North Island Grease Trail Tour in British Columbia

5 days / 4 nights

The setting for this active small group exploration of First Nation culture is the interior wilderness and far flung north-east coast of Vancouver Island.

The 'Namgis people of the east coast of Vancouver Island are reopening the Grease Trail through to the west coast, home of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people. Once used to transport ooligan, an oily fish, this ancient trade route transverses the rugged and remote interior of the North Island and crosses through the Vancouver Island Mountain Range.

In the company of a First Nation guide, we explore part of this trail on foot and by boat in the traditional territory of the the Kwakwaka'wakw people. We spend two nights at a lakeside First Nation cabin, taking a day to boat to the trailhead and then hiking up to a mountain pass with spectacular views of soaring mountain peaks, glaciers and pristine alipine meadows. Along the way, we observe traces of the early use of the trail and learn about First Nations customs and tradtions, inlcuding medicinal use of the areas flora and fauna.

On Day 3, we head to the northeast coast, following Nimpkish Lake before we turn off to historic Telegraph Cove (pop. 20). This cozy cove is the setting for some of the best whale watching on Canada's west coast. We then take a short drive to catch a ferry to Cormorant Island to spend the next two nights at a waterfront lodge in the First Nation community of Alert Bay (pop. 1400), home of the 'Namgis. Sights here include the Big House, First Nations Dancing, the world's tallest totem pole, U'Mista Cultural Centre, the Ecological Gardens and the Big Tree Trail.

• Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
• Activity Level : Moderate
• Maximum Group Size 8 guests
• Accommodation: Two nights at a rustic cabin and two nights at rustic lodge
• Meals: 4 breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners

Tour Dates (2008):

Tour 1: June 17-21
Tour 2: July 1-5
Tour 3: July 15-19
Tour 4: July 29-August 2
Tour 5: August 12-16
Tour 6: August 19-23
Tour 7: September 2-6
Tour 8: September 16-20

All tour depart on a Tuesday and return on a Saturday.
Departs: Victoria, BC at 8:00 am.
Arrives: Victoria, BC by 5:00 pm (approximately)

Price:

$895 CDN

Included:

• Services of a driver/leader and 15 passenger van.
• All ferry fees to and from Cormorant Island
• All guiding fees
• All accommodation as listed on the itinerary
• All meals listed on the itinerary
• All park and land use fees
• Entrance Fees to the Umista Cultural Centre
• Guided hike of the Ecological Gardens and the Big Tree Trail
• First Nations dancing at the Big House

Not Included:

• Optional activities, gratuities and GST
• Optional Activities: A full day grizzly bear watch tour is available on Day 5

Frequently asked questions

1. What is adventure travel? Adventure travel is an exploration of the outer world that takes place in a remote, exotic or wilderness setting. A wide continuum of adventure activities, from sea kayaking to wilderness survival, enables travelers to experience varying degrees of risk, excitement and tranquility. Adventure travelers also seek the inner world of personal challenge, self-perception and self-mastery.
2. What type of adventure travel is emphasized? Our soft adventure trips are for alternate travelers who don't have the time or experience to discover remote places by trial and error. Compared to hard adventure, our tours require less physical risk, little or no experience and provide more convenience in terms of sleeping arrangements, and cuisine. Our main objective is to have fun and enjoy the outdoors! We also ensure people are informed about the land they travel in -- our tour leaders are knowledgeable in the area's environment, natural history and culture.
3. What areas do you travel in? We explore wilderness areas, parks and protected areas in Alaska, Yukon Territory, the Rocky Mountains and Vancouver Island. Our scheduled tours depart from Vancouver, BC; Victoria, BC; Edmonton, AB; Calgary, AB; and Whitehorse, YT.
4. What kind of vehicle will I be traveling in? We drive fully optioned, late model 15-passenger vans. Our vans are commercially inspected and certified every six months and come equipped with full length roof racks and tarpaulins. While the vans seat 15 people, we travel with no more than 11 in BC and 13 in the Yukon and Alaska.
5. What's Included? All our tours include accommodation, transportation, an experienced driver/leader and all park entrance fees. Camping tours include all camping gear, except sleeping bags. Each tour also includes some activities while on tour. Read each tour description for more information.
6. What's Not Included? Meals, accommodation before or after the tour, optional activities, gratuities for the guide and GST are not included in the price of the tour.
7. What kind of accommodation can I expect? The type of accommodation varies according to the tour, from hard shell to camping. Hard shell accommodation includes "simple hotels" (clean, generally smaller character hotels with basic amenities) and hostels (some with private rooms, all with communal facilities for cooking, socializing). Camping facilities also vary according to the tour. As examples, the campgrounds we stay at in the Rocky Mountains generally come complete with showers, flush toilets, picnic tables - some even have Laundromats. Generally, the further north we go on our Alaska and Yukon trips, the fewer frills we encounter. This often means drop toilets, hauling water from streams and foraging for our own firewood. While our tents are sized as three person tents we limit two persons per tent.
8. How do you arrange meals on your trips? The inclusion of meals depends on the type of accommodation provided on the tour. While meals are often included on some days in our tours that involve hotels, passengers generally purchase their own (more specifics are provided in our pre-departure information). Our hostel tours do not include meals, but the hostels we stay in have access to central cooking and dining facilities. On camping tours we use a "food kitty", where a contribution of $12 per day buys three meals per day. Contributions are paid to the tour leader/driver at the beginning of the tour and are not subject to Canadian GST of 6%. On these tours, everyone participates in meal preparation and daily chores. Travellers enjoy barbeques and a wide choice of pastas and salads, meats, vegetables, fruits and deserts.
9. How would I fit in as a first time camper? Don't worry! Our tours come complete with all the gear you need, from camp stoves to cutlery. Just bring your sleeping bag, personal gear and the items listed in your pre-departure information (eg, suntan lotion, camera, film). Our tents take less that five minutes for one person to set up. Your Midnight Sun tour leader will make you look like an expert camper in a few days!
10. What about cultural considerations? Please don't let language or culture be barriers to enjoying our splendid country. Our tour leaders are well traveled outside of Canada and sensitive to the challenges of visiting a new country. No matter what language you speak, or what diet you have, we will take the steps to maximize your comfort level. And provide you with a great time!
11. What is the best time to visit western Canada and Alaska? The season varies according to the area you want to visit. The season on Vancouver Island begins in April and ends in mid-October. In the Rocky Mountains, we begin our tours in early June. The season in the Yukon and Alaska is from early June to mid-September.
12. When should I start to plan to take my trip? July and August are peak months for travel in western Canada and Alaska. If you plan to travel with us during this months, we recommend you book by April to avoid disappointment.
13. Who goes on your tours? Everyone with an interest in the environment who wants to see wildlife and have fun at an affordable price. Some clients have limited camping experience and some have lots of camping experience; all prefer to travel with like minded people.
14. Are couples welcome? Of course! On average, we tend to have one to two couples on every tour. The majority of our customers tend to be single.
15. What is the average age range and gender balance of people on your tours? On average, our clients tend to be between the ages of 24-54, and are in average physical condition.
16. When is the best time to go to see bears (wildlife)? While nature is unpredictable, the best time to see bears is usually in the early spring or late summer. Opportunities also depend on when the salmon are running. The many areas in which we travel have different salmon runs -- different species of salmon have runs at different times. You will have to ask the office closer to the time of your travel to get a better idea about bear viewing opportunities. However, we have been delivering tours since 1996 - and if anyone can help you spot a bear - we can!
17. Are there mosquitoes, what should I bring if I don't like to use deet? Depending on the area you tour in, you may encounter mosquitoes. Our Vancouver Island tours see very few if any mosquitoes as the ocean breeze tends to keep them away. While hiking in the Rockies you may encounter a few while hiking near stagnant lakes in the peak of the hot season (late July early August). In the Yukon and Alaska you will see mosquitoes from late June to early August. Near the towns there are few if any. But more tend to appear when we are camped near the tundra or muskeg. Deet is the best to keep mosquitoes away, but should not be applied directly to your skin. If you do not like to use deet you could use a natural product call "Natural-Repel" or "ZZZZWAT". This product can be applied directly to your skin and is 100% natural and environmentally friendly. There are many other products on the market with various combinations or citronella in them that are all deet free.
18. What kind of a sleeping bag should I bring? We suggest a four season sleeping bag rated to -3

Package Price:
895.00 Can./Person
0.00 U.S./Person

Currency Converter   

Need more info?