West Coast Wilderness at Nimmo Bay Resort - 8 Days

Highlights

• Take a scenic flight over the spine of the Coastal Range through remote wilderness
• Stay in luxurious oceanside cabins, with a floating sauna and hot tub
• Choose your daily adventure, from heli-tours to grizzly bear viewings
• Escape off the grid completely and reconnect with nature & the outdoors
• Meals are seasonally and sustainably sourced from the freshest local ingredients

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver

Fringed by the Pacific Ocean and backed by the coastal mountains, Vancouver is one of the world's most livable cities with some of North America's best cuisine and opportunities for outdoor activities. 

It takes around 30 minutes to get from the airport to the downtown core. The city center and surrounding neighborhoods and attractions are within easy walking (or biking) distance. To get your bearings, start with a stroll along the seawall from English Bay to False Creek. Better yet, rent a bike and spend the afternoon exploring Stanley Park, Kitsilano, and the seawall to work up your appetite for dinner. 

With over 60 different cultures, pick from a variety of international restaurants serving anything from Asian cuisine to seasonal farm-to-table dishes. For dinner, choose from a selection of top-notch eateries—from downtown and the West End to the North Shore and Kitsilano. Keep in mind, Vancouverites love eating out any day of the week so be sure to make a reservation if it's a popular restaurant.

Day 2: Explore Vancouver's Downtown & Neighborhoods

Most of Vancouver’s highlights, galleries, and colorful neighborhoods (as listed, below) are within easy walking distance. Better yet, rent a bike and explore on two wheels as Vancouver is well set up with bike lanes.

Stanley Park: A 400-hectare park coastal rainforest park reserve in the heart of Vancouver with dozens of walking and biking trails and over half a million trees. The most popular route is to follow the seawall loop 6-mile (10-km) around the entire park with views of the city and North Vancouver. It's a great place to exercise, have a picnic, or simply relax on the beaches on its western edge.  

Granville Island: An eclectic collection of art galleries, studios, boutique shops, and the vibrant Granville Island Public Market (not to mention the Emily Carr University of Art + Design). Best to come around lunchtime when the markets are full of life or in the evening for dinner.

Kitsilano ("Kits"): Just west of Granville Island, this lively neighborhood has some of Vancouver's best shopping streets, restaurants, and beaches. Grab a bite to eat along 4th street and then head to Kits Beach and walk or bike the seawall around Kits Point. Kits Beach is another great spot to enjoy an evening picnic and bottle of wine as the sun goes down.

Day 3: Fly from Vancouver to Nimmo Bay Resort (2 hours)

From Vancouver, you'll have two short flights to Nimmo Bay Resort with a stopover in Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. The resort sits on the southern edge of the Great Bear Rainforest, where you'll be surrounded by untouched wilderness and completely disconnected from the internet and cell-phone service. On your first day, settle into your cabin perched on the ocean's edge and get introduced to this family-run resort where you'll be spending your days. 

Flying time (Vancouver to Port Hardy): 50 minutes
Flying time (Port Hardy to Nimmo Bay Resort): 20 minutes

Days 4-6: Immerse Yourself in the Great Bear Rainforest

Choose from a variety of activities each day that are included in your stay at Nimmo Bay Resort (as well as "add-on" experiences, such as heli-tours). Options include sea kayaking, paddleboarding, yoga, bear watching, and fishing. If you're simply looking to relax, head to the cedar-paneled hot tub perched underneath a waterfall with a bottle of a local IPA. In the evenings, you can paddle out to the floating sauna then enjoy gourmet meals to the sounds of the great outdoors.

Paddleboarding: This is a great way to explore the nearby waters of the resort and get close to the local marine life. Paddle through small canyons and along the lush shoreline to nearby waterfalls.

Sea kayaking: Head out for a paddle in the waters surrounding Nimmo Bay where you can catch sight of orcas, humpback whales, and black bears foraging along the shore. 

Day Hikes: There are numerous trails to explore around the resort as well as farther afield. Follow the Big Nimmo Trail to explore the shoreline, rainforest trails, waterfalls, and rivers or hike up Mt. Stevens (5,500 ft.) for a more challenging adventure. 

Wildlife Tours: Given its rich biodiversity and salmon runs, the Great Bear Rainforest is a great place to safely view black bears and grizzly bears in their natural habitat. With an experienced guide, you'll head out to view these animals from a safe distance. 

Personalized Heli-Tours: Make use of a helicopter to access remote fishing spots and glacier hiking opportunities of your choosing.

Day 7: Fly from Nimmo Bay Resort to Vancouver (2 hours)

Enjoy your last morning of activities at Nimmo Bay Resort. After lunch, you'll catch a float plane flight to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, from where you'll catch another flight back to Vancouver. 

Flying time (Nimmo Bay Resort to Port Hardy): 20 minutes
Flying time (Port Hardy to Vancouver): 50 minutes

Day 8: Depart Vancouver

Grab an early breakfast at one of Vancouver's popular cafes before making your way to the airport. If you're feeling indulgent, splurge on a seaplane harbor tour to take in the magnificent scenery of the mountain-and-sea-dominated city from a new perspective. Alternatively, head to Stanley Park for a bike ride around the seawall or a run through the forested trails. 

It usually takes 30 minutes to travel from downtown Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport but allow extra time in case of traffic. Best to arrive at least two hours prior to your international departure while allowing extra time to drop off your rental car.