British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada lying between the Rockies to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. To the north is Yukon and to the south Washington State. Between the Rockies and the Pacific there are several mountain ranges including the Cariboo, Monashee, Selkirk and Coastal ranges. British Columbia boasts Canada’s only temperate rainforest and it is a hiker’s paradise. We have chosen three very different areas which offer a variety of activities: Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, Chilcotin Ranch in the centre of the province and Wells Gray Provincial Park to the west of the Rockies. These can be combined in many different ways to make up a holiday of your choice.

Excellent value flights to Vancouver can be booked through Zoom Airlines (www.flyzoom.com) which has flights from London Gatwick, Glasgow, Manchester, Belfast and Cardiff.

We can book your accommodation in Vancouver and recommend the YWCA in the centre of town. Vancouver has an excellent public transport system which makes sightseeing very easy. As well as some notable museums and galleries, there are fascinating markets (for food, cafés and crafts) and several outdoor areas such as Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain.

STRATHCONA PROVINCIAL PARK

Strathcona is situated in the centre of Vancouver Island, a huge island on the Pacific coast, reached from Vancouver by Greyhound bus to Campbell River via the Horseshoe Bay/Nanaimo ferry. Private transport can then be arranged from Campbell River to the Strathcona Park Lodge, a wilderness resort on the banks of the Upper Campbell Lake. Accommodation is in timber chalets with healthy meals in the self-service Whale Room.

There are many possible day walks; swimming, rock climbing, rope courses and zip line, orienteering, canoeing and kayaking are also offered. It is possible to arrange walking, canoeing and kayaking trips of several days duration. All-day trips can also be arranged for whale watching, bear watching and to visit Nootka on the west coast.

CHILCOTIN RANCH

Chilcotin Ranch is located on the east side of the Coastal Range, southwest of the Chilcotin plateau. Protected on both sides, the South Chilcotins have sunny skies and a dry climate. Private transport can be arranged from Vancouver. The ranch is extremely comfortable, just like being at home, with excellent food.

Activities on offer are horse riding, alpine hiking, grizzly bear viewing, photographic wildlife safaris, wilderness cycling and fly fishing. Some trips are ranch based; others use well-appointed alpine camps and huts. For walking and cycling trips food and equipment is carried by pack horse. Trips are 4 or 7 days long and graded according to experience; all trips are accompanied by expert guides. The horses used are the sure-footed, tough but gentle Mountain Cayuse horses: even a complete novice can quickly acquire the necessary riding skills.

WELLS GRAY PROVINCIAL PARK

Wells Gray is a land of pristine forests, mountains, flower meadows, lakes and rivers and most of its 1.4 million acres is true wilderness with over 40 waterfalls and a wealth of wildlife. It is situated in the Cariboo mountains, just west of the Rockies. There is a Greyhound bus from Vancouver to Clearwater from where a road leads up to Clearwater Lake. Wells Gray Adventures has a concession on the southern end of the park and are responsible for maintaining trails there. They have also built three comfortable alpine chalets around which their 3/5/7 day hiking trips are based. As most food is cached at the huts, you only to have to carry your own clothes, sleeping bag and a few fresh provisions.

Also available are 3 and 6 day canoeing trips on Clearwater and Azure Lakes or a 6 day trip which combines canoeing and hiking. A full day white water rafting on the Clearwater River is an exciting finale to a visit to this beautiful area.