British Columbia: The Ultimate Guide
British Columbia Travel Guide
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Exploring British Columbia
British Columbia is an adventure travel oasis, and one of Canada’s most interesting land areas. With such a diverse variety of landscapes and climates, BC is hard to categorize.
A few things are for sure though…. If you are looking for some mountain adventure, or ocean exploration, BC is your best bet in Canada, and one of the best bets in the world.
In this ultiamte British Columbia travel guide, we help you find the best experiences and locals to help you travel in BC.
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Discover the best breweries to pair with some of the top hikes in Canada. We’ve used a discerning approach to combining some of the best pairings for your palate.
Top Adventures & Activities in BC
Skiing & Snowboarding
The swirling moist weather from the Pacific Ocean crashes into some of the largest and most dramatic mountains in North America, making for a powder skiing mecca. Whatever winter fun you’re looking for… BC has it!
Hiking
From lush rain forests to panoramic alpine ridges and summits, British Columbia is the ultimate hiking destination in Canada. Hike endless trails in the mountains, on the coast or in between, discvering a world of hidden alpine lakes, picnic spots and glaciers!
Camping
A haven for RV and tent campers, British Columbia has thousands of beautiful camping spots, many of which are available year round. With a variety of climates and a lifetime’s worth of lakes and viewpoints, this place has all the camping adventures you could ask for!
Surfing
Consistent waves coming in from the vast Pcific Ocean make BC a year round surf destination in Canada. Head to Tofino or other parts of Vancouver Island’s west coast and find your groove on a surfboard.
Sea Kayaking
Rich tidal waters and vast archipelagos make British Columbia a sea kayaker’s paradise. Explore remote islands, teeming with wildlife and escape the bustle of everyday life in the peaceful waters of the West Coast.
Mountain Biking
Rich old growth forests meet gargantuan mountains, making BC the ultimate place to go mountain biking in Canada. From technical trails on the coast, to cruisers further inland, this province is the perfect mountain biking destination.
Rafting
Gigantic glaciers and snowfields melting leads to rushing rivers and the perfect place for whitewater enthusiasts to get their fix on a thrilling whitewater rafting adventure. BC is rich with high quality rafting experiences.
Wildlife Viewing
Complex natural processes and deep connections make British Columbia the best place in Canada to discover wildlife. Discovering these relationships and amazing animals is truly life changing!
Canoeing
Though BC lacks the long canoe expeditions found in many other areas of Canada there are thousands of lakes to explore by Canoe, and several multiday trips you can head out on. The scenery is certainly hard to beat!
Wine & Beer Tasting
With several of Canada’s fastest growing wine regions and over a hundred breweries pumping out delicious craft creations, BC is the place to be for all things craft. Explore our wine regions or add a brewery to your day hike!
Fishing
The West Coast is an incredible fishing oasis with waters full of salmon, halibut and many other amazing catches. The sea food is unbeatable and there are fishing charters in every seaside town. Try your luck!
Climbing
British Columbia is a mecca for climbers with sport climbs all over the place, and bucketlist worthy alpine objectives found in every mountain range. Head to Squamish for the ultimate climbing trip!
Golfing
While British Columbia is a haven for adventure sports, it also offers excellent golfing opportunities for the softer adventurer. There are golf courses all over the province and the views are well worth the trip!
Snowshoeing & XC Skiing
Winter doesn’t mean the hiking adventures have to stop in British Columbia! There are hundreds of amazing trails to snowshoe on, and great XC ski routes and clubs as well.
Top Attractions In British Columbia
Pacific Rim National Park
An Ocean Wilderness Paradise
Endless sandy beaches, lush rain forests and remote ocean inlets form this gorgeous expanse of wilderness called Pacific Rim National Park on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Strathcona Provincial Park
Vancouver Island Mountains
A rugged stretch of untamed wilderness in the heart of Vancouver Island. This is where you’ll find the biggest mountains on the Island.
Cathedral Grove
An Old Growth Oasis
Walk beneath a towering canopy of old growth rain forest on Vancouver Island. Cathedral Grove is an accessible example of what the forests used to look like!
Stewamus Chief & Shannon Falls
Impressive Cliffs & Waterfalls
The Chief is an awe inspiring rock in Squamish that is a haven for hikers looking for a great view. Next door to it is one of the highest waterfalls in Canada!
Joffre Lakes
Impossibly Blue Water
One of the best day hikes in the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region, Joffre Lakes offers a beautiful hike to not one but three gorgeous turqouise lakes.
Mount Assiniboine
Canada's Matterhorn
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park hosts some of the most awe inspiring hiking terrain in the world. Hiking and wilderness camping among the most iconic mountain range in Canada!
Mount Robson & Berg Lake
Up Close With A Glacier
When you see the beautiful sights along the Berg Lake trail, you’ll recognize it from the photos you’ve seen. Emporer Falls and Berg Lake offer some of the most amazing hiking scenery on the planet!
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Waterfalls & Wilderness
Wells Gray Provincial Park is home to some of the most photogenic waterfalls in Canada, as well as a bounty of lakes and mountains to top it off!
Yoho National Park
Simply Awe Inspiring
Yoho is a Cree word for “Awe” and you will understand why when you experience the sights in Yoho National Park. Canada’s second highest waterfall and some of the most impressive mountains live here.
Haida Gwaii
Our Rugged Version Of Hawaii
Explore a rugged and cutoff set of islands far out in the Pacific Ocean. Haida Gwaii are rich in wildlife and First Nations culture and history.
Kootenay National Park
A Lesser Known Park
Kootenay National Park is not in the limelight nearly as much as the neighbouring parks, but what it lacks in crowds it makes up for in wildlife and natural splendor.
The Best Places To Visit In British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Canada's Wilderness City
Vancouver is the perfect place for the city chic traveller who craves some epic wilderness experiences. Or is it wilderness traveller that craves some city nights?! Either way, Vancouver is one of the most fun cities in the world.
Tofino, BC
Canada's Surf Capital
Endless sandy beaches meet the salty waters of the pacific in Canada’s surf capital. The perfect place to go surfing, fishing, paddling, hiking and to relax! Tofino is a must see destination in Canada!
Victoria, BC
Canada's Nest For Snowbirds
Expansive Pacific views from the top of Mount Doug, to lush waterfall hikes and Saturday morning markets by the seaside are just some of the things that make Victoria one of the best travel destinations in Canada. Did we mention the warm winters?
Squamish, BC
Canada's Adventure Capital
Towering coast mountains come crashing down to the azure waters of Howe Sound in Squamish, Canada’s Adventure Capital. The prefect place for all things adventure, especially hiking, climbing and windsports.
Courtenay, BC
North Island Paradise
OK, so really we mean Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland and Cambell River which combine as an absolute paradise on Northern Vancouver Island. Paddling, mountain biking, hiking and wineries collide into one amazing Canadian Destination!
Fernie, BC
Mountain Town Vibes
What do you get when you take a beautiful mountain range, add a rustic little town and a whole lot of adventure? You get Fernie! This town rocks in the summer and rocks just as hard in the winter.
Revelstoke, BC
Mountain Paradise
Revelstoke really has it all. Epic powder skiing in the winter and equally amazing climbing, hiking and biking in the summer. Visit this adventure town on a lake and you may never leave!
Nelson, BC
Mountain Town Meets Bohemian Charm
What’s not to love about Nelson? This peaceful town on the edge of a massive lake in the heart of the mountains has everything you need and then some!
Golden, BC
Gateway To The Rockies
Imagine a mountain sandwich….. That’s basically Golden, sitting directly between the majestic Rocky Mountains and the awe inspiring Columbia Mountains. Golden is a town primed for your next adventure.
Whistler, BC
Coast Mountain Disneyland
If there’s anything mountain adventure related that you’re looking for, chances are pretty good you can find it in Whistler. Come for the powder or come for the summer fun. Either way you’ll have a great time!
Local Adventure Experts In British Columbia
Current Travel Deals and Special Offers in BC
Canadian Bucketlist Experiences in BC
British Columbia Travel Guide
Getting To/ From British Columbia:
Driving in British Columbia:
BC has an extensive network of highways, ranging from rural roads to divided highways running from town to town. Often the best way to get around British Columbia is by driving, though the distances are long and there is often only one route, which can be prone to weather and other adverse conditions. It is not uncommon for routes to be blocked by landslides, avalanches and floods for several days. You should always be familiar with where you are driving, have emergency supplies and check DriveBC for road conditions before you leave in the winter.
Flying To BC
You can fly to the many international airports throughout BC from anywhere in the world. Some places in BC are harder to fly to, but that’s part of what makes them so special, right?! Below are some of the main airports that we recommend flying in to.
British Columbia’s Main Airports:
- Vancouver International Airport- YVR
- Victoria International Airport- YYJ
- Kelowna International Airport- YLW
- Prince George Airport- YXS
- Nanaimo Airport- YCD
- Cranbrook Canadian Rockies International Airport- YXC
Getting Around BC By Bus:
Travelling around BC by bus is much harder than it used to be, since Greyhound stopped operating in British Columbia.
There are several bus routes from local companies, that connect a lot of BC.
British Columbia Travel Information- FAQ
When are the best times to visit BC?
British Columbia is a land of many seasons, and many seasons at the same time! For this reason you can have an amazing trip to BC any time of year, depending on what you are looking for in your trip.
Victoria on Vancouver Island is protected from a lot of the winter weather and rain that comes in off the ocean in the winter months, so you can easily catch sunny days in the double digits there all year long, and can even ride a motorbike through the winter.
Even in late spring and early summer you can still find winter rearing its frosty head when you get up high in the alpine and mountain ranges.
That being said, if you are looking for the relaxing, photogenic weather that most of us crave on our vacations you are best to travel to the west coast between the beginning of May and October. You can expect summer weather in the mountains from June to the end of September.
If winter is your thing you should come between mid December to the end of March to ensure good winter conditions.
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