If you plan a road trip in canada, you are probably looking at a British Columbia itinerary, thinking about exploring some of the best sites of British Columbia has to offer on an itinerary from Vancouver to Vancouver Island and Victoria. Our suggested Canada travel plan will take you to the Whistler mountains, the coastline of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and the beautiful historical buildings of Victoria. All places we enjoyed when we visited British Columbia as part of a road trip from Seattle, but this trip can be done on its own from Vancouver.

British Columbia Itinerary: 7 Days

This British Columbia Itinerary starts from Vancouver, and returns to the same city. See below a British Columbia road trip itinerary based on 7 days. This region is one of the best places to visit in Canada.

You can also combine this BC itinerary with a trip from Seattle to Vancouver, and then from Vancouver to the San Juan Islands, looping back to Seattle.

Our recommended British Columbia itinerary road trip includes the following top attractions:

Day 1: Vancouver

Get urban with a two-day visit to Vancouver, the British Columbia’s largest city.

Some of the best things to do in Vancouver include walking in Stanley Park, sampling food at the Granville island market, visiting the Museum of Anthropology, strolling around Gastown, exploring Chinatown, and enjoying fresh seafood.

Vancouver

Optional Extra Day: Consider driving up the Sea-to-Sky Highway for incredible views of British Columbia.

Day 2: Whistler Day Trip

After your Vancouver city sightseeing, drive up to Whistler where home to Whistler Blackcomb, considered to be one of the major ski resorts in North America come winter. In summer, Whistler offers incredible hiking opportunities as well. Take the Peak 2 Peak Whistler Gondola for fantastic views of the Whistler villages and surrounding mountain peaks. You might on occasion spot a bear on the mountain slopes. A Whistler day trip from Vancouver is a must! Consider boarding the Vancouver train to Whistler and returning by floatplane! This trip was one of our preferred things to do in Canada!

Hiking around Whistler

Things to Do in Whistler: Hiking, Gondola Ride, Bear viewing, Go glacier sightseeing on a floatplane

Another option is a self-driving from Vancouver to Whistler, as you can plan your own stops.

Day 3: Vancouver Island

Drive from Whistler to take a ferry to Vancouver Island, and drive to Victoria. Plan for two days exploring Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.

Spend the afternoon at the Royal BC Museum to learn about the history of First Nations communities – the Kwakwaka’wakw, the Nootka and the Coastal Salish – on Vancouver Island.

Totem in Victoria

Day 4: Victoria

Admire the colonial past of the city through its Victorian architecture (highly fitting, right?), including the massive Craigdarroch Castle mansion. If you like flowers, don’t miss the Butchart Gardens spread over 55 acres of floral compositions. And in fashionable English traditions, a high tea at the Fairmont Empress hotel is a must-do!

Victoria Fairmont Empress hotel

High Tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel

What to see in Victoria: Craigdarroch Castle, pass by the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, Butchart Gardens, Fisherman’s Wharf’s floating village of colorful houses

Day 5: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Then it’s time to explore the rest of Vancouver Island. Drive along the Pacific Rim Highway from Ucluelet to Tofino and the Clayoquot Sound

Head to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Pacific Rim National Park), which rugged coasts and temperate rainforests represents Vancouver Island and even the Pacific Coast Mountains landscape. Go for a hike on part of the popular West Coast Trail, or one of the two rainforest hikes – simply stunning! Or go kayaking among the park’s Broken Group islands.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Coastline

Stop for a coffee in Tofino, a popular, small town artsy village.

Optional Extra Day: Camping is good way to explore more what the park has to offer. Stroll by the beach in the morning.

Day 6: Bike the Galloping Goose Trail 

A fun day biking! Make sure to stop at the Sooke Potholes along the way. You can read here more about day trip biking the Galloping Goose trail.

Biking Galloping Goose Trail

Other cool things to do on Vancouver Island: Sproat Lake Provincial Park Petroglyphs, Hike the Wild Pacific Trail.

Day 7: Vancouver Island to Vancouver

Take the ferry back from Vancouver Island to Vancouver, and head for your flight home

By extending your stay in Whistler, and on Vancouver Island, you can easily turn this trip into a British Columbia itinerary 10 days plan.

If you are looking for more trip ideas to travel to Canada, check out our Canada blog posts on:

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