The wild is calling in British Columbia

Heading into the wild comes naturally in the vast Canadian province of British Columbia, with its big open spaces, fresh, clean air and ability to offer transformative travel from the outside in

ON THE WATER

Home to hundreds of rivers, lakes, fjords, hot springs and over 15,000 miles of coastline, you’re never far from a water-based adventure in Canada’s westernmost province. Head out into Howe Sound on a paddleboard and listen to the soothing sounds of your oar slicing through the water as you tune in to the nature that surrounds you in British Columbia. Pods of orcas, sometimes 50-strong, may be just some of the wildlife you see. Few experiences underline the majesty of Mother Nature more than a plume of spray erupting beside your boat, followed by a dorsal fin, tail fluke, or if you’re lucky, a full breach — a beautiful, 10-ton beast leaping from the water. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Clayoquot Sound, on Vancouver Island’s western coast, is home to more than 300 marine species, from whales to seals, otters and puffins. Further south, in the city of Victoria, is Ogden Point, an underwater playground ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling among giant king crabs, octopus and shoals of herring. Being fully immersed in this underwater world gives the body space to reconnect with its surroundings and the mind room to calm amid the gentle sounds.