Your Gulf Island adventure will start in Victoria, British Columbia’s capital. After arriving at the airport, we’ll quickly get you away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria, and to your island paradise. It’s a short drive to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, where you’ll take a 30 minute ferry ride to Salt Spring Island. Once you arrive on Salt Spring, have an afternoon lunch at Rocksalt, right by the Fulford Ferry Terminal. This quaint cafe offers amazing baked goods, an oceanfront patio, and the best Fish n’ Chips we’ve ever had in BC! After finishing up your meal, you’ll head over to the Ganges, the main town on Salt Spring Island. Spend the evening exploring the shops and restaurants before retiring for the night at Harbour House Hotel, a quaint hotel a few blocks away from the town centre.

Today will be a full day on Salt Spring, so it’s a great chance to explore a bit more of the island. Start by heading down to Vesuvius Beach, one of our favourite spots on the west side of the island. Wander up and down the beach and find a seashell or two before heading into the nearby cafe for lunch. A good afternoon stop is St Mary’s Lake, the biggest freshwater lake on Salt Spring. Shortly after, you’ll head up into the hills for a dinner at Salt Spring Wild Cider House. This delightful craft cider is accompanied by a gourmet tasting menu. It’s a great end to the day before heading down to the water for sunset.

After checking out, you’ll spend your morning on some relaxing hiking trails in nearby Ruckle Park on Salt Spring. There are several kilometers of trails you can explore if you’re feeling active, or you can take a short walk down to the rugged coast line. Grab a bite at Moby's Pub before heading onto your second ferry of the trip. The next stop is Pender Island, the second largest of the Southern Gulf Islands. Tonight's accommodation gets you off the grid a bit! You'll be staying in a luxurious airstream nestled in the woods. It's an amazing, peaceful escape on this quiet island paradise.

Spend the morning exploring a few beaches on Pender before heading to the final island of the trip. Your first stop will be Gowlland Point on the south part of the island. It offers views of the Olympic Mountains, a stunning range in the USA. Spend the day exploring the island and enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach. You'll have a sunset ferry ride over to Galiano in the evening, and eat dinner on the ferry. The salmon burger is our favourite! You’ll skip Mayne Island, the smallest and least visited of the Gulf Islands, and stay on the ferry to Galiano. Your accommodation for the night will be at Woods on Pender, a funky glamping-style hotel.

Galiano is only a few kilometers wide, so you’ll spend today driving across the entire island. Your destination on the north end of the island will be Dionisio Point Provincial Park, which offers expansive ocean views back to the Vancouver mainland. If you see a big snow capped peak to the south, it’s Mt Baker, a massive glaciated volcano in Washington state. After a morning of exploring, you’ll head south for outdoor lunch at Woodstone Restaurant and Patio. Before boarding your ferry back to Vancouver, stop by Morning Beach for a last afternoon on the water. It’s a short 45 minute evening ferry ride to Vancouver, where you’ll finish up your trip. You can easily take the 90 minute ferry back to Victoria if needed, but this trip works best as a one-way adventure.