Top Vancouver Island Outdoor Activities

Experience the majesty of Canada’s Sunshine Coast from the air with a 40-minute round-trip seaplane flight from Nanaimo. Take to the skies with a pilot and fly high over the Strait of Georgia. Enjoy panoramic views over the tiny islands dotting the waterway, and stop for up to four hours’ free time in the British Columbia town of Sechelt. Enjoy two take-offs and landings during your tour, and see the Sunshine Coast in a way many visitors miss.

Hit the waves with expert naturalists in search of Canadian sea-life on this whale-watching cruise from Victoria. Hop aboard your whale-watching boat and head out into the rolling seas with your guide. Gaze out over Victoria’s attractive coastline and watch the waves for sightings of graceful orcas. Listen as the two expert naturalists onboard explain the life cycles of the majestic creatures, and learn of their pivotal role near the top of the marine food chain. Enjoy fine views from the seating areas both inside and on-deck. 

Suitable for older kids, teens, and families, this high-ropes course lies 25 minutes' drive west of downtown Victoria—offering a world of treetop adventure for visitors aged five and over. Zoom along forest zip lines, tackle aerial obstacles like wobbly bridges and swinging logs, and test your nerve on a range of forest challenges—from six feet (two meters) to 45 feet (14 meters) above the ground.

The sheltered waters of Ucluelet Harbour offer an ideal location for an introduction to sea kayaking on Vancouver Island’s west coast. Watch for wildlife, from intertidal life to black bears meandering along the shoreline and eagles soaring above. This kayak tour offers the opportunity to paddle up to a hidden waterfall, learn about the local fish hatchery, or explore the outer harbor limits. Paddling instruction is provided.

Set out on the Pacific Ocean off of Victoria, British Columbia, in search of whales on this half-day tour. Travel through the Haro Strait and the San Juan de Fuca Strait in search of Minke whales, humpback whales, and orcas. Ride in an-open top Zodiac boat, suitable for 12 passengers or fewer, to ensure up-close wildlife encounters and an intimate atmosphere.

Perfect for travelers who relish a challenging hike, this tour takes you to the top of the The Chief, the second-largest granite monolith in the world. Alongside an experienced guide, you’ll hike through Stawamus Chief Provincial Park and marvel at Howe Sound. Improve your photography skills with handy camera tips. After a hike to the summit, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views from a 2,300-foot (700-meter) vantage point and visit Shannon Falls.

Discover the diverse wildlife for which British Columbia is famous on this 3-hour marine wildlife tour in Victoria. Hop aboard your boat at Fisherman’s Wharf and cruise toward the Haro Straight with your guide. With your wildlife identification kit to hand, watch the skies for native birdlife and keep an eye on the waves for curious seals, sea lions and porpoises. Lucky wildlife spotters may even see killer whales, gray whales, humpback whales and minke whales in the harbor’s deep waters, and hear them communicating via the on-board hydrophone!

Hot drinks, certified marine biologists, and indoor and outdoor viewing areas set this Victoria whale watching tour apart from its competitors. Travel in luxury and style as you look out for whales in their natural environment in the one of the world's best whale-watching habitats in the Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait. Other sightings may include marine birds, seals, and sea lions, making this the ideal way to see more of the region's animal residents!

Tour one of Victoria’s most stately and popular attractions in a unique way with a pedicab tour to Craigdarroch Castle. Enjoy the fresh air and leisurely pace from aboard a comfortable cab while a friendly guide pedals you from your hotel to the majestic, 19th-century baronial estate. Along the way, pass through the neighboring Lt Governor’s gardens and see some of Victoria’s most opulent churches and homes. Admission to the inside of the magnificent castle is included. 

Discover hidden alleys and local curios in Vancouver’s Old Town and Chinatown districts on this 75-minute pedicab tour. Head through Victoria's Old Town and Chinatown districts with your guide, where old shops and boutiques line the winding alleyways. Hear hair-raising ghost stories from centuries past and learn of the settlers, immigrants and colonists who have shaped the city we see today. Along the way, watch skilled street performers plying their trade the way they have for centuries. Admire Victoria’s traditional architecture and gain insight into the city’s colorful past.

Get up close with the killer whales on the Salish Sea with this guided, 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise from Victoria. Climb aboard a covered or open boat equipped with hydrophones to hear the whales and bring the underwater experience to light. Every voyage is led by a certified marine naturalist with a passion for the area’s marine wildlife. In addition to humpback, killer, minke and gray whales, see other wildlife like porpoises, sea lions, seals, otters and marine birds. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Soar over downtown Victoria and surrounds on a thrilling, 20-minute seaplane flight! Take to the skies right from the water and enjoy an unforgettable aerial perspective of the harbor, coastline, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains towering in the distance. With a maximum of five passengers, it’s an intimate, small-group ride navigated by an expert pilot.

Soar through the air like an eagle in flight on this zipline adventure! Just a half hour from central Victoria, this Vancouver Island zipline park features eight different ziplines that span more than 1,000 feet (305 meters). Your small group will also go on a 10-minute ATV ride and you'll traverse two suspension bridges high above the forest floor. Two tour guides accompany you on this two-hour tour; they'll share insight about the environment and answer any questions to ensure a safe, fun and exhilarating experience in the British Columbia temperate rainforest.

Get a new perspective on Victoria’s beautiful, bustling harbor on a guided 3-hour kayak tour. Glide through the historic waterways in a state-of-the-art sea kayak, soaking up fantastic views of where Victoria’s stately skyline meets the harbor’s wild aquatic landscape. As you paddle, join the local traffic of seaplane, ferries and whale-watching boats, and keep an eye out for native wildlife like river otters and harbor seals.

Join this small group helicopter tour to see Vancouver Island’s coastline from a whole new angle.  Start with a safety briefing with your experienced pilot, then head up, out over the Georgia Strait. Enjoy stunning mountain and ocean views as you fly over the Discovery Passage, Quadra Island and the beautiful Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park before returning to Campbell River.

Enjoy swift travel and breathtaking views over British Columbia on this Victoria to Vancouver seaplane flight. Hop aboard your seaplane in Victoria’s Inner Harbour and take to the skies with your pilot. Enjoy panoramic views over local landmarks including Ogden Point, the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the BC Parliament Buildings. Soar over the Gulf Islands’ sandy beaches and dense forests, and look out for the mighty Lion’s Gate Bridge and Brockton Peninsula.

Sailing on Starlight, Prime time or Sea Wolf in the Strait of Juan de Fuca is different each time. From Humbacks, Orcas, Sea lions, Seals, Eagles and water birds there is always something to see while you are learning the skills to sail one of our 3 sailing vessels.

Rainforest Tours offers guided adventures into the spectacular beauty of Vancouver Island’s temperate rainforests. From lush rainforest canopies and hidden waterfalls to colorful and rich tidal pools teaming with diverse sea life, the parks we explore will be sure to take your breath away. Rainforest Tours experienced guides are highly skilled and eager to share their love and knowledge of the natural surroundings. Our small intimate tours are ideal for families with children or meeting fellow travelers. With one guide to every six guests, you are sure to have the ultimate WEST COAST EXPERIENCE. Tours are small and consist of 1 guide and up to 6 guests. The guide will adapt the hiking pace to suit the guest's abilities for a fully enjoyable experience. This allows our guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in their surroundings and connect with nature.

When you make port in Victoria, discover top city attractions in style on this 2-hour Victoria castles and neighborhoods bike tour. Follow your guide by bicycle through Victoria and gain insight into the city’s colorful past. Explore diverse districts such as the Inner Harbour, Cook Street Village and Chinatown. Take in panoramic views over Dallas Road’s waterfront and marvel at the creepy Craigdarroch Castle. Spin through pretty Moss Rock Park and Beacon Hill Park, and enjoy the creative buzz of leafy Fernwood.

Explore the marble passages and crystal caverns created by the ‘Ice Age’ on this guided, 3-hour caving and hiking expedition in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure time, strap on your complimentary light and helmut, and then start your exciting introduction to ‘wild caving.’ Frolic in underground waterfall and traverse everything from tight passages to steep ramps to short climbs.

Enjoy two favorite Victoria tours in a single day with this great-value combo package. Voyage into the open waters of the northern Pacific on a 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise, where you can encounter native marine life such as orcas, gray whales, and harbor seals with the help of expert guides. In the afternoon, explore the elaborate floral landscapes of Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada. Includes round-trip transfers from downtown Victoria and a flexible return schedule, so you can linger to enjoy the gardens’ luminous displays at night.

Fly through the air high above the Nanaimo River gorge on this guided zipline tour. From 100 feet (30.5 meters) above the river, you’ll cross the entire length of the park in two quick and easy flights that span 300 and 600 feet (91 and 182 meters) each. Plus, pass beneath the “Bungee Jump” bridge, which is famous for offering six levels of bungee jumps.

Experience an up-close encounter with northern Pacific marine life on a 3-hour whale watching cruise off Victoria’s coast. Travel out into the open ocean aboard a comfortable, motorized boat to look for native species like humpback whales, gray whales, orcas, elephant seals and sea lions in their natural habitat. Learn about local marine ecology from a naturalist guide, and take in fantastic views of Vancouver Island in between animal sightings.

Challenge yourself to take on a series of games, ziplines, and obstacles at an adventure course in Nanaimo. Your group can travel at a pace that works for you, climbing to 45 feet (14 meters) above the forest floor with support from the guides; the flexible format makes this a good fit for groups of all ages and abilities.