DAY ONE 13th September 2008: Arrive into Vancouver International Airport where we pick up our Minibus. We will board the B.C. Ferry for the very picturesque 95-minute cruise through the southern gulf Islands to Victoria. Once we have settled into our hotel, we will have a Welcome Dinner to meet Darren Copley our local Naturalist who will be our Guide for the next four days, and who wiil update us about our evening owl watch

• Overnight Queen Victoria Hotel & Suites
• Welcome Dinner included tonight
• Baggage Handling (2 bags per client)

DAY TWO After breakfast we should be on the road by 8.00am to experience our first of the old growth forests on our visit to Witty’s Lagoon and if time allows Goldstream Park. There are many species of wildlife, which inhabit the forest and the Lagoon. We will have a picnic lunch, (as with most days) while scouting for the magnificent American Bald Eagles. We will be back at the hotel late afternoon to allow us the rest of the day to relax and enjoy Victoria. The Royal British Columbia (Natural History) Museum is on our agenda.

• Full Canadian Breakfast included
• Naturalist Guide (Darren Copley) and birder expert full day
• Box Lunch included
• Admission included to the royal BC Museum
• Full Dinner at QV included: Overnight QVHotel

DAY THREE  This morning we leave at about 8.30am, for our trip to Discovery Island and the Chain Islands. We will hike Discovery Island, and enjoy today’s picnic lunch while taking in the breathtaking scenery and spectacular views. We aim to see various species of marine birds, not forgetting Otters, Sea Lions and the playful Seals. Killer Whales (Orcas) have been known to forage amongst the kelp here. Allowing for photo-stops we should be back at the Hotel by 3.30 pm. The rest of the day is yours. How about a stroll down to Victoria’s Inner Harbour and waterfront?

• Breakfast Included
• Meet Naturalist full day
• Charter Boat over to the Island and back in afternoon
• Box Lunch included
• Full Dinner included. Overnight Victoria

DAY FOUR Gowlland Todd Provincial Park is today’s treat. We will hike up into the highlands to look for high soaring Raptors, particularly Eagles and Turkey Vultures, as well as other species. It is here that we will have our picnic lunch. Possibly back to our hotel by about 3.00pm. Time to experience the wonder of downtown Victoria, Canada’s Garden City! Possibly see the nesting Herons (that are being harassed by Eagles) in Beacon Hill Park, and if you wish, some shopping? With the Canadian rate of exchange everything is nearly ½ price! Victoria’s ‘Tilley’ shop to buy a bush hat?

• Breakfast included
• Meet Naturalist for full day birding
• Box lunch included
• Dinner included: Overnight Victoria
  

DAY FIVE Today’s gem is East Sooke Provincial Park on the Southern tip of Vancouver Island. It's here that south-bound migrating raptors gather from mid September to late October. At the peak of migration, as many as 1000 Turkey Vultures can be seen soaring on the thermals. Other species we expect to see are Red tailed Hawks, and the American Kestrel, to name but a few. This is another magnificent area for birds, Oyster Catchers, Herons, Warblers and Loons should be a common sight. We will probably also see Sea Lions, and if we are lucky enough Killer Whales frequent this coastline in the summer. After our picnic lunch we will be back to our hotel late afternoon, probably by 4.00pm. It is now that we part company with Darren. After our goodbyes, the rest of the day is free.

• Full Breakfast: Naturalist full day: Box Lunch: Dinner Included Overnight Victoria

DAY SIX After an early breakfast, we say goodbye to Victoria, as you board the train from Down Town Victoria for the scenic trip up Island to Nanaimo, where I will be meet you with your baggage in the minibus to take us to our Hotel. From here, we board our Vessel for a fifteen minute bosat ride to Snake Island, a Bird Sanctuary that the American Bald Eagles use for spotting Salmon. It is also a resting place for Stella and California Sealions and Seals. If you wish you can put on a wetsuit (optional) and snorkel with the playful Harbour Seals, (sea conditions permitting). Those of you that are qualified can join me and scuba dive the Artificial Reef on the other side of the Island (optional). Lunch today will be in the Nanaimo. After lunch we will be out on the boat again for more wildlife viewing. This evening we can have dinner in the “Dinghy Dock,” floating Pub.

• Early Morning breakfast and check-out
• E&N railway to Nanaimo. the minibus goes to Nanaimo with luggage and picks up clients at the station, and transfers to hotel Coast Bastion.
• Boat Trip.
• Hotel lunch.
• Dinner is included.
  

DAY SEVEN Time to cross to the West Coast. Port Alberni, Ucluelet & Tofino
Early breakfast as we depart from the hotel at 06.30; our drive to Port Alberni will take us through an old growth Temperate Rain Forest. I will put you on board the Lady Rose or the Francis Barkley at 08.00 for a trip through the calm waters of the Alberni Fiord that will open up into the breathtaking Barkley Sound & the Broken Islands Group. Endless, enthralling scenery, so have your camera and binoculars ready for constant use. When the Ship stops at Ucluelet you will dis-embark where I shall be waiting to take you into the village of Ucluelet to experience the Wild Pacific Trail. Then onto Tofino passing the West Coast’s Long Beach. 21 kilometres of wild beach, sand and surf that looks out onto the Pacific Ocean. After dinner, immerse yourself in the surrounding beauty of Canada’s Clayoquot wilderness.

• Breakfast Included: Lunch Voucher included. Lady Rose Marine Group to Ucluelet
• Check-in to Orca Lodge, Tofino. Dinner included

DAY EIGHT 2 hour Bear watch and half day with park naturalist Bill McIntyre
Today we board the boat to take us again into the heart of the Clayoquot Wilderness this time to look for the Island Black Bear. Smaller than the mainland black bear, it invariably does not hibernate in the winter due to the Island’s temperate climate. Abundant to the West Coast of Vancouver Island, they make their presence known when the tides are low. This is the time for us to cruise up the sheltered inlets of Clayoquot Sound to find them and their cubs foraging on the rocky beaches to feed on the crabs, fish, and clams. These moments offer magnificent opportunities to view the Black Bear in their natural habitat.

We will not be leaving the boat while observing the bears, and although wildlife attendance is not guaranteed, the success rate is very high. Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals, Porpoises, Blue Herons, even Raccoons may "join" the tour! We will travel past ancient temperate rain forests that range in age from 700 to 1500 years. And of course the Bird life will not be in short supply.

Our local Native Guide will passionately share with us the scientific, historic and native folklore throughout the entire cruise. Total trip time is approximately 2 to 2 ½ hours in length.
As usual cameras and binoculars must not be forgotten
After lunch, the next 3 to 4 hours will be spent in the company of Bill McIntyr, a local Naturalist, who knows the area intimately. Bill will be showing us some hidden gems that are found in the Pacific Rim National Park all part of the Clayoquot Wilderness area.

• Breakfast included
• Black Bear Watching tour: Lunch in Tofino included: Naturalist in Pacific Rim National Park, Bill McIntyre; (Long Beach Nature Tours:Dinner: Overnight Tofino.
  

DAY NINE With our packed lunch we board our boat to take once us once again into the heart of the stunning Clayoquot Wilderness (a United Nations Protected Area). We will be traveling by the summer feeding bays of the Grey Whale and a multitude of wild life and bird life which live in the old growth forests. Our Native naturalist guides take pride in sharing explanations of local flora and fauna. Also the guides whose families have been here for generations, are well versed in the areas that are rich with Native History and folklore. Where possible the boat will make stops for you to photograph the local marine wild life, Eagles and their Aeries, Great Blue Herons, seals, sea-lions and possibly porpoise, which are abundant in the area. Our guide will stop at an off-shore Bird sanctuary, where 9 different species of birds share the rocky island to nest and breed. A few of the birds represented in the Clayoquot region include Tufted Puffins and Herman Gulls. We should be back by 4.00pm lots of time to enjoy the atmosphere of Tofino. A favourite of mine is the Long House and Art Gallery of Roy Henry Vickers, an important part of Tofino’s culture as well as its atmosphere.

• Breakfast included
• Walk the Wild Side (Full Day). First Nations Guide included
• Whale Watching also included on this tour
• Free Evening, Dinner included. Overnight Tofino

DAY TEN Today is our last day in Tofino. So we will board a boat to get in our last few hours of whale watching. Apart from the migratory Grey Whales we hope to see some Orcas. If the conditions are good our Boatman / Guide may take us out further to look for the Pelagics. After lunch it is time to say goodbye to this picturesque dream as we depart for Port Alberni where we will spend the evening and night in this historical Mill Town. Time is our own to enjoy the quaint shops and atmosphere of this old logging community.

• Breakfast included
• Lunch included in Tofino
• Overnight Port Alberni at Coast Hospitality Inn with Dinner included

DAY ELEVEN Check-out time is 8.30 approx. Then a leisurely drive with a stop at Cathedral Grove, an old preserved Temperate Rain Forest. From here we drive into Coombs, a restored pioneer town with very quaint, (some say eccentric) shops. After lunch we board our BC Ferry to Vancouver where we will spend our last two nights. This evening is free to enjoy the ambience of the City.

• Breakfast is included
• Tour to Coombs Country Market (Goats on roof): Lunch included: BC Ferries to Vancouver
• Check in to Hotel Century Plaza. Dinner is included tonight

DAY TWELVE Today is a free day to enjoy the City. Or may I suggest we go to visit the world famous Whistler Village with a stop at Shannon falls, taking our boxed lunches with us.

• Breakfast included: Box Lunch:
• Dinner is included
• Overnight Century Plaza Hotel
  

DAY THIRTEEN Today is our last full day in Vancouver. There is so much to see and do in this awesome City. This day is intended for you independent, unaccompanied exploration fo the city, so lunch will not be proivided. But don’t forget we have our farewell dinner tonight.

• Breakfast included
• Farewell Dinner included
• Overnight Century Plaza Hotel

DAY FOURTEEN After breakfast check out of our hotel. For that last minute shopping, before we drive to Vancouver International Airport for our journey home with new friends and fond memories.

• Breakfast Included:
  

This tour is customized with Ornithologists in mind by MagnificentCanada.co.uk; which is part of the RED BOX Travel & Leisure family. Red Box is fully licensed and bonded.

Please be advised that you are responsible for your own Medical and Travel Insurance, which we at Red Box Travel are happy to quote for you..
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If we consider it is in all our interests, then the itinerary could be subject to change.

Sorry, no children under the age of 16 years.

The itinerary includes the following:

• Transfers and transportation in a 15 passenger tourer minibus. Driven by Mike Campbell who will also be your Tour Guide and Manager throughout
• 13 nights accommodation. Minimum 3*
• 13 breakfasts
• 12 lunches Day’s 2 - 11 (Day 1; Lunch will be served on the flight)
• 13 dinners
• All excursions, all tours, all sightseeing, as written into the itinerary
• One evening programme of owl watching

NOT INCLUDED:

• Gratuities (at your own discretion)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Non alcoholic beverages (that are not served with you daily meals)
• Lunch on DAY 13
• Lunch & Dinner on DAY 14
• Scuba Diving

The tour will depart UK on 13 September 2008, returning on 26 September 2008, please refer to this page later for flight and price details.

Telephone Red Box Travel on 01825 760488 for flight advice and booking enquiries