Luxury holidays in British Columbia

When to go

Keen skiers can hit the slopes in Whistler and the Blackcomb mountains from December to March. July and August are the warmest months, with day-time temperatures hovering around 18°. Surf-ready swells hit Tofino in September and October, when the weather turns cool enough for long hikes in the national parks. Make the most of Vancouver’s museums and breweries during rainy November.

Getting there

• Planes

  Direct flights from across North America and Europe land regularly at Vancouver International Airport.

• Trains

  Catch a northbound Amtrak Cascades train to Vancouver; the coastal journey from Seattle will take four hours, and from Portland it’s a 10-hour ride. Via Rail operates an east-west service between Toronto and Vancouver, with stops including Winnipeg, Edmonton and Jasper: it’s the scenic-route option, and will take four days.

• Automobiles

  Driving’s popular in British Columbia; roads are easily navigable, if long.