British Colombia self drive wildlife vacation

Planet

Our Canada hosts actively work to minimise our environmental footprint on tour. We follow Reduce, Reuse, Recycle principles in what we buy and how we run trips, including buying food in bulk to cut packaging, using recyclable or compostable cups, plates and cutlery for packed lunches when reusables are not feasible, and separating recycling and compost properly in the field.

We also push hard on the easy wins that remove common single-use items. Our packing list asks travelers to bring a reusable water bottle, and we are aware of local water refill stations.

Our partner contributes to the Great Bear Forest Carbon Project in British Columbia through Carbon Zero and regular assesses their carbon footprint for their group tours.

Support is provided to the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) via annual donations, whale sponsorship and by sharing their messaging with our travelers. MERS, based in Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island, focuses on scientific research, environmental education and marine wildlife response. Our partner sponsors a humpback whale named Moonstar as part of that work - and as a traveler, if you would like to also sponsor a whale, we can assist with the process.

We provide pre-trip resources (including Leave No Trace guidance) and build field education into our trips so travelers understand how to reduce their impact around wildlife, shorelines and sensitive habitats. Our supplier signs the Vancouver Island North’s ‘Live the Wild’ Pledge, an initiative focused on marine plastics and practical solutions to protect shorelines, and they have supported beach clean-up efforts as part of that commitment.

Although flights to Vancouver Island are possible, we strongly encourage car and ferry use to reduce carbon footprint, as well as support the lesser touristic destinations along the route.

People

We build this itinerary around local knowledge and locally run experiences on northern Vancouver Island, including time in Alert Bay to visit the U’mista Cultural Centre and learn more about Indigenous culture and history in the region.

This self drive tour prioritise lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path destinations that are welcoming of visitors, with the aim of directing economic benefits to rural and remote communities. We work closely with local stakeholders when designing tours, and we support local guides and businesses so money stays in the community and the experience remains rooted in the place.

We acknowledge that we live, work, travel and operate on the traditional lands of the Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia and the Yukon. We are committed to working in partnership with Indigenous communities, learning from Indigenous knowledge keepers and guides, and amplifying Indigenous voices and cultural preservation within our tours.

$25 per traveler is donated to the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund as a Reconciliation Partner, supporting Indigenous tourism development across Canada, including areas such as infrastructure, training and business development.