Vibrant Vancouver

Arrive at the Vancouver International Airport and take a taxi or the Canadian Rapid Transit Sky Train. In less than ½ an hour, you'll check into The Paradox Hotel, Vancouver, a short distance from Robson street, the city's primary shopping hub, and the surrounding entertainment district.

Relax and settle in. We'll meet at the hotel's Karma Lounge later for a welcome drink and dinner. Karma’s menu features West Coast-inspired plates, showcasing fresh, local, sustainable ingredients. This restaurant takes pride in cooking everything ‘from scratch’ and making everything in-house, from maple-glazed bacon to lavish desserts.

After a good night’s sleep, enjoy breakfast at your leisure. The morning is yours to do as you please.

We'll meet with the group in the hotel lobby mid-morning for the day's activities. Today, we'll explore Vancouver's North Shore, home to Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge, an exhilarating outdoor experience that has wowed guests since 1889.

We'll visit the Capilano Salmon Hatchery to learn about Vancouver's most famous fish. A trip on the scenic Skyride Gondola will lift you high above the city to the very peak of Grouse Mountain. If you fancy a hike, consider the Grouse Grind, a 2.5-kilometer trail up the face of Grouse Mountain, commonly referred to as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster". 

We'll stop for a casual lunch at Altitudes Bistro before our adventure at the peak of Vancouver. Surrounded by stunning natural scenery, there is an endless expanse of hiking trails just waiting to be explored. Lumberjack shows are a regular feature. For many, the highlight is watching the mountain's two resident grizzly bears, Grinder and Coola, in their habitat as they sleep, hunt, eat, and play.

After a day filled with activities, we head back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. Tonight, we'll visit the cobblestoned streets of Gastown, a historic neighborhood and the beating heart of the city. Beloved by visitors and locals alike, Water Street is lined with independent boutiques, galleries, and great restaurants serving craft beer and local cuisine. We'll make sure to stop at the famous steam-driven clock along the way. 

Dinner tonight is at Chuchillo, an arty, industrial-chic establishment featuring Latin American plates.

Wake up and enjoy a light breakfast at the hotel. Today is all about food. Our first port of call is Granville Island to meet up with our private Vancouver Foodie Tour guide. You're about to discover the region via your taste buds.

After a morning filling up with exceptional bites, we'll head back to the hotel to rest and relax. Take time off at the spa or cycle through Stanley Park. Afternoon shopping on Robson Street is always fun. The choice is yours.

Around 5 pm we'll head back to Granville Island for a boat ride with Vancouver Water Adventures. Take the opportunity to get up close and personal with starfish, seals, sea lions, jellyfish, bald eagles, and even the occasional dolphin. You're about to experience a breathtaking Vancouver sunset surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

 Dinner is on land at Doc Morgan's Restaurant. Gorge on healthy salads, along with peel & eat shrimp and Dungeness Crab.

Wake up refreshed after a good night’s sleep and head down for an early breakfast. Today, we're off on a private sea-to-sky Vancouver to Whistler Day trip.

The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is a road trip you won't forget. This tour is the best way to explore the road to the 2010 Winter Olympics and the resort town of Whistler. We'll travel to Whistler in a private van via the “Sea-to-Sky Highway”. Along the way, we'll cross 7000-foot-high mountains, and witness the third-highest waterfall in British Columbia and the second-largest granite monolith in the world. We’ll stop at the Sea to Sky Gondola where you can soar 885m above sea level, experience some easy hiking trails, and get your heart pounding on the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge.

In Whistler, we'll take the Peak-2-Peak gondola up to Blackcomb Mountain and have lunch at Chrisines on the mountaintop. Enjoy panoramic views with classic dishes made from the finest, freshest local ingredients. 

Take time to explore Whistler Village after lunch, browsing through quaint village shops. Hike to the base of the beautiful Shannon Falls, walk along forest trails, or just relax and enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery with a cup of tea. The choice is yours. 

After an exhilarating day in Whistler, we’ll begin our journey back to the city, arriving back in the early evening. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please. Dinner is on your own.

The Vancouver Whale Watch is on our morning agenda. We'll tour through the Gulf and San Juan Islands to find magnificent Orcas (killer whales), majestic humpback whales, and other marine wildlife, like sea lions, porpoises, and more. We may also happen upon a bald eagle or two.

After the whale-watching tour, we'll head back to the hotel to freshen up before heading out for a light lunch. 

After lunch, we'll visit Chinatown. Vancouver has the largest Chinatown in Canada. Established back in the 1890s, Chinatown is famous for its restaurants, stores, Sun Yat-Sen Garden, and annual Chinese New Year Parade. We'll meet with Judy Lam Maxwell, the Chinatown girl, for a walking tour of Chinatown and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. A dumpling masterclass with some of Judy’s other favorite Chinese dishes follows. Judy specializes in global Chinatowns and is also known as the dumpling Diva.

Our farewell dinner is a family-style meal, feasting on the wonderful food we prepared with Judy.

We'll head back to the hotel after an amazing day.

Sadly, our trip has come to an end. If you're not joining us for the extension to Tofino it is time to say goodbye after a hearty breakfast. Still, the memories and friendships you made will last a lifetime. When it is time to head to the airport grab a taxi for your departing flights. 

If you've chosen to extend your trip, you're about to take a Harbour Air scenic flight from Vancouver to Tofino. Enjoy aerial views of the stunning coastal landscape during your flight.

Tofino is located along the beautiful Vancouver Island west coast in the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations traditional territory. It's in the naturally rugged Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere. Where else could you surf year-round, explore untouched rainforests, and dine at world-renowned restaurants in one coastal village? Tofino always makes a lasting impression with its vivid natural beauty, cultural diversity, and exciting local events. You can do as much or as little as you want. Come rain or shine, this place is simply beautiful.

Arrive dockside and check in at the Tofino Resort and Marina. We'll enjoy a light lunch at the Rhino Café before heading off on a rainforest hike.

In the evening, we'll gather for dinner at the Wolf and Fog, then wind down with a quiet stroll to the hotel.

An early morning breakfast at the Shed before we relax and unwind on a remote wood-fired remote floating sauna, merging wellness and wilderness in Tofino’s backyard. The sauna is deep inside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, home of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. Make use of the kayaks, paddle boards, and a fire pit to warm up beside while tapping into the quiet and vast solitude and stillness of Clayoquot Sound. 

On our return, you decide how you want to spend the afternoon. Kayak, hike or just walk the beach before we end the day together with dinner at Shelter, known for its fresh, locally sourced seafood.

Start the day with coffee and croissants at a nearby café and then enjoy a scenic bike ride along the coast from the Tofino Resort and Marina to the Wickaninnish Inn.  Enjoy a sumptuous brunch at The Pointe Restaurant, Wickaninnish Inn, a Relais & Chateaux property with spectacular ocean views, then bike back together before we take a scenic float plane flight back to Vancouver.