NAYEN - Victoria extension

After an invigorating conference, meet your host at the hotel entrance mid-morning for your short drive to the Vancouver Harbour. At the Harbour you will board a float plane to take you to Vancouver Island and Victoria. While in the air you will pass over the awesinspiring Gulf Islands. Keep and eye out, you may see some resident whales! This is the perfect way to get a birds eye view of the beautiful BC coast line.

Credit: Bronwen Hill

Upon landing in Victoria you will be met by your local Rotarian host who will take you from the floatplane terminal to your local hotel. After check in and leaving your bags, you will me met by your local guide who will give you a walking tour of downtown Victoria. They will share with you the history of the city. From the Coastal Salish peoples through to when it became a fur trading port and to the diverse city it is today.

This evening you will meet in the lobby of the hotel and take a short walk to a nearby restaurant for a group dinner.

Cowichan is located in Canada’s only maritime Mediterranean climatic zone and is home to the warmest year–round temperatures in the country. For decades now, Cowichan has been producing amazing artisanal food and drink from the region’s burgeoning farms, wineries, cideries and distilleries. Today you will get to experience all that the island and gulf islands have to discover!

Credit: Destination BC

Meet your host in the lobby mid-morning after your breakfast and possibly short waterfront walk.

We will head north out of the city and into the valley. You will notice the change of environment and get a chance to see the island from the high point on the Malahat. Today we will visit wineries, cideries and local artisan businesses on a guided tour.

When we get back to Victoria later in the afternoon, you will have the evening at leisure to wander the dazzling streets of Victoria. With many alleys with restaurants and local stores, you can wander the streets and explore.

Enjoy your relaxing breakfast and mid-morning meet in the hotel lobby for the short half hour drive to the Butchart Gardens. Now these are not any other gardens, they are IMPRESSIVE, even to the non-gardener. This 55 acre property in the spring has countless tulips, daffodils and hyacinths provide an abundance of fragrance and colour. Replacing a limestone quarry with a garden is no small feat, however Jeanie Butchart achieved this and the gardens are now known around the world. This morning and early afternoon will be spent at the gardens. This afternoon you will have time at leisure in Victoria.

This evening we anticipate including a fellowship event with a Victoria Rotary club. This is the perfect way to end a successful conference and exploration of Beautiful BC.

Today say have breakfast and say goodbye to your fellow Rotarians. You may choose to have your flight departure from Victoria and we will provide a transfer. Other ways to depart may be a ferry to Seattle or ferry back to Vancouver. Either way, it will provide magical vistas of Victoria and the Gulf Islands.

Connect with Rotarian and Travel Advisor Bronwen for more details on this itinerary and express your interest by signing up