What an amazing day we had with you exploring Botanical Beach. The day was extra magical and, yes, spiritual, for me as I was celebrating my brother’s 70th birthday with his widow. You both made it a memorable experience….and I am looking forward to returning to explore again. You were both so helpful and knowledgeable. And…the lunch was very gourmet!
– Jan Sargent
A huge Yorkshire-sized thank you ladies for a superb day. It’s been the highlight of my trip, it really has.
– Lee Karen, Stow England, UK
We’re back mid-continent today and sadly missing the west coast. We’d like to thank you both for the excellent hiking trip you took us on during our first vacation to Victoria. It was definitely the highlight of our trip. You were so informative, helpful (and patient with such aging hikers!) We were duly impressed with the Sooke area we were exposed to and the awe inspiring temperate rain forests and coastal area we visited at Mystic Beach. We’re still talking about the excellent refreshments and gourmet lunch we enjoyed while watching the surf and the mists roll in and out.
– Sue and John Elliott
Toni and Rachel’s guided hiking tour was the hightlight of our trip to Victoria! Their company is the BEST way to see this beautiful country. We didn’t waste any of our precious vacation time looking for parks or hiking trails, because they knew exactly where to take us. The food is delicious. I especially enjoyed the hot cup of tea they had waiting for me when they picked me up at the hotel. Thanks for an enjoyable day.
– Beth, Molly and Lee from Nashville
Botanical Beach hike took us to a very beautiful part of the coast of Vancouver Island. I learned so much about the plants and creatures we saw, i.e. I didn’t know that Salal berries were not only edible but nutritious, and I didn’t know that slugs were so beautiful and eat mushrooms! The beach is wonderful, the tidal pools are rich with marine life and Rachel, our guide, is so knowledgeable about all the creatures that live there. We all enjoyed our gourmet lunch.
– Lorraine Morris, Halifax, NS
My wife and I first hiked with Rainforest Tours in August, 2010. We started at Parkinson and hiked to Botanical. My wife returned again in May, 2011, for another adventure. She especially loved the tidal pools, with the colourful sea urchins and anenomes, and little fish. We learned so much about the vegetation – natural herbs used by Vancouver Island natives – and the ecosystem of the rain forest. The food was fabulous, with a choice of gourmet sandwiches on homemade breads, salads with dressing, and desserts. Our guides chose an amazing picnic site on a cliff overlooking the crashing waves below. We watched the seals playing in the water while we ate our lunch. We saw bears as well but our guides explained that this was just a part of their natural habitat and explained to us how to behave when they were near. We saw Harlequin ducks, which I understand are a rare site in most parts of Canada. The hikes were relaxing, exciting, and the guides were always attentive to our capabilities, safety and interests. They made it seem as though we were hiking with family.
– Robert R, Bedford, NS