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Highlights
Drive among the incredible scenic beauty of Vancouver Island and the Pacific Northwest
See the sights of Seattle and explore the beautiful coast of Puget Sound.
Drive the scenic coastal roads of Vancouver Island to visit Victoria, Tofino, and Campbell River.
Stay in Whistler for amazing dining, shopping, and endless mountain adventures.
Take an exciting whale-watching zodiac tour to look for marine life and eagles in Clayoquot Bay.
The Pacific Northwest is full of diverse and beautiful landscapes for you to discover on this self-drive adventure. This itinerary leads you to the mountains and coastline so you can hike and explore Seattle, Whistler, and Vancouver Island.
The Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour begins in Puget Sound, where you’ll have time to visit Seattle and then travel to the spectacular Olympic Mountains. Then, it’s on to the charming towns on Vancouver Island before you return to the mainland. Your tour ends with a journey from sea to sky as you get to explore both the port city of Vancouver and the world-famous mountain resort, Whistler. The Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour is the perfect go-at-your-own pace adventure that features the pacific coast's remarkable and unique landscapes.
The Pacific Northwest is full of diverse and beautiful landscapes for you to discover on this self-drive adventure. This itinerary leads you to the mountains and coastline so you can hike and explore Seattle, Whistler, and Vancouver Island.
The Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour begins in Puget Sound, where you’ll have time to visit Seattle and then travel to the spectacular Olympic Mountains. Then, it’s on to the charming towns on Vancouver Island before you return to the mainland. Your tour ends with a journey from sea to sky as you get to explore both the port city of Vancouver and the world-famous mountain resort, Whistler. The Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour is the perfect go-at-your-own pace adventure that features the pacific coast's remarkable and unique landscapes.
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Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Seattle
Your tour officially begins today when you arrive in Seattle. Pick up a rental vehicle at the Seattle airport, and check into your hotel. You’re free for the rest of the day to explore Seattle.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Seattle
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Discover Seattle
Today, you will enjoy exploring this beautiful harbor city. You may want to start your day at the original Starbucks location and then take your coffee to go while you wander the famous Pike Place Market. You can also walk along the waterfront or visit the Chihuly Gardens & Glass Museum to view the incredible glassworks of this famous local artist. End your day with a trip up the Space Needle to view the skyline from the top of this free-standing tower.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Seattle
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 3 Journey to the Olympic Peninsula
Today, you’ll begin your road trip into the Olympic Mountains. Drive to the little city of Port Angeles, which will be your gateway to finding rugged sandy beaches, lush forests, and the beautiful Olympic Mountains.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Port Angeles
Distance: 140km
Meals: None
Day 4 Hiking in Olympic National Park
Spend the day hiking in Olympic National Park, where you’ll find numerous trails through the endless green of the rainforest and into the mountain valleys. You may also want to drive to some of the marked whale-watching spots along the Whale Trail to see if you can catch a glimpse of the enormous creatures. To cap off the day, you can stop at Sol Duc for a relaxing visit to the hot springs.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Port Angeles
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 5 Ferry to Canada
This morning, you’ll need to leave your rental car behind in Port Angeles and board the ferry to Vancouver Island. When you arrive in Victoria, you can pick up a new Canadian rental car and check into your hotel. Spend the afternoon visiting Victoria—make sure to stroll downtown in the evening to view the picture-perfect scenery of the harbour and government buildings covered in bright lights.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Victoria
Distance: 45km
Meals: None
Day 6 Downtown Victoria and Vancouver Island Drive
Take a quiet stroll along Dallas Road for a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains across the water, or visit the lively Fisherman’s Warf and Inner Harbour of downtown Victoria. Before you leave the city, you may want to book the optional Scenic Seaplane Tour that showcases the breathtaking Juan De Fuca Strait and the mountains surrounding this pretty city. In the afternoon, you’ll start your drive up-island through the temperate rainforest to the remote surf town of Tofino.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Tofino
Distance: 315km
Meals: None
Day 7 Whale Watching and Nature Walks
Begin your day with a coffee from a cute café like Rhino Tofino and take a stroll to watch the surf crash into the beach. Then, you can take a free walking tour in Pacific Rim National Park and hike through the lush forests. In the afternoon, you’ll take a zodiac whale-watching tour of Clayoquot Bay and look for whales, seals, sea lions, eagles, and other marine life.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Tofino
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 8 Visit the Cathedral Grove
Continue your road trip north towards Campbell River. Stop at Cathedral Grove Provincial Park for a walk through the ancient Douglas firs that soar above you. Spend the evening discovering the charming town of Campbell River.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Campbell River
Distance: 270km
Meals: None
Day 9 Outdoor Adventures in Campbell River
Today, you’ll be exploring the beautiful hiking trails in Elk Falls Provincial Park. Take a hike to view the spectacular waterfalls and cross a dramatic suspension bridge over the canyon. You can also book a wildlife tour to get to know the local fauna.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Campbell River
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 10 Scenic Drive to Parksville
This morning, you’ll take the spectacular coastal drive down to Parksville. Spend the day relaxing at Qualicum Beach and exploring the treasures of Parksville.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Parksville
Distance: 125km
Meals: None
Day 11 Journey from Sea to Sky
Drive to Nanaimo and take the ferry back to the mainland. Enjoy the scenic ride and watch for whales and other marine wildlife on the journey to Horseshoe Bay. Then, you’ll take the Sea to Sky Highway into the mountains to Whistler. You’ll have two nights to enjoy this spectacular ski resort village.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Whistler
Distance: 200km
Meals: None
Day 12 Play All Day in Whistler
You have the whole day to enjoy everything Whistler has to offer. Take a scenic gondola ride for incredible mountain views, go hiking, or even take advantage of the thrilling mountain biking tracks. You could also spend the entire day exploring the shops and world-class restaurants in the pedestrian village.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Whistler
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 13 Discover Vancouver
Take a final stroll through Whistler before you begin your drive to Vancouver. When you arrive, you can check in to your hotel and then head out to explore the city. Go for a walk around Stanley Park, or visit historic Gastown and Chinatown. You have the option to book an hour Vancouver Harbour cruise, which is the perfect way to end the day.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Vancouver
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 14 Spend Another Day Exploring Vancouver
You have another full day to spend in Vancouver. You could visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge or challenge yourself on the 3-kilometre trail of stone stairs on Grouse Mountain known as the Grouse Grind. If you stay in the city for the day, walk up and down Commercial Drive or Main Street to brush shoulders with the locals. Take your pick of several delectable restaurants and breweries while you’re here.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Vancouver
Distance: 120km
Meals: None
Day 15 Final Day
Your tour officially ends when you return your rental vehicle to the Vancouver International Airport. Take your flight home or continue on the next stop on your journey.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: None
Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour Price and Dates
This self-guided tour of the Pacific Northwest is run as private tour for your group only, and the price per person depends on how many people are in your group, as well as your travelling dates.Prices below are per person:
- Groups of 2+: from CAD2550 per person*
Accommodation on Pacific Northwest Discovery
This tour is based on hotel accommodations. Hotels on this trip are standard 3-star and offer comfortable rooms with modern conveniences. Your hotels have been selected to be in convenient locations along your route.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. Single rooms, including those for solo travellers, are by request.
What’s Included in the Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour?
Meals
Meals are not included in this tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 14 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour in Seattle and after the tour in Vancouver are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
This is a self-drive tour; however, your rental vehicles in the US and Canada are not included. The ferries between Port Angeles and Victoria, and Nanaimo and Vancouver are included.
Also Included
- Zodiac whale-watching tour of Clayoquot Bay from Tofino
- Ferry between Port Angeles (USA) and Victoria (Canada)
- Ferry between Nanaimo and Vancouver
- Canadian taxes
- American taxes
- 24/7 access to helpline
Not included
- Flights to Seattle, Washington and from Vancouver, BC
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Guide service
- Optional activities
- Entrance fees to national parks
- Gratuities for tour guides or other staff if desired
- Vehicle insurance
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Optional activities or excursions:
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- Seaplane tour of Victoria and Juan de Fuca Strait (20 Minutes)
- 1 Hour Vancouver harbour tour
- How hard is the Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour?
- Is my driver’s licence valid in Canada and the United States?
- What does partially-guided mean?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Canada or the US?
- Are meals included on the Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Seattle to start this tour?
- Is the Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour in English?
- Where does the Pacific Northwest Self-Drive Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Canada or the USA?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Canada or the USA?
- When is the best time to travel to Canada for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 1 / 5. This tour has a flexible itinerary that allows you to choose the hikes and activities so that you can tailor them to your fitness level.
Most standard driver’s licences are valid in Canada and the United States; however, International Drivers Permit might be required, or some exemptions might apply. Please check these sources about driving with foreign license in Canada and in the United States.
Booking a partially-guided tour is a perfect choice for those who like to be in charge of some of their time while travelling, but also don’t want to be on their own during activities. In most cases, a partially-guided tour doesn’t have a tour leader assigned to a group, but some or most of the activities, such as hikes, city walks, or historic site visits, are led by different guides. Also, in most cases, booking a partially-guided tour is way cheaper than booking a fully-guided tour!
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Meals are not included in this tour.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover any activities you plan to do. Get your Travel Insurance.
Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in Washington. You can rent a vehicle directly from the airport.
The route guide, maps, and programs provided will be in English.
This tour ends in Vancouver, BC. You can fly out of the Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to the Pacific Northwest for this overland tour is during the summer and early fall to avoid the rainy days that cloud the rest of the year. This tour is available from June to October.
Customer Ratings
In the two decades since Toundra Voyages Inc. was founded in 1998, the company has become North America’s go-to travel agency in customized independent and group tourism.
Tounda takes a flexible, responsive approach to developing adventure travel tours. By listening to the wants and wishes of travellers, they’ve been able to create memorable, affordable tours complemented by impeccable service.
Toundra’s mission is to create and organize tailor-made travel. They select, adapt, and personalize travel experiences in North America for each and every guest, ensuring your adventure is one you’ll never forget.
Meeting your expectations is just the beginning of what Toundra aims to accomplish. Exceeding them by providing exceptional experiences in beautiful North America is their standard, and their track record of knockout customer service and customized tour planning speaks for itself.
