About Vancouver Island

The British Columbian Vancouver Island in Canada is the largest Pacific island east of New Zealand, measuring 500 km long and 100 km wide. Vancouver Island has seemingly endless amounts of untouched wilderness, with vast lakes, dense forests and incredible backdrops to be found wherever you go, making it a hiker’s paradise. To the south lies Victoria, the island’s cultural hub and largest settlement which is characterised by colourful shops, quirky bars and a large network of cycling routes. Often regarded as the most English-style city in the country, Victoria has plenty to offer keen historians, with its selection of fascinating museums and iconic 19th Century Craigdarroch Castle. Vancouver Island offers numerous crossings to various destinations, both international and domestic. You can sail to many towns on the British Columbian coast and to Seattle in the United States, so there’s a great deal of choice.

About Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island is located between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia, Canada, within the Gulf Islands. The island has long been synonymous with peace and tranquillity: it was used as a refuge by racially abused African Americans in the nineteenth century, a political refuge during the sixties and, today, offers a relaxing retreat from modern city life with its naturally beautiful landscape. The pine-clad hills stretch for miles, ascending to the highest points of the entire Southern Gulf Islands, providing excellent hiking trails along the way. And, once nicknamed ‘the coolest island in Canada’, Salt Spring is commonly flocked by artists, retired millionaires and musicians, with a total permanent population of just ten thousand. With ferry terminals in Fulford Harbour and Long Harbour, sailing to Salt Spring Island is quick and easy. Whether you’re coming from mainland Canada or Vancouver Island, there are frequent crossings to choose from, operated by one of the leading ferry companies in British Columbia.