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A grizzly bear stands in the shallow water of the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada, with a forested shoreline in the background.
British Columbia

Coastal British Columbia: Indigenous Culture & Majestic Wildlife

Program No. 25700RJ
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
19 meals ( 7B, 5L, 7D )
1 expert-led lecture
10 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Arrive independently in Vancouver and check in to your hotel. In the late afternoon, meet your Group Leader to register, receive your program materials, and connect with fellow Road Scholars. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner followed by an orientation that introduces the themes of the program, outlines the journey ahead, and provides an overview of the cultural, ecological, and historical contexts of coastal British Columbia.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation: 7:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles, approximately 2 hours; city streets, pavement and museum. Standing for up to 2 hours. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 72 miles, approximately 5.5 hours riding time including two ferry crossings, totaling 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, travel by coach and ferry to British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, a region accessible only by water or air and shaped by steep coastal mountains, dense temperate rainforests, and sheltered inlets. Carved by glaciers and sustained by the Salish Sea, this landscape has supported Indigenous communities for thousands of years and continues to influence settlement patterns, transportation, and daily life along the coast. Visit the Tems Swiya Museum for an expert-led exploration of the history, culture, and living traditions of the shíshálh Nation. Through exhibits and interpretation, gain insight into traditional lifeways, land stewardship practices, and the enduring relationship between people and place in this coastal environment.
Lunch:
Boxed Lunch.
Afternoon:
After lunch, travel on to Earls Cove and board a ferry that carries you through fjords and forested shorelines to Powell River. This scenic journey highlights the ongoing importance of marine transportation in connecting Sunshine Coast communities.
Dinner:
At the hotel in Powell River.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles on pavement; standing up to 2 hours. Walking up to 10 minutes through banked forested trail to and from meal locations and activities in Telegraph Cove.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, we will set out with our local expert on a walking exploration of Powell River's National Historic Townsite, one of Canada's best-preserved planned industrial communities. Learn how the pulp and paper industry shaped the town's design, economy, and social life, and consider the lasting environmental and cultural impacts of resource-based development along the coast.
Lunch:
On your own on the Ferry.
Afternoon:
Travel by ferry to Vancouver Island, continuing north through landscapes shaped by forestry, fishing, and maritime trade. En route, we’ll stop at Campbell River Museum for an expert-led exploration of regional history. Learn about First Nations history, the impacts and legacy of residential schools, and the evolution of the commercial salmon industry, an essential lens for understanding both the social and ecological history of the coast. Continue to Telegraph Cove, a historic boardwalk community on Johnstone Strait that once served as a hub for fishing and telegraph operations and now provides access to some of the richest marine ecosystems in the Northeast Pacific. This evening offers time to settle in and reflect on the interconnected stories of industry, culture, and environment that shape coastal British Columbia.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in Telegraph Cove.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 1 mile; about 1.5 hours; gravel paths and grassy areas. Getting on/off a ferry; crossing to Alert Bay is about 7.5 nautical miles, less than 1 hour (each way). Driving about 4 hours total. Standing for up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At a restaurant in Telegraph Cove.
Morning:
Begin the day with an expert lecture on the biodiversity of the Northeast Pacific Ocean, focusing on marine mammals, ecological relationships, and conservation challenges in these nutrient-rich waters. Travel by ferry to Alert Bay for immersive, expert-led field trips at the U’mista Cultural Centre and surrounding cultural sites. Learn about the Kwakwaka’wakw people, the Potlatch Ban, cultural resilience, and the significance of repatriated ceremonial objects. Visit monumental totem poles, burial grounds, and the Big House, gaining a deeper understanding of Indigenous governance, art, and worldview.
Lunch:
Picnic Lunch.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue to explore Alert Bay.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in Telegraph Cove.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a 62-foot semi-covered express cruiser, and 12 passenger aluminum boats; cruising approximately 2 hours each way; vessels are covered, express cruiser has toilets. Dress warmly in dark layers with a waterproof shell; bring a hat and a water bottle. No perfume/aftershave/scents. We will always stay at least 150 feet from bears.
Breakfast:
On the boat.
Morning:
Set out early for a full-day, expert-guided exploration into Knight Inlet, one of the world’s most important coastal grizzly bear habitats. Begin with a dramatic boat journey through the fjord, surrounded by towering peaks and rainforest. As you move through the fjord, keep an eye on the water for marine mammals such as Pacific white-sided dolphins, porpoises, and seals, while your naturalist guide explains how the coastal food web supports both marine and land-based wildlife. Later, board a specially designed flat-bottom boat that carries you into the estuary to view bears feasting on sedge grass and salmon. Naturalist guides interpret bear behavior, habitat requirements, and the broader ecosystem, while also addressing conservation efforts and the relationship between wildlife, tourism, and Indigenous stewardship.
Lunch:
Picnic Lunch in Knight Inlet.
Afternoon:
We will continue bear viewing.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant in Telegraph Cove.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 1 mile over the course of the day; pavement and boardwalks. Getting on/off the boat; whale watching is approximately 4 hours, with varying distance based on location of sightings; vessels carry up to 74 passengers. Heated indoor cabin, two open-air decks, onboard washrooms. Bring a warm jacket and layers for warmth and rain gear. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 221 miles, approximately 4.5 hours riding time.
Breakfast:
At a restaurant in Telegraph Cove.
Morning:
This morning, visit the Whale Interpretive Centre for an expert-led exploration of whale biology, research, and conservation, with a focus on the orcas and humpbacks of Johnstone Strait. Then head out on a whale-watching field trip, applying what you've learned while observing marine mammals in one of the most active whale corridors on the coast.
Lunch:
Boxed Lunch.
Afternoon:
After lunch, travel south by coach to Nanaimo, reflecting on a week of immersive learning shaped by land, sea and story.
Dinner:
At the hotel in Nanaimo.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles over the course of the day; pavement, boardwalks and forested trails. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving for approximately 3 hours. Standing for up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We start our day by boarding the motorcoach and heading to Cathedral Grove where we will meet our local expert and discover the unique MacMillan Park, an unparalleled experience in British Columbia's coastal forest. We’ll explore the trails beneath 800 year old Douglas fir trees, and learn how they protect the astounding ecosystem of the forest. The aftermath of a 1997 windstorm adds to the park's growth and beauty, with fallen trees enriching the ecosystem and nurturing new life. This remarkable environment offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity and ecological significance that makes this area unique.
Lunch:
Picnic Lunch.
Afternoon:
We will visit North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, which offers a unique experience to learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of injured wildlife In British Columbia. We will embark on an immersive experience and be educated not only on the significance of animal life in Canada, but also on the environmental issues so important to this province and how the conservation of wildlife contributes to the restoration of the area. Explore educational demonstrations as well as active exhibits that provide a unique, hands-on learning experience.
Dinner:
At the hotel in Nanaimo. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Early morning hotel check-out. Getting on/off a ferry; crossing from Nanaimo to Vancouver is about 30 nautical miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Arrival to the Vancouver International Airport approximately 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast we will make our way to the ferry. Once we reach the dock, we’ll get off the ferry, and board a motorcoach for transfer to Vancouver Airport, expected arrival around 12:00 noon. If you are departing, please plan flights accordingly. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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