Just a short walk from Victoria, Clover Point is hit by great storms, and there are fabulous opportunities to watch roaring storms. During falls and winters, protect and enjoy the fierce waves making up in the distance, rolling into the coast, battering against the rocks, whether staying at your car or donning in raingear.
Hiking in Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, is an adventure into a 16,450-hectare wilderness of old-growth forests and giant trees. This provincial park, a top pick for hiking trails Vancouver Island, offers the best hiking and wilderness camping experiences in Canada. Whether you’re driving from Vancouver, BC, on a road trip, exploring day trips from Lake Cowichan, or seeking things to do on Vancouver Island, Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park delivers. With Carmanah Valley’s towering Sitka spruce and Walbran Valley’s rugged park trails, this hiking guide covers trail maps, safety tips, camping details on Vancouver Island and all the details for your next Canada trip.
Get out of your comfort zone and get away from the bustles in towns; Nootka Island has a lot to offer to make your vacation count. A place of amazement and glory, the waters of the most oversized island located off Vancouver Island give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for surfing. Nestled near Vancouver Island, Nootka Island features breathtaking scenery you can let your spirit feed on it.
If you happen to visit Victoria during fall and winter, do not hesitate to go storm-watching. It is a perfect place for brave souls seeking some exciting moments, watching the high waves making up in the distance, rolling into the coast, crashing against the rocks while rain's whipping. Protecting this natural phenomenon of nature is one of the most popular recreations at Victoria and exposed west beaches of Vancouver Island.
Have you ever had a dream of surfing the largest glacier on Vancouver Island? Well, if you had, it is time to experience this fantastic dream in the real world. Just in the heart of Comox Valley, Comox Lake offers a wide range of water sports such as wakeboarding and waterskiing. Due to the lake's closeness to several parks, you can do other outdoor activities to multiply the joy you have in this area.
As one of the highest points of Vancouver Island, Mount Adrian offers great snowmobiling, among other winter activities. It has two summits that feature Strathcona Provincial Park in every direction—looking for a place to have winter excitement? Nowhere is better than Mount Adrian.
If paddling is frightening for you, make it normal while you are in Nootka Sound. It s worthy of mentioning that while paddling in the waters of Nootka Sound, you are given the pleasure of observing the birth point of BC, Yuquot. Nootka Sound is known as the paradise of the paddlers, and its island provides an extraordinary situation in which an astonishing adventure is waiting to be embraced.
If you are looking for a place to make immortal memories of your windsurfing experience, Esquimalt Lagoon would be an ideal place to do so. As one of the seven migratory bird sanctuaries, this lagoon with clear shallow water provides you with ample opportunity for water activities, including windsurfing. Also, beautiful birds travelling between North and South America are observable.
On the entrance of Hardy Bay, Wildwoods Campsite is located in a rainforest. Many adventure offers are available in this campground in addition to undeniable chances of peaceful camping. For almost 30 years, this campground welcomes campers with great campsites, including all necessary facilities.
On Vancouver Island, you can spend every single day arriving in a new city comprising magnificent adventures. While you stay in the second-largest city on the island, you may enjoy several incredible activities, including whale watching. Whale watching in Nanaimo gives you the chance to explore the Salish Sea ecosystem and observe marine life from April-October.
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.
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|
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
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Stick to well-lit areas like Government Street. Use SafeWalk.
|
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Wildlife
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Avoid feeding deer or seals in parks like Beacon Hill.
|
|
Emergency
|
Dial 911. Save Victoria Police (250-995-7654) and carry travel insurance.
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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
