Outdoor adventure
4-Day sample itinerary
Victoria, BC is the ideal playground for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. On land, atop mountains, or at sea, outdoor activities are possible year-round thanks to our temperate climate. From ziplining through treetops to kayaking, diving, hiking or cycling, visitors will feel the rush adventuring in the wild, rugged beauty surrounding Victoria.
Suggested accommodations
Bold stays
Hotel Zed is the perfect style of accommodation for those that like to forge their own path. This hotel is like nothing you’ve ever seen before: stay in a retrofitted vintage Airstream trailer, challenge your travel-partner at the ping pong lounge, and enjoy the retro comic-books waiting for you in every room. The folks at Hotel Zed are rebels against the ordinary – a hotel made for like-minded adventure lovers!
Photo credit: @hotelzed (Instagram)
Room to roam
The Robin Hood Inn & Suites are a gateway to the great outdoors, providing several unique services and amenities that help people enjoy Victoria’s natural surroundings. Located near the Gorge and the Galloping Goose Trail, this hotel offers a large fleet of complimentary e-bikes, bikes, kayaks, and even paddle-boards to explore Victoria to your hearts content. The hotel takes on a “bring the outdoors, in” theme – with plenty of natural imagery decorating their rooms, and several outdoor picnic areas and lounges.
Photo credit: @robinhoodinnandsuites (Instagram)
Day one
Wild watrers
The waters surrounding Victoria are home to an abundance of marine wildlife, with the perfect conditions for whale watching. Humpback and orca are the primary whale species found in the area, but gray and minke whales are also frequently sighted. Sea lions, seals, porpoise, and a number of marine birds are also amongst our diverse marine residents.
Photo credit: @orcaspiritvic (Instagram)
Ocean encounters
Visitors can join local, certified naturalists for a guided marine adventure tour to see and learn about these animals first-hand. A marine wildlife tour usually includes a trip to Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, the most southern part of Canada on the Pacific coast and Canada’s first Marine Protected Area. You can choose between a smaller, zippier zodiac or covered boat for your wildlife viewing experience. Victoria’s whale watching tour operators are eager to provide memories of whale sightings that you’ll carry for the rest of your life.
Photo credit: Prince of Whales
Paddle play
It’s a day on the water! Sea kayaking with Ocean River Sports is the perfect way to explore Vancouver Island. Ocean River Adventures is one of North America’s premier paddle sport stores, tour companies and kayak instructional centres, in operation since 1981. The waters around Victoria offer enough coastline to keep even the most avid paddler busy for a lifetime. Lush green rainforests, towering mountain vistas and remote ocean islets are the standard backdrop to a paddler’s excursion in Victoria. To get to these magical places safely requires skill and experience. Ocean River Adventures focuses on instilling confidence through competence on the water.
Photo credit: @oceanriversports (Instagram)
Day two
Nature's path
You’ve taken to the seas, now it’s time to explore our coastal rainforests, Rainforest Tours offers guided adventures into the spectacular beauty of Victoria’s local hiking trails. Experience the natural beauty surrounding Victoria in a range of coastal hikes including East Sooke Park and the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. All trips include transportation to and from the hikes, a gourmet lunch, and an experienced, interpretive guide. Let Rainforest Tours offer an experience as rich as the island’s flora and fauna itself.
Photo credit: @rftours (Instagram)
Aerial adventure
Have you ever wanted to fly? At Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours, experience an exhilarating ride up to 60km/hr as you soar 150 feet off the ground on eight scenic zipline courses running through our lush, West Coast rainforests. The professionally trained guides emphasize safety and comfort, ensuring a ride full of thrills, jaw-dropping beauty and plenty of laughs. As you descend through the forest and over the cascading Sooke Hills, your guides will train you on important safety features and provide you with educational commentary on the local ecology and wildlife.
Photo credit: adrenalinezip (Instagram)
Day three
Elevated excitement
Spend the morning at WildPlay Element Parks in active adventure experiences, where you are challenged to overcome self-perceived limits. Featuring a combination of Tarzan swings, ziplines, scramble nets, swinging logs and other elements set up to 53 feet above ground level, Wildplay offers an aerial adventure that is challenging and interactive in a natural environment.
Photo credit: @wildplayvictoria (Instagram)
Scenic spins
After a morning of flying through the trees, spend the afternoon exploring Victoria by bike with Cycle BC.ca Rentals. Take to the streets on a bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle. With Canada’s largest selection of two wheeled excitement, Cycle BC offers the guaranteed best rate in the city. Wind through the twisting roadways of wine country, pedal along waterfront bike paths, cruise around the Pacific Marine Circle Route, or simply get where you’re going in style. Cycle BC offers equipment that is truly a step above, including BMW, Suzuki, Honda, and Harley Davidson motorcycles and work hard to deliver a seamless and trouble-free rental experience.
Cycle BC.ca RentalsDay four
Skyward journey
Step into the sky at the fully accessible Malahat SkyWalk. The spiral tower at the Malahat SkyWalk, perched 250m above the Finlayson Arm below, offers stunning views of the Saanich Peninsula, Salish Sea, and the Cascade mountains. Meander through our coastal rainforests as you approach the beautiful structure and learn about the brilliant history of our region along the way. Once you’re at the top, be sure to challenge your fears atop the walk-on net suspended above the structure and enjoy a slide down the SkyWalk for a burst of exhilaration and laughter you’ll remember for a lifetime. There’s always something going on at the SkyWalk, sample local food from around the island, jump in on a treetop yoga class, or enjoy live music amidst the breathtaking views. This remarkable attraction is a must-visit for any outdoor enthusiast.
Malahat SkyWalk
Winged wonders
The Cowichan Valley provides a great opportunity to connect with some of our region’s most fearsome predators. The Raptors offers compelling and interactive experiences with a variety of bird of prey species. Come face to face with hawks, vultures, falcons, and of course, bald eagles. Observe flying demonstrations and even get hands on with these massive predators. Guided by a team of biologists and falconers, The Raptors allows their birds unfettered access to the skies and encourage education about these magnificent species.
The Raptors
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