5 ways to immerse yourself in British Columbia

British Columbia’s scenic splendour – from its rainforests to its rugged coast, soaring Rocky Mountains to deserts, vineyards and beyond – provides the perfect setting for your Canadian adventure.

Discover a place where otherworldly beauty has inspired the stories told by the Indigenous peoples of these lands for millennia. Spot iconic wildlife from unique, community-led lodges. Or head beyond the cities, such as vibrant Vancouver, to off-the-beaten track mountain towns, with the help of Discover the World.

Experts in curating unique, original journeys across British Columbia, Discover the World can connect you to a number of community-led experiences that offer a different perspective on this jaw-dropping Canadian province.

From the orca patrolling the splintering waterways of the fjords, to the bald eagle shrewdly watching from its lofty forest perch, no one knows these lands and its creatures better than those that have called it home since time immemorial.

First Nations communities along British Columbia’s raw coastlines and colossal forests have lived at one with its awe-inspiring landscapes for millennia.

Let Discover the World connect you to a number of community-led experiences that offer a different perspective on this jaw-dropping province.

Whale watch upon the Salish Sea, heading to the historic First Nation village site of Aupe on the People, Water, Land experience. Meet the Homalco peoples in their former village site, hearing stories, language, and legends.

Drive deep into valleys where the totems still keep watch over remote highways and new arrivals. Experience the rich culture of coastal British Columbia’s First Nations communities as you journey from rainforest to Rocky Mountains on the Totem Discovery Itinerary. Or head to community-owned lodges deep in the rainforest, to learn how bears, eagles and more are inextricably linked to Indigenous culture.

Head to a coastline seemingly undisturbed by time, where ancient cedars tower over mossy forest floors, and the arms of the fjords reach deep inland to towering glacial peaks.

The remote islands and inlets of British Columbia’s coastal Great Bear Rainforest – positioned between the Pacific Ocean, and the Coast Mountain Ranges – are one of the world’s last great wildernesses.

And the best way to see it is from the water. Join the Sailing the Great Bear Rainforest trip to see BC’s wildest coastline and mountains up-close. Keep your eyes peeled for orcas, eagles, wolves, black bears, grizzlies, and the rare and mysterious white kermode or Spirit Bear on these pristine, protected shores.

Cruise the shores of this temperate rainforest for seven nights aboard the Island Roamer, Island Odyssey or Island Solitude as you make your way from Bella Bella, sailing north to Terrace. With a maximum of 12 to 16 passengers, it’s an intimate experience.

Sometimes it’s the things you don’t plan for that become stand-out memories. The turning you take on a whim to a deserted sandy beach, lashed by giant waves. Or the chance encounter with a bear, as it strips berries from a roadside bush.

It’s all in front of you as you self-drive from the ocean to mountain peaks, passing countless gazing wooden eyes on the Totem Discovery trip.

Follow a circular route from Vancouver, and take in the abundant wildlife of Vancouver Island, rich culture of coastal British Columbia’s First Nations communities, and the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Choose your own path, pausing whenever the whim takes you, or a jaw-dropping view calls you to explore more deeply.

Take a scenic crossing to Vancouver Island, pausing for afternoon tea or maybe whale watching in Victoria, before heading north to Campbell River. Cruise along the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert; orcas, grey whales, humpback whales and sea lions all frequent these waters. Leave plenty of time as you drive between the mountain towns of Banff and Jasper; the turquoise lakes and countless glacial capped peaks that line the iconic Icefields Parkway provide ample welcome distractions. Then explore Canada’s gold rush heritage in Lillooet and scenic Whistler before ending your tour back in Vancouver.

Step away from the world for a moment, and cast away to a peaceful cove, sheer-sided fjord, or deeply forested inlet that seems to cushion time and sound itself.

Go where the roads can’t reach – and phone signals feel unimportant – as you maroon yourself at a bear-watching lodge for a few days.

Only accessible by float plane or boat, these remote conservation-focused outposts are located deep in BC’s wildest spots. Often part or fully owned by local Indigenous communities, they offer exceptional wildlife viewing and the opportunity to learn from and support the community. They’re also a great way to switch off and wind down surrounded by nature.

In the Great Bear Rainforest, at the floating Knight Inlet Lodge, dolphins and orca patrol the waters of the ocean inlet, as grizzlies gather by the shore. Head out on small boats from the lodge’s pontoon to explore. At Farewell Harbour, humpbacks frequent the misty channels of the Broughton Archipelago, where islands lie scattered like crumbs and bears forage coastal estuaries.

Spot the white-furred kermode bear at Spirit Bear Lodge, BC’s most remote wildlife viewing lodge. Or sleep beneath the pines on the waterfall-hewn shores of Desolation Sound at Klahoose Wilderness Resort, the closest lodge to Vancouver. After it all, return to ocean-side luxury, a hearty home-cooked meal, and the best sleep of your life.

There’s almost too much to do on this dramatic stretch of coast, where National Parks, windswept Pacific beaches, and cloud-topped rainforests all unfold one after another.

Book the Ultimate Pacific Coast Experience, to self-drive and explore Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast’s almost greedy array of wildlife, natural beauty, and off-the-beaten track spots you’ll have all to yourself.

From Vancouver, take the scenic Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler, with ocean fjords on one side and towering peaks on the other. Ride the gondola to the top of Whistler mountain and feel on top of the world. Board the ferry in Horseshoe Bay, and keep your eyes peeled for orca, humpbacks, and grey whales as you travel up the the Sunshine Coast.

Relax as the ferry takes you across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island, where the Pacific Rim National Park’s endless craggy coves, ancient forest, and winding paths invite you to explore. Bear or whale watch from surfing mecca, Tofino, before discovering Butchart Gardens, Victoria’s own 55-acres of blooms.