A one week luxury all-inclusive adventure for small groups to tour the Pacific Northwest featuring boutique hotels, local artists, delicious food and wine. Savour the Secrets of the Salish Sea experience around southern Vancouver Island. Add a couple of days to take in Victoria, just down the road!
The Secrets of the Salish Sea
– an adventure for the senses –
Wines, Whales and Wonders
of Vancouver Island’s Salish Sea
“My soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through me.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Savour the special places of the Salish Sea around southern Vancouver Island—Sidney, the Saanich Peninsula and the Gulf Islands. Add a couple of days to take in Victoria, just down the road! … A Remarkable Experience …
Trip Highlights
- Explore the Salish Sea by foot, bike, kayak and boat – an active adventure
- Experience the ocean in a different way each day
- Wander forest floors, paddle over vast kelp beds, spot harbor seals, otters and bald eagles
- Two exclusive wildlife-watching excursions on the Salish Sea with the possibility to see whales, dolphins, sea lions, and many different birds
- Hiking offering 360-degree mountain and island views
- Learn about the water environment from our marine biologists
- Listen to the stories and legends told by the First Nations guides
- Taste delicious local foods and beverages
- Enjoy a green, sustainable luxury eco-journey
- Small groups of 6-10 people
- Create a trip for your group’s experience!
A tour by TIDES – for more information & booking on
‘The Secrets of the Salish Sea’
Contact info@TIDESgroup.com or call 1-250-999-2997
Tour length: 6 days, 5 nights
2014 dates: June-September departures available OR create a trip for your group
Trip Price: $3499 per person double occupancy, taxes included (+$699 for single occupancy)
Experience includes:
* All group activity equipment – kayaks, bikes, boats
* All gourmet meals except one dinner (14) with a focus on local foods
* 5-star boutique hotel & spa accommodation
* Professional tour escort and guides
* All site entry fees, taxes and gratuities
* All trip ground transportation and transfers
* All trip wine tastings and non-alcoholic beverages
Our senses lead us around the waters of the Salish Sea. We’ve found our secret place. We listen to a tale of our guide’s ancestors on this same water. We gaze in wonder with big smiles, totally relaxed and content. The sun is shining, the water sparkling. The plants and animals welcome us … the smell of cedar, the screech of the bald eagle, the curious eyes of the seal, the taste of local grapes and apples. Adventure is all around us. Ahh. It’s good to be here. Together. On the Salish Sea.
Day 1 We wander into the woods and down to the water for our first touch of the Salish Sea with Eco-Cruising. From Mother Nature to man-made wonders, we learn how the surrounding beauty came to be. We float across Tod Inlet to land at an old quarry, now one of the world’s garden wonders, Butchart Gardens. Stopping to smell the roses … and so much more! An evening welcome reception to explore the week’s journey.
Day 2 Pedaling across the Saanich Peninsula, we visit local Salish artisans to learn about their crafts; lunch on pressed apples and gourmet cheese, and sip a local brew before boating across the Salish Sea to a cozy cove of luxury in the Gulf Islands
Day 3 Scan the island-specked horizon on a hike to the mountaintop of Pender Island; kayak peaceful inlets and vast kelp beds of the Salish Sea as we fill our day in the Gulf Islands. Our senses ever alert for the wildlife of the area— seals splashing in the water, eagles soaring in the sky above, deer rustling through the trees! We learn the stories of the local peoples living here in centuries past over the evening’s repast.
Day 4 Start the day gliding through the Salish Sea searching for porpoise and majestic Orcas during our wildlife-watching cruise with Sidney Whale Watching. Pedal through the farmlands of the Saanich Peninsula, savouring the vineyards, lavender fields and baked deliciousness. An evening stroll on the quaint streets of Sidney, alive with the summer market. Explore the stalls and doorways with their enticing treasures, tastes and treats!
Days 5 and 6 Join our marine biologist from Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre to learn about the wildlife of the Salish Sea as we journey across the waters to surrounding islands and beaches, ever watchful for seals, whales and sea birds. Wander the waterfront with our guide, exploring the Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk, learning the stories of the artists and their art—culture at your fingertips.
Lodging in Boutique Inns
Discover understated elegance and enjoy discerning service. From every vantage point, the ocean views inspire us to respond to the elements.
Brentwood Bay Resort & Spa
Brentwood Bay (1 night). Luxurious boutique hotel accommodations with spa, outdoor pool and fitness centre. Spacious, comfortable and elegant waterfront suites with in-suite jetted ocean-view tubs and balconies overlooking the marina at the doorstep.
Poet’s Cove Resort & Spa
Pender Island (2 nights). This beautiful resort offers world-class lodging right on the waterfront, with spa, outdoor pools and fitness centre. Each room features a fireplace, glass-enclosed shower, deep soaker tub and balcony. All the rooms face west, so you can enjoy the breathtaking water views and unforgettable sunsets.
Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa
Sidney (2 nights). Right in the heart of the charming town of Sidney, the Pier offers spacious ocean-view hotel rooms with full-service spa and complimentary fitness centre. Walk out the front door to discover the seaside treasures, art galleries, bookstores and boutique shops.
Trip Notes
All accommodations based on double occupancy, deluxe ocean view rooms. All meals included except 1 dinner. All group activities, fees and equipment included.
This is a soft adventure tour where cycling, kayaking and hiking take place. Minimal skill and fitness level required as the days are leisurely and meant for safe exploration. Options are available for guests who wish not to do any of the specific activities.
CANCELLATION FEES
Number of Days prior to Trip Start Cancellation Fees (per person)
90+ days $200
61-89 days 30%
31-60 days 60%
0-30 days 100%
Getting Here
Where is the Salish Sea?
The Salish Sea is the intricate network of coastal waterways located between the south-western tip of the Canadian province of British Columbia, and the north-western tip the U.S. state of Washington.
Start & Finish – Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
Leave the car at home – arrive by plane or ferry, and we’ll pick you up (car rentals are also available for extended stays).
Nearest Airport – YYJ (Victoria) (1km) with direct connections to major Canadian and American cities.
Nearest Ferries – Washington State Ferries: Anacortes-Sidney (1km); BC Ferries: Vancouver (Tsawwassen)-Victoria (Swartz Bay) (4km).
Come experience the Salish Sea!
… a Remarkable Experience …
A tour by TIDES – for more information & booking on
‘The Secrets of the Salish Sea’
Contact info@TIDESgroup.com or call 1-250-999-2997
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