Summer in Vancouver & Whistler
Highlights
In the summers months you can laze on the beaches of Stanley Park, hike the sun-dappled Grouse Mountain, watch whales off the coast of Tofino, and search for bears around Blackcomb. One thing’s for sure: you won’t be spending much time indoors.
Some of the highlights included are:
- Explore cosmopolitan Vancouver, the liveliest, most laid-back city in Canada
- Gorge on doughnuts and other artisanal treats in Vancouver’s Granville Market
- Enjoy outdoor adventures and bear watching in Whistler
- Dine at some of Whistler’s most lauded restaurants
Holiday Type
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What's included
- Indirect international flights
- 8 nights in 5* hotels
- 4 days’ car hire
- Granville Island Market tour
- Whistler bear viewing
- Finer Things four-course dinner tour
Need to know
- rrives: Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Time difference: GMT-8
- British passport holders require an ETA
- Language: English, French
- Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
- Flying time from UK: around 10 hours direct
- Plug type: 2 flat pins
- Voltage: 120V
Your route
Itinerary
Fly from UK to Vancouver
Vancouver
Three days is the perfect amount of time to have a real adventure here. Perhaps spend your first 24 hours exploring the eclectic neighbourhoods, from Gastown and its historic steam clock to the 1,001 acres of Stanley Park – the largest in the city. While you’re here you can stroll through the rose gardens, snap a photo of the towering totem poles, or look out across the skyline from Prospect Point. From dynamic Downtown you can then consider taking the free shuttle to Grouse Mountain (runs 9am-6pm, summer only, from Canada Place). Choose between the sedate gondola to the summit or undertake the aptly-named Grouse Grind. This gruelling uphill hike is a local favourite, but while Vancouverites can do it in an hour or so, first-timers should allow two. On your way back, stop in at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park to wobble your way across its 140-metre-wide namesake. If you have time to spare, catch the ferry across to Vancouver Island, where you can discover the quaint charms of Victoria, before opting to embark on a whale watching tour in search of humpbacks and orcas. Back in town, treat your taste buds at Granville Island Market, home to some truly delectable artisanal foods, all locally produced.
4* Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Granville Island Market tour
Whistler
Consider spending your days hiking the many mountain trails, gazing over gorgeous scenery, or renting a kayak on one of the many lakes – Green Lake, the largest in the region, is our favourite. Embark on a bear-viewing tour and keep your eyes peeled for the 50 or so black bears that live in and around the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. If you’re lucky, you might also spot black-tailed deer, coyotes, red-tailed hawks or even grizzly bears. And with its beautiful summertime blooms and fewer crowds, Whistler is best explored (and tasted) on foot: you’ll sample four delicious courses from award-winning restaurants – all walking distance apart – on a Finer Things dinner tour.
4.5* Pan Pacific Mountainside
Whistler bear viewing; Finer Things dinner tour
