Canada

Gulf Islands Hiking & Yoga Tour 5 Days

Get away from it all! Journey to a place where lush forests meet the deep blue sea. Sail away to the beauty and tranquility of western Canada's Gulf Islands. Explore 3 unique islands as you hop from one to the other. Slow down, relax and awaken your body and spirit with daily private yoga classes given by our experienced and certified yoga teachers. Truly unwind and learn asanas (yoga postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) as well as blissful relaxation and meditation practice. Follow peaceful trails and old logging roads to unspoiled coves, where seals and orcas gambol and seabirds wheel overhead and experience the natural wonders that these coastal enclaves have to offer.

Day 1

Your tour starts on Galiano Island. Named for the Spanish sea captain

who explored the surrounding waters in 1792, Galiano Island is home to more than 130 species of birds and a haven for naturalists. Enjoy quiet roads and Douglas fir forests. Walk to Bellhouse Provincial Park, where the wind and the sea have carved and pocked the sandstone rocks of the beach. Watch for the many eagles that glide overhead. Relax with a private 30 minutes meditation session with an experienced yoga teacher at the Inn. You may want to book a massage or spa treatment at the wonderful Galiano inn & Spa. Hiking distance: 4 km

Day 2
Start the day in the idyllic Garden yoga studio with a private 1 hour vinyasa yoga class. Today's walk takes you to three great viewpoints. Climb up Mount Galiano where there's a wonderful view of Active Pass and the southern Gulf Islands. Head into Bluffs Park, where you hike amongst cedars and ferns to the top of the bluff, where there are stunning views of Prevost Island and the south face of Mount Galiano. From Galiano Cemetery you'll see seals sunning themselves on their private island.

Hiking distance: 12 km.

Day 3

Hop onto a private water taxi, which will take you to South Pender Island in the morning. Start at the canal that separates the two Pender Islands and climb an old logging road to the edge of Mount Norman Provincial Park. Walk into Beaumont Provincial Marine Park, then up to the summit of Mount Norman, from where you can see part of the U.S. San Juan Islands and the Olympic Range in Washington. As you descend, you might be able to see the Vancouver skyline in the distance. Return to the canal, from where you'll be transferred to Saturna Island for the night. Stretch your muscles with a private 1 hour yoga class in the Lodge. Hiking distance: 15km

Day 4

This morning, you'll be taken to the end of Narvaez Road, where the walk begins. Follow old logging roads and goat trails to the top of Mount Warburton Pike, then descend to the Saturna Winery, in a spectacular setting near the water, and the pebbly beach at Thomson Park. Then head back to your accommodation on Saturna Island. Complete this enriching week of hiking with a private 1 hour uplifting yoga practice.

Hiking distance: 10 km.

Day 5

Return to Swartz Bay near Victoria (Vancouver Island), or Vancouver and depart for home or on to your next adventure.