British Columbia‘s world-famous wilderness offers seemingly endless places to explore. It has towering first-growth forests, wild rocky coastlines, languid mountain ranges and arid, interior deserts.
So, there’s no denying that Canada’s westernmost provinces is brimming with natural beauty. But add in Vancouver’s ultra-modern skyline, Victoria’s historical centre, and a ton of tiny towns brimming with laidback artsy vibes, and BC becomes a domestic destination suited for just about anyone.
As a travel writer who was born and raised on a small island in British Columbia (hi, Salt Spring!), here are some of my top spots. My hope is to help you nail down a 5-day British Columbia travel itinerary. It should check a lot of your must-see boxes, while maybe also flagging some hidden gems.
Note: British Columbia is a big place. While you can technically travel to all of these places in five days, my recommendation is to stay a minimum of two nights in each location. This gives you time to settle in, try at least a couple of activities/restaurants, and get a good feel for the place. But if you only have five days off work, I get it. So, buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride!
Related: Bustling B.C. Cities That are Cheaper Than Vancouver or Victoria
British Columbia Day 1: Whistler
Most people have heard of Whistler as a peak winter destination. But this mountaintop resort town is so much more than snowy slopes and chair lifts. Visiting Whistler during the “off seasons” means you’ll have unfettered access to amazingly maintained parks (see above: Brandywine Falls Provincial Park) and easier access to otherwise sold-out experiences and restaurants.
Complete the hot/cold circuit at Scandinave Spa Whistler at your own pace. Without the crowds of recovering skiers surrounding you, really soak in the silence of the surrounding Coast Mountains and old-growth rainforest. Book a table at Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar and taste the freshest ingredients from local British Columbian farms, fields and shores. As an early pioneer of the farm-to-table dining movement, Araxi really gets it right.
GET THERE: Land in Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Rent a car, or take one of the many bus transfers, such as YVR Skylynx up to Whistler Village.
Related: So You Want to Rent a Motorhome? Here’s What You Need to Know
British Columbia Day 2: Courtenay
Tofino gets lots of hype for being the the place to visit on British Columbia’s “Big Island”. While that’s well deserved (Tofino is indeed stunning!), Courtenay and the Comox Valley is a diamond in the rough.
Tucked up on the east coast of Vancouver Island, this thriving outdoorsy town boasts a bustling ski mountain (Mt. Washington) in the winter and world-class bike trails for days in the summer (see above).
Kingfisher Pacific Resort & Spa is a stunning oceanside base from which to explore (and return to feast at Ocean7 Restaurant). While there, visit the recently opened Healing Caves, a full-body hot/cold guided spa circuit with integrated visuals, sounds and scents.
Book a two-hour round of disc golf at nearby Smith Lake Farm (recently voted “Small Business of the Year” by the local Chamber of Commerce). Be sure to visit the farm’s buzzing bee yard too, where they offer apiary tours and beekeeping courses.
GET THERE: Drive south to BC Ferries Horseshoe Bay terminal going to Nanaimo (1 hour 45 mins.). From the ferry terminal it’s just over 1 hour drive north along highway BC-19. There are bus routes also available during the summer months.
Related: The Best Places in Canada to See Cherry Blossoms
British Columbia Day 3: Salt Spring Island
The largest of British Columbia’s Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island is blessed with a temperate micro climate and a massive maker and crafters scene. The Salt Spring Saturday Market is an institution that stretches back to the ’70s, when locals would gather during the summer to sell each other the overflow from their gardens or studio. (My mum used to sell our farm’s eggs and runner beans out of the back of a blue VW van.)
Fresh food is never far away here. It could be a family-style seafood platter at Feast, an almond pain au chocolat from Francis Bread, or a Salt Spring Fruitsicles lime-cream popsicle (it’s their best flavour!)
Tucked down in the rural south end of the island, Stowell Lake Farm offers a myriad of wellness retreats. It also has an amazing farm stand stocked with veggies, flowers, salad dressings, fresh pesto and the best salted chocolate oatmeal cookies.
Just a little further down the road is Salt Spring Cheese Farm. Here you can buy made-that-day cheese and pet a baby goat. The goat’s milk ice cream is a must, as is enjoying a wood-fired pizza in their magical gardens. Ruckle Heritage Farm in Ruckle Provincial Park is the oldest working farm in the Gulf Islands and is the perfect place for an afternoon walk along the waterfront. You may even spot a Highland cow or two.
GET THERE: Drive south 1.5 hours to Crofton Ferry Terminal and take the boat across to Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island. While there are some bus routes that service these areas, if possible, hire a rental car for this leg of the itinerary.
Related: Get Free Entry Into National Parks With the Canada Strong Pass
British Columbia Day 4: Victoria
As the capital of British Columbia, Victoria has a lot going for it. It has a well-preserved historic downtown, impressive parliament buildings, and all the industry and infrastructure that come with its political status. But it’s the little hidden spots that make this small-scale city so delightful.
While Ferris Grill & Garden Patio is a great spot for a meal, actually go past it and head straight upstairs. There you’ll find Perro Negro, a cozy tapas bar with an extensive menu of Spanish-inspired nibbles paired with unique Iberian and BC wines.
If live music is your jam, look up what’s playing at St. Ann’s Academy Auditorium. Once part of a Catholic teaching and nursing college, this charming heritage theatre is decked out with 200 vintage wooden seats and stained-glass windows.
Before you go out dancing, though, stop in to cruise the sales rack at Footloose. This iconic local shoe store is always stocked with cult-following brands such as Woden and Sister x Soeur.
For a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, neighbouring Discovery Coffee and Yonni’s Donuts pack a one-two punch. Unassuming from the outside, these local coffee roasters and from-scratch donut makers are worth walking into.
GET THERE: Take a ferry from Fulford Harbour, at the south end of Salt Spring Island, to Swartz Bay Terminal (near Sidney). There are regular buses going from the terminal to downtown Victoria. There is also a rental car pickup/drop off at the nearby Victoria International Airport (YYJ).
Related: Canada Is Among the World’s Most Popular Destinations
British Columbia Day 5: Osoyoos
British Columbia’s coast is all flashy and “look at me!” with its sparkly ocean and frolicking orcas. But this province’s interior has its own story to tell. It’s one that includes rolling mountains, crystal clear lakes, sage-filled deserts, and vineyards as far as the eye can see.
Kelowna is the biggest city in BC’s interior Okanagan region and has lots to offer. But on this trip we’re leaving behind the fun-in-the-sun-seeking crowds and heading south to the friendly town of Osoyoos. With the warmest swimming lake in all of Canada — averaging 24°C (75°F) in July and August — any water sport you can think of you can do on Osoyoos Lake.
Wander along 1.5 kms of elevated walkways winding throughout the Osoyoos Desert Centre, and discover the layers of wildlife that live and thrive in British Columbia’s desert. Move on to the state-of-the-art Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and deepen your knowledge of the surrounding lands and the vibrant, living culture of the Osoyoos Indian Band.
In the summertime, throw a stone (or a stone-fruit pit?) and you’ll hit a fruit orchard. Many of them sell boxes of peaches, nectarines, apricots or cherries picked straight from the trees. Same goes with vineyards and their world-class wines — choose any, you really can’t go wrong!
GET THERE: WestJet, Air Canada and Pacific Coastal Airlines all fly from YYJ to Osoyoos during the summer season, and direct to Kelowna year round. Osoyoos is a 1.5 hour drive south of Kelowna; there is also a connecting bus service.
Related: 10 Unexpected Sunny Destinations for Your Winter Escape
