British Columbia holidays

What is the best option for a British Columbia holiday?

Multicultural Vancouver, in the south-west corner of British Columbia, has one of the most stunning natural settings in the world, sitting pretty between mountains and sea. The city also serves as a gateway to any British Columbia holidays, with every kind of outdoor activity imaginable on offer within easy reach, winter or summer, on land or water.

Vibrant Vancouver has all the attractions you would expect of a major city, especially one that was once voted 'Best City in the Americas' by Condé Nast Traveller, including art galleries, museums, great restaurants and shops, and even a superb aquarium that houses beluga whales and sea lions. Vancouver is an urban beauty dominated by Grouse Mountain and bordered by ocean waves. Marvel at magnificent modern architecture, feast on some of the country’s best cuisine and make your way to the North Shore for adventurous activities galore from rainforest hiking to mountain biking.

If Vancouver offers a taste of adventure, Vancouver Island is the real deal rugged, wilder side of Canada. The main island is the size of Wales but has a population similar to Brighton, making quiet isolation easy to find. The island's many protected areas are home to wildlife such as whales, eagles and bears, and its forests contain some of the largest trees in the world. Original Travel have visited the island often, and can organise activities such as forest treks, sea kayaking, mountain biking, riding and whale or bear-watching. In the untamed wilderness of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve - one of the best intact examples of temperate rainforest left on Earth - the extensive river system also offers outstanding fishing for silver salmon, king salmon, steelhead trout and other species.

A short journey up the 'Sea-to-Sky Highway' from Vancouver, Whistler is British Columbia's (and arguably North America's) leading adventure resort, both in winter and summer.

Special experiences in British Columbia

Experience the ancient First Nations tradition of sweat lodge ceremonies for a special insight into British Columbia’s captivating culture. Cosy up inside a dome-shaped structure and sweat out your toxins and negative energy as water is poured over hot rocks generating clouds of sweltering steam. Likened to the womb of Mother Earth, a sweat lodge experience is deeply spiritual and cultural, designed as a form of traditional healing that will leave you cleansed and balanced.