Sustainable Tourism in Vancouver

Upon arrival in Vancouver, you will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel to freshen up before going out for a fresh seafood dinner and the chance to meet your fellow travelers.

If you arrive early in the day, you will have free time to explore the city or relax in one of the nearby parks.

Your guide will be with you for the duration of your trip and will share insights, details, and safety tips to help you enjoy your trip.

This morning following breakfast at your hotel, you will set out on a tour of the city of Vancouver. Learn how and why the city has set a lofty goal for itself – to become the most highly recommended destination in North America. Start evaluating how they are doing on reaching this goal – they welcome concrete feedback on their efforts as you explore the area!

This afternoon you will visit Stanley Park, the number one attraction in the city, for a relaxing trip through the lush green park on one of the old-fashioned horse-drawn trolleys.

This evening you will enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many waterfront restaurants featuring world-class cuisine.

Today you are in for a real adventure as you make your way across the swaying suspension bridge. The bridge is 450 feet across a canyon and the Capilano River 230 feet below. The bridge leads to a fir and fern forest and the Treetops Adventure journey – a series of suspension bridges through the forest. For the true adventurer, you can experience the Cliffwalk as well.

Following lunch, you will head to the Vancouver Aquarium, home to over 50,000 creatures. You can wander through the attractions or catch one or more of their educational shows featuring dolphins, sharks and sea otters. There are also hands-on animal encounters you can experience while here!

This morning you will enjoy the VanDusen Botanical Garden. Spread over 55 acres, this garden has over 7,500 plant varieties. It is also home to many species of local wildlife.

In the afternoon, you will board a boat for a tour of the harbor and the chance to spot marine wildlife including otters, sea lions, and the occasional whale.

For all you space explorers, the H.R. MacMillan Space Center is just for you. The center explores the wonders of space through interactive displays and activities. 

In the afternoon, you will see all of Canada through the FlyOver Canada simulation ride. Complete with wind, mist, and scents, you will “fly” over Canada for a unique perspective of the country in under an hour.

Today’s experience is the first authentic classical Chinese garden ever built outside of China, the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Classical Chinese Garden. Following a guided tour of the garden, you will have the opportunity to wander the garden yourself and relax beside a water feature or marvel at the intricate architecture of the arches and buildings. 

In the afternoon you will return to the downtown harbor area, the Harbor Center and the Vancouver Lookout. The lookout is 430 feet up and a terrific way to see the city and surrounding area.

The rest of the day is yours to explore or relax.

Early this morning, you will board a ferry to visit Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria. Upon arrival, you will embark on a walking tour of the downtown area.

In the afternoon you will visit Craigdarroch Castle. The castle was built to be the family home of the Dunsmuirs, local coal barons, and their family. The grounds and the castle are meticulously maintained. Guided tours provide insights into a privileged life in the late 1800s while sharing fascinating stories and legends about the family. 

In the late afternoon, you will return to the piers for your return ferry to Vancouver.

We hope you have enjoyed your trip to Vancouver, British Columbia. How is Vancouver doing on their quest to be the most visited city in North America as they build a sustainable tourism model for the world?

Today you will be escorted to the airport to begin your return trip home.