Itinerary

DAY 1     Victoria, BC
Arrivals in the afternoon to the hotel in Victoria, check-in time is 3:00 p.m. A welcome dinner at the hotel will be followed by an orientation to the program and introductions.
Accommodations: Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites

DAY 2     Victoria, BC
Leaving directly from the Inner Harbour, your guides will lead you on an excellent ride around Greater Victoria, through the vibrant and historic Inner Harbour core, through historic James Bay. This quaint seaside village includes the childhood home of Emily Carr, one of Canada’s most famous artists. From here we cycle along the spectacular Victoria waterfront, into gorgeous and idyllic Oak Bay neighborhoods. Enjoy sights such as Beacon Hill Park, Emily Carr House, “The Castle” and many serene island seascapes then return to downtown Victoria.

After lunch at a local bistro, join a local historian for a walking tour of Victoria. Walk through Old Town, the historic heart of Victoria. Victoria is the most "British" of all cities in Canada and boasts prominent reminders of its colonial past: elegant Victorian and Edwardian-era mansions, stately hotels and impressive architecture around every corner. Dinner and free time to explore Victoria's vibrant downtown and inner harbour.
Accommodations: Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites

DAY 3     Sidney, BC
Today we utilize a number of trails which make of Victoria’s extensive cycling network, including the Colquitz River Trail, Glendale Trail and Interurban Rail Trail which lead us to the Highlands. After lunch we make a special stop at the Butchart Gardens to enjoy a truly amazing abundance of horticultural mastery. Leaving the gardens we meet up with the Galloping Goose Trail, the local cycling trail network, which will takes us through local farms, past bird sanctuaries and over trestle bridges. The trail passes through all types of classic British Columbian terrain; coniferous forests merge to streams and rivers, passing close to beaches, above roaring rivers, and around pristine lakes. We cycle on to our destination for the evening - Gateway to the Gulf Islands - Sidney.
Accommodations: Sidney Pier Hotel and Spa

DAY 4     Cowichan Bay, BC
This morning we set out and ride from Sidney to the beautiful Brentwood Bay via the Lands End Road. From here we board a ferry known as “Vancouver Islands Most Beautiful Short Cut” across the Saanich Inlet to the Cowichan Valley which offers cyclists the serenity of an ocean vista against an unparalleled and picturesque backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Winding gradually along the gorgeous eastern shoreline of Southern Vancouver Island, riders will enjoy the people, unique villages, seascapes, and aboriginal cultures of Mill Bay, Cobble Hill, and ultimately, our destination for the day at Cowichan Bay. Enjoy a wine tasting tour at one of Vancouver Island’s finest vineyards, Cherry Point. The Cowichan tribes have a fantastic tasting room and multi-use ceremony facility among one of the largest and most established vineyards in the region.

After lunch at Merridale Estate Cidery, we explore the Maritime Marine Centre Museum. With a reputation for excellence, the Maritime Centre offers hands on courses in traditional boat building techniques and restoration. Skillfully hand-crafted models of historic ships are housed in the museum at the end of the pier. Meet Coast Salish artist and carver Herb Rice as he demonstrates his carving techniques used to produce traditional Native carvings, totems and custom carved doors commissioned world wide. Hear about the efforts made to preserve the Salish Coast people's heritage. Dinner at a local bistro serving locally produced and prepared menu.
Accommodations: Oceanfront Grand Resort and Marina

DAY 5     Salt Spring Island
After a delicious breakfast we transfer by van to Chemainus, where artists from around the globe were invited to paint huge heritage murals on the sides of buildings, transforming a small coastal mill town into the world's largest outdoor art gallery. Walk through this delightful gallery before cycling north along the east coast of Vancouver Island to Crofton where we board a short ferry to Vesuvius on the northwest corner of Salt Spring Island, the largest and most famous of the Southern Gulf Islands. After cycling the northwest loop via Mary’s Lake we arrive into our destination for the evening, Ganges. In an expert led presentation on Gulf Islands history learn about the natural and human history of the area. After dinner take some time to explore the town of Ganges. Salt Spring Island has long been known for the many artists that live and work there, including the well-known naturalist artist, Robert Bateman.
Accommodations: Harbour House Hotel

DAY 6     Salt Spring Island
Transfer by van to Booth Bay to explore Pacific marine wildlife with an expert marine biologist. On an interpretive beach walk learn about the area’s marine wildlife with regards to food from the ocean locally and the biological and related implications of various approaches to food harvesting and aquaculture. This afternoon we cycle to the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company for an on-site tour and tasting. Salt Spring Island Cheese Company specializes in handmade goat and sheep cheeses. The company began making cheese in 1994 and started selling it in 1996. Principally, they're known for their chèvres, although they also make several other types of goat cheeses (feta cheeses, surface ripened cheeses, and even a hard cheese).
Accommodations: Harbour House Hotel

DAY 7     Victoria, BC
Spend the morning at the Salt Spring Market. Take the opportunity to individually explore one of Canada's famous markets. All vendors must follow a simple mandate: "make it, bake it, or grow it," and all products must be "vendor produced and sold". Highest caliber creativity and production standards make Salt Spring Island home to the greatest collection of artists in Canada. Enjoy meeting more than 140 artisans and food producers who all contribute to Salt Spring's international reputation as a hotbed of world-class artists and organic farmers. Following lunch we transfer by van to board the ferry and set sail for our return to Vancouver Island. Back on Vancouver Island we will cycle the Lochside Trail, a part of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail. This portion of Greater Victoria’s network of reclaimed railway line and commuter trails has been transformed into a popular recreational corridor where cyclists will traverse bird sanctuaries, active farmlands, seaside trails and train trestles back to Victoria. Incredible views of the Coastal Mountains, including the massive Mount Baker volcano, make for unparalleled vistas and photo opportunities. A farewell dinner in Victoria then review of our week's adventures, complete evaluations and bid farewell.
Accommodations: Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites

DAY 8     
Independent departures from Victoria after breakfast. Check-out time is 11:00 a.m.

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