Gardens and Wildlife of Western Canada 651
Gardens and Wildlife of Western Canada 651
Gardens and Wildlife of Western Canada 651
10 Days Starting and ending in London, UK
Visiting: Vancouver, London, Chinatown, Canada Place, Stanley Park, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Gastown, Vancouver Lookout, English Bay Beach, UBC Botanical Garden, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Fairmont Empress, Inner-Harbour Pathway, Vancouver Island, Thunderbird Park, The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Beacon Hill Park, Hatley Drive, Milner Gardens & Woodland - Vancouver Island University, Ucluelet, Naa'Waya'Sum Gardens (formerly the Tofino Botanical Gardens), Tofino, Parksville, Nanaimo
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BGWC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegans, Meat, Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Spectacular scenery and a warm, friendly welcome await us in British Columbia on our tour that begins in Vancouver, a city which owes its vibrancy and cosmopolitan flavour to the diverse cultural background of its inhabitants. Set amidst majestic mountains and surrounded by blue Pacific waters, Vancouver’s gentle climate keeps the city green year-round and makes it the perfect backdrop for many outstanding gardens. We will be privileged to visit some of the finest gardens in Vancouver and Victoria.
Among the highlights in Vancouver are the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the spectacular Van Dusen Botanical Garden and the UBC Botanical Garden. A short passage across the Strait of Georgia takes us to Vancouver Island and our hotel in the ‘Garden City’ of Victoria, whose streets are colourfully decorated from spring until autumn by more than 900 hanging baskets. Here we visit a succession of wonderful gardens, such as the Hatley Estate with its majestic native trees. The highlight for many will be the sublime Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of blossom, fragrance and colour which will live long in the memory. We continue our exploration of Victoria with visits to the seaside Milner Garden and Woodland as well as the Tofino Botanical Gardens.
A break from our garden visits there is an opportunity to enjoy an optional whale watching trip from Victoria where we have the chance to glimpse of orca, grey, humpback and minke whales if we are lucky. Other sightings may include sea lions, seals, porpoise and many species of marine birds. From the resort of Tofino, we embark on a bear watching boat tour along the calm coastal waters, where we have the chance to see the Vancouver Island Black Bear as they amble down to the waters edge to forage for Rock Crab and other tasty seafood treats.
We also venture out of the city to explore the dramatic Capilano Suspension Bridge which spans 140 metres across the Capilano River at a height of 70 metres.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Fly From London To Vancouver
Location: Vancouver, London
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Enjoy access to the airport Executive lounge before we fly from London to Vancouver, where we transfer to our hotel.
Day 2 : The Most Beautiful Cities In The World
Location: Chinatown, Canada Place, Stanley Park, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Gastown, Vancouver Lookout, Vancouver, English Bay Beach
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we take a tour around one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains to the north and east and the unfurling Pacific Ocean to the west, Vancouver is a modern metropolis surrounded by nature on all sides. During our tour we explore Stanley Park with its famous Totem Poles, English Bay, Canada Place, historic Gastown, Chinatown and Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre, which has spectacular views across Metro Vancouver. We ascend the building in a glass lift to the observation deck 167 metres above sea level for panoramic views
This afternoon we visit Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, named after the local lumberman and philanthropist Whitford Julian Van Dusen. The garden is a collaboration between the City of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the Vancouver Botanical organisation. They have successfully worked together for over 40 years and their shared vision has made the Garden internationally renowned. The garden features one of the most extensive arrays of ornamental plants in Canada spread over 55 acres. The development of the gardens started in 1971 but the gardens were not officially opened to the public until 31 August 1975. The land has been transformed into an exquisite botanical garden. A series of stone pathways crisscross the gardens and wooden bridges ramble through various ecological zones. There are over 7,500 different kinds of plants assembled from six continents. Careful planning went into developing specific areas of the garden to illustrate various botanical relationships as they relate to their geographical origins, as shown in the Sino Himalayan Garden or the Mediterranean Garden.
We also visit the first authentic full-sized classical Chinese garden built outside China, that of Dr Sun Yat-Sen. The garden honours the memory of Dr Sun Yat-Sen, revered by his compatriots all over the world as Kuo Fu, the Father of modern China, who visited Vancouver several times prior to his death in 1925. The garden is a five million dollar "architectural space" shaped by artisans brought to Vancouver from China and is constructed in an authentic Ming Dynasty-style, the first of its type built since the late fifteenth century. Traditional materials from Suzhou, the Garden City of the People's Republic, were used in the construction, the aim of the garden being to capture and bring together in a small space all the elements of the natural landscape (mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, valleys and hills) and to create a harmony of contrasts, of dark and light, solid and empty, hard and soft, straight and undulating, yin and yang. The relationship of these four elements reflects the Taoist belief in yin and yang - opposites that must be in balance to create harmony.
Day 3 : Explore The Ubc Botanical Garden
Location: UBC Botanical Garden, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we explore the UBC Botanical Garden, the oldest university botanical gardens in Canada. The gardens showcase British Columbia’s native flowers and trees as well as a collection of plants from every corner of the globe. Highlights not to be missed include the Nitobe Memorial Garden which is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America.
Later, we head northwards to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park which seamlessly blends history, culture and nature. The Capilano Suspension Bridge spans 450 feet of towering evergreens and scented cedar trees 110 feet above the forest floor. After spending some time exploring the park we return to our hotel.
Day 4 : Journey To Vancouver Island
Location: Fairmont Empress, Inner-Harbour Pathway, Vancouver Island, Thunderbird Park, The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Beacon Hill Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Meals Included: Breakfast
A long but rewarding awaits. We start with a ferry journey to Vancouver Island and upon arrival, we head to the world famous Butchart Gardens one of the world's premier floral show gardens. Originally created to beautify a worked-out quarry, the property now extends to 55 acres of breathtaking gardens, divided into four sections. The Sunken Garden was built on what was once a limestone quarry with pathways winding downwards to a lake which features a magnificent fountain. Further along one comes across The Rose Garden, which contains many varieties of the Hybrid Tea Rose. Along a long concrete walk you will find old-fashioned English perennial borders covered by very English-looking rose arches. Especially noteworthy is the Japanese Garden with its winding pools and a cascading stream, a lacquered bridge, Japanese stone lanterns, small summerhouses, and a teahouse in the centre of a pool. Dispersed throughout the Japanese Garden are willows, Japanese azaleas, bamboos, dwarf rhododendrons and lace leaf maples - a truly delightful garden. In contrast to the Japanese Garden, The Italian Garden features a pond fed by a mermaid and fish fountain, bordered by flowerbeds and enclosed by Lawson cypress.
We later enjoy some sightseeing, travelling through the unhurried streets of Victoria, highlights include the Inner Harbour, which is sprinkled with pleasure craft, the impressive Parliament buildings, Beacon Hill Park, the Empress Hotel and Thunderbird Park – a forest of ornate totem poles.
Day 5 : Whale Watching Cruise Tour
Location: Hatley Drive, Victoria
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our day begins with an optional whale watching cruise tour. We head out onto the coastal waters in search of orca, grey, humpback and minke whales. During our voyage we may also see sea lions, seals and porpoises.
This afternoon, we take a scenic route to the historic Hatley Estate, one of Canada’s largest and most diverse National Historic Sites, noted for its heritage planting and majestic native trees. At the centre is a magnificent castle built in 1908 by former British Columbia Premier and coal baron, James Dunsmuir. With a full afternoon here, we will have time to stroll through the Japanese, Italian and Rose Gardens.
Day 6 : Vancouver Island To Its Pacific Coast
Location: Vancouver Island, Milner Gardens & Woodland - Vancouver Island University, Ucluelet
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast
We venture to Ucluelet, enjoying the scenery as we traverse Vancouver Island to its Pacific coast. We have a visit to the Milner Gardens and Woodland, a seaside garden set in Qualicum beach on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Covering an impressive 28 hectares of unspoiled natural beauty perched on an oceanfront bluff with views across the Strait of Georgia.
Day 7 : Vancouver Island Black Bears
Location: Naa'Waya'Sum Gardens (formerly the Tofino Botanical Gardens), Vancouver Island, Tofino
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we head out onto the calm shallow waters on the coastline in search of the Vancouver Island black bears, which at this time of the year venture to the shoreline in search of rock crab and other seafood treats. British Columbia is home to around one-quarter of all black bears in Canada, so this trip offers a fantastic opportunity to spot some.
Later, we visit the Tofino Botanical Gardens. The site is spread over 12 hectares of gardens, forests and shorelines and it explores the relationship between culture and nature. There is a network of paths and boardwalks which take you through cultivated gardens, a sculpture park and old growth temperate rainforest. Sprinkled in amongst this, some clearings have been transformed into pocket gardens which display plants that thrive in temperate rainforest around the world including specimens from Chile and Japan. Other pocket gardens celebrate the groups that have called Clayoquot Sound their home particularly the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, early Japanese fishing families and of course the hippies.
Day 8 : We Say Goodbye To Tofino
Location: Parksville, Vancouver, Nanaimo, Tofino
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We say goodbye to Tofino this morning as we travel across Vancouver Island, passing through Parksville to Nanaimo where we board the ferry to Horseshoe Bay. Upon arrival we head into Vancouver for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 9 : Vancouver To London
Location: Vancouver, London
Accommodation: Overnight flight
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore at your own leisure this morning before we transfer to Vancouver airport for our return overnight flight to London
Day 10 : Return To London
Location: London
We arrive in London.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals - as per the itinerary
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London pre-flight Executive lounge access
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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All visits as outlined in the itinerary
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Services of a professional tour manager & local guides
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.
At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.