual park exploration.
Cost: Free.
Details: You can wander the park, spot pickleball courts, and enjoy its relaxed vibe—ideal for solo downtime or a picnic.
Impressions: A peaceful stop where you might hear the sweet ping of pickleballs.
Recommendation: Check out the pickleball courts if you’re into active relaxation.
What: Italian dinner at Il Terrazzo (pronounced “Il Tazzo”).
Cost: Likely $20–40 CAD for a solo meal (estimated).
Details: You can take a water taxi to Chinatown, eat at the bar, and enjoy excellent service. Afterward, stroll by the lit-up Parliament Building.
Impressions: You’ll find the dinner excellent and highly recommendable, especially after a day of walking.
Recommendation: Sit at the bar for a solo-friendly dining experience.
Day 1 Highlights
Total Cost: ~$110–150 CAD (food tour, museum, dinner).
Vibe: A perfect mix of food, culture, and relaxation in a very walkable city that feels like a small town.
|
Activity/Stop |
Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
|
Food Tour
|
$50
|
|
Onigiri, Taco, Dumplings
|
$15–30
|
|
Royal BC Museum
|
$30
|
|
Il Terrazzo Dinner
|
$20–40
|
|
Malahat Skywalk
|
$38
|
|
Butchart Gardens
|
$48
|
|
Car Rental (1 day)
|
$50–70
|
|
Ferry (Round-Trip)
|
$40
|
|
E-Bike Rental
|
$20–40
|
|
Pizza (Port Angeles)
|
$10–15
|
|
Accommodation (3 nights)
|
$300–600
|
|
Total Trip Cost
|
~$621–901
|
|
Aspect |
Tips |
|---|---|
|
General Safety
|
Use hostel lockers, stay aware in crowds.
|
|
Nighttime
|
Stick to well-lit areas like Government Street. Use SafeWalk.
|
|
Wildlife
|
Avoid feeding deer or seals in parks like Beacon Hill.
|
|
Emergency
|
Dial 911. Save Victoria Police (250-995-7654) and carry travel insurance.
|
Tahsis is an accessway to many hiking trails. This village municipality is situated at the top of the steep-sided Tahsis Inlet and is surrounded by breathtaking wilderness and abundant wildlife. Some of the best water activities like ocean kayaking, surfing, windsurfing, recreational fishing or sport fishing, scuba diving, and kiteboarding are popular.
The Sutton Range is a group of mountains and a subrange of the Vancouver Island Ranges that form the greater Insular Mountains. The amazing rock formation and alpine scale make the mountains within the range perfect for climbing. While you're atop Sutton Peak, Victoria Peak, Warden Peak, and mainland coast mountains are within your sight.
The Sophia Range is a low small group of mountains on Nootka Island. Visiting the range would be fascinating overlooking inlets. The spectacular sights of the hills wrapped in trees ornamented with beautiful wildlife and birds are amazing while ascending. The range and the nearby park are a wealth of outdoor activities as paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
As it is said, "A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." Did you know it takes a long process for a cave to be created? Artlish Caves is no exception. It is the largest active river cave in Canada, and the running water is why these series of caves were carved out from the ground, which is still happening. While you are inside the caves, sharpen your eyes to find bats, spiders, and other creatures in the darkness.
If you desire to search for hidden parts of nature to discover exciting facts, Coral Cave is a suitable option. Before stepping into it, you need to have caving skills. The beauty of the cave is doubled by the stunning rainforest that surrounded the entrance. While you are inside, you may see the flooded parts of the cave. Let's get into it to find more and realize the time effect for thousands or millions of years.
Devote more time, get a challenging goal for yourself, and pack your equipment. It is time to face the longest and deepest cave on Vancouver Island, Thanksgiving Cave. Caving inside this mostly tight and beautiful cave is not a beginner's suitable exploration, but for an expert caver, the adventurers' rush worth any trouble. If you are a beginner, don't worry. Tahsis is the caving capital of Canada, so you have different chances nearby.
Going deep into the forest is worthy enough to visit the stunning Upana Caves. Listen to the sound of a river passing by and detect several entrances with the famous one behind the spectacular Upana Caves Waterfall. Inside entrances, you may find birds' nests. Watch the evidence of years of existence by holes like the one in cheese. The stunning galleries and passages you'll explore while going down would be incredible.
The Genevieve Range offers a fascinating tour within Nootka Island with spectacular sights for mountaineers. The range's area is a remote paradise for those seeking peace and seclusion. While ascending peaks, the range allows breath-taking sights of the ocean, enormous trees below your feet covering hills along with lakes and creeks dotted the area and plenty of wildlife.
The Haihte Range overlooking Tahsis and Zeballos is home to some of the largest remaining glaciers on Vancouver Island. It experiences many cloudy days due to being close to the coast. The high terrain, including long aesthetic lines, is perfect for skiing at the lower glacier shelves, and visitors would enjoy excellent alpine climbing at jagged spires along the main ridge.
|
Expense |
Cost (CAD) |
Budget Tips |
|---|---|---|
|
Hostel
|
$35–60/night
|
Book via Hostelworld.
|
|
Meals
|
$15–40/day
|
Shop at Moss Street Market.
|
|
Transit
|
$5/day
|
Use BC Transit day pass.
|
|
Activities
|
$27–120
|
Mix free parks with paid tours.
|
Alireza Moghimehfar
