Lake Giavani deep in the South West British Columbian mountains.

Location

British Columbia is a large Province that lies in the south-west of Canada.

Recommended Activities

Wind-surfing - in Squamish at 11AM every morning, wind-surfers from around the world wait for the ever reliable wind to arrive. Everything for learners and experts.

Rock-climbing - Squamish attracts climbers from around the world due to the 1000+ climbs, which are primarily granite crack climbs. Beginners can do introductory courses or other climbers will often give you a go. More experienced climbers should pack the porta-ledge!

Skiing/boarding - just up the road from Squamish/Vancouver is Whister/Blackhome resort, which has been voted the number one resort in North America shortly after merging in the late nineties. Whistlers is for the skiers. Blackhome's glacier offers year long boarding.

Hiking - A quick hike to the top of the 'The Chief' at Squamish opens views that range far and wide. They extend to Whister, another fine hiking destination during summer. Vancouver Island also offers excellent hiking/scenery, including the world renowned West Coast trail which takes around 3-5 days. Reservations are esential during the summer peak.

Mountain biking - simply hire a bike and take off. The mountains around Squamish and Whistler have many great downhill tracks.

Alpine Mountaineering - magnificent granite structures support huge glaciers throughout the area.

Killer whale watching - on Vancouver Island in several locations.

Surfing - is popular at Long Beach and Tofino on Vancouver Island. Don't forget your hooded wetsuit and watch for logs in the surf.

Visit Vancouver - Vancouver is set in perfect natural surrounds and is one of the most scenic cities in the world.

When

Go in the warmer mid-year months to enjoy the hiking and rock-climbing. January/February is the prime time for skiing/boarding at Whistler/Blackhome.

Accommodation

Squamish is a small town with a couple of hostels and some hotel accommodation. Whistler is packed full of resorts, hotels and hostels. Even though Vancouver seems overloaded with hostels, hotels and the like, accommodation can be hard to find in summer.

Transport

Get to Squamish or Whistler by bus from Vancouver (between 1-2 hours). Passage is possible by bus/ferry between the beautiful Vancouver Island and Vancouver. Tour

The Diversity of the Region

The diversity of the region has to be explicitly mentioned. In addition to the above, Seattle and beautiful Washington State are just across the border.