2026 Chemainus Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

Want to check off the highlights of a multi-country trip? In just 8 days, you can explore Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and two other famous lakes, visit the century-old Butchart Gardens and the British-style Victoria Inner Harbour, stop by the zero kilometer marker of Highway 1, and stay one night at the Lake Louise Castle Hotel. Follow this guide and you’re all set! . ✨ Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver, transfer to hotel for rest Days 2–3: Visit Grizzli Winery and Kalamalka Lake, explore Glacier National Park and Yoho National Park, see the Columbia Icefield and Bow Lake, stroll along Banff Avenue Day 4: Lake Louise -> Banff National Park -> final stop, check off all four famous lakes in one go, stay at Lake Louise Castle Hotel Day 5: Visit Grizzly Town/Salmon Bay -> Ginseng Factory in Kamloops -> Hope Town -> Fraser Valley -> Vancouver Days 6–7: Tour Butchart Gardens and Victoria Chinatown, visit the zero kilometer marker of Highway 1, stroll Victoria Inner Harbour, explore Hatley Park National Historic Site and Malahat SkyWalk, check out the mural town Chemainus Day 8: Free day in Vancouver, optional paid day tours available End your exciting multi-country Canada trip~ . ✈️ Travel checklist: 📱 Get your SIM card + power adapter ready first, plus copies of your multi-country visas. Prepare offline maps on your phone for convenience. 🪪 Keep your passport and visa originals in separate bags, carry a small amount of Canadian cash for emergencies. 👕 In July, bring a light jacket and sun protection clothing, comfortable hiking shoes, and enough clothes for border crossings and travel. . If you want to experience the diverse scenery of multiple countries, join this Canada multi-country group tour for a worry-free and fun trip!

For those who want a hassle-free trip to Canada, this is for you! This 8-day itinerary covers all the highlights: ride the Ice Explorer on the glacier, take the Sulphur Mountain gondola for panoramic views, stroll through Victoria to capture European-style photos at the Inner Harbour, visit Moraine Lake and also see Lake Louise, Bow Lake, and other famous color-changing lakes all in one go—totally worth it! / This super practical travel guide is just a scroll away ↓ / 📒 Suggested itinerary: D1: Arrive in Vancouver, check in, and rest at your leisure D2-3: Grizzli Winery -> Kalamalka Lake -> Yoho National Park -> Columbia Icefield -> Bow Lake -> Banff Avenue D4: Banff National Park -> Lake Louise -> The Last Spike -> Glacier National Park, experience famous lakes all in one trip D5: Grizzly Town/Salmon Bay → Kamloops Ginseng Factory → Hope → Fraser Valley → Return to Vancouver D6-7: Butchart Gardens -> Victoria Chinatown -> Mile Zero -> Victoria Inner Harbour -> Hatley Park National Historic Site -> Malahat SkyWalk -> Chemainus mural town, a perfect spot for European-style photos D8: Free day in Vancouver, optional special day tours available to wrap up your trip easily / Must-know tips for your trip: 1. ✈️ Canada requires a visa in advance. It’s recommended to prepare your application materials at least 2 months ahead 2. 🚇 Both Vancouver and Toronto airports have direct light rail to downtown, convenient and cost-effective 3. 🧴 Canadian ice wine and maple syrup are popular souvenirs with reasonable prices, feel confident to buy 4. 🚗 Public transportation is not very frequent locally, renting a car offers more convenience and flexibility /

Traveling in Canada for 4 days like this is so worry-free! A private car and guide will take you cruising along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, checking off cliff coasts, Shannon Falls, and Alice Lake, all the way to Whistler Village. Take a ferry to explore Victoria, with its classical gardens, Parliament, and Hatley Castle perfect for photos. On the way, see Nairn Falls, walk the Skywalk, then visit the street murals in Chemainus—all without any hassle! · ------------------- More exciting details, scroll down to unlock~ · ------------------- Do you know Canada 🇨🇦? It borders the Arctic Circle ❄️ to the north and is the land of maple leaves 🍁! From the European-style old towns on the East Coast to the vast mountains and rivers in the West 🏔️, its history blends British and French influences, and the natural scenery is wildly beautiful—glaciers, lakes, and the aurora borealis are all here ✨, it’s like stepping into a postcard! · ------------------- 🌲 Suggested Route: Day 1: Horseshoe Bay Park — Sea-to-Sky Highway — Shannon Falls — Squamish Cruise the Sea-to-Sky Highway connecting cliff coasts, encounter Shannon Falls and Alice Lake, experience Whistler vibes, and finally arrive in Squamish to relax. Day 2: Lower Joffre Lake — Brandywine Falls Provincial Park Explore the grandeur of Nairn Falls and the breathtaking views from the Skywalk, enjoy nature hiking in Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the primeval forest. Day 3: British Columbia Parliament Buildings — Butchart Gardens — Victoria Inner Harbour — Fisherman’s Wharf Take the ferry to Victoria, visit the classical Parliament and Hatley Castle, stroll around the Inner Harbour and Fisherman’s Wharf, and experience the street mural art in Chemainus. Day 4: Return to Vancouver Wake up naturally and head to the airport according to your flight schedule, with a Chinese-speaking driver to shuttle you to the airport, ending your wonderful trip to Canada. · ------------------- Must-Visit Attractions: British Columbia Parliament Buildings ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍501 Belleville St., Victoria, BC V8V 2H2 🕒 Mon-Fri 08:30-16:30 (Closed on weekends) ⏳ Recommended visit time: 2 hours The Victorian architecture is incredibly photogenic! The interior reliefs and stained glass are stunning 🏛️ Butchart Gardens ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8 🕒 Feb 2 - Feb 28, 09:00-15:30 ⏳ Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours A fairy-tale world to visit in autumn 🍁 The ginkgo avenue turns golden, and at night the lantern path feels like walking through a tunnel of stars! Victoria Inner Harbour ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3M6 🕒 Open all day ⏳ Recommended visit time: 1-3 hours A lazy harbor with seagulls circling 🚢 Sitting on a bench watching seaplanes take off and land is instantly soothing and healing~ · ------------------- Travel Tips: ✈️ Airport Transport: Taking the airport express after landing is super convenient, direct to downtown without getting lost—remember to check the schedule in advance! 🍁 Souvenir Prices: Don’t buy maple syrup at tourist spots! Local supermarkets are cheaper and the quality is authentic~ 🍴 Food Tip: Be sure to book popular restaurants in advance! Walk-ins during peak season might be turned away, so lock in your spot early~ 🚗 Driving Tips: If renting a car in winter, make sure it includes snow tires! Safety first, the roads can be shockingly icy and snowy 😱 💡 Tipping Culture: Don’t forget to tip when dining or taking taxis—usually 10%-15%, warm and polite ✨ · ------------------- With a dedicated driver and guide, the whole trip is super worry-free! Click below to easily start your perfect journey~

#mytraveldiary Here are some of the top experiences in Cowichan Valley: Category What to Do Wineries & Wine Country There are ~13 wineries in the valley. Some notable ones include Blue Grouse, Cherry Point, Unsworth etc.
Wine tours are popular (full-day & half-day), and the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival happens every August. Trails, Hiking, Biking The Cowichan Valley Trail is a multi-use trail (walking, cycling) forming part of the Trans Canada Trail, linking various towns (Shawnigan, Lake Cowichan, etc.).

Working at the airport in Karachi means my daily routine is always busy and loud. During my recent travels to Canada, I decided to avoid any tight schedules and just spent a quiet day wandering around Banff and Lake Louise. The frozen expanse of Lake Louise was very still, which felt incredibly peaceful. I spent a few hours just walking along the easier paths around the area. The trails are quite manageable even if you do not plan ahead, which suited me well. I noticed many people buying maple syrup to take home. Personally, I did not find it necessary to purchase any, as I prefer to travel light. For me, the quiet walk in the cold mountain air was enough.

Walking around Chemainus.

I recently managed to get a week off work and decided to head over to western Canada. Spending most of my weekends walking in the Scottish Highlands, I was really keen to see how the Rockies compared. We did a route starting from Vancouver and spent a few days driving up through Yoho and Banff. The scale of the landscape out there is quite difficult to put into words. Standing by Bow Lake and Moraine Lake, the first thing that strikes you is the colour of the water. It’s this incredibly bright, milky turquoise that almost doesn't look real. It was a bit crowded near the main viewing areas, but I found that if you just walk ten or fifteen minutes along the lakeside paths, the crowds thin out and you can actually enjoy the quiet. I think Bow Lake was my favourite—it felt slightly more peaceful than the others. Weather-wise, even though it was August, the mornings up near the glaciers were proper cold. I just wore my trusty old fleece and a basic waterproof jacket I’ve had for years, which was more than enough. You don't need any fancy brand-name gear, just some sensible layers. It is a long flight from home, but I reckon it's worth it if you enjoy being out in the hills. Just make sure to pack a warm jumper for the early mornings.

Finally took a proper, long vacation! I left my bakery in Minsk in the hands of my assistants, and my dog with my parents (though it turns out Canadians absolutely love traveling with their pets, and I missed my furry little friend terribly the whole trip). Our itinerary kicked off in Vancouver. We first made a pit stop at Grizzli Winery—a lovely spot—before diving into the best part: the great outdoors. The water at Kalamalka and Bow Lakes is an unreal, vibrant turquoise; it's hard to believe it's actually real. But the absolute highlight, hands down, was Lake Louise. We managed to snag a room for the night at that iconic castle-hotel right on the shoreline. Waking up to breathtaking mountains and crystal-clear water right outside your window is something else. It was a bit of a splurge, but the experience was totally worth it. We spent the second leg of our trip in Victoria. The Butchart Gardens are ridiculously stunning, though a bit too tourist-heavy for my taste. On the flip side, Victoria's Inner Harbour and our stroll around the Hatley Castle grounds were incredibly peaceful and charming. Overall, the trip was fantastic, even if the long drives left us a little wiped out. Now, I just can't wait to get back home, give my dog a massive hug, and get back to whipping up my favorite recipes.

#HongKongFlightEvent When I think of Dakdalbi, I usually think of iron plate Dakgalbi, but sometimes I crave charcoal grilled Dakgalbi. Jinmi Charcoal Grilled Dakgalbi has several branches in Seoul! I ate at the Gwangwoon University Station branch! Dakgalbi is divided into seasoned and soy sauce, and I recommend seasoned. It was the most delicious charcoal grilled Dakgalbi I've ever had! It was more delicious than the one I had in Chuncheon. There are various types of sauces, so you can dip them in, so I hope you all go there once!

#HongKongFlightEvent Donjanggun is an all-you-can-eat meat restaurant near Gwangwoon University Station in Seoul! It's located if you go straight up from Gwangwoon University Station toward Gwangwoon University! It has a large store and sells a la carte menus, but most people eat the all-you-can-eat menu! The pork belly and pork neck were the most delicious! If you want to eat a hearty meal of meat near Gwangwoon University Station in Nowon-gu, I recommend Donjanggun!

#HongKongFlightEvent This is a cute new cafe called Nini near Kwangwoon University Station! I'm so happy that such a cute cafe opened at Kwangwoon University^^ This place is really a dessert place! Especially, the cake is really delicious! The store is clean and has a cute logo character, so it's great for a delicious drink and a piece of cake!