Introducing your Tour Guide: Erik Graff
The Lynn Canyon and Vancouver City tour first started in 1995 when volunteer Erik Graff decided to offer his service and fantastic knowledge of Vancouver and surrounding countryside for visitors who wanted to know a little more about this incredible city. As of 2012, over 15,500 visitors from all over the world have joined Erik on his well-organised tour leaving them with amazing memories to take back home. It is also amazing that Erik has never cancelled any of his weekly tours. This tour has been recommended by the Lonely Planet and you would be hard pressed to find such an excellent tour at such a low price anywhere else!
Erik recently won the prestigious WorldHost Customer Service Award from the BC Tourism Industry for his outstanding contribution to enhancing the travel experience of visitors to British Columbia.
Lynn Canyon and Vancouver City Tour
This tour is a combination of city sightseeing and experiencing the beauty of nature in the surrounding forests. There will also be a lot of water: rivers, waterfalls, fountains and the ocean! The day starts early at 8:45am with some local sights that includes interesting and unusual architecture from around the city. After a short stop at a coffee shop for refreshments, the tour continues with a drive across the Second Narrows Bridge taking in views of the Great Mountain, harbour and Vancouver city.
The tour then continues through the unspoiled countryside along serenely wooded trails to Lynn Canyon, highlighting waterfalls and a wilderness suspension bridge along the way. Lunch is then taken alongside a crystal-clear river and in case of rain, under a sheltered picnic area. Erik takes you through bear country but don’t worry, this time of year the bears spend most of their time on the higher mountain slopes and this is also where they hibernate during winter months.
The return journey includes sailing across incredible Vancouver’s harbour, set in its natural grandeur. There is another break in the afternoon in a coffee shop and from there, the tour continues to Chinatown. See its picturesque classic Chinese garden and the world’s narrowest building! Even if you have already seen Vancouver’s Chinatown, you will feel a whole new appreciation of it once you have seen it with Erik and heard his historical tales. Finally, you will have the chance to explore Vancouver’s fascinating and unique Central Library.
Changes to the Tour
Not able to be ready by 8:45am? It is possible to meet the group at the ‘Garden Deli Café’ located at 925 West Georgia Street (at Hornby) across from the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Simply enter the building and walk all the way to the back where you’ll find the coffee shop on the left. The building is only a 15 minute walk from HI-Downtown and about 10 minutes from HI-Central. The tour group will be arriving there at approximately 10:20am.
The full tour finishes around 6:30pm so for those who are short of time for the day, it is possible to return to Downtown Centre by 3pm. Also, if you are checking out of the hostel on the day of the tour, the front desk will place your bags into storage during the tour, free of charge.
Tour Details
This 9-hour tour has plenty of rest stops, with a lunch stop as well as morning and afternoon coffee stops plus 1.5 hours of bus travel. There are rest breaks at inexpensive coffee shops for sandwiches and refreshments.
The tour goes very near to the mountains, so bring extra clothes during spring and autumn. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. There will be some uneven trails in the forest as well as some stairs. And don’t worry about mosquitoes, there are very few.
The tour costs just $12.50 with children 5 and under free.
The tour leaves HI-Downtown every Tuesday at 8:45am
Please sign up for the tour at the front desk. Rain or shine the tour is never cancelled, but if you change your mind, please inform the front desk!
